From front-page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today’s top photos chosen by Associated Press photo editors.

© Copyright 2025. The Associated Press. All rights reserved

The Golden Globes nominees have been announced, featuring a diverse group of top names from film and television

© Invision

Media giant going straight to Warner Bros shareholders after Netflix announces $72bn buyout plan

© Getty

The Associated Press’ top photos from the Middle East and the surrounding region in 2025 capture conflict, resilience, and moments of quiet wonder. Taken across Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, the 35 images reveal a turbulent year.

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

© Japan Meterological Agency

TOKYO — A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami alert, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said.

• Yang extorted £153,000 from former Spurs player

• Co-conspirator receives two-year sentence in Seoul court

A woman has been sentenced in Seoul to four years in prison for blackmailing South Korean football star Son Heung-min.

The woman, identified only as Yang, was charged with extorting 300 million won (£153,000) from Son in 2024 after sending him an ultrasound photo of a baby that she claimed was his and demanding money to stay silent.

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© Photograph: Amy Elle/SPP/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Amy Elle/SPP/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Amy Elle/SPP/Shutterstock

© REUTERS

As celebrations kicked off marking the first anniversary on Monday of the ousting of former President Bashar Assad’s regime, Syrians are still struggling to heal after the dynasty’s repressive 50-year rule and a 14-year civil war that killed an estimated half-million people, displaced millions more and left the country battered and divided.

© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

A six-episode, behind-the-scenes Disney+ docuseries about Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Rian Johnson’s third “Knives Out” movie, “Wake Up Dead Man,” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you

© ASSOCIATED PRESS

From front-page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today’s top photos chosen by Associated Press photo editors.

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

• Dane makes stunning up-and-down on final hole to beat Australian

• Rory McIlroy finishes 14th but says it has been an ‘amazing week’

Cameron Smith has come up just short in his bid for a coveted maiden Australian Open title as Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen made an up-and-down for the ages on the final hole at Royal Melbourne.

The pair were tied at 15-under coming to the par four-18th on Sunday and it looked as though Smith was in the box seat when he landed his second shot on the green.

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© Photograph: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

© Photograph: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

© Photograph: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Although people reported ‘things falling off shelves and walls’, no injuries or structural damage were reported

A powerful, magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck a remote area near the border between Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon on Saturday. There was no tsunami warning, and officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck about 230 miles (370km) north-west of Juneau, Alaska, and 155 miles (250) west of Whitehorse, Yukon.

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© Photograph: Mark Thiessen/AP

© Photograph: Mark Thiessen/AP

© Photograph: Mark Thiessen/AP

Several additional people, including children, have severe liver damage amid 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning

California officials are warning foragers after an outbreak of poisoning linked to wild mushrooms that has killed one adult and caused severe liver damage in several patients, including children.

The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. The toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste.

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© Photograph: Vladyslav Siaber/Alamy

© Photograph: Vladyslav Siaber/Alamy

© Photograph: Vladyslav Siaber/Alamy

Three-person escape is second for state in a year, after 10 people crawled through a wall at a different prison

Two inmates accused of violent crimes, including second-degree attempted murder, are on the run after escaping from a south-western Louisiana jail on Wednesday by removing pieces of a deteriorating interior wall and using sheets to scale another outside wall, officials said.

A third inmate who joined in the breakout died by suicide after he was tracked down.

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© Photograph: Rawf8/Alamy

© Photograph: Rawf8/Alamy

© Photograph: Rawf8/Alamy

• World No 2 hits double bogey after playing under peel

• McIlroy five-under after third round at Royal Melbourne

The luck of the Irish has deserted Rory McIlroy, with Royal Melbourne tossing up a banana peel in the latest obstacle to his second Australian Open title.

The world No 2 was hoping to maintain the momentum of three birdies late in his second round when he arrived on course for an early tee time on Saturday, seven shots off the pace.

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© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

• James scored 10 or more in 1,297 consecutive NBA games since 2007

• Game-winning assist sets up Rui Hachimura’s 3-pointer

• ‘You always make the right play,’ James says

LeBron James knew his record streak of double-digit scoring efforts was in jeopardy. And in the moment, he didn’t care.

The right play was to pass the ball – so he did. And with that, his streak ended.

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© Photograph: Frank Gunn/AP

© Photograph: Frank Gunn/AP

© Photograph: Frank Gunn/AP

Six days after alleged incident, evidence emerges without requiring medical intervention, New Zealand police say

Police say they have recovered a Fabergé egg pendant from a man accused of swallowing the item in a jewellery story.

New Zealand police have spent six days monitoring every bowel movement of the suspect, a spokesperson said, and the NZ$33,000 ($19,000) James Bond Octopussy pendant was recovered from his gastrointestinal tract on Thursday night by natural means, without requiring medical intervention.

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© Photograph: AP

© Photograph: AP

© Photograph: AP

The surprise visitor waddled around the pub during what’s known as ‘silly season’ where seals pop up in unexpected places

On a wet, lazy Sunday evening a baby fur seal waddled into a craft beer bar in Richmond, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Accustomed to seeing animals in the pet-friendly bar, co-owner Bella Evans initially assumed the visitor was a dog before she took a closer look.

“Everyone was in shock,” Evans said. “Oh my gosh. What do we do? What’s going on?”

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© Photograph: AP

© Photograph: AP

© Photograph: AP

• Lock sent off in Cardiff during Springboks’ 73-0 win

• Suspension covers matches until end of March

South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 matches for eye-gouging against Wales last weekend.

The suspension covers matches for the Durban-based Sharks starting from this weekend to the end of March. The Sharks deregistered Etzebeth this week in anticipation of a lengthy ban.

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© Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images