* Germany foils ‘massive’ bomb plot Three men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning a “massive” terrorist attack on US facilities in the country, officials have said.

* ‘Mideast summit shouldn’t favor Israel’ A Middle East peace conference proposed by US President George W. Bush should not be a showcase or favor Israel in pursuing a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

* UN chief visits troubled Darfur UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is visiting Sudan’s western Darfur region, where a four-year conflict has claimed 200,000 lives and displaced millions.

* Cabinet votes against expanding Gaza operation The security cabinet decided Wednesday not to expand the scope of the IDF’s operations in Gaza despite the ongoing bombardment of Sderot and the neighboring communities.

* Putin talks energy, weapons on Asia, UAE tour Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Indonesia Thursday to discuss deals on natural resources and weapons.

* Ahmadinejad to meet Palestinian leaders Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to meet with Palestinian faction leaders in Teheran on Thursday.

* Mid-East diary: Blair’s intentions Tony Blair is settling into his new job. The Middle East envoy of the Quartet of the UN, US, European Union and Russia has set himself up in Jerusalem’s most beautiful hotel, the American Colony.

* Egypt tries to dispel rumors about Mubarak’s health A government prosecutor plans to question the editor of a prominent independent newspaper about his paper’s recent reports on the health of the country’s 79-year-old leader, President Hosni Mubarak.

* General hints at Iraq troop cuts The most senior US commander in Iraq has hinted that he may recommend a reduction in US troop numbers to avoid placing a strain on the army.

* Official symbol for Israel’s 60th anniversary chosen The symbol, which features a child holding a white and blue sheet of cloth swirling into the figure 60, did not agree with Minister Yitzhak Cohen.