Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has sent three coast guard vessels to ensure the safety of a civilian flotilla sailing to a shoal in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have been embroiled in heated stand-offs over competing claims.

The three-day mission to hand out provisions for fishermen anchored at the contested Scarborough Shoal is being led by a group called Atin Ito (This is Ours), along with five commercial fishing vessels,... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Europe's benchmark index climbed to a record high on Wednesday, as upbeat earnings boosted industrials and healthcare stocks, while investors buckled up for a highly anticipated U.S. inflation print.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.4%, as of 0715 GMT, after closing at a record high on Tuesday.

Shares of credit data firm Experian jumped 7.8% after an upbeat annual organic revenue growth forecast and Poland's InPost... (continue reading...)

By Nyasha Chingono

HARARE (Reuters) - More than half of Zimbabwe's population will need food aid this year following a devastating drought that led to widespread crop failure as humanitarian organisations seek funding to save many from hunger, the country's cabinet heard late on Tuesday.

About 6 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million in urban areas will require assistance, according to the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee... (continue reading...)

MADRID (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has cancelled a visit to Spain and Portugal, authorities said on Wednesday, with CNN Portugal and other media reporting it was because of renewed fighting in his country.

King Felipe of Spain has been due to hold a reception for Zelenskiy on May 17 and host a meal in his honour.

Zelenskiy had also been expected to sign a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Prime... (continue reading...)

By Layli Foroudi and Ben Makori

CARDIFF, Wales (Reuters) - When he took office as First Minister of Wales in March, Vaughan Gething became the first Black head of government in Europe - yet he believes UK society is more overtly racist than a decade ago.

"On virtually every piece of social media that went out for my campaign, there'd be a stream of messages underneath it that were questioning my right to be here," the leader of the Welsh... (continue reading...)