Few things tell a story quite like a photo. And few people curate photos as well as Alan Taylor. So you don’t want to miss InFocus’ look at the top 25 news photos of 2015.

+ And another excellent collection: AP Photos top 100 news images of 2015.

+ Some of the year’s defining images have been of China’s incredible air pollution. Beijing just issued its first red smog alert. (We’re talking about schools being closed and construction projects being halted.)