Reporter Irris Makler reports on Jerusalem's Ramadan cannon. The sound of the cannon signals the end of fasting each day during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The same family in Jerusalem has been firing the Ramadan cannon for generations.

The BBC's Ginny Hill speaks with anchor Lisa Mullins about the implications of today's attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.

Today, the Russian government suspended trading on its country's stock exchange. The move comes a day after Russian stocks plummeted to their lowest level in nearly three years. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Mikhail Kroutikhin of RusEnergy consulting.

Spain is having its own housing crisis. Banks there don't have much cash to loan. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

The Wall Street crisis is having a ripple effect in London. Britain's largest mortgage lender, Halifax-Bank of Scotland (HBOS), is facing a possible take over by a smaller rival. HBOS has seen the value of its stock go down by more than 50% in the past week. Reporter Laura Lynch has the latest.

Today on The World: Britain's largest mortgage lender is struggling to avoid financial trouble; a check-in on America's battered image abroad; and a song from Pakistan that seeks to dispel the notion that all Muslims are extremists.

James Naughtie

The race for the White House is rapidly moving into the hot phase and both presidential candidates have been promising change - but what does that mean for average Americans? In his series, American Dreams, the BBC's James Naughtie explores the America not often seen by foreigners. In the first installment he travels to Michigan, where he finds a collapsing automotive industry and an economy in decline.

Both the McCain and Obama campaigns released a new ad today to address the international financial crisis. These ads will air nationally.

McCain ad:

Obama ad:

John McCain and Barack Obama spent Tuesday trying to prove that they -- and only they -- are prepared to take the steps necessary to shore up the country's battered economy. In statements, press briefings, stump speeches, and conference calls conducted by surrogates, each candidate spent more time pointing out what the other was doing wrong than what he would do right. But while both try desperately to court votes, America's global economic partners are getting nervous. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks to musician Dan Zanes about his new Spanish-language album called "Nueva York." The answer to today's Geo Quiz is the Mexican port city of Veracruz, located on shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The strategic seaport figures prominently in Mexican history, and the city's traditional music called "son jarocho" figures in the music of Dan Zanes.