There were many notable events in 2014, both joyous and tragic. Here's a selection of some of the year's best photos.
Fire, smoke and opposition supporters on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kiev, where clashes began between protesters and the police.
2/42
© Fotobank.ru/Getty Images
Thai soldiers patrol near government buildings on May 23, 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Army chief announced in an address to the nation that the armed forces were seizing power in a non-violent coup.
A panorama shot of the Very Large Telescope platform with the red shades of airglow visible overhead
The shadow of a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion maritime search aircraft is seen on low-level clouds as it flies over the southern Indian Ocean looking for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
The Mountain Olympic Village at the Rosa Khutor plateu near Sochi.
A police officer salutes Father Frost (Ded Moroz) as Russia's main New Year's tree is delivered to Red Square.
US General John Campbell (C), commander of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), folds the flag of the ISAF during the change of mission ceremony in Kabul, December 28, 2014
Donbas militia during a battle for the border town of Kozhevnya near Snezhny. Eastern Ukraine.
A man carries a student, who was injured during an attack by Taliban gunmen on the Army Public School, after he received treatment at a hospital in Peshawar, December 16, 2014. Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, military officials said
Barcelona residents participate in Catalonia's unofficial referendum on independence.
A Syrian soldier keeps watch from a bed on the highest peak near Kessab.
12/42
© Fotobank.ru/Getty Images
David Hayman and Yes Scotland Chief Executive Blair Jenkins join members of the Yes Scotland team, to mark the start of the regulated referendum period on May 30, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland
Shamans holding posters of US President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro, perform a ritual of predictions for the new year at Agua Dulce beach in Lima December 29, 2014
Bystanders read the headlines illustrating the battle over the holding of elections in Liberia amid the Ebola crisis at a street side chalkboard newspaper in Monrovia. (File)
A Republic of Singapore Air Force personnel surveys the waters during a search and locate operation for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 plane at an undisclosed search area
Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden and his girlfriend Lindsay Mills in one of Moscow's theaters. September 2014.
Russian MP Alina Kabayeva takes part in the final stage of the Olympic Torch Relay during the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
The opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Ukraine's Internet Party leader Darth Vader exits a party vehicle near a polling station in Kiev.
20/42
© AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda
Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following airstrikes by the US led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, November 17, 2014
The crash site of the Malaysian Boeing 777 outside Shakhtarsk, Donetsk Region.
The launch of the Soyuz ТМА-14 rocket carrying the prime crew of the 41/42 International Space Station expedition. Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (C) addresses a joint meeting of the US Congress in Washington, DC.
Local residents fleeing from a fire in a house destroyed by a Ukrainian armed forces' air attack, at the village of Luganskaya.
A young girl inspecting Paratroopers on parade in Red Square during celebrations dedicated to the 84th anniversary of the Russian Airborne Forces.
Crimea's Prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya during the oath-taking ceremony at the Crimean Prosecutor's Office in Simferopol.
Vladimir Churov, chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission, takes part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, an international fund-raising event to fight Lou Gehrig's disease.
A shaman during a ceremony at the international festival "The Call of the 13 Shamans" in the Republic of Tyva.
From left to right: Djimon Hounsou, Cate Blanchett, America Ferrera, Kit Harington and Jay Baruchel at a premiere of How to Train Your Dragon 2, at the 67th Cannes Film Festival.
Margarita Mamun, from Russia, performs with the ribbon at the 2014 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Izmir.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) poses for a photo with a boy during the 2014 World Judo Championships held at the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk. August 31, 2014.
A Cossack carries a Russian flag during a ceremony to raise the Victory Banner on Mount Mithridat commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Kerch from the Nazi occupation.
A road flooded by the swollen Katun river in Maiminsky District, Republic of Altai.
Riders in the Moscow City Racing event in 2014.
A lingerie race in Old Arbat Street in Moscow.
Flags are seen on a square in Simferopol during the referendum on Crimea's reunification with Russia.
The Indian crew drives a T-72B tank during the Tank Biathlonm-2014 world championship at the training grounds of the Second Motorized Rifle Taman division, Alabino Village.
A helicopter carrying members of the electoral commission arrives at the village of Maly Kazak, Uvatsky district, to conduct early voting in the Tyumen region gubernatorial election.
From left to right: Tennis players Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic), Maria Sharapova (Russia), Serena Williams (United States) and Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) before the draw ceremony of the Women's Tennis Association Finals in Singapore.
German player Philipp Lahm, center, with the cup after his team's victory in the final match between the Germany and Argentina national teams in the Maracana stadium, Rio de Janeiro, at the FIFA World Cup 2014.
41/42
© Fotobank.ru/Getty Images
A contrail is seen behind the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon supply ship as it flies into space after lifting off from the launch pad on a resupply mission to the International Space Station September 21, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Florida
A Mongolian falconer releases a golden eagle at the "Golden Eagle - Chuya Steppe Wings" festival, in the Jalgyz Tobe valley, Kosh-Agach District of the Altai Republic.
