The Associated Press

From the ballots of India, France, United Kingdom and many more countries to the shifting candidates, trials, and even assassination attempts in the United States, 2024 unfolded as a year of monumental elections and political change. Nature’s shifts spared no corner of the globe—eclipses darkened skies, while floods, earthquakes, fires, and extreme weather wreaked havoc, leaving indelible marks on communities worldwide. The world came together for the Paris Games, a rare moment of global unity. Meanwhile, war raged in the Middle East, the conflict in Ukraine persisted, and a seismic shift occurred with the end of the Assad regime in Syria. This was 2024.

Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s choice to lead the FBI, portrayed himself Thursday as the right leader of a law enforcement agency he said had lost public trust and told senators he would commit himself to “due process and transparency,” if confirmed as director.

The only moment TiAnna Yeldell has to herself is when she’s sleeping, and that doesn’t happen much. The 44-year-old single mom of three works 80-hour weeks to provide for her children, ages 8, 14, and 18. During the day, she is a driver for Pizza Hut, where she earns $9.50 an hour before tips. At night, she cleans trains for Houston’s Metro system, where she earns about $17 an hour. The times that she pulls both shifts, Yeldell sleeps for just two to three hours before getting her kids up and ready for school. Then she does it all over again. Yeldell is among the millions of fast food workers across the U.S. scraping to get by. About two-thirds of them are women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many are supporting their families on minimum wages set at the federal government’s floor of $7.25 an hour. Read "Inside The Lives of American Fast Food Workers" for The Associated Press with Haven Daley and Eric Gay: https://lnkd.in/evfkvxWg

President Donald Trump said the cause for the crash involving an American Airlines plane and military aircraft has yet to be determined Thursday during a White House press conference. He added that the FAA, NTSB and U.S. military will carry out the investigation.

If you live in a part of the world prone to wildfires, floods, blizzards, tornadoes, or earthquakes, there are ways you can make sure you’re financially prepared for disaster, beyond insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Association and the Red Cross advise that households gather important documents and contacts in a safe place, take photographs or record a video of the rooms in your home and any valuable belongings, and to have cash on hand, in case ATMs and electronic or online banking resources aren’t available. Lisa Berdie, director of policy and research for the Financial Health Network, an organization that focuses on underserved communities, refers to these steps as “preparedness,” but stresses the need for “investments in efforts to lessen the severity of climate impacts, reduce risks, and minimize financial harm" as well. “Key here is recognizing that it is not just the headline-grabbing events, but smaller-scale events and chronic stressors (for example, heat) that have dramatic financial consequences for households,” Berdie said. “Some of the action steps that households can consider (there)... include weatherizing homes and addressing health hazards that are worsened by climate hazards, like mold and air quality.” For The Associated Press: https://lnkd.in/efk3uBac

Tax season is underway, and the IRS expects 140 million people will file returns by April 15. The agency has also debuted a new online tool to help taxpayers check the status of any refund they may receive. President Donald Trump this week offered all federal employees a buyout package in an effort to reduce the size of the government workforce, which could impact IRS staffing at an important period for the agency, though it’s not yet clear how. The IRS has also expanded a program that allows people to file their taxes directly with the agency for free. The federal Direct File program, which permits taxpayers to calculate and submit their returns without using commercial tax preparation software, is now available to taxpayers in 25 states, up from 12 states that were part of last year’s pilot program. Those using the pilot program in 2024 claimed more than $90 million in refunds, the IRS. For The Associated Press: https://lnkd.in/e8qmvGsX

A video captured the moment an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Wednesday. Authorities said on Thursday that there are no survivors.

90 Years. 100 Photos. Today's gallery highlights how AP adapted to keep up with demand for visual storytelling in the 2010s. In a time of social movements, political shifts, and global challenges, AP captured defining moments that shaped the decade. From the Arab Spring and Black Lives Matter protests to the refugee crisis and the Paris Climate Agreement, AP’s visuals became symbols of transformation and resilience. With the rise of social media and digital innovation, AP delivered compelling images faster and further than ever before. We’re celebrating 90 years of AP Wirephotos with a special series of galleries highlighting the iconic images that shaped history. New exclusive galleries are unveiled every 3 days, covering each decade since the first-ever AP photo wire transmission on Jan. 1, 1935.

Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado also asked Kennedy about his claim that Lyme disease is “likely a militarily engineered bioweapon.” “I probably did say that,” Kennedy responded. https://lnkd.in/eeSMgDg3

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters that the flight patterns of both the American Airlines jet and blackhawk military aircraft that crashed late Wednesday were not "unusual." The crash comes just one day after Duffy was sworn into President Trump's cabinet.