Rockets launched from southern Lebanon slammed into northern Israel this morning. Israeli forces replied with artillery fire. Both sides downplayed the incident. Correspondent Ben Gilbert reports.

The World's Lisa Mullins marks what would be Elvis Presley's 74th birthday with a look at how the King of Rock and Roll found inspiration...and an expanded vocal style...from listening to some well-known Italian ballads.

The World's Gerry Hadden reports on the continuing natural gas crisis in Europe. Several nations are facing heating problems because Russia's natural gas supplies to the continent have been shut down over a dispute with Ukraine.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with BBC business correspondent Andrew Walker and Mauro Guillen, of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, about international reaction to President-elect Obama's speech on the economy today.

President-elect Barack Obama today warned about the need for proper action in addressing the nation's economic troubles. Obama says that swift, bold, government action is the nation's best short-term hope to reverse the economic downturn. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Today on The World: President-elect Barack Obama presses for swift US action to help the economy; Also, we hear two personal perspectives on the violence in Gaza -- two bloggers, one living in Gaza City, the other a resident of Sderot, the Israeli town often targeted by Hamas rockets; Plus an update on Europe's natural gas crisis.

Since fighting began almost two weeks ago, Israel has banned foreign journalists from working inside Gaza. Most international media are therefore reporting on the conflict from the Israel-Gaza border. The situation underlines that the war in Gaza is being fought on the battlefield as well as in the media. BBC Radio Four's Media Show invited the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen and Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times to discuss whether journalists can do their job despite reporting restrictions.

The BBC's Paul Reynolds examines how Israel and Hamas are trying to win the propaganda war.

Gaza conflict

The World's Laura Lynch explains why many at Ghana's presidential swearing ceremonies today probably had not one, but two national anthems on their minds.

Today's Geo Answer is the Bund, Shanghai's most famous street. Canadian travel writer Andrew Princz sends an audio postcard.

Our daily geography puzzler.