The United States Congress has allocated funds for the development of a new space weapons system. It would allow the US to carry out strikes on possible enemy missile sites at short notice without relying on overseas bases.

Russia is ready to take appropriate measures if others deploy weapons in space, the commander of the Russian Space Forces said Thursday.

Russia is to put forward a draft resolution to the United Nations banning the deployment of weapons in outer space, a Russian UN mission official statement said Thursday.

A U.S. defense expert is urging Washington to take seriously the possibility that China could develop space weapons to use against the United States. He made his comments to a congressional advisory panel Friday, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.