China over disputed reef, Israeli strikes, and Election of the new Pope

World news - April 29, 2025

China, Philippines over the disputed reef

Philippine inter-agency members, which included the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group, hold the Philippine flag as they visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on April 27, 2025.

• After accusations of “intimidation and harrasment” on Beijing by Manila, China and the Philippines on Monday defended their claims to a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

• The Philippines and China have been engaged in months of confrontations over South China Sea.

• Beijing claims it, nearly in its entirety, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Its foreign ministry on Monday reiterated the reef was part of China’s territory and said its moves constituted “rights protection and law enforcement activities.”

40 casualties in Israeli strikes on Gaza

Palestinians wait to receive treatment at UNRWA’s health centre in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 28, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters

• More than 40 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.

• Gaza’s Civil Defence Agency said that Israeli strikes on Monday have killed at least 40 people across the Palestinian territory, which has been under an Israeli aid blockade for more than 50 days.

• Israel says that its renewed military campaign aims to force Hamas to free the remaining captives.

Election of the new Pope

caption...

• Roman Catholic Cardinals will begin their secret conclave to elect the new leaders of the global Church on May 7, the Vatican said on Monday.

• The date was decided during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday.

• Some 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80 and from across the world, are eligible to take part in the conclave and decide who should be the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member church.

  ---