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.
Maldivian fishermen unload their catch at a fishing harbor in Male, Maldives, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. Longtime President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will face five opponents in the Maldives' first democratic presidential election on Oct. 8. He has been credited with turning a sleepy string of fishing islands off the southwestern tip of India into a major tourism destination and filling its coffers with hard currency.
A member of the staff of Bakrie Telecom makes a phone call at the Bakrie building in Jakarta October 7, 2008. The Indonesia Stock Exchange suspended trading on Tuesday in shares of six firms controlled by the family of chief social welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie, including coal miner Bumi Resources Tbk. Erry Firmansyah, the president director of the stock exchange, said that the bourse had suspended trading pending clarification from the companies on a number of issues. The stock exchange also halted trading in Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, Bakrie Telecom Tbk, Bakrieland Development Tbk, Bakrie Sumatra Plantations Tbk, and Energy Mega Persada Tbk.
A Chinese diver feeds the fishes to entertain visitors at an aquarium in Hefei, eastern China's Anhui province on October 7, 2008. China's tourism industry is expected to employ 100 million people by 2015, meaning one in every 14 Chinese will work in the sector then.
LONDON - JULY 10: (UK TABLOID Singer and charity co-founder Alicia Keys arrives at the Black Ball UK in aid of 'Keep A Child Alive' HIV/AIDS charity at St John's, Smith Square on July 10, 2008 in London, England.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 06: Actress Alicia Keys from the film "The Secret Life Of Bees", poses for a portrait during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival at The Sutton Place Hotel on September 6, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 05: (L-R) Actresses Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Keys and Queen Latifah attend the "The Secret Life Of Bees" premiere after party during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival held at the Ultra Supper Club on September 5, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.
Egyptian women wearing the niqab, the Islamic full face veil that leaves only a slit for the eyes, chat at the River Nile bank in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 14, 2007. An Egyptian supreme court ended Saturday June 9, a five year legal battle ruling that the American University in Cairo "AUC" cannot ban women from wearing face veil while on campus. The decision by the Supreme Administrative court will force other universities in Egypt to relinquish its ban on face veils on campus.
It's a great shame that David Villa won't be fit, but I think the Germany three at the back - Jens Lehmann, Christoph Metzelder and Per Mertesacker - are vulnerable and Spain can do some damage against them. 
We are delighted about signing Jens Lehmann. He is an excellent goalkeeper and has huge national and international experience. He is exactly the type of player we were looking for and are convinced that he will quickly become an important part of our team.
Hello Stevo mate, went for a job interview yesterday and got the job, now the guy wants me to work today 6 till 10. What am I supposed to do?
Users of the BBC Sport Player Rater are tough mistresses indeed. Not a single Germany player has made the top 10 of the tournament so far - even though the team has reached the final. Spain's David Villa is ranked third with an average of 8.13, although he is set to miss out with injury. Fernando Torres is ninth with 7.57. Lukas Podolski is the top German with 7.40.
Stevo, GREAT excitement here. Expats in full Spanish kit and waiting for the unbelievable screaming, car honking and fireworks when we win. Will be a tougher test than Russia, but, Fabregas - the difference in semis - could help the team do it. General disregard for Arrogantes [sic] - but if they win, will be forgotten. PODEMOS!!
Can anyone help? I'm stuck on who to support! Spain, the country of my second language, or Germany, home to my future hubby, Podolski? Ideas Stevo?
