As the year came to a close, a series of calamities occurred, casting a shadow over the world. From floods and earthquakes to landslides and snow storms, the final weeks of the year were marked

       by a cascade of challenges.

       A woman carrying her belongings as she wades through a flooded street After heavy rains in Chennai, India. — AFP

       Firefighters extinguishing a fire in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, japan, caused By a powerful earthquake in the Noto peninsula. — Bloomberg

       People walk following heavy snowfall in Munich, Germany, that caused travel Chaos in Europe. — AP

       A collapsed road near the city of Shika, Ishikawa prefecture, japan, following A powerful earthquake. — AFP

       Royal Australian navy personnel work with civilian emergency services to evacuate members of the public in cairns, Australia, following floods in the region. — AP

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