Newscast for Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Israeli settlers killed as peace talks set to begin in Washington
Palestinian, Israeli and other world leaders are meeting with President Obama in Washington ahead of tomorrow’s Middle East talks, but a deadly attack on West Bank settlers cast a heavy shadow on those talks. FSRN’s Ghassan Bannoura has the story.

In speech, Obama shifts war rhetoric from Iraq to Afghanistan
Last night, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office for just the second time. He declared an end to the combat mission in Iraq and at the same time outlined a plan for continued war in Afghanistan. Analysts say that in trying to walk this line, Obama may have difficulty appeasing any side with his speech. Tanya Snyder has more.

Rampant deforestation in Pakistan a factor in current flood devastation
Suicide bomb attacks in Lahore, Pakistan today have left dozens dead and nearly 200 people injured.  The blasts targeted a mourning procession of Shiites.  The violence comes as the country deals with what’s been called the worst natural disaster in the country's history. Floods have affected an estimated 20 million people, leaving thousands homeless and more at risk of disease. But some environmental groups say rapid deforestation and poor land management has contributed to the disaster.

We're joined by James Dalton, water management adviser at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

New guidelines aim to end culture of corruption in gas and drilling oversight agency
The director of the new agency charged with monitoring offshore oil and gas drilling has issued new guidelines for employee conduct. Since revelations of bribes and conflicts between regulators and the oil and gas industry, President Obama has pledged to diminish their cozy relationship. While the new guidelines seek to put a standard in place, it's not clear how effective they would be in preventing another disaster. Michael Lawson has more.

Mining project in Alaska could threaten wild salmon run
In Alaska, a battle over natural resources is pitting mining interests against commercial fishermen and environmentalists. Corporations want to exploit the most significant copper and gold deposits ever discovered in the state's remote southwest. Opponents say the project threatens the largest wild sockeye salmon run in the world. FSRN’s Jacob Resneck reports.