World In Photos

In Plaquemines Parish in southern Louisiana, government workers and volunteers hurriedly load boats and four-wheel drive vehicles with sand bags to repair three weak spots in a level on a canal as Hurricane Gustav batters the area.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

The Republican National Convention session at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, with her baby Trig, husband Todd and daughter Piper after her speech at the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Republican presidential candidate John McCain is greeted by Levi Johnston and his girlfriend, Bristol Palin, daughter of vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Bloomington, Minn. The Palin family was at the airport to greet McCain as he arrived for the Republican National Convention.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Thai police officers stand guard behind a barrier separating opposing groups of demonstrators near the Government House in Bangkok. Thousands of protesters besieging Thailand’s seat of government rejected talks with the military, insisting they would negotiate only if Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej steps down.  (Saeed Khan / AFP/Getty Images)

Serena Williams celebrates her victory over her sister Venus at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)

An Afghan reads the Koran in a mosque in Kabul , the capital of Afghanistan, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.  (ShahMarai / AFP/Getty Images))