Hagel confirmed as US secretary of defense

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's pick for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, after a bruising nomination battle that saw widespread Republican opposition to the former Republican senator by a vote of 58 to 41. Hagel will lead the Pentagon as America's war in Afghanistan is winding down, and at a time of U.S. fiscal austerity. -Michael Bowman, VOA.