Photos by RFE/RL, AFP, epa, InterPressNews, Itar-Tass, Ukrinform, ISNA, PAJHWOK Afghan News, Photolur, Rifo Dobra, NASA
The Year In Photos
76
Russia recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Residents of Sukhumi celebrate the recognition of Abkhazia's independence by the Russian Federation on August 26, 2008.
77
U.S. presidential election - Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. 29 August 2008.
78
13 000 hospitalized in Chinese milk scare. - A Chinese toddler undergoes treatment at a hospital after taking tainted milk powder, in Hefei, eastern China's Anhui province, on September 21, 2008. China said nearly 13,000 children were in hospital after drinking toxic milk powder in a dramatic escalation of Beijing's latest safety scandal, as the World Health Organization questioned Beijing's handling of the crisis and Premier Wen Jiabao appeared on state television promising to head off further incidents.
79
Global financial crisis. - In Malaysia, a trader looks on in despair at the stock index as the world economy and financial markets continue to fall. 18 September 2008
80
Asif Ali Zardari elected Pakistani president. - President Asif Ali Zardari stands in front of a portrait of his slain wife, Benazir Bhutto, at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad on the day of his inauguration, 09 September 2008
81
Islamabad's Marriott Hotel bombed in terrorist attack. - Pakistani security officials gather at the devastated Marriott Hotel following an overnight suicide bombing in Islamabad on September 20, 2008. . At least 60 people were killed and hundreds injured, 21September 2008
82
Resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan - A fighter with Afghanistan's Taliban militia stand on a hillside at Maydan Shahr in Wardak province, west of Kabul, on 26 September 2008.
83
India launches first moon mission. - An Indian rocket blasts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. India successfully launched its first lunar mission, marking a major boost for the country's space programme and a new step in the fast-developing Asian space race, 22 October 2008
84
Financial crisis felt all over the world. - An elderly woman sleeps as she sells cigarettes to make some money in the center of Kiyv on October 24, 2008. Ratings agency Standard and Poors downgraded the credit standing of Ukraine on Friday on doubts about its ability to deal with a mounting financial crisis.
85
Eight die in U.S. attack inside Syria - Syrian men carry the body of a relative who was killed, along with seven others, in a U.S. military raid on the Syria-Iraq border, 27October 2008. The U.S. military said it was targeting foreign insurgents.
86
Somalian pirates hijack Ukrainian ship. - Pirates stand guard over the crew of the hijacked Ukrainian merchant ship MV Faina carrying Ukrainian tanks and equipment. The pirates had granted a U.S. Navy request to check on the crew's health and welfare 10 November 2008
87
Schools under attack in Afghanistan - Afghan school girl Shamsia, who was injured in an acid attack in Kandahar, receives medical treatment at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 15 November 2008. Suspected Taliban militants on a motorbike sprayed acid on a group of school girls, on November 12, in Kandahar while they were going to their school. Two of the girls were seriously injured in the incident.
88
Congo crisis - A Congolese child tries to salvage spilled flour distributed by the World Food Program (WFP), 15 November 2008. More than 1 million people have been displaced by fighting between local militias and the Congolese army in recent months.
89
Mumbai terror attacks - An Indian soldier aims his weapon towards the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai during a military operation. Three Islamist militants have been killed in the final assault on the hotel that signaled the end to a two-day assault on India's financial capital, 29 November 2008
90
Mumbai terror attacks - An Indian comando rapels from a helicopter during an operation at Nariman House at Colaba market in Mumbai on November 28, 2008. Indian newspapers have slammed the government and intelligence agencies for failing to prevent the Mumbai attacks, saying the country's anti-terrorism forces were ill-prepared for the militants. Up to 130 people were killed and around 300 more wounded in coordinated attacks by gunmen in India's commercial capital Mumbai.
91
Venice flooding - People walk on a flooded quay of the Grand Canal in Venice during the highest floods for 22 years, 01December 2008
92
Barack Obama elected U.S. president. - U.S. President elect Barack Obama stands on stage along with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia (red dress) and Sasha (black dress) during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama defeated Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by a wide margin in the election to become the first African-American U.S. President elect.
93
U.S.President-elect Barack Obama announces cabinet picks. - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R) and Senator Hillary Clinton leave the stage following a press conference in Chicago, Illinios, on December 1, 2008. Obama nominated his former rival Hillary Clinton to be the next US secretary of state, as he unveiled a raft of cabinet picks.
94
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Aleksy II dies. - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pays his last respects to Patriarch Aleksy II inside Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow, 09 December 2008
95
Martti Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize. - Former Finnish President and 2008 Nobel peace prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari gives a press conference at the Nobel Institute in Oslo on December 9, 2008. Ahtisaari will receive the Nobel peace prize in Oslo on December 10.
96
Iraq approves SOFA agreement; U.S. troops to leave by end of 2011. - An Iraqi demonstrator displays a poster of Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during a march in Basra, southern Baghdad , Iraq on 19 November 2008. Hundreds of people took to the streets of Basra to support the recently signed security agreement between the Iraqi and the U.S. government .
97
Greece wracked by protests. - High school students clash with riot police outside the Greek parliament building in Athens, Greece on 09 December 2008.
98
Greece wracked by protests. - Youngsters run to avoid tear gas thrown by riot police outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Greece, on 10 December 2008. Clashes between students and police continued for a fifth straight day. Clearly the worst riots Greece has seen in recent years began within hours of the fatal shooting of a teenager on 06 December 2008 night in the bohemian district of Exarhia, in central Athens
99
Greece wracked by protests. - A protester throws stones at riot police during a demonstration outside of a regional government ministry office in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on December 10, 2008. Protestors hurled rocks today at security forces in Greece's second city of Thessaloniki and were fought off with tear gas, police said.
100
Reporter throws shoes at U.S. president in Iraq. - Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki tries to block U.S. President George W. Bush after an Iraqi man threw his shoes at Bush during a joint press conference and signing ceremony at Maliki's private office during an unannounced visit to Baghdad, Iraq, on December 14, 2008. The trip marks Bush's fourth visit to the country during his presidency.