How to sum up a year in 12 images? It’s a tough undertaking but we’ve chosen one photo from each month to build a mini-portrait of 2018.
As you might suspect, headline news provided the fodder for some of our selections. One image shows female protestors dressed in costumes inspired by dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale on Washington DC’s Capitol Hill, during a Senate hearing about sexual assault allegations involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
And June’s G7 summit provided the setting for one of the most iconic images of the year - German photographer Jesco Denzel’s snapshot of a defiant Donald Trump facing off against a cluster of world leaders led by Angela Merkel.
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There are also glimpses into the quirkier side of life, be it a mass wedding ceremony in South Korea or a masked penitent dragging a cross through a Spanish village as part of an Easter ritual.
But while there was no shortage of newsworthy happenings, some of the most arresting images featured here depict everyday life.
From a snow-spotted Household Guardsman standing firm in the face of the Beast from the East to the very second that England fans saw the ball hit the back of Croatia’s net in the World Cup semi-final, enjoy our snapshots of moments that capture an eventful year.
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Hong Kong court convicts democracy advocate LaiSpeed Read Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark national security trial
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How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
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Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
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Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
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Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
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Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
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South Africa wraps up G20 summit boycotted by USSpeed Read Trump has been sparring with South Africa in recent months
