Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, several weather monitoring agencies announced Friday. Last year’s global average temperature easily passed 2023’s record heat and kept pushing even higher.

A long-awaited La Nina has finally appeared, but the periodic cooling of Pacific Ocean waters is weak and unlikely to cause as many weather problems as usual, meteorologists said Thursday.

NEW YORK (AP) - When Justin Stewart started his career, he juggled several jobs to make ends meet. He poured himself into his full-time role as a news show production assistant from 3 a.m. until noon. Then he rushed to the airport where he rented cars or to the big box stores where he pulled retail shifts.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A spacecraft has beamed back some of the best close-up photos yet of Mercury's north pole. The European and Japanese robotic explorer swooped as close as 183 miles (295 kilometers) above Mercury’s night side before passing directly over the planet’s north pole.

LONDON (AP) - Prince William praised the strength of the Princess of Wales after a turbulent year, offering a 43rd birthday wish on social media on Thursday that described her as an incredible wife and mother.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA is pitching a cheaper and quicker way of getting rocks and soil back from Mars, after seeing its original plan swell to $11 billion.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Makers of medical devices that quickly measure oxygen levels in the blood would have to gather extra data to show that their products work for patients of color, under a new federal proposal released Monday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Santa Ana winds are common in Southern California during cooler months. Here's a look at the often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire: