Top story: The United States apologized to Pakistan on Wednesday for a helicopter strike that destroyed a military outpost last week, killing two Pakistani soldiers and wounding four more. The incident has caused an abrupt decline in U.S.-Pakistani relations: The Pakistani government shut the main border crossing into Afghanistan, which the NATO-led coalition relies upon for its military supplies, demanding an admission of fault and an apology for the attack.
Pakistan holds that its soldiers fired warning shots to indicate to the two U.S. helicopters that they were in Pakistani airspace. The latest statements released both by the U.S. embassy in Islamabad and from Gen. David Petraeus, the head of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, appear to largely adopt Pakistan's version of events. Initial coalition statements said that the helicopters had fired on the post in self-defense.
U.S.-Pakistani ties have been under increased strain in recent months, as coalition military forces scramble to improve the situation in Afghanistan. This has led U.S. officials to put pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militants operating within its territory, and to ramp up the U.S drone activity against militant safe havens in the country.
Pakistan said in a statement on Thursday morning that it has not yet decided whether to reopen the border crossing in response to the U.S. apology.
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Asia
A Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman criticized U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan as "counter-productive and also a violation of our sovereignty."
China imposed new regulations to ensure the safety of its mines.
A leading Kyrgyz politician said that the new government following the country's upcoming elections will dramatically raise the rent for the U.S. military base in the country.
Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced a bill that would require naturalized citizens to pledge loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thanked Pope Benedict XVI for opposing a U.S. pastor's threat to burn the Quran.
Yemen arrested seven alleged al Qaeda militants for an attack on a British diplomat.
Europe
The chemical sludge spill in Hungary is threatening the Danube River.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy amended his pension reform plan in an attempt to defuse opposition to the legislation.
A U.S. official said that the travel alert for Americans visiting Europe will stay in place as long as necessary.
Americas
The National Oil Spill Commission, which is charged with investigating the response to the BP oil spill this summer, criticized the White House's response in its first report.
More than 40 officers in Ecuador's police force were detained after the revolt against President Rafael Correa last week.
Cuban President Raul Castro is considering the release of his country's remaining political prisoners.
Africa
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is retiring from public life.
More than one thousand Kenyan schoolteachers have been fired over the past two years for abusing girls.
An Ethiopian opposition leader has been freed.
ASGHAR ACHAKZAI/AFP/Getty Images
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