“The breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 set the stage for a contentious year in the United States, and COVID-19 variants and regional surges slowed worldwide efforts to return to pre-pandemic life.” Here’s a look a the top 25 news photos of the year. I think volcanos deserve the award from best photograph creators. The photos from La Palma have been incredible. And look at these scenes following an eruption on the island of Java.