Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is warning that North Korea will face consequences because of “provocative and belligerent” actions that include threatened military attacks against U.S. and South Korean warships.

The Senate has confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state. The Senate vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the former first lady despite lingering concerns by some Republicans that her husband’s charitable fundraising overseas could pose a conflict of interest.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is keeping up steady American calls for a durable and sustainable cease-fire in the Mideast, even if it can’t be brought about immediately.

According to a release, South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond announced Wednesday the thirteenth-annual Scrooges and Angels for 2008. The ten Angels were recognized at a press conference and honored with a reception in the Secretary of State’s Office following the announcement.

Cal Ripken, Jr. will visit Nicaragua from November 13-18, the second trip that the baseball great will make in his role as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy for the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel’s office has sent letters to 4,770 registered voters who are believed to be noncitizens.

Florida’s governor has signed an executive order keeping polling places open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. because early voting lines have been long. In Georgia, lines were down to under four hours in most places by Tuesday, but the long waits prompted the Democratic Party to urge Secretary of State Karen Handel to keep the polls open longer during the week and over the weekend.