U.S. officials say vice president Joe Bidenexpressed Washington concerns over China's new air defense identification zoneduring talks with President Xi Jingping in Beijing on Wednesday. The officialswho didn't want to be named say Mr. Biden indicated the U.S. just notrecognized the zone and is looking to China to take steps to reduce attentions.The U.S. officials say President Xi was equally clear in laying out the Chineseview of the zone and of the territorial disputes in the region. U.S. officialssay the two also held broad bilateral discussions on topics ranging fromeconomic reform to North Korea which is also expected to a vice presidentBiden's agenda when he travels to South Korea Thursday.

 

Ukraine's Prime Minister is warninganti-government protesters to stop escalating attentions. During a cabinetmeeting Wednesday, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said the government isdemonstrating tolerance and warning the law breakers will be punished.Thousands of protesters remain camped out in the central square in the capitalKiev continuing calls for the resignation of Ukrainian President ViktorYanukovych. The demonstrations have been growing since last month whenPresident Yanukovych of European Union trade deal saying the country needed tocontinue close ties with Russia.

 

U.S. secretary of state John Kerry andEuropean Union foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton met in NATO headquartersin Brussels to discuss plans of Syrian peace talks and the next steps in dealto limit Iran's nuclear programs. VOA's Scott Stearns reports.

 

U.S. officials say Catherine Ashton meantto discuss the preparation for talks in Geneva in January on the transitionalauthority for Syria. Iran joining talks on Syria may be more likely followinglast week's deal to limit Iran's nuclear program. In Brussels Wednesday, Kerrythanked Ashton for her work on that deal.

 

Her efforts in Geneva with respect to theinitial Iran first step have been key. And now we are gonna to talk about howwe proceed to try to move towards the comprehensive agreement as well as someother important issue that we faced.

Ashton says there is an importantpartnership.

 

We share the values, we work together totrying deliver people across the world.

 

Scott Stearns, VOA News, Brussels.

 

Both Syrian parliament and the main coalitionopposing President Bashar al-Assad have said they will attend the Geneva talks,but it is unclear who else will take part.

 

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah saysone of commanders was killed in blaming neighboring Israel for his death. Thegroup says Hassan al-Laqis was killed while returning to his home of southernBeirut around mid-night.  Securitysources say he was shot while sit in his car. And Israeli foreign ministryspokesman denied Israel was involved. The claim of responsibility was posted onTwitter in the name of a group calling itself the Ahrar al-Sunna BaalbekBrigade.

 

Pakistan national security advisor isdownplaying anti-drone protests that led to suspension of U.S. military cargoshipments in and out of Afghanistan to Pakistan's northwest. Ayaz Gul has details.

 

Activists of an opposition party led byformer cricket star Imran Khan have been staging daily demonstrations in KhyberPakhtunkhwa province and have pledged to do so until the United States endsdrone attacks on Pakistani soil. Pakistan's advisor on national security andforeign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, Wednesday dismissed speculation that the protestscould undermine the planned departure of international forces. He said thatthere is nothing to worry about because the Americans suspended shipments onlyfrom one route. He said NATO-bound traffic is moving smoothly throughBaluchistan. Ayaz Gul, for VOA News, Islamabad. 

 

President Obama says U.S. government needsto counter the decades long trends of rising economic inequality of lack ofupward mobility that have jeopardized in American dream. President spoke to thesenate for American progress a public policy organization that takes literalstands in economic issues. He says since he graduated from high school in 1979,the economy is double in size while the wealth has been spread among a smallerfew. His remarks come hours after Harvard University released the poll thatshowing young Americans from 18 to 29 years old are unhappy with virtuallyevery aspect of President Obama's job performance since his reelection.