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Eikenberry: McChrystal apologized for article
Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said Gen. Stanley McChrystal apologized to him for disparaging remarks in a Rolling Stone article about Eikenberry and other officials.
"He very graciously gave me a call and apologized," Eikenberry told reporters in remarks to reporters on Thursday. Eikenberry said he hadn't read the article but heard about some of the things in it.
McChrystal resigned from his post as commander of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan over his remarks.
Acting Afghan commander says no change in mission
NATO's acting commander in Afghanistan insists there is no change in Afghanistan mission in wake of the firing of top commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal firing.
"We remain absolutely focused on our tasks and the operational tempo will not miss a beat," said acting commander, Lt. Gen. Sir Nick Parker, acting commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
"Troops from the 46 nations of ISAF have made substantial security gains in recent months. While we face a tough summer ahead, strong leadership, the focus of the soldiers on the ground and our partnership with Afghan security forces, will ensure that we defeat an insurgency that has brought so much suffering to Afghanistan."
Thursday live video events on CNN.com/live
Greetings!
Here's a look at what's streaming live on http://www.CNN.com/live
10:00 a.m. – Cybersecurity/Dr. Phil hearing- A House Education subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine rising safety concerns about students using the Internet, social networking and other technology. Television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw will be among the witnesses.
10:00 a.m. – Foreclosure prevention hearing – House committee holds a hearing to examine home ownership. Loan service executives will testify on foreclosure prevention efforts, focusing on the implementation of the Home Affordable Modification Program. Witnesses include a host of bank CEOs.
On the Radar: McChrystal, Gulf oil disaster, iPhone 4's arrival
Obama and McChrystal - President Obama says he regrets having to accept Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation but felt he had no choice. The ousting of the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan came after publication of a Rolling Stone magazine article in which McChrystal and his staff appeared to disparage decisions from Washington. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, will take over in Afghanistan. CNN takes a look at what happened in Wednesday's meeting between Obama and McChrystal and evaluates what the implications may be for the war in Afghanistan.
Thursday's intriguing people
Julia Gillard
Australia’s Labor Party selected the 48-year-old lawyer Thursday to replace Kevin Rudd as prime minister, ending his 2 1/2 years in that position.
Gillard said she was aware that the move makes her the nation's first woman prime minister, "and maybe the first redhead," but added, "I didn't set out to crash my head on any glass ceilings; I set out to keep my feet on the floor."
Gillard said she would work to harness wind and solar energy and to pursue putting a price on carbon emissions, but said she would not address the latter goal - which her predecessor had been unable to achieve - until after a general election.
Gillard said she would also pursue increasing taxes on mining companies, another issue that has stirred controversy and fierce opposition from the industry. "Australians are entitled to a fairer share of our inheritance of the mineral wealth that lies in our grounds," she said.
Born in Wales, she moved with her parents to Australia when she was a child. After studying law, she was elected to the House of Representatives for Lalor, Victoria, in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007 before joining Rudd as deputy prime minister.
"Julia's unique, hard-working, passionate, driven by noble ideals and wants to do good things for the country," John Gillard told Seven Network Australia about his daughter.
CNN: Gillard takes Australian helm: 'The government was losing its way'
Donovan: United States can beat anyone at World Cup
American striker Landon Donovan told CNN the U.S. can "beat anyone" after his injury-time goal helped the side qualify from the group stages of the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday.
Donovan, who plays for Major League Soccer side the Los Angeles Galaxy, struck with only seconds left of the game to seal a 1-0 win over Algeria and put the U.S. top of Group C above fellow last-16 qualifiers England.
The Americans will now face Ghana, who finished second in Group D, on Saturday in Rustenburg in a last-16 knockout game.
"We believe we can beat any team in this tournament. Given our experiences from last year [at the Confederations Cup] we think we can do really big things, we're going to go for it," the 28-year-old told CNN.
At least 8 dead, 25 wounded in fighting in Somalia
At least eight people died and 25 more were wounded when Somali government forces clashed with Hizbul Islam insurgents near Mogadishu's Bakara market early Thursday morning, Ambulance Director Ali Muse Sheikh told a Somali journalist.
Fighting broke out after Somali government forces attacked Hizbul Islam bases around Bakara market. Somali government forces captured one Hizbul Islam base in Mogadishu's Howlwadaag District, said the journalist.
A.M. Security Brief
President Barack Obama and Gen. David Petraeus before the announcement that Petraeus would replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
The morning after the day before - and General David Petraeus is packing his bags to relocate to Kabul, and take over the job his subordinate, General Stanley McChrystal was doing until Wednesday.
First there is the formality of Congressional approval, likely next week. But the General is likely to be questioned closely on the terms and speed of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Last week, he appeared to be lukewarm both about the deadline set by President Obama (of July 2011) - describing it as "the date when a process begins based on conditions, not the date when the U.S. heads for the exits."
To clarify the terms of the debate, the Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin, said Wednesday that he had spoken with Petraeus, who had agreed that "a conditions-based withdrawal referred to how it will happen, rather than if it will begin." It may seem a fine debating point, but it isn't. FULL POST
Gates advocated keeping McChrystal, source says
Defense Secretary Robert Gates backed keeping Gen. Stanley McChrystal on the job because he was vital to the war effort in Afghanistan, but he was overruled, a senior Pentagon official told CNN's Barbara Starr.
The official has direct knowledge of the events but declined to be identified because of the internal administration discussions.
President Barack Obama relieved McChrystal of command of the Afghan war on Wednesday, a day after Rolling Stone published critical comments about top White House officials by members of McChrystal's staff.
Gates was initially furious about the article, but said McChrystal had to stay in command because the war is at such a critical point, a second source - who also asked not to be named on internal administration discussions - told CNN.
But as it became clear the White House didn't feel same way and the issue was not going to fade, Gates shifted his position and agreed that keeping the general would be an untenable distraction.
Death toll rises in Brazil flooding
The death toll from severe flooding in two states in northeastern Brazil has grown to 44, with more than 600 people still missing, the government-run news agency reported.
Security Brief: Gates advocated keeping McChrystal
A senior Pentagon official confirms to CNN that Defense Secretary Robert Gates advocated to President Obama keeping General Stanley McChrystal on the job because he was vital to the war effort. Gates was overruled. The official has direct knowledge of events, but declined to be identified because it involves internal administration discussions.
World update: New Australia PM to call election
An update from London on some of the international stories we expect to develop on Thursday:
Australia PM - Julia Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister, replacing Kevin Rudd as Labor Party leader and vowing to call a general election "in coming months." Read the full story
Train tragedy - At least 12 people were killed and 14 injured by a train in a town south of Barcelona, Spain. The accident happened as a group tried to cross the tracks after getting off a local train in the town of Castelldefels. Many were heading to the Fiesta de San Juan, which celebrates the year's shortest night. Read the full story
5 Americans sentenced in Pakistan on terror charges
Five Americans arrested on terror charges in Pakistan have been sentenced to 15 years each, the deputy prosecutor said Thursday.
Strong quake strikes Papua New Guinea
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
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