Let's remember the exciting moments of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, striking news about fuel protests in France, the Kerch Strait incident and thrilling performances of athletes at the 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Sofia. Beauty pageants, meetings at the highest levels, and the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
Take a moment to soak up some of the most important and striking photos of the year.
During the "yellow vests" protest against the rising prices of fuel in Paris.
Su-30SM fighters from the Russian Knights aerobatic team during the 80th-anniversary celebration of the Aviation Technique Centre.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump (left) at a joint press conference following a meeting in Helsinki.
The launch of the Soyuz-FG vehicle with the Soyuz MS-09 manned spacecraft from the launch pad of the Baikonur cosmodrome.
Participants from a march in Warsaw in honour of the 100th anniversary of the independence of Poland. In fact, the same route is followed by three marches - a state one, organised by the country's president, Andrzej Duda, a nationalist march led by the Radical National Camp and a left force march, organised by anti-fascists.
Actress Elsa Hosk on the red carpet at the 71st Cannes International Festival.
Russian Navy ships at the main naval parade in Kronstadt.
Russian national team head coach Stanislav Cherchesov during a group stage match of the World Cup between the national teams of Russia and Egypt.
Alina Zagitova (Russia) performs in the free skating programme in the women's single skating of the 5th stage of the Grand Prix in figure skating in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the awards ceremony for the winners of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Luzhniki stadium. On the left is FIFA President Gianni Infantino, from right to left, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Participants from a rally of supporters of Catalan independence in Barcelona. The action was timed to the National Day of Catalonia, celebrated on 11 September. Background: Casa Mila house by architect Antonio Gaudi.
Fans watching a broadcast of the group stage match of the World Cup between the national teams of Russia and Egypt in the fan zone of St Petersburg.
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev (Russia) makes an incredible save in the 1/8 final match of the World Cup between the national teams of Spain and Russia.
Assault on the positions of soldiers of the Daesh terrorist organisation (outlawed in Russia) near a former Palestinian refugee camp Yarmuk in a southern suburb of Damascus.
Participants of the "Immortal Regiment", held under the framework of the children's Victory Parade "Roads of Memory" in Ivanovo.
A fish stall at the Noryangin Fish Market in Seoul.
Visitors to the hovering bridge at the park "Zaryadye" in Moscow.
Dina Averina (Russia) performs exercises with the ball in the individual programme at the 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Sofia.
Road traffic in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Participants at the open casting of the national contest "Miss Russia" in the shopping centre "Afimoll City" in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia during the thanksgiving service on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin’s Annunciation Cathedral.
Reindeer Agricultural Production Cooperative "Tundra" in the Murmansk region.
Participants from the dance group during a concert dedicated to Navruz, on Ala-Too Square in Bishkek.
Police officers during an inspection of the railways, along which the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-10 manned spacecraft is being taken to the launch pad of the Baikonur cosmodrome.
Artist German Vinogradov during the celebration of Shrovetide (Pancake week) in the art park "Nikola-Lenivets" of the Kaluga region.
On November 25, the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black and Azov seas, was closed to the passage of civilian ships for security reasons due to the provocation by ships of the Ukrainian Navy.
Mongolian herdsman.
A participant at a protest against strikes on Syria in New York.
Citizens at a bus stop in Pyongyang.
Migrants from Honduras, travelling, as part of a caravan, on the territory of Mexico in the direction of the border with the United States. About 7,000 people were in the caravan.
Aurus Senat car at the Moscow International Automobile Salon 2018.
Opposition supporters during a rally on Republic Square in Yerevan.
Singer Aysel Mammadova (Azerbaijan) at a rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
Tourists visiting the rocky temple-mausoleum of Al-Khazneh ("The Treasury of the Pharaoh") in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.
