Selected and fresh photos from around the web.
Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign rally in the rain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 27, 2008.
A puppy stands on a truck carrying people to be evacuated from the area in preparation for the approach of Hurricane Gustav in Batabano, on the southern coast of Cuba, August 30, 2008. Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 30: A member of Anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stands behind barbed wire outside Government on August 30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The protesters want to unseat the seven-month old coalition government lead by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Georgian soldiers run near a blazing building after a Russian bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. A Russian warplane dropped a bomb on an apartment block in the Georgian town of Gori on Saturday, killing at least 5 people, a Reuters reporter said. The bomb hit the five-story building in Gori close to Georgia's embattled breakaway province of South Ossetia when Russian warplanes carried out a raid against military targets around the town.
In this undated photo released by Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service in Tokyo Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, wearing glasses, stands with uniformed soldiers during his visit to a military unit in unknown location of North Korea. North Korea released pictures of Kim on Saturday for the first time in nearly two months.
India's Virender Sehwag walks back towards the pavilion after his dismissal on the third day of their first test match against Australia in Bangalore October 11, 2008.
CONCORD, NC - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Busch (L), driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, is congratulated by team president JD Gibbs (R), in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 10, 2008 in Concord, North Carolina.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with Russia's Communist Party in Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. Vladimir Putin said Thursday the wide-ranging financial crisis has irreparably damaged the image of the U.S. as the leader of the free world and the global economy.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin smiles as he poses with a tiger cub on October 10, 2008 which was presented to him on his bithday on October 7, in Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow.
U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) listens to questions from supporters as his vice presidential running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) looks on during a town hall meeting in Waukesha, Wisconsin October 9, 2008.
Director Ridley Scott and girlfriend Giannina Facio attend the world premiere of 'Body Of Lies' at the Rose Hall Theater on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 in New York.
There's this idea that because these are widely ranging species, they're more resilient to fishing pressure. In fact they're becoming species of serious concern because there are no international catch limits for sharks. There are intense fisheries on the oceans, and they remain pretty much unprotected 
They used to be taken as bycatch by boats targeting tuna and swordfish. But now as those species are declining we're seeing more fishermen targeting sharks. Porbeagle and shortfin mako are targeted for fins and meat; species like blue shark are likely to be finned, but particularly in Europe we're seeing more blue shark being landed
Fishery managers and regional, national and international officials have a real obligation to improve this situation. But it doesn't have to be like this. With sufficient public support and resulting political will, we can turn the tide
The increase in demand for shark fin soup in countries like China is a major driver of the problem
Humans are making increasing use of ocean resources so many more aquatic species, particularly sharks, are coming under threat
Fishery managers and regional, national and international officials have the opportunity and the obligation to halt and reverse the rate of loss of biodiversity and ensure sharks and rays are exploited sustainably
Despite mounting evidence of decline and increasing threats to these species, there are no international catch limits for oceanic sharks. Our research shows that action is urgently needed on a global level if these fisheries are to be sustainable
Fishermen who usually go after other species are targeting sharks, looking to develop new markets
The current rate of biodiversity loss is ten to a hundred times greater than historic extinction rates, and as humans make increasing use of ocean resources it is possible that many more aquatic species, particularly sharks, are coming under threat ... This does not have to be an inevitability. With sufficient public support and resulting political will, we can turn the tide.
