Each month The Associated Press honors photographers for outstanding coverage while on assignment.

The winners of the January 2025 AP Photo Contest are Leo Correa for News Photography Single Image, for his photo of a statue of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad (1930-2000), the father President Bashar al-Assad who was overthrown in 2024, in Dayr Atiyah, Syria.

Abdel Kareem Hana for News Photography Story, for his coverage of the return of displaced Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Alex Brandon for Feature Photography Single Image, for his photo of Melania Trump arriving at the White House for her husband’s presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington.

Rajesh Kumar Singh for Feature Photography Story, for his coverage of one of the world's largest religious gatherings in India, the Maha Kumbh festival, where people take ritualistic dips into the Sangam on new moon day.

Ashley Landis for Sports Photography Single Image, for her photo of Buffalo Bills running back James Cook scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City.

Christophe Ena for Sports Photography Story, for his coverage of the Dakar Rally in Saudia Arabia.

Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. This month’s winning images, judged by Photo Editor Leslie Mazoch, are featured below.

News Photography Single Image | Leo Correa

Syria

A statue of late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad (1930-2000), the father of President Bashar al-Assad who was overthrown in 2024, in Dayr Atiyah, Syria, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

News Photography Story | Abdel Kareem Hana

Palestinians

Members of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, take part in a parade as they celebrate a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Displaced Palestinians wait near a roadblock on Salah al-Din Street to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Displaced Palestinians wait near a roadblock on Salah al-Din Street to return to their homes in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Displaced Palestinians return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

A displaced Palestinian carries a baby as they return to their home in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Displaced Palestinians return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Displaced Palestinians walk to their homes in northern Gaza, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

newsstory-08.jpg

Displaced Palestinians walk on a road in central Gaza to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

A Hamas fighter lifts his weapon as displaced Palestinians walk through Central Gaza to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

newsstory-10.jpg

Displaced Palestinians return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

Nour Abu Al Zamar salvages items from the rubble of her home in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians

An area of Gaza City is in ruins after fighting between the Israeli army against Hamas, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Feature Photography Single Image | Alex Brandon

US Presidential Inauguration

Melania Trump arrives with her husband, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, at the White House for his inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Feature Photography Story | Rajesh Kumar Singh

India Mahakumbh Festival

Naga Sadhus take ritualistic dips at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati, on one of the most auspicious days Makar Sankranti during the Maha Kumbh festival celebrated every 12 years and lasting 55 days in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Sadhus ritualistic dip at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Swami Bhupender Giri, center, and Naga Sadhu of Niranjani Akhara arrive for a ritualistic dip at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

A Hindu woman carries her luggage through the crowd as she arrives for a holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of the new moon day during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Hindus arrive for a holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of the new moon day during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

A person dressed as the Hindu Goddess Kali dances during Shri Anand Akhara Panchayati in a procession towards the Sangam during the first 'royal entry' (Peshwai) for the Mahakumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Hindu holy men prepare to take a dip at the Sangam during the Mahakumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Hindu holy men take a dip in the Sangam on new moon day during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Smoke rises from a fire engulfing a tented camp near the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati rivers during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Police monitor the movement of people from the control room during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 29, 2025, after a stampede. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Mahakumbh Festival

Security officers carry a woman from the site of a stampede at the Sangam on new moon day during the Maha Kumbh festival, in Prayagraj, India, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Sports Photography Single | Ashley Landis

Bills Chiefs Football

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sports Photography Story | Christophe Ena

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

A competitor rides past locals during the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Driver Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings compete in the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Al Henakiyah and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Riders prepare for stage two on day two of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

The car of driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin sits still after a crash during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Riders eat dinner after stage two of the Dakar Rally which started in Bisha and finished in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Racers compete in the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally with start and finish in Al Duwadimi, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Driver Simon Vitse and co-driver Max Delfino compete in the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally with start and finish in Al Duwadimi, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Monthly_January_2025_467.jpg

Spectators watch drivers compete in the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Hail and Al Duwadimi, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Monthly_January_2025_468.jpg

Rider Ricky Brabec competes in the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally between Al Duwadimi and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

A man climbs to watch the drivers during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Rider Daniel Sanders of Australia celebrates winning the Dakar Rally after the twelfth stage in Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally

Driver Joao Ferreira and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro, in the left car, compete during stage one of the Dakar Rally, with start and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Lead photo: An Indian man dressed as Hindu goddess Kali dances during Shri Anand Akhara Panchayati in a procession towards the Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna, during the first 'royal entry' (Peshwai) for the Mahakumbh festival, lasting 55 days and celebrated every 12 years in Prayagraj, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)