Washington, Jan 24 (IANS) Nikki Haley got the unanimous approval of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, clearing the first stage for becoming the first Indian American to be appointed to a cabinet-level post. Later she was approved by the Senate with 94-6 votes

Haley's nomination by President Donald Trump to be the US ambassador to the UN will now go before the full Senate for final approval. 

Senate approval assured for her because of her popularity across the political divide as witnessed by the unanimous committee approval. 

When she appeared before the panel last week, she got what was probably the best reception for a Trump nominee. At the confirmation hearings she criticised the UN for its paralysis, corruption and inefficiency and said that she would work to reform the world organisation. 

The South Carolina Governor has no diplomatic or foreign policy experience which raised questions about her qualification for the post. 

Democratic Party Senator Ben Cardin dismissed these doubts saying that her "track record of building coalitions in South Carolina" as governor makes suitable for a diplomatic job. She makes up for her lack of diplomatic experience through her "capability, intelligence," he added. 

She has won high marks for her leadership of the southern, conservative state, particularly for getting the state leaders to agree to take down the flag of the Confederacy, the states supporting slavery, durign the Civil War. 

It was considered a symbol of enduring racism. Haley has also spoke at her confirmation hearings about her achievements in negotiating with corporate leaders to get businesses to invest in her state, One of her successes was getting Boeing to set up a aircraft factory in the state. 

She also spoke of her immigrant parents and her struggle as an Indian American child in racially polarised South Carolina. Her father Ajit Singh Randhwa, wearing a red turban, sat proudly behind her during the hearings. 

After the hearings, committee chairperson Bob Corkr complimented her on her performance and said that she would have smooth-sailing in the Senate.

Madrid, Jan 24 
Spanish government ministers criticised the removal of the Spanish language version of the official White House website (www.whitehouse.gov) days after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th US President.

The Spanish version was replaced by a message "Sorry the page you're looking for can't be found" on Monday to the surprise of the 50 million Spanish speakers in the US and the 700 million Spanish speakers worldwide, Xinua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Spanish Minister for Education, Culture and Sports Inigo Mendez de Vigo said the White House move was "not good news," while insisting it would "neither detain nor threaten the unstoppable diffusion" of the Spanish language.

"The knowledge and use of different languages in society is something that strengthens a country and shows its cultural riches," he added.

Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis Quecedo said although the decision was an "internal" question for the US, it was one which "didn't seem to be a good idea" and which he lamented.

Justice Minister Rafael Catala said the decision "made no sense," adding that the Spanish government was watching events in the United States with "a certain disquiet."

Susana Diaz, leader of the main Opposition Socialist Party in Andalusia, described the White House move as "an insult to the Hispanic community and an intolerable attack on the second language in the US."

In the academic world, Victor Garcia de la Concha, director of the Cervantes Institute in Madrid, said the White House decision was "serious" and that US President Donald Trump was "rowing against the tide" concerning an increasing use of the Spanish language.