Maple Leafs

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Chief Justice said on Thursday that judges appointed to cases under Hong Kong's new national security law would be appointed on the basis of judicial and professional qualities, rather than politics. Read More … [Read more...] about Assigning judges to Hong Kong security cases is judiciary’s responsibility – Chief Justice

BUDAPEST -- Hungary will not comply with a European Union request to add non-EU countries to a "safe" travel list, except for Serbia, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Read More … [Read more...] about Hungary says no to EU request to add non-members to safe travel list – PM

BEIJING -- China's commerce ministry will study new measures to support the economy and people's livelihoods in Hong Kong, ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday. Read More … [Read more...] about China will study new measures to support Hong Kong’s economy

DUBLIN -- Ireland's new health minister will bring a recommendation on international travel to cabinet on Monday amid warnings from top health officials that a resumption of non-essential travel could reignite the coronavirus crisis. Read More … [Read more...] about Ireland to review international travel recommendations on Monday

MOSCOW -- Russia on Thursday reported 6,760 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its nationwide tally to 661,165. Read More … [Read more...] about Russia’s coronavirus case tally passes 660,000

DUBAI -- An "incident" at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility caused no damage to the nuclear site, the national Atomic Energy Organisation's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Thursday, adding that the facility in central Iran is operating as usual. Read More … [Read more...] about Iran says Natanz nuclear facility not damaged after ‘incident’

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar killed at least 100 people, with more feared dead, authorities said on Thursday, after a pile of mine waste collapsed into a lake, triggering a wave of mud and water that buried scores of workers. Read More … [Read more...] about Death toll in Myanmar landslide surges past 100

ANKARA -- A Turkish court on Thursday heard a case aimed at converting Istanbul's sixth century Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and will announce its verdict within 15 days, a lawyer said, on an issue which has drawn international expressions of concern. Read More … [Read more...] about Turkish court hears case on turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque

MOSCOW -- Russians opened the door to Vladimir Putin staying in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for constitutional changes that will allow him to run again for president twice, but critics said the outcome was falsified on an industrial scale. Read More … [Read more...] about Russians grant Putin right to extend his rule until 2036 in landslide vote