* Israel kicks of 64th Independence Day celebrations An annual torch-lighting ceremony was being held at Israel's capital on Wednesday, marking the end of Remembrance Day.
* Gantz: We won't agree to be under constant threat The State of Israel will not agree to live under constant threats like those emerging from the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East.
* Israelis observe Remembrance Day Israelis paid tribute to fallen soldiers and terror victims during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Jerusalem.
* Syria crisis: France raises use of force France says the Security Council should consider the use of force in Syria if a UN-backed peace plan fails to stop violence in the country.
* EU slams Israeli legalization of 3 outposts The European Union on Wednesday stated that it is "extremely concerned" about a government panel's Monday decision to recognize three West Bank outposts as legal settlements.
* Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' may return to Bavarian schools The German state of Bavaria is considering publishing a book with excerpts from Hitler's Mein Kampf for use in schools after its legal power to ban the book expires in 2016.
* 'Best Buy': Electronics and Hamas On April 19, Marc J. Fink at Islamist Watch broke the story that the retail electronics superstore Best Buy was a "Platinum Sponsor" for a fundraising banquet for the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
* Iran Hopes New Talks Will Mark 'End of Nuclear Issue' Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed hope on Tuesday that Tehran's next round of talks with the six powers will mark "the beginning of the end of the nuclear issue."
* Van Rompuy: 'Winds of populism' threaten free movement EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy has spoken out against the "winds of populism" threatening freedom of movement in the Union.
* US and Philippines stage South China Sea military drill Annual joint military exercises involving thousands of US and Philippine troops are taking place in the South China Sea.