38 iconic pictures of 2016

Looking at the most memorable and iconic photos taken this year


Multimedia Desk December 26, 2016
A picture of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, with bloodied face, sits inside an ambulance after he was rescued following an airstrike in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo. PHOTO: REUTERS

As we bid farewell to 2016, The Express Tribune has compiled a series of the most iconic photographs of the year.

From politics to natural disasters, photographers worldwide captured scores of striking photos covering an array of subjects in 2016.

Here, we look at 37 defining pictures of the year.

Donald Trump listens as Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, October 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Donald Trump listens as Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, October 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

School children in uniform perform, in commemoration of the victims of an attack on the Army Public School in 2014, during a demonstration in Karachi, Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS School children in uniform perform, in commemoration of the victims of the attack on Army Public School in 2014, during a demonstration in Karachi. PHOTO: REUTERS

A picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad riddled with holes is seen on the facade of the police academy in Aleppo, after it was captured by Free Syrian Army fighters, March 4, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS A picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad riddled with holes is seen on the facade of the police academy in Aleppo, after it was captured by Free Syrian Army fighters, March 4, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS

A boy rides a bus to be evacuated from a rebel-held sector of eastern Aleppo. PHOTO: REUTERS A boy rides a bus to be evacuated from a rebel-held sector of eastern Aleppo. PHOTO: REUTERS

Demonstrator Ieshia Evans is detained by law enforcement as she protests the shooting death of Alton Sterling near the headquarters of the Baton Rouge Police Department in Baton Rouge, La., on July 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Demonstrator Ieshia Evans is detained by law enforcement as she protests the shooting death of Alton Sterling near the headquarters of the Baton Rouge Police Department in Baton Rouge, La., on July 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

People place flowers next to a portrait of Cuban historic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro outside the Cuban embassy in Guatemala City. PHOTO: AFP People place flowers next to a portrait of Cuban historic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro outside the Cuban embassy in Guatemala City. PHOTO: AFP

A woman cries whilst paying her respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 15, 2016. Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 88, after years of ill health, ending seven decades as a stabilising figure in a nation of deep political divisions. read. PHOTO: AFP A woman cries whilst paying her respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on October 15, 2016.Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 88, after years of ill health, ending seven decades as a stabilising figure in a nation of deep political divisions. read. PHOTO: AFP

A paramilitary police officer carries the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey, where he was found. PHOTO: REUTERS A paramilitary police officer carries the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey, where he was found. PHOTO: REUTERS

A picture of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, with bloodied face, sits inside an ambulance after he was rescued following an airstrike in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo. PHOTO: REUTERS A picture of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, with bloodied face, sits inside an ambulance after he was rescued following an airstrike in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo. PHOTO: REUTERS

In this photo taken on July 21, 2016 inmates sleep on the steps of a ladder inside the Quezon City jail at night in Manil. There are 3,800 inmates at the jail, which was built six decades ago to house 800, and they engage in a relentless contest for space. PHOTO: AFP In this photo taken on July 21, 2016 inmates sleep on thesteps of a ladder inside the Quezon City jail at night in Manil. There are 3,800 inmates at the jail, which was built six decades ago to house 800, and they engage in a relentless contest for space. PHOTO: AFP

Migrants try to pull a child out of the water as they wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean sea, some 12 nautical miles north of Libya, on October 4, 2016. PHOTO: AFP Migrants try to pull a child out of the water as they wait to be rescued by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean sea, some 12 nautical miles north of Libya, on October 4, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed by vandals protesting the candidate on October 26. PHOTO: REUTERS Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed by vandals protesting the candidate on October 26. PHOTO: REUTERS

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter looks over Mosul from his position near Abu Jarboa village, Iraq. PHOTO: REUTERS A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter looks over Mosul from his position near Abu Jarboa village, Iraq. PHOTO: REUTERS

People attend the screening of the film People attend the screening of the film "Jaws" by director Steven Spielberg, screened at Strasbourg public baths during the European Fantastic Film Festival, in Strasbourg, France, September 18, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A salt lake, which is separated by a road, shows parts of it in different colours due to algae, in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, China, September 25, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A salt lake, which is separated by a road, shows parts of it in different colours due to algae, in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, China, September 25, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A woman looks at floral tributes placed in front of a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran in Brixton, south London on January 15, 2016. PHOTO: AFP A woman looks at floral tributes placed in front of a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran in Brixton, south London on January 15, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

The Maracana Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony is seen from the Mangueira favela slum during the Rio Olympic Opening Ceremony August 5, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS The Maracana Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony is seen from the Mangueira favela slum during the Rio Olympic Opening Ceremony August 5, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse night club, where as many as 20 people have been injured after a gunman opened fire, in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse night club, where as many as 20 people have been injured after a gunman opened fire, in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany compete in the preliminary beach volleyball event at the Rio Olympics August 7, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany compete in the preliminary beach volleyball event at the Rio Olympics August 7, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Castellers de Vilafranca form a human tower called Castellers de Vilafranca form a human tower called "castell" during a biannual competition in Tarragona city, Spain October 2, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A man who fell off a bridge while waiting to watch tidal wave struggles as waves come towards him, on the banks of Qiantang River in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, July 25, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A man who fell off a bridge while waiting to watch tidal wave struggles as waves come towards him, on the banks of Qiantang River in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, July 25, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A displaced Iraqi boy leads his animals to safety after escaping from Islamic State controlled village of Abu Jarboa during clashes with IS militants near Mosul, Iraq November 1, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A displaced Iraqi boy leads his animals to safety after escaping from Islamic State controlled village of Abu Jarboa during clashes with IS militants near Mosul, Iraq November 1, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Michael Phelps of the US poses with his gold medal after the men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay at the Rio Olympics August 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Michael Phelps of the US poses with his gold medal after the men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay at the Rio Olympics August 9, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Indian model and acid attack survivor Reshma Quereshi has make up applied before walking to present Indian designer Archana Kochhar's Spring/Summer 2017 collections during New York Fashion Week in the Manhattan borough of New York. PHOTO: REUTERS Indian model and acid attack survivor Reshma Quereshi has make up applied before walking to present Indian designer Archana Kochhar's Spring/Summer 2017 collections during New York Fashion Week in the Manhattan borough of New York. PHOTO: REUTERS

A Ukrainian serviceman fires a 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun during military exercises near the village of Divychky in Kiev region, Ukraine, October 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A Ukrainian serviceman fires a 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun during military exercises near the village of Divychky in Kiev region, Ukraine, October 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A giant panda cub falls from the stage while 23 giant pandas born in 2016 are seen on a display at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, September 29, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A giant panda cub falls from the stage while 23 giant pandas born in 2016 are seen on a display at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, September 29, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Usain Bolt of Jamaica looks at Andre De Grasse of Canada as they compete in the men's 100m semifinals at the Rio Olympics August 14, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Usain Bolt of Jamaica looks at Andre De Grasse of Canada as they compete in the men's 100m semifinals at the Rio Olympics August 14, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A demonstrator looks at a riot policeman during a protest marking the country's 1973 military coup in Santiago, Chile September 11, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS A demonstrator looks at a riot policeman during a protest marking the country's 1973 military coup in Santiago, Chile September 11, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Mist rises off the water as a flooded building is pictured after Hurricane Matthew passes in Lumberton, North Carolina, October 11, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Mist rises off the water as a flooded building is pictured after Hurricane Matthew passes in Lumberton, North Carolina, October 11, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A body is seen on the ground July 15, 2016 after 86 people were killed in Nice, France, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday. PHOTO: REUTERS A body is seen on the ground July 15, 2016 after 86 people were killed in Nice, France, when a truck ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Audience member Robin Roy (C) reacts as Donald Trump greets her at a campaign rally in Lowell, Massachusetts January 4, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Audience member Robin Roy (C) reacts as Donald Trump greets her at a campaign rally in Lowell, Massachusetts January 4, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

People on a funfair ride are silhouetted against the moon a day before the “supermoon” spectacle, in London, Britain. PHOTO: REUTERS People on a funfair ride are silhouetted against the moon a day before the “supermoon” spectacle, in London, Britain. PHOTO: REUTERS

Displaced Iraqis arrive at a refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul, as an operation to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State, on Oct. 22, 2016. PHOTO: AFP Displaced Iraqis arrive at a refugee camp in the town of Qayyarah, south of Mosul, as an operation to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State, on Oct. 22, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton hugs US President Barack Obama as she arrives onstage at the end of his speech on the third night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, July 27, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton hugs US President Barack Obama as she arrives onstage at the end of his speech on the third night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, July 27, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Polar bear Polar bear "Pizza" is pictured at an aquarium in Grandview shopping mall in Guangzhou, China, on July 27, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky. PHOTO: REUTERS A well-wisher holding a banner touches the hearse carrying the remains of Muhammad Ali during the funeral procession for the three-time heavyweight boxing champion in Louisville, Kentucky. PHOTO: REUTERS

Air Force One carrying US President Barack Obama and his family flies over a neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba, as it approaches the runway to land at Havana’s international airport, on March 20, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS Air Force One carrying US President Barack Obama and his family flies over a neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba, as it approaches the runway to land at Havana’s international airport, on March 20, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov lies on the ground after he was shot by Mevlut Mert Altintas at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey. PHOTO: REUTERS Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov lies on the ground after he was shot by Mevlut Mert Altintas at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey. PHOTO: REUTERS

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