Stock markets rallied today on the news that the U-S Federal Reserve and Department of the Treasury are planning to buy huge amounts of bad housing debts to help stabilize the global economy. U.S. taxpayer money is at risk. But President Bush said today that the alternative was risk that has to be avoided. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Today on The World: Why the US and Britain are hoping a ban on short-selling will help quell the markets; how the U.S. presidential race looks through the eyes of French philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy; and what lies in store for the U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia, now that he's been expelled from the South American country.

In the tradition of female rocker KT Tunstall, Scotland's Amy MacDonald is carving her own niche in the indie music scene. The 20-year-old musician has earned rave reviews in the British press and is generating buzz in the United States with her U.S. debut "This is Life." Anchor Lisa Mullins tell us about Amy MacDonald.

The answer to today's Geo Quiz is the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Ben Gilbert reports on this Islamic country's new $15-million dollar Catholic Church.

Israel's foreign minister Tzipi Livni could become the country's next prime minister. She's pledged to continue peace negotiations with Syria started by Ehud Olmert this summer. But as The World's Aaron Schachter reports, Syrians aren't that optimistic.

The World's Katy Clark reports on the rules that govern how the U.S. military interact with the presidential candidates. Both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have made it a point to visit with U.S. troops, and speak before military audiences. But such visuals do not convey an endorsement for either candidate.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with correspondent Kate Clark, who traveled through Afghanistan to investigate how Taliban fighters are getting weapons to fuel their insurgency. Clark was in Afghanistan on special assignment for the BBC.

Sharks may be fearsome predators, but over fishing threatens their survival. The World's Julia Kumari Drapkin profiles an unusual pair of shark researchers. One has always wanted to protect sharks. The other used to kill them.

Audio Slideshow: The whale shark

Conservationists say the world's fisheries are in danger of collapsing from rampant over fishing. But a new study suggests it may be possible to head off this calamity by changing how fisheries are managed. The World's Lisa Mullins speaks with study co-author Christopher Costello of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

NATO is under pressure to respond to Russia's recent actions in Georgia, but commitments in Afghanistan and turmoil in the financial world mean there isn't much new money for defense. The World's Laura Lynch reports.