KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar and was mixed against other currencies, as support from firmer oil prices was offset by broad dollar strength and cautious positioning following the US Federal Reserve (Fed)'s rate decision.
has “no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles”, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Monday, as US Presidentwill strengthen deterrence by denying adversaries the ability to achieve their objectives through coercion or aggression,” Marc Berkowitz, the assistant secretary of defence for missile defence and deterrence policy, told a Senate hearing on Monday.
Trump, a Republican president known for his fixation on outsize military programmes, proposed last year that the US build a space-based missile defence interceptor system and have it operational before the end of his second term in January 2029.
“We have no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles today, advanced cruise missiles,” Berkowitz said, when pressed on the urgency of the controversial project.is our pacing competitor. We will deter China from a position of strength with a denial defence along the first island chain,” he added, with other witnesses citing the rapid expansion of the Chinese and Russian missile arsenals.is holding a series of hearings this month on the White House’s record US$1.5 trillion defence budget request – the largest in history.last Tuesday, show plans to seek US$17.9 billion for the Golden Dome in the coming financial year.
Of that, US$17.1 billion would come from a proposed budget reconciliation package rather than through the regular appropriations process. The department also said last week that it would carve out a US$750 billion “presidential priorities” line within the defence budget covering the Golden Dome, drone dominance, artificial intelligence and the strengthening of the defence industrial base.
, the director of the Golden Dome, and Heath Collins, the US Air Force Lieutenant General who serves as director of the Missile Defence Agency. Asked how many missiles, drones and other attack systems China holds – the principal threat Golden Dome is designed to counter – Collins said: “Those numbers are classified, but they range, depending on the type of threat, from several hundred to several tens of thousands.
”The president’s annual budget request is less a legally binding document than a policy statement of priorities. The final figures are determined by Congress, which holds the power of the purse. Of Trump’s proposed FY2027 military budget, US$1.15 trillion in discretionary spending would need 60 votes to clear the chamber. In comparison, the remaining US$350 billion could be passed by a simple majority via the reconciliation route.
Multiple lawmakers have already voiced concern over the Trump administration’s habitual reliance on the procedure to secure additional funding. China faces a France-sized demographic loss that threatens coastal growth: analystsCambodian court denies appeal by detained opposition leader Kem SokhaOil prices rise on report US considering military options to break Iran deadlockUS and Nato faced with frustrating ‘marriage crisis’, Belgian defence minister says
United States Hypersonic Weapons Golden Dome Pentagon Donald Trump US Space Force China Missile Defence Congress Defence Budget
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Koisaan Museum and Library launchedPENAMPANG: Koisaan Museum and Library was launched at Hongkod Koisaan, Tuesday, aimed at safeguarding and promoting the rich socio-cultural heritage of the Kada
Read more »
Bjorn Again ABBA Tribute Tour Coming to Kuala Lumpur in 2026The internationally acclaimed ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again will bring their The ABBA Forever Tour to Zepp Kuala Lumpur on August 12, 2026. The show promises a two-hour spectacle of ABBA’s greatest hits, known for its energetic performance and high-quality tribute.
Read more »
Mamma Mia, Malaysia! Björn Again is bringing ABBA magic to Zepp KL this AugustKUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Dust off the sequins and prepare for a full-blown disco throwback as world-renowned ABBA tribute act Björn Again is heading to Kuala Lumpur as part of...
Read more »
Mohamed Salah Expected to Return for Liverpool This SeasonLiverpool forward Mohamed Salah is likely to play again this season after initial fears of a serious hamstring injury proved unfounded. The club confirmed the injury is minor and he is expected to return before the end of the current campaign despite previously being thought to be out for four weeks and potentially missing the World Cup.
Read more »
KL Festival is packed with free programming - here are 10 highlightsApril 29 (Reuters) - Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is expected to play for the Premier League side again this season, with the club saying on Wednesday that the muscle injury he suffered is not as serious as first thought.
Read more »