The Obama administration's top-priority plan to shutter the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, suffered another major setback in Congress last month as the House Armed Services Committee approved by a unanimous 59-0 vote legislation that would prevent creation of a replacement prison in the United States.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Guantanamo here to stay?

The US Senate has approved Senator John Kerry's nomination as secretary of state, after he was backed unanimously by the foreign relations committee.

BBC: US Senate approves John Kerry as secretary of state