- Hope, fear at Paris rally for Gaza hostages
- Separated by LA wildfires, a happy reunion for some pets, owners
- France's Moutet 'collapsed in shower' before Australian Open match
- In US, teleworkers don't want to turn back
- Covid's origins reviewed: Lab leak or natural spillover?
- Trump arrives in Washington ahead of Monday's inauguration
- Steady Straka takes four-shot lead in PGA Tour's American Express
- Kelce, Mahomes double-act leads Chiefs past Texans in NFL playoffs
- Barcelona's Balde complains of racist abuse in Getafe draw
- Frustrated Barca fail to capitalise on Atletico La Liga slip
- More Kenyan police land in Haiti to bolster security mission
- McGlynn leads youthful USA to friendly win over Venezuela
- Barcelona stumble to frustrating Getafe draw in title setback
- Lukaku fires Napoli six points clear at Atalanta, Juve sink Milan
- Milder winds help LA firefighters as Trump vows to visit
- Arsenal must take blame for Villa fightback: Arteta
- Russian attacks kill six across Ukraine, Kyiv says
- Northampton, Leinster claim Champions Cup pool top spots
- Arsenal's title bid rocked by Villa fightback
- Superb Wirtz keeps Leverkusen on pace with leaders Bayern
- Thousands attend funeral of Liberian ex-warlord Prince Johnson
- Barcola strikes as PSG fight back to beat Lens
- Juventus into Serie A Champions League spots with victory over AC Milan
- Kane calls on Bayern to extend with pal Dier
- Kenya sends 217 more police officers to Haiti mission
- Nunez late show a significant moment for Liverpool, says Slot
- Northampton claim Champions Cup pool top spot with Munster thriller
- Leganes snap Liga leaders Atletico's winning streak
- Nunez rides to Liverpool's rescue, Newcastle thrashed by Bournemouth
- Leaders Liverpool strike late as Nunez sinks Brentford
- Trump launches his own meme coin, value soars
- Goretzka double helps Bayern go seven clear
- Hillier holds narrow Dubai lead as McIlroy eyes final-round surge
- Kluivert hat-trick helps Bournemouth snap Newcastle streak
- Odermatt continues Swiss roll with downhill win in Wengen
- French skier Giezendanner helicoptered off mountain after Wengen crash
- Over 55,000 displaced Sudanese return to southeastern state: IOM
- Noman and Sajid help Pakistan dominate West Indies in spin battle
- 'Great day' for happy couple Svitolina, Monfils at Australian Open
- Collins dumped out of Australian Open to boos
- Mbappe improving every game: Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
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- Sinner surges into Melbourne last 16 as Swiatek destroys Raducanu
- Noman and Sajid give Pakistan lead in spin-dominated first Test
- Sinner romps past Giron into Australian Open last 16
- Svitolina stuns Paolini for family fairytale at Australian Open
- Indian court finds man guilty in notorious hospital rape case
Trump's cabinet hearings kick off with controversial Pentagon pick
Confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's cabinet nominees kicked off Tuesday with his controversial Pentagon pick, Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host dogged by sexual assault allegations and no experience leading large organizations.
Senate Republicans are keen for Trump's national security nominees to be confirmed quickly and Democrats may agree to fast-track some. But they are determined to throw up roadblocks in front of candidates they see as unfit.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer, has argued that US military effectiveness has been undermined by efforts aimed at promoting diversity in the ranks, and has said that women should not serve in combat.
"When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense," Hegseth said at the opening of his confirmation hearing.
"He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability, and readiness," he said in remarks interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Democrats on the committee have highlighted major concerns about Hegseth, from his personal conduct to his ability to lead the Pentagon, a massive bureaucracy that employs more than three million people.
Senator Jack Reed -- the committee's ranking Democrat -- put it bluntly in his opening statement: "Mr Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job."
"We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources -- including your own writings -- implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues," Reed said.
- More fiery hearings -
Asked by Republican Senator Roger Wicker, the committee chair, about allegations Hegseth has faced, he claimed there was a "coordinated smear campaign" against him.
"I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real," Hegseth said.
He can only afford three Republican rejections and still be confirmed, should every Democrat and independent vote against him.
But he has maintained Trump's support while the excoriating headlines have multiplied, and Senate Republicans appear open to hearing him out.
Former Democratic congresswoman turned Trumpist Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped for director of national intelligence, is another candidate whose lack of qualifications and experience have raised alarm bells, as well as her attitudes toward US adversaries.
Gabbard met then Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2017 and declared him "not the enemy." She has also voiced sympathy for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Opposition appears to be softening however after she flipped her stance to support a controversial government intelligence-gathering program that she tried to repeal in 2020.
Some pressure on the nominees is expected from both sides of the aisle, especially for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for secretary of health and human services and an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist.
But former Florida senator and foreign policy hawk Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state, is a sure bet with bipartisan support, and will likely be confirmed before Trump takes office on January 20.
Rubio gets his hearing Wednesday, along with homeland security secretary nominee Kristi Noem, attorney general nominee Pam Bondi and CIA pick John Ratcliffe, who has been confirmed by the Senate before as director of national intelligence.
Bondi was Trump's second choice after his initial pick, former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration after facing sexual misconduct and drug allegations.
Some of the most potentially fiery hearings are yet to be scheduled, including for Kennedy and Kash Patel, Trump's nominee to run the FBI.
Patel -- a conspiracy theorist who vowed in a podcast that Trump would "come after" journalists, lawyers and judges he believes haven't treated him fairly -- is not expected to get his confirmation hearing until February.
G.M.Castelo--PC