Mexico-US Relations: Mexican president cancels meeting with Trump (after being insulted) - by David Jackson

President Trump's proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico drove a diplomatic divide between the two countries Thursday, as Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto canceled a scheduled meeting with the new American president.

Trump, speaking to a congressional Republican retreat in Philadelphia, said he and Peña Nieto "agreed" to the cancellation; the president said he has made it clear to Mexico that it will finance the proposed wall and that the U.S. will seek changes to trade agreement with its southern neighbor.

“Unless Mexico is going to treat the United States fairly, with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless and I want to go a different route," Trump said. "We have no choice.”

Read more: Mexican president cancels meeting with Trump

EU settlement labelling plan evokes 'dark memories' for Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday compared the European Union's decision to label goods from Israeli settlements to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses. Israel also said it was suspending a series of meetings with the EU in protest.

 "The labelling of products of the Jewish state by the European union brings back dark memories. Europe should be ashamed of itself," Netanyahu said as he wrapped up a visit to Washington.

"It took an immoral decision...this will not advance peace, it will certainly not advance truth and justice. It's wrong," he said in an English-language video clip posted on his Facebook page.

Note EU-Digest: The Israeli PM  Netanyahu seems to forget that the agricultural  products he speaks about as coming form Israel are actually coming from the Palestine areas occupied by Israel. Also his comparison of the EU with the former Nazi Regime is totally disrespectful of the principles on which the EU was founded.  Hopefully the EU Commission will voice its disapproval of that statement by Netanyahu in the strongest terms possible.

Read more: Europe - EU settlement labelling plan evokes 'dark memories' for Netanyahu - France 24

US - EU Diplomacy:- Victoria Nuland gaffe: Angela Merkel calls EU insult "totally unacceptable".

Germany's Angela Merkel has said a US official's apparent insult of the EU's efforts to mediate in the Ukraine crisis is "totally unacceptable".

Victoria Nuland has apologised after she referred disparagingly to the EU's role during a conversation said to be with the US ambassador to Ukraine.

A recording of the exchange was posted online, with the US hinting at Russia's involvement in bugging and leaking it.

The EU and US are involved in talks to end months of unrest in Ukraine.

In Kiev, Ms Nuland - an assistant secretary of state - said she would not make a public statement on the matter.

She described the leak as "pretty impressive tradecraft. [The] audio quality was very good".

The state department said she had apologised in private to EU officials.

Note EU-Digest:  diplomats like Ms Victoria Nuland .who can't control what they say should not be working in the Diplomatic Service of their countries. .

Read more: BBC News - Victoria Nuland gaffe: Angela Merkel condemns EU insult