Week's Top International Stories Unfold

China and the Philippines clashed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with both countries accusing each other of aggressive actions. The incident involved a Philippine fisheries vessel and Chinese coast guard ships, resulting in damage and injury. The shoal is a contested territory claimed by China, the Philippines, and other countries. The incident occurred six days after China designated part of the shoal as a national nature reserve, prompting diplomatic protests from the Philippines and concerns from other countries, including the US, UK, and Australia.

Two sailboats were attacked by orcas off the coast of Portugal on Saturday, resulting in the rescue of nine people. The incidents occurred near Lisbon, with five people rescued from a tourist vessel off Fonte da Telha beach and four people rescued from a sailboat off the Bay of Cascais. No injuries were reported, and search and rescue crews responded to the incidents. The attacks are part of a growing pattern of orca interactions with humans in the region, with research group Orca Ibérica GTOA recording hundreds of incidents between 2020 and 2024.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Wonder of the Seas was forced to return to Miami after a fight broke out among passengers by the children's pool, resulting in minor injuries to two people. The ship had departed for a five-day cruise to the Bahamas but turned back just hours later. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office reported that a verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation, prompting the captain to return to port and contact authorities. Both individuals involved were taken to a local hospital for treatment, but declined to press charges. The incident is under investigation, and Royal Caribbean is cooperating with authorities.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa attended China's military parade in Beijing, highlighting the long-standing ties between the two nations. Mnangagwa met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and the two nations elevated their ties to an 'all-weather community with a shared future'. Xi described China's friendship with Zimbabwe as a model for the Global South and vowed to continue opposing external interference and illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western nations.

The article discusses the absence of China's senior military generals during the recent Victory Day parade, contrasting it with their prominent presence in previous parades in 2015 and 2019. In those years, the generals played a significant role, leading formations and saluting President Xi Jinping. Their participation not only set an example for soldiers but also provided a rare opportunity for observers to identify the PLA's new generation of leaders. The article questions the reason behind their absence in the recent parade.