Beijing, November 25
Tension between China and Japan mounted today over Beijing’s unilateral move to establish an air defence zone over the disputed islands in the East China Sea, with both the countries summoning each other's envoys.

China also lodged protests with the US and Japan for raising objections over its creation of the air defence zone, saying that its move was in line with UN Charter and would not affect civilian flights.

Reacting to the protests lodged by Japan over the creation of the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said Japan's remarks are "utterly groundless and China won't accept them." He also termed US criticism of the zone as groundless.

The diplomatic row erupted after the US said it would stand by Japan in any clash over the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims as the Diaoyus.

Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang made solemn representations with US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, calling on the US side to immediately correct its mistake and stop making irresponsible accusations against China.

China summoned the Japanese Ambassador to express its strong dissatisfaction and solemn protest regarding Japan’s unreasonable hype over China’s establishing an air defence identification zone.

“It is completely unreasonable for Japan to make irresponsible remarks about China’s establishing (of) an air defence identification zone,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Japan also called in Chinese Ambassador to demand a rollback of the plan, which it said would interfere with the "freedom of flight over the high seas."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denounced as a "profoundly dangerous act" China's designation of an East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), which covers most of that sea and includes the skies over a group of disputed islands.

But the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the zone was aimed at safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and security of China’s territory and air space.

"It is not directed against any specific country or target, nor will it affect the freedom of over-flight in the related airspace," it said.

"The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are integral parts of China's territory. China resolutely defends its territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands," the Foreign Ministry said. — PTI

Tokyo, November 25
Washington's point man on North Korea today hinted at more sanctions against Pyongyang over its atomic weapons programme in the wake of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Glyn Davies, the US special representative for North Korea policy, said he hoped quickening diplomacy examining when to resume stalled six-party talks would bear fruit.

The talks are designed to push the reclusive state to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but have been in limbo since December 2008.

"Pyongyang's attempts to engage in dialogue while keeping its programme running are completely unacceptable," Davies told reporters after a meeting with his counterparts in Tokyo.

"If we do not see signs of the North Koreans' sincerity, if they do not act to demonstrate that they understand they must fulfil their obligations and give up their nuclear weapons, then there is more pressure that will be brought to bear on them," he said.

North Korea is currently pushing for a resumption of the six-party talks, but the United States says it must first demonstrate a commitment to denuclearisation.

US President Barack Obama's administration has repeatedly voiced frustration over its dealings with North Korea, but critics have said the issue has faded from US priorities. — AFP

Bangkok, November 25
Beleaguered Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra tonight declared emergency in the capital after anti-government demonstrators stormed the compounds of two key ministries, dramatically escalating their protests aimed at toppling her regime.

"While the government will enforce the laws, it will not use force against the people," Prime Minister Yingluck said as she invoked the Internal Security Act in the entire capital and its surrounding areas.

"The government would like to ask people not to join illegal protests and to respect the law," she said.

The move came after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the finance ministry compound and later forced their way into the foreign ministry building.

Both the compounds were apparently left unguarded.

The protesters broke gates of the foreign ministry building and after occupying an area of the compound they asked civil servants to leave and not to return to work tomorrow, an official said.

"Tomorrow, we will seize all ministries to show to the Thaksin system that they have no legitimacy to run the country," said Suthep Thaugsuban, a former opposition MP.

"It was a peaceful seizure by the people," Suthep told a press conference from the finance ministry. — PTI

London, November 25
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife Cherie is fuming over claims that her husband had an affair with Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife Wendi Deng.

It is believed the ferociously protective barrister first learnt of the rumours linking Blair with Deng a fortnight ago.

But both Cherie and Blair were angry and confused after seeing what they regard as unfounded slurs.

According to the Mirror, a source close to Tony Blair said rumours of an affair with Wendi were categorically untrue.

Another insider pointed out that Murdoch’s split with Wendi was officially a “no fault” divorce action.

Blair has been left doubly baffled by the rumours after meeting Murdoch just weeks before the split from his wife was announced, the report said.

Reports claimed that Blair twice stayed at Murdoch’s California home with Wendi without him knowing.

Blair is also said to have stayed overnight with her in October last year and again in April. The pair also allegedly had “multiple encounters” without Murdoch’s knowledge.

One of sources close to Blair insisted he and Wendi were just good friends and said any talk of an affair was wrong.

A key player in the Murdoch empire claimed a company email audit uncovered “intimate” messages between Blair and Wendi leading to the tycoon’s suspicions, the report added. —ANI

Islamabad, November 25
Amid intense speculation, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's brother has made it clear that the powerful chief of the Pakistan Army would retire this month and not take up any job.

"A COAS (Chief of Army Staff) never does a job," Brig Amjad (retd), Kayani's brother, said when asked if the army chief, set to retire on November 29, will take any post-retirement job.

"He needs rest; he will not be doing any job," he was quoted as saying by The News daily. — PTI