2010: The Year In Photos

A U.S. soldier carries his luggage at Tallil Air Base as he prepares to leave Iraq on August 15. The last U.S. combat brigade withdrew from Iraq on August 19, although some 50,000 U.S. troops remain there in an advisory capacity. Photo by Thaier al-Sudani for Reuters

28 A U.S. soldier carries his luggage at Tallil Air Base as he prepares to leave Iraq on August 15. The last U.S. combat brigade withdrew from Iraq on August 19, although some 50,000 U.S. troops remain there in an advisory capacity.

Photo by Thaier al-Sudani for Reuters

Muslim men read the Koran during the holy month of Ramadan at the Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala, Iraq, on August 18. Photo by Mushtaq Muhammed for Reuters

29 Muslim men read the Koran during the holy month of Ramadan at the Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala, Iraq, on August 18.

Photo by Mushtaq Muhammed for Reuters

Maluza Abramishvili (left), 52, and Nunu Basaria, 49, Georgian refugees from Abkhazia, are seen with their lips sewn together during a hunger strike in Tbilisi on August 25. Dozens of refugees protested a government decision to evict them from their current homes. Photo by David Mdzinarishvili for Reuters

30 Maluza Abramishvili (left), 52, and Nunu Basaria, 49, Georgian refugees from Abkhazia, are seen with their lips sewn together during a hunger strike in Tbilisi on August 25. Dozens of refugees protested a government decision to evict them from their current homes.

Photo by David Mdzinarishvili for Reuters

Victims of Pakistani flooding reach for emergency aid in Kot Addu on August 30. UN officials said the humanitarian impact of the floods was the greatest of any disaster in recent history. Photo by Arif Ali for AFP

31 Victims of Pakistani flooding reach for emergency aid in Kot Addu on August 30. UN officials said the humanitarian impact of the floods was the greatest of any disaster in recent history.

Photo by Arif Ali for AFP

Supporters of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), attend a rally in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir on September 3. Turks voted in a referendum on September 12, approving reforms aimed at bringing the constitution into compliance with European Union standards. Photo by Umit Bektas for Reuters

32 Supporters of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), attend a rally in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir on September 3. Turks voted in a referendum on September 12, approving reforms aimed at bringing the constitution into compliance with European Union standards.

Photo by Umit Bektas for Reuters

Afghan villagers load a donkey with election supplies for a village in the Panjshir valley on the eve of a national parliamentary vote, the second since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Nearly a quarter of the votes cast in the September 18 election were disqualified due to fraud or other irregularities. Photo by Mara Shah for AFP

33 Afghan villagers load a donkey with election supplies for a village in the Panjshir valley on the eve of a national parliamentary vote, the second since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Nearly a quarter of the votes cast in the September 18 election were disqualified due to fraud or other irregularities.

Photo by Mara Shah for AFP

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov speaks to the media on September 18 amid a long-running political standoff with the Kremlin. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sacked Luzhkov 10 days later, saying that he had "lost trust" in the powerful mayor. Photo by Denis Sinyakov for Reuters

34 Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov speaks to the media on September 18 amid a long-running political standoff with the Kremlin. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sacked Luzhkov 10 days later, saying that he had "lost trust" in the powerful mayor.

Photo by Denis Sinyakov for Reuters

A girl holds a South Ossetian flag during a celebration in the region's capital, Tskhinvali, on September 20, the 20th anniversary of the region's declaration of independence from Georgia. Russia has recognized the independence of South Ossetia, along with another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, while most Western countries have not. Photo by Kazbeg Basayev for Reuters

35 A girl holds a South Ossetian flag during a celebration in the region's capital, Tskhinvali, on September 20, the 20th anniversary of the region's declaration of independence from Georgia. Russia has recognized the independence of South Ossetia, along with another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, while most Western countries have not.

Photo by Kazbeg Basayev for Reuters

Female officers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) attend their graduation ceremony in Kabul on September 23. The newly trained Afghan army is seeking to recruit female officers for its office-based work as it boosts its numbers to enable foreign forces to draw down. Photo by Shan Marai for AFP

36 Female officers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) attend their graduation ceremony in Kabul on September 23. The newly trained Afghan army is seeking to recruit female officers for its office-based work as it boosts its numbers to enable foreign forces to draw down.

Photo by Shan Marai for AFP

Activists stage a mock hanging outside UN headquarters in New York to protest Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's appearance at the 65th UN General Assembly on September 23. Photo by Eric Thayer for Reuters

37 Activists stage a mock hanging outside UN headquarters in New York to protest Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's appearance at the 65th UN General Assembly on September 23.

Photo by Eric Thayer for Reuters

A Kyrgyz man votes on October 10 in elections to replace the interim government. The polls were aimed at forming the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia in the wake of a violent uprising earlier in the year. Photo by Igor Kovalenko for epa

38 A Kyrgyz man votes on October 10 in elections to replace the interim government. The polls were aimed at forming the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia in the wake of a violent uprising earlier in the year.

Photo by Igor Kovalenko for epa

A census-taker fills in a form in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on October 14. The nationwide census aimed to enumerate everyone living in Russia, including foreigners and people without citizenship. Photo by Yuri Maltsev for Reuters

39 A census-taker fills in a form in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on October 14. The nationwide census aimed to enumerate everyone living in Russia, including foreigners and people without citizenship.

Photo by Yuri Maltsev for Reuters

A security officer stands guard inside the damaged parliament building in Grozny, Chechnya, on October 19. Islamist rebels killed at least four people as they tried to seize Chechnya's parliament in a brazen suicide attack. Photo by Kazbek Basayev for Reuters

40 A security officer stands guard inside the damaged parliament building in Grozny, Chechnya, on October 19. Islamist rebels killed at least four people as they tried to seize Chechnya's parliament in a brazen suicide attack.

Photo by Kazbek Basayev for Reuters

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili swims in the Black Sea on October 20 near the resort city of Batumi. According to Georgian media, Saakashvili swam about three kilometers to prove that the holiday season in Batumi lasts six months. Photo by Irakli Gedenidze for AFP

41 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili swims in the Black Sea on October 20 near the resort city of Batumi. According to Georgian media, Saakashvili swam about three kilometers to prove that the holiday season in Batumi lasts six months.

Photo by Irakli Gedenidze for AFP

The Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, where engineers began loading fuel into the core on October 26. The development was one of the final steps toward Iran's goal of becoming a nuclear power. Photo by Mohammad Babaie for Reuters/IRNA

42 The Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, where engineers began loading fuel into the core on October 26. The development was one of the final steps toward Iran's goal of becoming a nuclear power.

Photo by Mohammad Babaie for Reuters/IRNA

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, speaks to the press in London on October 23 about the organization's release of classified U.S. military documents. In late November, WikiLeaks caused worldwide political furor when it began releasing a massive cache of secret U.S. diplomatic cables. Photo by Leon Neal for AFP

43 Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, speaks to the press in London on October 23 about the organization's release of classified U.S. military documents. In late November, WikiLeaks caused worldwide political furor when it began releasing a massive cache of secret U.S. diplomatic cables.

Photo by Leon Neal for AFP

Iraqi security forces stand outside a Catholic church in central Baghdad on November 1 in the wake of a deadly attack claimed by an Al-Qaeda group. Seven security forces and 46 Christians were killed when U.S. and Iraqi forces stormed the cathedral to free dozens of hostages from the attackers. Photo by Sabah Arar by AFP

44 Iraqi security forces stand outside a Catholic church in central Baghdad on November 1 in the wake of a deadly attack claimed by an Al-Qaeda group. Seven security forces and 46 Christians were killed when U.S. and Iraqi forces stormed the cathedral to free dozens of hostages from the attackers.

Photo by Sabah Arar by AFP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev takes pictures near Soviet-made defense turrets during his November 1 visit to Kunashiri Island, one of four islands known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. A dispute over the islands has overshadowed Russian-Japanese relations for more than 60 years. Photo by Mikhail Klimentyev for Reuters

45 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev takes pictures near Soviet-made defense turrets during his November 1 visit to Kunashiri Island, one of four islands known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. A dispute over the islands has overshadowed Russian-Japanese relations for more than 60 years.

Photo by Mikhail Klimentyev for Reuters

A supporter of the right-wing Tea Party faction is dressed as comic-book character Captain America near the U.S. Capitol on Election Day, November 2. The elections delivered wide-ranging victories to the Republican Party. Photo by Rod Lamkey for Getty Images/AFP

46 A supporter of the right-wing Tea Party faction is dressed as comic-book character Captain America near the U.S. Capitol on Election Day, November 2. The elections delivered wide-ranging victories to the Republican Party.

Photo by Rod Lamkey for Getty Images/AFP

A Muslim pilgrim prays at the top of Mount Al-Noor during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 9. The hajj is one of the world's biggest displays of mass religious devotion and a duty for Muslims who are able to perform it. Photo by Mohammed Salem for Reuters

47 A Muslim pilgrim prays at the top of Mount Al-Noor during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 9. The hajj is one of the world's biggest displays of mass religious devotion and a duty for Muslims who are able to perform it.

Photo by Mohammed Salem for Reuters

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka addresses delegates during the fourth All-Belarusian national assembly in Minsk on December 6. Lukashenka, who has ruled the former Soviet republic since 1994, looks set to dominate the December 19 presidential vote. Photo by Maxim Guchek for AFP

48 Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka addresses delegates during the fourth All-Belarusian national assembly in Minsk on December 6. Lukashenka, who has ruled the former Soviet republic since 1994, looks set to dominate the December 19 presidential vote.

Photo by Maxim Guchek for AFP

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, cries during an interview with Iran's English-language Press TV in an image released on December 9. The stoning sentence against Ashtiani, who is charged with adultery and murdering her husband, has raised an outcry from human rights defenders. Photo by Reuters/Press TV

49 Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, cries during an interview with Iran's English-language Press TV in an image released on December 9. The stoning sentence against Ashtiani, who is charged with adultery and murdering her husband, has raised an outcry from human rights defenders.

Photo by Reuters/Press TV

Supporters of Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci celebrate election victory in Pristina on December 12. The parliamentary elections were the first since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Photo by Armend Nimani for AFP

50 Supporters of Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci celebrate election victory in Pristina on December 12. The parliamentary elections were the first since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.

Photo by Armend Nimani for AFP

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2010: The Year In Photos