Changing the Guard: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned after less than two years on the job. Appearing with the president and vice president this morning, Hagel stood by while President Obama described him as a friend and heaped him with nine minutes of praise.

Hagel said, “It’s been the greatest privilege of my life.”

The only Republican in the president’s cabinet, Hagel was appointed to end the war in Afghanistan and shrink the Pentagon budget, but has been under strain with the administration as the US faces new threats including the Islamic State. Hagel and the White House did not agree about how to handle Syria and ISIS.

Despite the cordiality of today’s announcement, insiders say the former Republican senator was never able to quite break into the inner circle of the Obama administration. It may not be an actual firing, but Hagel felt the need to leave. He will stay until his as yet unnamed successor is confirmed.

World: On the brink of a deadline, negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear weapons development have been extended by seven months. Although negotiators report progress, they have not been specific. The West wants a deal in trade for lifting economic sanctions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the BBC, “No deal is better than a bad deal.”

Part of the goal is to make Iran a country that, if not exactly a friend, is at least responsive to western influence. Iran may turn to closer relations with Russia and China if nuclear talks fail to reach a deal that results in lifting sanctions. It wouldn’t be ideal. China’s economy is slowing down and economic sanctions are also putting the squeeze on Russia.

> The Afghanistan government has quietly lifted its ban on nighttime military raids that had been imposed by the previous government. Starting next year Afghan Special Forces will be conducting raids that may include US military advisers. President Hamid Karzai had banned night raids because intrusions into Afghan homes are culturally offensive. The important part of this is that Americans will be in combat again.

>At least 45 people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber attacked the crowd watching a volleyball game in southern Afghanistan.

The Cosby Show: A former NBC employee has told the NY Daily News that in the days of The Cosby Show he was used as a courier to deliver thousands of dollars to eight women being kept by the comedian. Frank Scotti, now 90, kept records of the payments of up to $2,000 made in 1989-90. Scotti said he also guarded the door when young models were delivered to Cosby’s dressing room.

Cosby has refused to talk about mounting accusations against him. He told the Florida Today newspaper, “I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn’t have to answer to innuendos.” They have not exactly been innuendos.

Art News: A painting of a white flower by Georgia O’Keefe has sold at auction for $44.4 million, a record for a female artist. The painting called “Jimson Weed/White Flower No 1” was sold by the O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, which owns hundreds of her paintings, and plans to use the proceeds to buy other works.

Catch of the Day: NY Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. made a catch yesterday that’s being described as possibly the most incredible in the history of football. Sprinting to get underneath a 43-yard throw from Eli Manning, Beckham was grabbed and spun by a Dallas defender. With both feet off the ground, flying backward into the end zone, Beckham reached back and caught the ball with one hand. Sadly for the Giants, Dallas won 31-28.

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