UPDATE 1-Senate sets Jan 31 hearing for Hagel as Pentagon chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee to become the next U.S. defense secretary, will face his Senate confirmation hearing on January 31, a Senate panel said on Wednesday. The Senate Armed Services Committee announcement came a day after Hagel's nomination won critical support from two leading pro-Israel Senate Democrats, who said he had eased their concerns over