Overcoming doubts about his fitness for the job, Pete Hegseth secured confirmation as America’s next secretary of defence by the narrowest possible margin. He needed the casting vote of J.D. Vance, the vice-president, after three Republican senators voted against him. Mr Hegseth, a presenter on Fox News, thinks America’s armed forces have become too “woke” and has opposed allowing women to take part in combat. He has also faced allegations about excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Hamas released four more Israeli hostages, all of them female soldiers, in Gaza. Israel is set to release some 200 Palestinian prisoners in return. The exchange forms part of a six-week ceasefire between Israel and the militant group, which began on January 19th. Negotiations still have to take place on the second stage of the deal, which would seek to end the war.
Marco Rubio, America’s secretary of state, reportedly issued guidance freezing virtually all foreign assistance, including to Ukraine. The State Department cable apparently carves out exceptions for military and humanitarian aid to Israel and Egypt. The pause prohibits new government spending while Mr Rubio reviews whether aid programmes are “consistent” with Donald Trump’s “foreign policy”.
During a trip to California to see the damage caused by recent wildfires, Mr Trump met local Democratic politicians—and continued to criticise their response to the catastrophe. He accused officials such as Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, of slowing down the recovery effort. In an earlier visit to North Carolina, Mr Trump threatened to abolish America’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, which sends aid to states during disasters.
Ukraine said it hit several strategic sites near the border with Russia, including an oil refinery and a microchip plant, during overnight strikes on Friday. Russia’s defence ministry said it intercepted 121 drones over several regions, including Moscow, making the attack one of Ukraine’s largest. Earlier Ukraine said that three people were killed in Kyiv by a Russian drone strike.
Tens of thousands of people protested against Robert Fico, Slovakia’s populist prime minister, in 20 cities across the central European country. The protesters—who numbered 60,000 in Bratislava alone, according to organisers’ estimates—called on Mr Fico to resign. Since taking office for the latest time in 2023 he has shifted Slovakia away from the EU and closer to Russia.
In October China sent two pandas to America for the first time in 24 years. After a period of quarantine they at last made their public debut to crowds at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Such panda-monium has a long history: China has offered countries the bears as gifts since the seventh century, often using them to emphasise political ties.
Word of the week: Shunto, annual wage negotiations between firms and unions in Japan. Read the full story.
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