Global Headlines: Russia Targets Telegram Founder, Bafta Judge Quits, and More

In a series of significant developments around the world, Russia has launched a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov, a Bafta judge has quit over a racial slur incident, and airlines are recovering from winter storm cancellations in the US. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has lodged a strong protest with Panama after the country took control of two ports on the Panama Canal.

In Russia, the criminal case against Durov was opened on suspicion of "abetting terrorist activities," according to the state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The investigation is the latest escalation in the Kremlin's standoff with the widely used messaging app. The Russian government has been trying to steer users towards a state-controlled app, and the investigation is seen as a way to pressure Durov into complying.

In the UK, a Bafta judge has quit over the organization's handling of a racial slur incident during Sunday's ceremony. Film-maker Jonte Richardson cited the "harm inflicted on both the black and disabled communities" and criticized the BBC's failure to edit out the slur. The incident occurred when a Tourette syndrome campaigner interrupted a presentation by Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, using a racial slur.

In the US, airlines are adding flights after a winter storm caused cancellations in the Northeast. The major US airlines said they would add more flights in airports that serve cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

In Hong Kong, the government has lodged a strong protest with Panama after the country took control of two ports on the Panama Canal. The ports had been run by a Hong Kong-based company, CK Hutchison, for over two decades. Panama's Supreme Court annulled the contracts that allowed the firm to operate the container ports, saying they were "unconstitutional."

The Hong Kong government accused the Panamanian authorities of taking the ports over by force and undermining both the "spirit of the contracts" and "international trade rules." The move by the Panamanian government could disrupt trade and have significant implications for Hong Kong's economy.

In England and Wales, the court backlog is expected to rise until 2035 despite radical reforms, including curtailing jury trials. The justice secretary, David Lammy, said the government was determined to press ahead with the reforms despite a potential rebellion from Labour MPs. The courts minister, Sarah Sackman, said the department was working to increase the use of remote hearings and reduce the backlog.

These developments highlight the complex and often contentious nature of global events, from the intersection of technology and politics in Russia to the ongoing challenges of racial equality in the UK. As the world continues to grapple with these issues, it remains to be seen how they will unfold and what impact they will have on global politics, economies, and societies.