North Korea celebrates 81st anniversary of Workers’ Party
Seoul, Oct 11: North Korea has held a celebratory performance for the 81st founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media reported on Sunday. Patriotic songs, acrobatics and dance filled Pyongyang Indoor Stadium the previous day in a show that stressed loyalty to the party and Kim, reports Yonhap, quoting Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim, whom the article described as “representing the dignity and mightiness” of the country, waved to the audience “as a token of his congratulations to all the participants on the party founding day” and expressed satisfaction with the performance, the KCNA said. A photo released by the KCNA shows Kim’s wife, Ri Sol-ju, and daughter, Kim Ju-ae, accompanying him. Diplomatic envoys and members of foreign missions sat alongside senior party and military officials and Pyongyang citizens, according to the report. Kim did not issue a statement marking the anniversary. The performance capped a series of events and gatherings marking this year’s anniversary, which were modest in scale. (IANS)
Poland school attacks fueled by glorification of violence
Warsaw, Oct 11: The attacks at Polish schools over the past week were “spontaneous acts” driven by the online “glorification of violence,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Sunday. Three attacks at schools in the Mazovian province in central Poland took place within four days this week, leaving one dead and many wounded, including children. By Sunday morning, police had detained 117 people across Poland for carrying knives or other dangerous weapons, or for threatening to attack schools or fellow students. Some 64,000 schools were checked. “We are not dealing with any group organized on a big scale,” Tusk said on Sunday morning, during a crisis meeting with government and security services. “These are very often spontaneous actions inspired by online activity.” “In the past years and months, we have noted – globally and in Poland – a rise in the fascination with violence.” (AP)
Nine killed in Pennsylvania shooting
New York, Oct 11: Nine people, including two children, were dead following a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, US media reported. Police were called to Perry Street on Friday evening after eyewitnesses reported seeing a man firing a gun before he entered a home, according to media reports on Saturday (local time). Two women were found dead in the street, and more victims were later found dead inside the home, reports Xinhua, quoting Erie News Now. Police said that the suspect was also found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The City of Erie authorities said Saturday that all nine deaths occurred before police arrived at the scene. No additional gunshots were fired after police arrived. Police have not yet released the identities of those killed or discussed a possible motive. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old Minnesota man was charged with a firearm offence. (IANS)