News in Brief
Japan, China to resume security talks
Afp, Tokyo
Japan and China plan to resume security talks as early as April after a four-year hiatus amid simmering tensions over territorial disputes, a report said yesterday. A meeting planned for Tokyo, which would be the first since January 2011 in Beijing, will likely focus on maritime issues, Kyodo News reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.
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French govt braces for confidence vote
Afp, Paris
France's Socialist government was braced yesterday for a parliamentary vote of confidence over its economic reforms that could in theory bring it down. Analysts believe the government is highly likely to survive the vote, despite a significant rebellion from Socialist MPs angry at the country's pro-business direction. The confidence motion was sparked when Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday employed a rarely-used constitutional device to force through a key package of reforms without a parliamentary vote.
Obama names new US Secret Service head
Afp, Washington
President Barack Obama on Wednesday named acting director Joseph Clancy as the permanent head of the US Secret Service, ignoring calls for an outsider to be appointed following a string of White House breaches. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said "based on his long track record with the agency," Clancy had "a lot of credibility built up inside the agency."
Two cyclones roar towards Australia
Afp, Sydney
Two cyclones were roaring towards Australia yesterday with residents scrambling for shelter as one of the tempests rapidly picked up intensity, with warnings of "a very destructive core". Tropical Cyclone Lam, a category three storm, was tracking towards the sparsely populated Northern Territory Aboriginal communities of Milingimbi and Gapuwiyak, with landfall expected early today morning. Of more concern was Tropical Cyclone Marcia further south, which was reclassified from a category two to four within hours and a warning that it could strengthen to five by the time it comes ashore in heavily populated southeast Queensland.
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