January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
TOKYO, March 13 — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to announce Japan’s participation in the US “Golden Dome” missile defence system during her meeting with President Donald Trump next week, according to a report.
The Golden Dome, described as a next-generation missile defence shield, is designed to progressively protect the US from aerial attacks, including via space-based interceptors and sensors, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said last year.
Citing unnamed government sources, Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported that Takaichi will discuss the initiative with Trump during their scheduled March 19 meeting in Washington and convey Japan’s intention to join the programme.
The initiative aims for the US and Japan to jointly develop interceptors and a satellite network to counter hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) being developed by China and Russia, which are reported to reach speeds of at least Mach 5.
By joining the Golden Dome project, Japan seeks to strengthen its self-defence capabilities, the report said.
In recent years, Japan has gradually moved away from its strict pacifist posture, acquiring “counterstrike” capabilities and increasing military spending to two percent of GDP.
In December, the government approved a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year, allocating ¥9 trillion (RM222 billion) for defence — the highest ever. — AFP
