US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is temporarily handing over his official duties to his deputy Kathleen Hicks due to a medical procedure, the Pentagon announced in Washington on Friday. According to the information provided, this is “a scheduled, elective, and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his previously reported bladder issue.” It has nothing to do with the 70-year-old minister’s cancer diagnosis, it added. The White House and the US Congress have been informed about the procedure, the statement said. The ministry will provide further information after the pr…