Hagel and Brennan, in separate Senate confirmation hearings, will face sharp questions on a range of contentious issues.

A statement said the incident was under investigation and released no further details. U.S. officials in Washington.

Sony Corp is considering the sale of its battery business but has made no decision yet, Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai said.

Wildfires have razed 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday.