WASHINGTON (Reuters) – John Kerry’s nomination as President Barack Obama’s new secretary of state sailed through the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, as his fellow senators voted overwhelmingly to confirm him to replace Hillary Clinton as the country’s top diplomat.

The vote was 94-3 in favor. The two senators from Texas, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, all Republicans, were the only no votes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – John Kerry urged Congress to fix the U.S. economy to ensure America’s role as a world leader and pledged to keep pressure on Iran at a Senate hearing on Thursday that left little doubt he will win easy confirmation as secretary of state.

The five-term U.S. senator and Vietnam War veteran, who was the Democrats’ 2004 presidential nominee, said the “first priority” in protecting his credibility as a diplomat was the country’s ability to get its fiscal house in order.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – John Kerry urged Congress to fix the U.S. economy to ensure the country’s role as a world leader and pledged to keep pressure on Iran at a Senate hearing on Thursday that left little doubt he will win easy confirmation as secretary of state.

The five-term U.S. senator and Vietnam War veteran said the “first priority” in protecting his credibility as a diplomat was the country’s ability to get its fiscal house in order.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – At least one of President Barack Obama’s national security picks is likely to win approval easily from the U.S. Senate: his nominee for Secretary of State, John Kerry, whose confirmation hearing will be conducted by a committee he has led for four years.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday angrily defended her handling of the September 11 attack on the U.S. mission in the Libyan city of Benghazi and denied any effort to mislead people.

The attack by armed militants that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans threatens to stain Clinton’s legacy as secretary of state. It also may dent any hopes that Clinton, who mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2008, may run for the White House again in 2016.

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) – It was one of the biggest
questions of Monday’s inaugural celebrations: not what would
President Barack Obama say, but what would his wife, Michelle
Obama, wear?

The first lady cemented her reputation as an international
style trend-setter with her choice of a Jason Wu red sleeveless
ball gown in the evening, and a striking business-style blue
navy coat and dress for the ceremonial daytime events.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – It was one of the biggest questions of Monday’s inaugural ceremonies: not what would President Barack Obama say, but what would his wife, Michelle Obama, wear?

The first lady wore a navy coat and dress by designer Thom Browne, inspired by the fabric of a man’s silk tie.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel’s chances of becoming the President Barack Obama’s defense secretary received a critical boost on Tuesday when two leading Senate Democrats said they had decided to vote to confirm him.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, and Senator Barbara Boxer, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Hagel had eased their concerns over Hagel’s positions on Israel, Iran and other issues.

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Two leading Senate Democrats
said on Tuesday they had decided to support Chuck Hagel’s
nomination as U.S. defense secretary, providing a critical boost
to the former Republican senator’s chances of getting the job.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democrat
in the Senate, said his concerns over Hagel’s positions on
Israel, Iran and other issues were addressed after they met for
about 90 minutes on Monday. He described Hagel as “forthcoming
and sincere.”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After 20 years working on international relations in Congress, Representative Ed Royce takes over the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee with one goal firmly in mind: a harder line, with tighter sanctions, on Iran.

So low-profile that some fellow Californians call his dad, former Orange County water official Ed Royce Sr., “the real Ed Royce,” the 11-term Republican congressman has garnered less national attention than most new heads of major committees.