Philippines, US launch scaled-down military exercises

The Philippines and the United States launched annual military exercises on Monday but the longtime allies scaled them down in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China and Russia.Duterte in his 10 months in office has sought to weaken ties with the United States -- the Philippines' mutual defence treaty partner and former colonial ruler -- saying its role as a global superpower is diminishing.The 12-day "Balikatan" war games that began on Monday will involve fewer than half the numbe