The Associated Press

AP's Sahar Akbarzai offers a behind-the-scenes look of what it was like to cover Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

You’ve likely heard it since childhood: Don’t scratch that bug bite or rash, you’ll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad?

Taipei Zoo matched Yuanzai’s birthday celebrations with the ongoing World Cup by making a football-themed cake. Yuanzai was born in 2013 from two panda parents that China gave Taiwan when cross-Straits relations were less tense.

More than a week after two powerful earthquakes shook Venezuela, families across the devastated region are clawing through mountains of pulverized concrete with their bare hands to locate thousands of relatives missing in the ruins. AP Video/Fernanda Pesce

The Belgian soccer federation wants an explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game. Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals. #FolarinBalogun #FIFA #WorldCup #USA #Belgium

When powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela, AP journalists were first on the scene with authoritative reporting and compelling visual journalism. From live reports during the quakes to exclusive images of the devastation, AP teams across Venezuela, Colombia, the U.S. and Latin America worked together to deliver fast, accurate coverage while many reporters faced the disaster themselves. The result was comprehensive reporting that became the global reference point for one of the year's biggest breaking news events. Read more: https://buff.ly/yK2Au1n #BestofAP

Following historic flooding in Northern Michigan, AP journalists examined why residents had little warning and what the disaster means for communities across the country. Through interviews, data reporting, compelling visuals and on-the-ground reporting, the team found that FEMA's flood maps are outdated in many areas and often fail to reflect today's flood risks driven by a changing climate. The reporting revealed that millions of Americans may not realize they are vulnerable because floodplains remain unmapped in many rural communities. Read more: https://buff.ly/B64dKLS #BestofAP

An AP investigation revealed that the DEA allowed hundreds of thousands of deadly fentanyl pills to remain on the streets of New Mexico under little-known enforcement protocols. After months of reporting, document reviews and source development, AP journalists uncovered secret changes to federal policy that gave agents discretion not to seize the drugs. The reporting sparked a criminal inquiry, calls for answers from lawmakers and an inspector general investigation into the DEA's practices. Read more: https://buff.ly/e3PJ4Yz #BestofAP

AP video journalist Javier Arciga provided comprehensive, on-the-ground coverage of Iran's World Cup stay in Mexico, following the team through a fast-changing schedule and one of the tournament's most closely watched storylines. By combining exclusive video with reporting, quotes and real-time updates, Arciga delivered rich, multiformat coverage that captured both the action on the field and the emotions surrounding the team's World Cup journey. His reporting gave AP audiences a unique perspective throughout the tournament. Read more: https://buff.ly/tnoRMLq #BestofAP

AP journalists looked beyond a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act to tell the personal stories of families still living with the sacrifices made during the civil rights movement. Combining compelling reporting, powerful video, striking photography and archival images, the team connected today's legal decision with the people whose lives were forever changed by the fight for voting rights. The result was a moving account that explored the lasting impact of one of America's defining struggles for democracy. Read more: https://buff.ly/LYHrKcj #BestofAP