Japan

Deputy PM visits Yasukuni

Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday evening, according to local media. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who said earlier that he will not visit, offered a masakaki tree that is traditionally used in rituals to the shrine, with his name written under the title of "prime minister", according to Kyodo News Agency.

Israel

Airline workers protest EU deal

Hundreds of Israeli airline workers burned tires outside the prime minister's office on Sunday in protest against plans to ink an Open Skies deal with European carriers. Israel's three airlines are bitterly opposed to the deal which was to be ratified by the cabinet on Sunday.

Jordan

Authorities arrest 8 for riot

Jordanian authorities on Sunday arrested eight Syrian refugees accused of rioting at the northern Zaatari camp that left 10 policemen injured, a security official said.

Xinhua-AFP-AP

(China Daily 04/22/2013 page12)