A new US Secretary of Defence has been sworn in, ending the longest period that the Pentagon has gone without a confirmed leader in its history.
Mark Esper is an Army veteran and former defence industry lobbyist.
He replaces Jim Mattis who stepped down 7 months ago, after a series of policy disputes with President Donald Trump.
Trump initially nominated Patrick Shanahan, who served as acting secretary of defence until the disclosure of domestic violence incidents within his family caused the former Boeing executive to withdraw from the nomination process in June.
9 people dead in Learjet crash in south Florida, officials say
India evacuates thousands ahead of second cyclone in a week
UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years, UN chief says
Oleshky ceasefire expires, Ukraine evacuates civilians from parts of Kherson region
