20 of the most iconic photos taken by Reuters in 2016

Phew - it has been a long year.

And as we are nearing the time to wave a fond farewell to 2016, the news and photo agency Reuters has released its Pictures of the Year.

Consisting of a 100 photos from a variety of subjects - politics, Hurricanes and an emu - we've chosen a selection.

Here they are:

1

Usain Bolt strikes a cheeky grin at Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse as he goes on to win the men’s 100m semi-finals at Rio Olympics August 14, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Kai Pfaffenbach

2

A Chilean protester squares off with a riot policeman in a demonstration marking the country’s 1973 military coup, September 12, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/Carlos Vera

3

A banner reads 'We love you Muhammad' held by those mourning the death of boxing legend and Muhammad Ali, as a hearse, with his body inside, takes him through Louisville, Kentucky, June 10, 2016

Picture: Reuters/Adrees Latif

4

A giant statute of Mao Zedong is being built to commemorate the late chairman, in Henan province, China, September 8, 2016

Picture: Reuters/China Stringer Network

5

A Guardsman faints during Horseguards Parade, an annual event which is part of the Trooping the Colour ceremony, June 11 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Dylan Martinez

6

Twenty-three giant pandas, an endangered species, were born in 2016 and were displayed in Chengdu Research Base.

Picture: Reuters/China Daily Information Corps

7

People embrace after taking part in a prayer circle after a Black Lives Matter protest following police shootings, in Dallas, Texas, July 10 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Carlo Allegri

8

A woman is injured following an airstrike in Old Aleppo, Syria, April 28, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Abdalrhman Ismail

9

After being rescued off the coast of Libya, a man eats a biscuit on the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, June 23, 2016.

Picture:Reuters/ Darrin Zammit Lupi

10

Reshma Quereshi, an Indian model and acid attack survivor, has her make up done before showcasing designer Archana Kochhar’s Spring/Summer 2017 collections at New York Fashion Week, September 8, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Lucas Jackson

11

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Barack Obama in Berlin, November 17, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Fabrizio Bensch

12

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton answer questions from audience member during a presidential debate, October 10, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Rick Wilking

13

David Cameron and his family leaving number 10 Downing Street on his last day in office as Prime Minister, July 13, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

14

Music legend David Bowie died of cancer January 10. A fan with a Ziggy Stardust tattoo visits his mural in Brixton, London, January 11, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Stefan Wermuth

15

A house is flooded following Hurricane Matthew, October 11, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/Carlo Allegri

16

Refugee children play with a toy at a makeshift camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia, March 15, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Alexandros Avramidis

17

An emu running to escape a wildfire in Potrero, California, June 20 2016.

Picture: Reuters/Mike Blake

18

Mixing genres, Beyoncé and Chris Martin (Coldplay) perform during half-time at the NFL’s Super Bowl 50.

Picture: Reuters/ Lucy Nicholson

19

A Muslim woman stands in the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv as an Israeli woman stands behind her, August 23, 2016.

Picture: Reuters/ Baz Ratner

20

Man brings baguettes to his mother’s flooded house in Charlette-sur-Loing, France, June 1, 2016.

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