2018 in pictures: From the migrant caravan to Harvey Weinstein, Serena Williams and Theresa May

Powerful images of children swept up in adversity around the world at centre of collection also shining a new light on global elite

Reuters has collected its pictures of the year for 2018, gathering together 99 extraordinary images taken by its network of press photographers around the globe.

The shots featured capture some of the most important events of a difficult 12 months, from the perilous journey of the migrant caravan crossing Central American in a desperate bid to reach a hostile US to the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Two of Reuters' own reporters, Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, were arrested while attempting to cover the mass exodus to Bangladesh and were recently named among “The Guardians” chosen as Time magazine’s “Person of the Year”, alongside the late Jamal Khashoggi, courageous Philippine news editor Maria Ressa and the staff of The Capital Gazette, gunned down in Maryland.

The migrant crisis in the Mediterranean remains a grave concern to the international community and produced some heartwarming images of enduring humanity amidst great peril. One of Chuol, a 17-year-old refugee enjoying a shower aboard a Spanish rescue boat is particularly charming.

Other children featured in the collection and caught up in conflicts around the world, from Syria and Yemen to the US border, face even tougher circumstances. A boy watching the slums of Nairobi burn with his head in his hands defies description.

Another touching moment on the theme of migration is Somali-American Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar celebrating her midterm election victory with her mother in Minneapolis, which reassures us the American Dream is alive and well no matter who is in the White House.

Among the many striking images of famous figures is the precise moment right-wing Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the streets of Minas Gerais on the campaign trail, a setback that didn’t stop him winning office.

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein hanging his head as he is led handcuffed into court in New York is a powerful moment, as is tennis star Serena Williams tearing into an umpire with righteous anger, an imagine that went viral and raised interesting questions about our habit of perpetuating unhelpful stereotypes.

Former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya fleeing teargas is staggering, as is the historic border handshake between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in. A shot of Theresa May, stood alone and apart from her fellow EU leaders at a summit in Salzburg, says more about Brexit and the UK's slow drift towards isolation than a thousand words could hope to convey.