Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump is reflected in the bullet proof glass as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pa., Nov. 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Reforming Europe’s economy is all the more urgent following Donald Trump’s U.S. election win, warned the author of a blockbuster report, Mario Draghi, ahead of talks Friday with EU leaders in Budapest on tackling the challenge.

Although Europe’s public reaction to the Republican’s return has been cautious, officials are on full alert over the implications for the EU economy if he delivers on his threats and slaps higher tariffs.

Ex-European Central Bank head Mr. Draghi was tasked last year with preparing the economic report that EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will use to steer her next five years in office.

Also Read | Europe urges Trump to support Ukraine, avoid trade wars

Published in September, the sweeping document raised the alarm over Europe’s failure to keep up with the United States, pointing to the EU’s low productivity and economic slowdown.

“The recommendations in this report are already urgent, given the economic situation we are in today. They have become even more urgent after the US elections,” Mr. Draghi said.

The former Italian Prime Minister rejected a wholly pessimistic take on Mr. Trump’s return.

“There is no doubt that the Trump presidency will make a big difference in the relations between the United States and Europe. Not necessarily all in a negative sense, but certainly we must take note,” Mr. Draghi said.

With Germany mired in political turmoil, divergent national interests and bitter disagreements over how to face the challenges head on, there is no guarantee that the EU will be able to step up.

But Mr. Draghi has warned that failure to heed his recommendations would lead to the bloc’s “slow agony” of decline.

Arriving for Friday’s summit, EU chief Charles Michel said Draghi’s report formed an “excellent basis” for talks and that “everything is on the table,” especially financing.

‘Take time’

The report’s big takeaway is that Europe must invest up to €800 billion ($863 billion) more a year to avoid falling further behind the United States.

But there is a lot in the 400-page tome for the leaders to digest before lunch.

Also Read | World leaders pledge to work with Trump after poll victory

Besides his call for more investment to improve economic output, Draghi controversially called for common borrowing — an idea torpedoed by Germany — as well as reforming the EU’s approach to competition policy to encourage big spending.

In a draft declaration seen by AFP, the leaders stress “the pressing need for decisive action” and back MR. Draghi’s proposals to deepen the single market, build the capital markets union that would better mobilise private capital as well as a trade policy that defends Europe’s interests.

They agree on “mobilising both public and private financing”, adding they would explore “all instruments… to match our goals”, a controversial inclusion that will likely spark long discussions.

Germany and other frugal northern European countries strongly reject taking on joint debt to finance investments despite the success of the pan-EU 800-billion-euro Covid recovery plan and Mr. Draghi’s proposal, backed by France.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the report contained “many improvements and innovations that [Europe] needs”, yet without appearing to echo Draghi’s sense of urgency.

Minds have been focused in Europe after Mr. Trump repeatedly professed his love for tariffs on the campaign trail, threatening to target the bloc in particular.

That could trigger a damaging trade war between the United States and Europe, with economists warning that even 10% tariffs could hit European economic output.

Sparking debate

Raising Europe’s investment capacity could involve more public financing via the EU’s own budget or turning to the bloc’s own lender, the European Investment Bank.

The discussions however come at a difficult time as many countries in the EU scramble to bring under control their debt and deficit which ballooned during the coronavirus pandemic.

Friday’s talks only kickstart the conversation and concrete proposals are expected to come months later, with implementing reforms set to take even longer.

Also Read | For Europe’s markets, Trump’s return spells euro pain but bond gains

EU states all agree on the poison hurting Europe but the antidote, despite being clearly laid out by Mr. Draghi and others, has been harder for countries to accept.

The strong message from Mr. Draghi is to deepen the bloc’s cooperation overall by forming a capital markets union and creating single markets for telecoms, defence and energy. But whether leaders will act is another question.

The first-ever interest subvention scheme for long-term cooperative agricultural and non-agricultural loans launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan is set to enhance the farm output and increase farmers’ income. Farmers will get 7% interest subsidy on agricultural loans and 5% on non-agricultural loans on the repayment on time.

The cooperative loans are generally obtained for deepening of tube wells, drip irrigation, land levelling, greenhouse and solar plants, vermicompost production, silkworm rearing and beekeeping. Minister of State for Cooperative, Gautam Kumar Dak, said here on Saturday that the scheme aimed at giving the maximum loan facility to the farmers to meet their requirements.

Under the Sahakar Kisan Kalyan Yojana, the farmers have been taking loans from the primary cooperative land development banks and Central cooperative banks in the State. Mr. Dak said the new scheme would encourage the farmers to pay their loan instalments on time.

A provision of ₹39.75 crore has been made for interest subsidy during the current financial year. The farmers who get seven% subsidy will pay the interest at the rate of only four% on the loans, while those getting 5% subsidy will pay the interest at the rate of 3.5%.

The Minister said the cooperative banks would be able to disburse agricultural and non-agricultural loans to more farmers with the introduction of the scheme. The Cooperative Department had earlier this month announced a one-time settlement scheme to recover the loan amount from defaulters who were unable to repay the debt for various reasons.

Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana. File
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

The Andhra Pradesh Government’s mission is to provide a tractor load of sand for ₹900 against its current cost of ₹1,100, says Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development P. Narayana.

Mr. Narayana, along with officials, inspected the sand reaches at Bhagat Singh Colony, Deendayal Nagar and other areas on November 9, 2024 (Saturday).

On the occasion, the Minister said, “With the free sand policy brought by the Chief Minister, the construction workers across the State got work opportunities. If the construction sector is supported, there will be continuous work for various types of workers who depend on it. The free sand policy will not only improve the financial status of the workers but also help the State sustain economically.”

Mr. Narayana said that all the promises made by the NDA government would be fulfilled one after the other. He further said that the Chief Minister had already instructed the police officials to initiate strict action against those illegally transporting sand to other States.

With the 29th edition of the Conference of Parties expected to commence in Baku, India is expected to stick to its stance of getting developed countries to increase climate finance.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

With the 29^th edition of the Conference of Parties expected to commence in Baku, India is expected to stick to its stance of getting developed countries to increase climate finance – a broad term for money for adapting to the impacts of climate change – but without deviating from the principles agreed to in the Paris Agreement text.

In COP15 at Copenhagen, countries agreed on a climate finance target whereby developed countries would collectively mobilise $100 billion per year by 2020 to meet the needs of developing countries. However there was never clarity on how climate finance would be defined. Countries differed on whether conventional business investments in clean energy projects ought to be counted as climate finance or whether these sums would be over and above money that was anyway being channelled to economic development. In 2022, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) claimed that the target of $100 billion had been achieved.

In the COP of 2021, countries decided that more money would be required to keep the Paris goals – of slashing global emissions 45% by 2030 and keeping temperature rise below 2°C of pre-industrial levels – feasible. Since 2022, there have been multiple meetings to converge upon a new target called the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance – both in terms of the expected quantity as well as the year of delivery – by 2025, which means it ideally ought to be firmed up by in the COP this month.

COMMENT | All eyes on Baku and the climate finance goal

“We are flexible and open to different kinds of finance. They need not only be grants but also concessional loans via multi-lateral banks or investments in technology. Things can be discussed but if it’s business-as-usual (with short term profit motive) dressed up as climate finance or attempts to draw in countries that are outside the scope of the Paris Agreement, I doubt much progress can be made,” a highly placed official, closely involved in India’s negotiations told The Hindu, on condition of anonymity.

A draft negotiating text that was put out in October suggests that some numbers ranging from $1-1.5 trillion with a commitment period until 2035 are being debated. However the only feature of the NCQG that is agreed upon is that it build upon the existing $100 billion as a floor. “A key concern is that developed countries are trying to include developing countries (China and India) using new terms such as ‘major economies’ in a bid to get them to be part of NCQG,” said the official cited earlier.

“The result of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance will be a pivotal measure of success for COP29. A positive NCQG outcome is also essential to restore confidence in multilateral efforts and mend the fractured trust between developed and developing countries,” Shailly Kedia, Associate Director, The Energy Resources Institute, said in a statement. “If this process overlooks historical responsibility, the specific challenges faced by developing countries, and the critical need for capacity building, it could lead to outcomes that are unjust in addressing climate change.”

फेस्टिवल के मौके पर फ्लिपकार्ट पर बिग बिलियन डेज़ सेल चल रही है. सेल में मोबाइल फोन समेत कई सामान को सस्ते में उपलब्ध कराया जा रहा है. आईफोन फैंस भी इस सेल में जमकर खरीदारी कर रहे हैं क्योंकि यहां से ऐपल आईफोन को अच्छे डिस्काउंट पर खरीदा जा सकता है. लेकिन अगर आप भी ऑनलाइन सेल में से कुछ ऑर्डर करने की सोच रहे हैं तो थोड़ा सावधान होने की जरूरत है. ताकि जो बेंगलुरु की एक महिला के साथ हुआ वह आपके साथ न होने पाए. दरअसल बेंगलुरु में एक महिला ने फ्लिपकार्ट की बिग बिलियन डेज़ सेल में से iPhone 15 के 256 जीबी वेरिएंट को ऑर्डर किया और इसके लिए उसने ओपन बॉक्स डिलीवरी (OBD) का ऑप्शन चुना. लेकिन, जब डिलीवरी बॉय आया, तो उसने डिलीवरी मार्क करने से पहले बॉक्स को खोलने से मना कर दिया. उसने ग्राहक को बड़े बॉक्स वाले पार्सल को रख लेने पर जोर दिया.

रेडिट यूज़र ‘taau_7’ ने इस पूरी घटना की जानकारी दी, और बताया कि ऐसा उसकी बहन के साथ ही हुआ है. यूज़र इस महिला का भाई है, जो पूरी घटना को रिकॉर्ड कर रहा था और उन्होंने पैकेज खोले बिना और उसका सामान चेक किए बिना बॉक्स लेने से इनकार कर दिया. तभी वहां एक दूसरे ‘डिलीवरी एजेंट’ की एंट्री हुई जिसके हाथ में छोटा पैकेज था.

ये भी पढ़ें- साल की सबसे बड़ी छूट पर मिल रहे हैं ब्रांडेड TV और फ्रिज, वाशिंग मशीन के ऑफर देख खरीद लेंगे आप

रेडिट यूज़र ने अपने पोस्ट में बताया कि ‘डिलीवरी एजेंट’ ने उन्हें धोखा देने की कोशिश की, और स्कैमर ने एक बड़े पैकेज के साथ यह दावा किया कि वह ओपन बॉक्स डिलीवरी नहीं कर सकता है, और ये बॉक्स जैसा है उसे वैसा ही एक्सेप्ट करना होगा.

(Photo credit: Reddit/@taau_47)

यूज़र ने जब लेने से मना कर दिया तो उसने कुछ लोगों को बुलाया. उन्होंने कहा कि ऐसी कोई सुविधा नहीं है. यूज़र ने आगे कहा, ‘वह बहुत डरा हुआ था क्योंकि मैंने ये सब रिकॉर्ड कर लिया गया था. उसने अपने साथियों से कन्नड़ में कहा कि मैंने सब कुछ रिकॉर्ड कर लिया है.’

ये भी पढ़ें- एक दो की नहीं, इन 4 OnePlus फोन की लुढ़क गई कीमत, सस्ता होने के साथ फ्री में मिल रहा है ईयरबड्स भी

Reddit यूज़र ने आगे बताया, ‘दो मिनट के अंदर ही, एक और डिलीवरी बॉय छोटे से पैकेज को देने आया और कहा कि वह ओपन बॉक्स देगा.’ रेडिट यूज़र ने कहा, ‘हमें सामान इसलिए मिला क्योंकि मैंने रिकॉर्ड किया था. नहीं तो मुझे यकीन है कि उसने मुझे कुछ नकली पैकेज दिया होता’.

क्यो होती है Open Box Delivery?
फ्लिपकार्ट के Open Box Delivery ऑप्शन के तहत ग्राहकों को पैकेज स्वीकार करने से पहले उसे खोलने और उसके सामान की जांच करने का ऑप्शन मिलता है. ये सर्विस ये सुनिश्चित करने के लिए डिज़ाइन की गई है कि ग्राहकों को वही प्राप्त हो जो उन्होंने ऑर्डर किया है.

नई दिल्ली. 9 नवंबर का दिन दीपिका पादुकोण और रणबीर कपूर के लिए काफी खास है. साल 2007 में इसी दिन दो फिल्में रिलीज हुई थी. दीपिका की “ओम शांति ओम” और रणबीर कपूर की ‘सांवरिया’ जहां दीपिका की फिल्म सुपरहिट रही, वहीं रणबीर की फिल्म बॉक्स ऑफिस पर ढेर हो गई थी.

फराह खान के निर्देशन में बनी ‘ओम शांति ओम’ ने संजय लीला भंसाली की रोमांटिक ड्रामा को पछाड़ कर रख दिया था. उस समय ‘ओम शांति ओम’ ने दुनिया भर में 152 करोड़ रुपये की कमाई की, जबकि ‘सांवरिया’ ने केवल 39.22 करोड़ रुपये का कलेक्शन ही कर पाई थी. 9 नवंबर को दोनों फिल्मों की रिलीज के 17 साल हो गए हैं. आज ही के दिन बॉक्स ऑफिस पर बड़ा क्लैश देखने को मिला था. एक में शाहरुख खान और दीपिका पादुकोण की जोड़ी ने धमाल मचाया और दूसरी में रणबीर और सोनम कपूर की जोड़ी को दर्शकों ने नकार दिया था.

अजय देवगन की फ्लॉप हीरोइन, पिता 88 की उम्र में दे रहे हिट, मां भी टॉप एक्ट्रेस, दोनों भाइयों ने भी खूब कमाया नाम

हिट की गारंटी वाले डायरेक्टर ने किया था हार का सामना
यूं तो देखा जाए तो दोनों ही फिल्मों का अलग-अलग कारणों से फैंस को इंतजार था. लेकिन आज हिट की गारंटी माने जाने वाली संजय लीला भंसाली की ये फिल्म बुरी तरह फ्लॉप हुई थी. इस फिल्म से अनिल कपूर की बेटी सोनम कपूर ने भी डेब्यू किया था. फिल्म बुरी तरह फ्लॉप हुई थी. लेकिन रणबीर को फिल्म से पहचान मिल गई थी.

पसंद किया गया था रणबीर का टावल वाला लुक

दीपिका पादुकोण रातोंरात बनी थीं स्टार
आज ही के दिन यानी 9 नवंबर दीपिका पादुकोण और शाहरुख खान की ओम शांति ओम भी रिलीज हुई थी. दीपिका को अपनी पहली फिल्म से ही बड़ी पहचान मिल गई थी. इस फिल्म से दीपिका रातोंरात स्टार बन गई थीं. इस फिल्म के बाद वह मेकर्स की पहली पसंद बन गई थी. उनकी फिल्में बॉक्स ऑफिस पर धमाल मचाने लगी थीं.

खूब हुए थे प्यार के चर्चे
रणबीर और दीपिका पादुकोण आज इंडस्ट्री के टॉप सुपरस्टार हैं. एक वक्त था जब दोनों एक दूसरे के बेहद करीब थे. दीपिका रणबीर के प्यार में दीवानी थीं, लेकिन दोनों का ये प्यार शादी के अंजाम तक नहीं पहुंच पाया और एक मोड़ पर आकर दोनों अलग हो गए. दीपिका ने रणवीर से शादी कर ली और रणबीर ने आलिया भट्ट से दोनों जुदा हो गए. अब दोनों की ही बेटियां हैं, रणबीर की बेटी का नाम राहा है और दीपिका की बेटी का नाम दुआ है.

Tags: Deepika padukone, Entertainment news., Ranbir kapoor

A minor student from Fatehpur who moved to Kanpur to prepare for her medical entrance exam NEET at a prominent coaching institute was allegedly held hostage for over six months and raped by two of its teachers, police said. Photo used for representation purpose only.

A minor student from Fatehpur who moved to Kanpur to prepare for her medical entrance exam NEET at a prominent coaching institute was allegedly held hostage for over six months and raped by two of its teachers, police said on Saturday (November 9, 2024).

They said the ordeal began for the student in December 2022, when she was putting up at a city hostel. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kalyanpur) Abhishek Pandey said the case was registered on Friday (November 8, 2024) after she approached the Kalyanpur police station.

Both teachers — Sahil Siddiqui, who taught biology, and Vikas Porwal, who taught chemistry — have been arrested and charged with offences of rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act. The student was 17 years old when this happened.

In her complaint, the survivor told police that in December 2022, Siddiqui invited her to his friend’s flat in Kalyanpur’s Makdi-Khera area for a New Year’s party, saying other students would be there as well.

She alleged that when she reached the flat, she found only Siddiqui there who drugged her by lacing her soft drink with sedatives and raped her while also recording the episode on video.

According to the complaint, Siddiqui allegedly held her hostage in his flat for over six months, during which he repeatedly raped her and also threatened to share the video online if she spoke to anyone about it.

The student alleged that Porwal raped her a few months after this.

She said in the FIR that she could not muster the courage to seek police help as she was afraid that it might land her family in danger.

Six months later, the girl’s mother arrived in Kanpur and took her along.

Initially, the girl was hesitant to approach the police but she made up her mind to take the step when she came across a video showing Siddiqui sexually harassing a coaching student.

The case was registered against the two teachers under Indian Penal Code sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 376(2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman), 344 (wrongful confinement for 10 or more days) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and the POCSO Act, an official said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AICC general secretary and UDF candidate, waves to people during an election campaign held at Chandakunnu in Wayanad on November 7.
| Photo Credit: ANI

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to commence the third phase of her campaign for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll on Sunday (November 10). According to a release from the District Congress Committee, Ms. Vadra will hold a public meeting at 12:20 p.m. at Edavaka near Mananthavady on that day.

Receptions will be held for Ms. Vadra throughout the region. Her itinerary includes a reception at Tharuvana in the Mananthavady constituency at 12:50 p.m., another at Vennoyodu in the Kalpetta Assembly constituency at 1:30 p.m., and a corner meeting at Kambalakkadu in the Kalpetta constituency at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Vadra will continue her campaign with a corner meeting at 3:00 p.m. at Naikatty in the Sultan Bathery Assembly constituency. Additional receptions will take place at 4:15 p.m. at Chulliyode and at 5:10 p.m. at Vaduvanchal in the constituency. She will also stage a roadshow at Sultan Bathery at 10:15 a.m. on Monday (November 11), accompanied by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The two will conduct another roadshow at Thiruvambady at 3:00 p.m.

MA&UD Minister Ponguru Narayana along with Nellore District Collector O. Anand addressing the Irrigation Advisory Board meeting at Nellore on Friday.

After receiving several complaints from farmers and leaders of various associations, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), Ponguru Narayana, promised to complete the repair works and desilting of all irrigation canals in Nellore district at the earliest.

Speaking as the chief guest in the Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) meeting at the District Collectorate on Friday, he said: “All the irrigation canals will be repaired and the tenders for the repair works will be completed by November 18, then the works will be commenced. The farmers’ associations and officials must oversee the canal works. Once the condition of the State treasury improves, we will discuss the process of acquiring funds with the Chief Minister.”

“The Chief Minister has recently ordered to start ‘Operation Budameru’ — a special drive for the removal of encroachments along the canals. He has given orders to take aerial videos of the canals after the repair works are conducted in the district,” he said, alleging that not even a single canal was desilted during the last five years, but bills have been produced by the previous government.

All public representatives in the district were asked to ensure that every acre of agricultural land receives water, he said, adding that currently 69 TMC of water is available in Somasila reservoir and 50 TMC in Kandaleru reservoir, and both are irrigating overall 7.77 lakh acres of land.

However, Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said caution must be exercised to make sure that the irrigations drains are not exhausted. “Although there is plenty of water in the projects, water should be used sparingly. In the past, 16,000 acres of land was cultivated with one TMC of water by following precautions in irrigation management,” he said.

In this photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Communications Office, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., centre, holds a document beside Senate President Francis Escudero, left, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, right, during the ceremonial signing of the Philippine Maritime Zones and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, at the Malacanang presidential palace, in Manila, Philippines on Friday (November 8, 2024).
| Photo Credit: AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws on Friday (November 8, 2024) reaffirming the extent of his country’s maritime territories and right to resources, including in the South China Sea, angering China, which claims the hotly disputed waterway almost in its entirety.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Philippines Ambassador to China to lodge a “stern protest.” The ministry condemned the move as an attempt to “solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.”

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea passage have spiked alarmingly since last year. That has sparked fears that the United States – Manila’s longtime treaty ally – may get drawn in a major conflict.

The laws, called the Philippine Maritime Zones act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, were signed by Mr. Marcos in a nationally televised ceremony attended by top military and national security officials. They further cement Manila’s rejection of China’s claims to virtually the entire sea passage, and stipulate jail terms and stiff fines for violators.

“These signal our resolve to protect our maritime resources, preserve our rich biodiversity and ensure that our waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos,” Mr. Marcos said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the move “seriously infringes on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.”

“China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it,” she said.

In a new national map, it released last year the Chinese government demarcated its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea with vague dash lines that drew protests and rejections from rival coastal states and government, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

“The maritime zones act demarcates key parts of the Philippine archipelago’s territory and outlying waters where it has full sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law and the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Philippine officials said.

Those zones include the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, a 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometer) stretch of water, where a coastal state like the Philippines has exclusive rights to tap energy and other resources. Foreign ships and aircraft have an internationally recognized right known as “innocent passage” to pass through such a zone, if the coastal state’s security would not come under threat.

The archipelagic sea lanes act allows the Philippines to designate sea lanes and air routes in the archipelago where foreign ships and aircraft could transit under its regulation and in compliance with international law.

“These legal instruments solidify our territory and enhances our ability to protect our country against any infringement,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said.

Mr. Marcos said the laws comply with international law and the UNCLOS, but many of their provisions stand in stark contrast to Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea and would likely be rejected and defied by China.

It’s unclear how the Philippines could enforce the laws, which take effect 15 days after their publication in the government’s official gazette or in a newspaper, given China’s increasingly aggressive actions to push its claims.

Copies of the laws signed by Mr. Marcos were not immediately available, but a final version of the maritime zones bill stated that “all artificial islands constructed within the Philippine EEZ belong to the Philippine Government.”

China has transformed seven disputed reefs into what are now missile-protected island bases, including the Mischief Reef, which lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

The law based the Philippines’ maritime rights on UNCLOS, Philippine laws and a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s extensive territorial claims based on historical grounds.

China refused to participate in that arbitration, rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. Its massive coast guard, navy, air force and suspected militia fleets have used water cannons, military grade lasers and dangerous sea and air manoeuvres to intimidate rival forces it accuses of straying into what Beijing calls its territory.

Washington has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, aircraft or ships come under an armed attack in the disputed waters.