Six railcars carrying dozens of South Korean officials and engineers will inspect 1,200km (745 miles) of track over 18 days, according to the South’s unification ministry. The survey required special permission from the United Nations to take prohibited goods into the North, which remains under heavy economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. South Korean officials will use the study to draw up plans for modernising the North’s ageing rail lines, most of which date from the early 20th century. South China Morning Post
One of Northern Ireland’s “most promising” journalists has been shot dead during rioting that police are treating as a terrorist incident. Dissident republicans are being blamed for killing 29-year-old Lyra McKee after violence broke out during police searches in Londonderry on Thursday. Source: BBC
Spain’s far-right Vox party has been banned from a televised debate leading up to the general elections. The April 23 debate is the only debate scheduled before the April 28 elections. The anti-immigration party was banned from the debate following a ruling from the electoral commission. The commission argued that Vox’s inclusion was not “proportional” because the party currently holds no seats in the national parliament. Source: Euronews
“The Maltese authorities’ decision is out of tune with the standard practice and has certain unfriendly implications. We can state that as well. Russia will certainly take this move into consideration in our bilateral relations with Valletta,” she said.
Moscow views Malta’s refusal to allow Russian aircraft to use its airspace to fly to Venezuela as an unfriendly move, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday. Source: Tass
Moscow views Malta’s refusal to allow Russian aircraft to use its airspace to fly to Venezuela as an unfriendly move, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday. Source: Tass
