The U.S. is preparing to expand the deployment of advanced missile systems in the northern Philippines, placing additional long-range strike capability within range of key Chinese military assets and reinforcing Washington’s effort to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. and Philippine officials announced plans to increase deployments of «cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems» to the treaty ally, as both governments condemned what they described as China’s «illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities» in the South China Sea.

The move comes as confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified in disputed waters and as Beijing continues to pressure Taiwan, raising the stakes across the region’s most sensitive flashpoints.

It builds on the deployment of the U.S. Army’s Typhon missile system in northern Luzon, Philippines, a ground-based launcher capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles that can travel more than 1,000 miles.

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Tomahawks can travel more than 1,000 miles — a range that, from northern Luzon, Philippines, places portions of southern China and major People’s Liberation Army (PLA) facilities within reach. The positioning also allows the U.S. and Philippine militaries to cover large swaths of the South China Sea and key maritime corridors connecting it to the broader Pacific.

The U.S. first deployed the Typhon system to Luzon, Philippines, in April 2024. An anti-ship missile launcher known as the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System was deployed in 2025 to Batan Island in the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes.

That island faces the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway just south of Taiwan that serves as a critical transit route for commercial shipping and military vessels moving between the South China Sea and the Western Pacific. Control of that channel would be vital in any potential Taiwan contingency.

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U.S. and Philippine officials announced plans to increase deployments of «cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems» to the treaty ally, as both governments condemned what they described as China’s «illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities» in the South China Sea. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)

Beijing has urged Manila to withdraw the U.S. systems from its territory, but officials under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have rejected those demands.

«China has consistently stated its firm opposition to the United States’ deployment of advanced weapons systems in the Philippines. The introduction of strategic and offensive weapons that heighten regional tensions, fuel geopolitical confrontation, and risk triggering an arms race is extremely dangerous. Such actions are irresponsible to the people of the Philippines, to Southeast Asian nations, and to regional security as a whole,» Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Fox News Digital.  «The United States is not a party to disputes in the South China Sea and has no standing to intervene in maritime issues between China and the Philippines.»

«The Taiwan question lies at the very heart of China’s core interests. China’s determination to defend its national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity is unwavering. Any provocation that crosses red lines on Taiwan will be met with resolute countermeasures, and any attempt to obstruct China’s reunification is doomed to fail,» Liu continued. 

Neither side detailed how many additional systems would be sent or whether the deployments would be permanent, but Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said U.S. and Filipino defense officials discussed deploying upgraded missile launchers that Manila may eventually seek to purchase.

«It’s a kind of system that’s really very sophisticated and will be deployed here in the hope that, down the road, we will be able to get our own,» Romualdez told The Associated Press.

Romualdez stressed that the deployments are intended as a deterrent.

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«It’s purely for deterrence,» he said. «Every time the Chinese show any kind of aggression, it only strengthens our resolve to have these types.»

China repeatedly has objected to the missile deployments, warning they threaten regional stability and accusing Washington of trying to contain its rise.

In a joint statement following annual bilateral talks in Manila, the U.S. and the Philippines underscored their support for freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the South China Sea — a vital global trade artery through which trillions of dollars in goods pass each year.

Members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy march during the rehearsal ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2025. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

«Both sides condemned China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities in the South China Sea, recognizing their adverse effects on regional peace and stability and the economies of the Indo-Pacific and beyond,» the statement said.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that invalidated many of its sweeping claims. In recent years, Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels have clashed repeatedly with Philippine ships near disputed shoals, including Second Thomas Shoal.

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The expanded missile deployments also come as the Pentagon balances rising tensions in multiple theaters. In recent weeks, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group — which had been operating in the Indo-Pacific — was redirected toward the Middle East as the U.S. moved to bolster its posture amid escalating tensions with Iran. 

The deployments also reflect a broader U.S. effort to strengthen its military posture along the so-called «first island chain» — a string of territories stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines that forms a natural barrier to Chinese naval expansion into the Pacific.

Washington has deepened defense cooperation with Manila under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, expanding U.S. access to Philippine bases, including sites in northern Luzon close to Taiwan.

China in May released a national security white paper criticizing the deployment of an «intermediate-range missile system» in the region — widely viewed as a reference to the U.S. Typhon launcher in the Philippines. The document accused unnamed countries of reviving a «Cold War mentality» and forming military «small groups» that aggravate regional tensions.

For U.S. planners, dispersing mobile, land-based missile systems across allied territory complicates Beijing’s military calculus. Instead of relying solely on ships and aircraft, the U.S. can field ground-based systems that are harder to track and capable of holding Chinese naval and air assets at risk.

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For Beijing, however, such deployments reinforce its long-standing claim that the United States is encircling China militarily.

As tensions simmer in both the South China Sea and around Taiwan, the positioning of long-range U.S. missile systems on Philippine soil underscores how the strategic competition between Washington and Beijing is increasingly being defined by geography — and by which side can project credible deterrent power across it.

La combinación de arroz con huevo, consumida a diario en numerosos hogares y comedores, se consolidó como una de las alternativas más eficientes y accesibles en términos nutricionales. Personas de diferentes edades y contextos la eligen por su practicidad, su bajo costo y su capacidad para aportar proteínas completas y energía sostenida. El interés por este plato creció especialmente entre quienes buscan una alimentación saludable y balanceada.

Tradicionalmente, el arroz con huevo fue visto como una solución ante la escasez o como un recurso rápido en la cocina. Sin embargo, los avances en la ciencia de los alimentos permitieron demostrar que esta mezcla supera a la carne roja en varios aspectos nutricionales. Deportistas, estudiantes y familias encuentran en este plato una fuente de proteínas, vitaminas y minerales esenciales para el funcionamiento del organismo.

Especialistas en nutrición y ciencia de los alimentos sostienen que el valor de esta combinación radica en la calidad de sus proteínas y en su aporte energético. Según investigaciones recientes citadas por O Globo, el arroz aporta energía rápida y fibra, mientras que el huevo completa el perfil de aminoácidos, logrando una proteína de alta calidad.

La combinación de arroz con huevo ofrece una proteína de alto valor biológico, comparable a la de la carne roja en términos de calidad y aprovechamiento por el organismo. Según la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO), mezclar cereales como el arroz con huevo permite obtener todos los aminoácidos esenciales en proporciones óptimas, lo que hace que esta alternativa cumpla la misma función estructural y reparadora que las proteínas animales más reconocidas.

Esta equivalencia proteica, sumada a su bajo costo y accesibilidad, convierte al arroz con huevo en una opción eficiente y saludable para quienes buscan cubrir sus necesidades nutricionales sin recurrir necesariamente a la carne roja.

De acuerdo con O Globo, la clave nutricional del arroz con huevo reside en el concepto de Valor Biológico (VB). El arroz carece de lisina, un aminoácido esencial, pero el huevo lo contiene en cantidad suficiente para complementar el cereal. Así, el organismo aprovecha mejor las proteínas, que se utilizan para reparar tejidos, producir hormonas y mantener la masa muscular.

Diversos estudios comparativos muestran que la eficiencia de la proteína formada por arroz y huevo iguala o supera la de la carne roja. Esta combinación también resulta más económica y accesible, lo que favorece su inclusión en la dieta diaria. Quienes practican actividades físicas intensas o deportes de resistencia eligen el arroz con huevo como aliado estratégico por su fácil digestión y sus beneficios de recuperación muscular.

Bruno Román, especialista en ciencia de los alimentos, explicó al portal Miyeilis Flores: “El arroz con huevo es como un juego de Lego: el huevo coloca las piezas que faltan al arroz para construir salud”. Según Román, la sinergia entre ambos alimentos representa un ejemplo de optimización nutricional sin necesidad de recurrir a suplementos.

El arroz con huevo puede optimizarse mediante técnicas sencillas en la cocina. Una de ellas es el choque térmico: cocinar el arroz con anticipación, dejarlo enfriar en la heladera y luego recalentar suavemente antes de consumirlo. Según recomendaciones de expertos en nutrición, este proceso genera almidón resistente, una fibra que se absorbe lentamente y favorece la microbiota intestinal.

En materia de seguridad alimentaria, se aconseja lavar el arroz varias veces hasta que el agua salga transparente y utilizar suficiente agua en la cocción para reducir la presencia de arsénico, mineral que el cereal absorbe del suelo. El consumo responsable y cuidadoso garantiza un plato seguro y saludable para todos los integrantes de la familia.

Para evitar picos de glucosa en sangre, la sugerencia es acompañar el arroz con huevo con una porción de vegetales verdes. Según especialistas en endocrinología citados por O Globo, la fibra de estos vegetales ralentiza la absorción del almidón y ayuda a mantener estables los niveles de azúcar. Esta recomendación resulta especialmente útil para personas con diabetes o que buscan controlar el peso corporal.

El equilibrio en las proporciones de arroz y huevo es fundamental para obtener el máximo beneficio nutricional. De acuerdo con los expertos, la relación ideal consiste en media taza de arroz por cada huevo. Este balance evita el exceso de carbohidratos y asegura un buen aporte proteico, necesario para la regeneración y el crecimiento de los tejidos.

La cocción del huevo también requiere atención. Evitar el calor excesivo que dora las bordes previene la degradación de proteínas y la oxidación de las grasas saludables de la yema. Así, el valor nutricional se mantiene intacto y el plato conserva su eficacia como fuente de energía y nutrientes.

El arroz con huevo admite múltiples variantes según los objetivos personales y las costumbres regionales. Algunas personas añaden verduras frescas, hierbas o especias para enriquecer el sabor y sumar nutrientes. Otras prefieren incorporar aceite de oliva o semillas para aumentar el contenido de ácidos grasos saludables, siempre cuidando la moderación y el equilibrio.

El arroz con huevo no solo destaca por su valor nutricional, sino también por su bajo costo y su versatilidad en la cocina. Esta preparación permite alimentar a grandes grupos familiares y se adapta tanto al desayuno como al almuerzo o la cena. Además, constituye una alternativa sostenible en comparación con las carnes rojas, cuyo impacto ambiental resulta considerablemente mayor.

El conocimiento y la difusión de los beneficios del arroz con huevo permiten tomar decisiones alimentarias más informadas. Incorporar esta combinación a la rutina diaria contribuye a la salud individual y colectiva. La simplicidad de los ingredientes y la facilidad de preparación convierten al arroz con huevo en una herramienta clave para una alimentación equilibrada.

Optimizar la preparación y acompañar el plato con vegetales asegura el máximo aprovechamiento de sus ventajas. El arroz con huevo confirma que la nutrición de calidad puede ser accesible, económica y deliciosa.

An 88-year-old billionaire businessman and former Victoria’s Secret chief is the latest person to fall within the House Oversight Committee’s investigative crosshairs in the Jeffrey Epstein case, as he is scheduled to appear before the panel in Ohio on Wednesday morning.

The crimes of the late accused sex trafficker Epstein are well-known, having gained new media attention in recent months after Congress forced the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose millions of pages of documents.

But less is known about the figures who operated within Epstein’s orbit and how they helped him get the vast international sphere of influence he enjoyed before finding himself in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial, where he killed himself in 2019.

Les Wexner, founder of L Brands, the former chief of Victoria’s Secret, is one of those figures, having been named a co-conspirator of Epstein in a recently uncovered FBI document from 2019.

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Wexner is the founder of L Brands, formerly known as The Limited, which included Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Pink. He also helped found Abercrombie & Fitch, a clothing brand that was once popular among teens in the U.S.

Wexner has never been charged with crimes related to the late financier, and a spokesperson for the mogul told Fox News Digital that the «Assistant U.S. Attorney told Mr. Wexner’s legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect.» 

But documents released by the DOJ allege that Wexner was one of the key players in how Epstein built his wealth and later ran his illicit empire.

One file from 2013 that appears to have been in the possession of the Southern District of New York (SDNY) titled «Jeffrey Epstein Source of Wealth,» said Wexner «became a well-known client» of Epstein’s financial management firm in 1987.

At the time, Wexner was identified as the founder and chairman of the Ohio-based women’s clothing brand The Limited.

«Since all but one of his financial clients are anonymous, it has been speculated that much of Epstein’s lavish lifestyle was once financed by Wexner,» reads the document, which appears to be an email. Wexner’s spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations.

That paper also noted that Wexner sold his massive Manhattan townhouse — reported to be the largest private residence in the New York City borough — to Epstein.

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A 2019 FBI witness statement from a man who purported to be Wexner’s bodyguard from 1991 to 1992 said Wexner «sold his mansion in New York to Epstein for $20.»

The same witness statement alleged that «Epstein got all of his money from Wexner.»

A 1998 document obtained by Fox News Digital, however, shows Wexner sold his home to Epstein for a $20 million price tag. Half was paid via cashier’s check, while the other half was covered by a promissory note, the record shows.

Epstein’s Manhattan mansion was raided by the FBI in July 2019 as part of the federal sex trafficking investigation. There, law enforcement officials found vast troves of evidence, including photos of partially or fully nude women and girls, including ones who appeared to be minors.

A residence belonging to Jeffrey Epstein at East 71st Street is seen on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on July 8, 2019, in New York City.  (Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

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The DOJ’s unsealed indictment against Epstein also said it was one of the places where he «enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, dozens of minor girls… to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash.»

Wexner reportedly bought the mansion in 1989 for $13.2 million before selling it to a corporation partially controlled by Epstein for an «undisclosed amount,» according to Business Insider. It was then reportedly transferred to a U.S. Virgin Islands-based company controlled by Epstein for $0 in 2011.

The home was reportedly valued at $77 million at the time of the raid, making it a massive portion of Epstein’s wealth.

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A heavily redacted email chain from July 2025 that appears to show witness statement summaries, with the subject line, «RE: Epstein – Cellmate Interview,» also said, «Steve Scully stated Wexner was #1 on Epstein’s speed dial.»

Steve Scully appears to be a reference to a former IT contractor who lived and worked on Epstein’s private island of Little St. James from 1999 through 2005. Wexner’s spokesperson declined to comment on Scully’s claim.

Wexner even signed a document in 1991 giving Epstein vast control over his finances via power of attorney, according to the New York Times. That document gave Epstein the power to sign checks, borrow money, and buy or sell real estate on Wexner’s behalf, the report said.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after a closed-door deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidante of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 9, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

A letter Wexner wrote to his nonprofit, the Wexner Foundation, in August 2019 said that while he did give power of attorney to Epstein, their relationship ended soon after the 2007 federal investigation first began into the late financier in Florida.

«[B]y early fall 2007, it was agreed that he should step back from the management of our personal finances. In that process, we discovered that he had misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family. This was, frankly, a tremendous shock, even though it clearly pales in comparison to the unthinkable allegations against him now,» the letter said.

«With his credibility and our trust in him destroyed, we immediately severed ties with him. We were able to recover some of the funds. The widely reported payments Mr. Epstein made to the charitable fund represented a portion of the returned monies. All of that money — every dollar of it — was originally Wexner family money.»

But other documents released by the DOJ allege that Epstein and Wexner’s relationship went further than financial management.

An FBI witness statement by Robert Morosky, a former executive for Wexner’s fashion brand, said, «He had information regarding the use of ‘Limited’ brand aircraft used in the 1990s to transport young girls from Mexico to the U.S.»

«Morosky did not wish to give any additional information at that time; however if someone would like to pursue this information he could be reached on his personal cellular phone,’» the statement said.

It’s unclear if the lead was ever pursued, but a spokesperson for Wexner told Fox News Digital, «The allegation is false. Mr. Morosky was terminated from the company in 1987 and therefore in no position to know anything about the use of Limited planes in the 1990s.»

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A witness statement from 2020, with the identity of the female witness redacted, said she claimed to have «often» seen Epstein and Wexner together.

She «stated that often Wexner would have models who could not have been over 18 years old do private viewings for him and Epstein. She said the models would be wearing [swimsuits] and some were in lingerie,» the document read.

Wexner’s spokesperson declined to comment on those claims and called her account of seeing the pair together «vague.»

Attorney General Pam Bondi conducts a news conference at the Department of Justice on December 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

The female witness said she «would help with getting people to work at parties at Wexner’s compound in catering and other positions,» and that «anyone who went to work there had to have a full background check and there were certain areas of the house where they could not go without an approved escort.»

However, there was no indication of what years or period of time her claims are focused on.

A source with knowledge of company procedures argued the situation could not have happened, however. Model fittings always involved teams of 15 to 20 professionals and Epstein was never a part of that, the source maintained.

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Wexner is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee in Ohio on Wednesday morning.

Fox News Digital reached out to Wexner’s attorney for comment on the deposition and on the aforementioned claims.