i'm daljit dhaliwal in new york. have a good nighand thank you fojoining us. -- ptions by vitac -- www.vitac.com following nders. >> major suort has also been provided by the peter g. peterson foundatn, ddicated to promoting fial responsility and addressing key economic challenges cing america's ture. ay

i'm daljit dhaliwal in new york.good night and thank you for joining us. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> "worldfocus" is made possible in part by the following funders. >> major support has also been provided by the peter g. peterson foundation, dedicated to promoting fiscal responsibility and addressing key economic challenges facing america's future.

i'm daljit dhaliwal. we're going to begin tonight with a deeper look at a story that you will be hearing a lot about in the coming weeks but is under the radar for most american television news. the middle east peace process and what many see as a pivotal issue. it is the building of jewish settlements in the west bank on lands that the palestinians claim as theirs. it's also about a potential freeze on such building, something that the obama administration is demanding, something defense minister ehud barak said today is "a national necessity." but expansion of existing settlements is continuing, something that got little attention when it was announced yesterday. the story was covered by our partner, abc of australia, and ben knight's report from the "late line" program is our lead focus tonight. >> reporter: on a hill outside jerusalem, the first saudi's turn in a new neighborhood, one that the u.s. does not want to go ahead. even george w. bush pressured israel not to allow this project to happen. if

i'm daljit dhaliwal. president obama says that while afghanistan is not vietnam, there are dangers in not having clear goals on afghanistan and not having strong support from the american people. but polls show support for the war decreasing. the chairman of the joint chiefs, this country's top officer, told congress today that more u.s. forces in afghanistan are probably required. but afghanistan isn't the only battleground in the fight against extremists and terrorism. there are developments as well tonight in pakistan and somalia. all of this is how we start with tonight's lead focus. intelligence officials have described him as one of their most wanted terror suspects, and late yesterday it was reported that saleh ali saleh nabhan was killed in an attack that took place in southern somalia. nabhan, a kenyan with links to al qaeda, was said to be the ringleader of the 2002 bombing of a hotel in the kenyan resort of mombasa. 13 people were killed in the attack. he's also believed to have been behind an

i'm daljit dhaliwal. tonight we're going to focus on america's relations with russia and iran -- after that important decision yesterday by president obama not to base a missile defense system in the former soviet-bloc countries of poland and the czech republic. russia viewed the shield as a threat, and today its president, vladimir putin, praised president obama's decision to cancel it. and the nato secretary-general suggested new cooperation between russia and the alliance. in tonight's lead focus, the reaction from russia and beyond. we start our reporting with itn's samira ahmed. >> to protect the u.s. homeland -- >> reporter: a sign of weakness or a fresh start for american-russian relations? nato's secretary-general announced today that president ssile defense shield was the latter. >> it is possible for nato and russia to make a new beginning and to enjoy a far more productive relationship in the future. we should explore the potential for linking the u.s. nato and russian missile defense systems a

i'm daljit dhaliwal. >>> tonight we want to step back a bit and assess where u.s. foreign policy is heading, especially on the critical issues of war and peace in afghanistan, the middle east and iran. the president has been in office for eight months now, and today he gave a major speech to world leaders here in new york for the united nations general assembly. in that speech, the president said that the united states is committed to working with other countries to solve the world's major problems. but he challenged them to do more and derided what he called an almost reflexive anti-americanism sweeping across the globe. as we hear now, the president gave no hint of any major changes in u.s. policy toward afghanistan. >> the violent extremists who promote conflict by distorting faith have discredited and ey offer nothing but hatred and disruption. in confronting them, america will forge lasting partnerships to target terrorists, share intelligence and coordinate law enforcement and protect our people. we will permit no safe haven for al qaeda to launch attacks fro

i'm daljit dhaliwal. yesterday we told you about a united nations investigation which found that both israel and hamas had committed war crimes during last winter's war in gaza. today, reaction to the report has been swift and it has been strong. united nations investigators are now callinupon israel and hamas to conduct their own independent inquiries into the allegations. if not, the team is recommending that the case be sent to an international war crimes tribunal. israel has rejected that call, blasting the report as, quote, being conceived in sin. hamas isn't saying exactly what it plans to do. in tonight's lead focus jonathan miller of itn reports on the uproar. he filed his report late last night. >> reporter: the searing u.n. investigation pulls no punches and accuses both sides of committing actions amounting to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, too. the 22-day offensive in gaza that israel called "operation cast lead" killed 1400 palestinians and 13 israelis. hamas rockets from ga

i'm daljit dhaliwal. on this eighth anniversary of the september 11 attacks, america's top commander in afghanistan says that he believes the united states and its allies there have likely prevented other terrorist attacks. but eight years on, the united states is still battling a resur again taliban. tonight we're going to look at war, once again. but first, 9/11 was also remembered beyond the united states. at bagram airfield in afghanistan, there was a ceremony and a run by more than a thousand service members. the distance was 9.11 kilometers, or 5 1/2 miles. >>> in moscow, a church service attended by american and russian officials. and in london, people stopped by the 9/11 memorial. 67 britons were among the almost 3,000 people who were killed that day. and as the war escalates in afghanistan, british and american are also tied in battle. for one thing, the british rely heavily on the u.s. helicopter support. in tonight's "lead focus" we want to show you how the cooperation is playing out÷"ñ bill ne

i'm daljit dhaliwal in new york. for me and the rest of the team have a great weekend. buh-bye. >>> major support for "worldfocus" has been provided by roslyn p. walter and the peter g. peterson foundation, dedicated to promoting fiscal responsibility and addre key economic challenges facing america's future. and additional funding provided by the following supporters --

i'm daljit dhaliwal. the day after president obama's speech on health care reform, we thought that it would be useful to look at the issue tonight from a different perspective. global health care, of course, is one of our core issues here on "worldfocus." so we wondered, how is the american debate being reported overseas, particularly in a country that has a long history of universal health care? that country is the united kingdom. and tonight, we want to show you how our partner there, itn, framed its coverage leading up to president obama's speech. how they, in effect, see us. lindsey hilsum's report on america's struggle with health care is our lead focus tonight and it begins in erie, pennsylvania. >> cardiac arrest, an elderly man in urgent need of treatment at the hospital in erie as in all american hospitals, by law, they have to treat anyone who shows up in the emergency room, whether they have health insurance or not. >> more people working and don't have insurance or lose their jobs and don't ha

i'm daljit dhaliwal. when barack obama came to office, he inherited a controversial plan from president bush for a missile defense system in europe to be based in the czech republic and poland. the idea was to counter a perceived threat to europe posed by long-range missiles from iran. today, an about-face. president obama announced he is dropping that plan for eastern europe. instead he said the united states will develop an alternative plan to counter what is now perceived as a more immediate threat of short and medium-ranged missiles from iran. in tonight's lead focus, we're going to look at the issue in depth, starting with today's statement from the president. president obama announced the administration's plan to shelve the eastern europe missile defense shield in a brief appearance at the white house. the president said that the change was necessary because iran is much closer to developing short and medium-range missiles than long-range missiles that could hit eastern and pe. >> the best way to re

i'm daljit dhaliwal. we are going to do something a little different tonight by taking a broad look at one subject that is in the news this week, the global environment. in just a few months, the united nations is going to hold a major conference on climate change in copenhagen to try to reach a new agreement to cut greenhouse gases. it would replace the current treaty, the kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012. and it is in that context that the united nations secretary general ban ki-moon sounded an alarm today, saying the talks leading up to that conference are dragging and that climate change is advancing. >> our foot is stuck on the accelerator and we are heading toward an abyss. >> he made those comments at a conference in geneva one day after seeing up close the effects of climate change in the arctic. his visit is our lead focus tonight. lawrence mcginty traveled with the secretary general. >> reporter: the u.n. secretary general, ban ki-moon, came face to face with global warming today at one of

i'm daljit dhaliwal. if progress can be measured by a meeting and a handshake, then there was some today on the middle east as president obama brought together the israeli and palestinian leaders here in new york. did the meeting between prime minister benjamin netanyahu of israel and palestinian president mahmoud abbas produce a breakthrough? no, but that wasn't the expectation on this day. after so many months of deadlock mainly on the issue of jewish settlements. the meeting is our "lead focus" tonight. and as netanyahu put it, the importance of the meeting was actually its existence. it was a moment deep in symbolism. the beginnings, perhaps, of a new and more productive phase in the struggle for peace in the middle east. for his part, president obama had a strong message for the leaders after meeting with them individually. get moving again on a comprehensive peace agreement. >> simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations. it is time to move forward. it is time to show the flexibi

i'm daljit dhaliwal in new york.or me and the rest of the "worldfocus" team, thanks for joining us. "worldfocus" team, thanks for joining us. good-bye. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >> major support for "worldfocus" has been provided by rosalind p. walter and the peter g. peterson foundation. dedicated to promoting fiscal responsibility and addressing key economic challenges facing america's future. and additional funding is provided by the following supporters --

you can tell uwhat you think logging on to8 wqj/u'5áuáiju m daljit dhaliwal in new yor for the enti "focus" team, ha a great evening. for the enti "worldfocus" team, ha a great evening. see you tomorrow. -- captns by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>"worldfocus" is made possiblen part by the foowing funders -- major support has also bee provid by the peter g. peterson fndation, dedicated to promoting fiscal reonsibility and addressing key onomic challenges facing america's future.

i'm daljit dhaliwal in new yk. thank u so much for joining . we hope toee you back here at the same timtomorrow night. od-bye. >>> orldfocus" is made possible in part by th following funder-- major support haalso been provided by the peter petersonoundation, dedicated to promoting fiscal responsibility andddressing key econom challenges facing responsibility andddressing key econom challenges facing amica's future. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

i'm daljit dhaliwal inew york.for me and the rest of the "worldfocus" team, thank you so much r joining us. we'll see you tomorrow bye-bye. >>> "worldfocus" is de possiblen part by the foowing funders -- major pport has also been provided by the peter peterson foundion, dedicated to promoting fiscal reonsibility and addressing key economic challengefacing amera's future.

m daljit dhaliwal in new yor for mend the rest ofhe team ha a great weekend.-bye. >>> major support for orldfocus" has be provided by rosly p. walter andhe petery peterson foundation, dicated to promoting fiscal responsibility and addssing key economichallenges facing america's future. d additional funding provide byhe following supporters --

i'm daljit dhaliwal. if progress can be measured by a meetg and a handake, then there was some today on the middle ets president obama brought together the israeli and palestinian leaders re in new york. did the mting between prim minister benjamin netanyahu of israel andalestinian president mahmoud bas produce a breakthrough? , but that wasn't the expectation on th day. after so many months of deadlock mainlyn the issue of jewish selements. the meeting is our "lefocus" tonight. and as nenyahu put , the importance of the meetin was actually its xistence. it was a moment deep in symbolism. the begins,erhaps of new and productive phase in the strgle fopeace in the middle east. for hispart, president obama had a strong messageor the aders after meeting with them individuly. getmovinggain on a comphensive peace agreement. >> simply put, it past time to tk about starting negotiatns. it i time to move rward. it i time to show t flexibility and common sense and sense of compromisethat's cessary to achieve our go

i'm daljit dhaliwal. we are going to take an in depth look tonight at the war in afghanistan from several different perspectives that americans don't often get to see with views from britain, germany and italy, which are also heavily involved in this conflict. as the war intensifies, the death toll mounts and public opinion turns negative. we will hear how the united states and its allies are re-evaluating their mission. while that process unfolds and president obama considers the options, his top commander in afghanistan is warning of the possibility of failure without additional american troops beyond the 68,000 already approved. in our lead focus, we look at that possibility and how it was reported today from our british partner itn. >> reporter: u.s. troops defending a remote outpost near the border with pakistan. the insurgents are emboldened. without reinforcements, the top u.s. and nato commander in afghanistan is warning the war will likely result in failure. in a confidential briefing obtained by