Israel-U.S. relations tense up as Biden visits (AP)

AP – An open diplomatic row during the visit of Vice President Joe Biden has shined a spotlight on the U.S. failure to rein in Israeli settlement ambitions and deepened Palestinian suspicions that the United States is too weak to broker a deal.

Law bars Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi from elections (AP)

AP – Myanmar’s military regime took yet another step to expunge Aung San Suu Kyi from the political scene Wednesday by effectively barring her from the first elections in 20 years and pressuring her opposition party to expel her from its ranks.

Lost in the ruins: Haiti’s best and brightest (AP)

AP – They kept the books, had the training and fixed the computers. They were the educated few of Haiti, an up-and-coming generation of nurses, technicians, office managers and college students.

Church abuse scandal reaches pope’s brother (AP)

AP – Church abuse scandals in Germany have reached the older brother of Pope Benedict XVI and are creeping ever closer to the pontiff himself.

Arab League calls for ending support for talks (AP)

AP – The Arab League recommended on Wednesday to withdraw its support for indirect talks between Palestinians and Israelis due to recent announcements of new settlement building in east Jerusalem.

Biden Israel Trip: Apology for Timing of Settlement News (Time.com)

Time.com – Vice President Joe Biden was publicly humiliated by the Israeli announcement of a controversial settlement project, and said it undermined trust in a new U.S. peace effort. But Israel has no plans to shelve the project

ECB to examine European IMF plan: Trichet (AFP)

AFP – The European Central Bank will consider a proposed emergency fund for eurozone economies in distress, ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet said on Wednesday.

Gates keeps up pressure on Iran with Gulf visit (AP)

AP – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Saudi leaders Wednesday that the U.S. effort for diplomatic engagement with Iran had come to naught and he asked for the influential kingdom’s help to win wide backing for biting economic penalties against Tehran.

Brazil leader blasted for stance on Cuba prisoners (AP)

AP – Brazil’s president is coming under criticism for his deference to the Cuban government regarding the island’s political prisoners and hunger strikes over human rights.

Pope denounces ‘atrocious’ Nigeria bloodshed (AFP)

AFP – Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday denounced the “atrocious” bloodshed in Nigeria after a massacre of Christian villagers, as police said 49 people would be charged over the killings.

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DG Latest

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• Female WWII aviators honored with gold medal (AP)
• Church abuse scandal reaches pope’s brother (AP)
• Pa. suspect: Caretaker by day, ‘Jihad Jane’ online (AP)
• Ex-Detroit councilwoman gets 37 months for bribery (AP)