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BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. billionaire Elon Musk backed Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a guest opinion piece for Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper published online on Saturday that prompted the commentary editor to resign in protest. In the commentary, published in German by the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, Musk expanded on his post on social media platform X last week claiming that "only the AfD can save Germany." "The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party's leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!" Musk said in the piece. Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, wrote on X that she had submitted her resignation, with a link to the commentary. "Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically," the newspaper's editor-in-chief designate Jan Philipp Burgard and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on Jan. 1, told Reuters. They said discussion about Musk's piece, which had around 340 comments several hours after it was published, was "very revealing." Underneath Musk's commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. "Musk's diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false," he wrote, referencing the AfD's desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his "significant investments," comes as Germans are set to vote on Feb. 23 after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany's mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at national level. (Reporting by Miranda Murray and Andreas Rinke. Editing by Jane Merriman)Contacts between the parties suggest that the early post-election preference of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for Labour to join them in government will not be reciprocated, at least not in the immediate future. Labour leader Ivana Bacik has instead been pursuing the broad red-green alliance with the Greens and the Social Democrats that she repeatedly flagged during the election campaign. The results of her efforts have not been encouraging, however; the Greens have been left without a meaningful parliamentary presence, while the Social Democrats – never visibly enthused by Bacik’s proposal – gave it the thumbs down on Friday. The Social Democrats said they would meet separately from Labour with other parties, including Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. So that’s that. Labour must now decide whether to seek a coalition deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – and there is a difference between actually seeking a deal and just meeting for the optics, remember – or whether it wishes to continue in Opposition for another five years. The political dangers of going into government are well understood in Labour, and their fears are unlikely to have been assuaged by the fate of the Greens. At the same time, nobody knows better than Labour that government is where parties can achieve their aims, implement their policies and force the changes they have promised voters. There is, reportedly, division between Labour TDs on the issue, but the prospects of the party playing a role in the next government seem to be diminishing. And so, the focus will inevitably move to the Independents . A group convened by the Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry has made the early running, signalling its availability, and there have been some preliminary discussions. It is not yet clear whether they will seek positions in government, as Independents did in the 2016-20 administration, or be content to support the coalition from the outside, as Independents did previously. In any case, a series of deals with the Independents will not be straightforward. Each Independent TD speaks for himself or herself, and has only their own vote to trade; that is the nature of their status. They will be focused on their constituencies, but any new government will need them to stay on board for broader matters such as budgets, motions of confidence and controversial issues. A good deal of foresight will be required to future-proof any agreement. It seems unlikely that matters will have moved on conclusively when the new Dáil meets for the first time on December 18th. That means a new government is unlikely before mid-January. It should not take longer than that. The options are clear and the participants need to get on with it.
Calgary won shootout 2-1 First Period_1, Calgary, Rooney 2 (Kirkland, Miromanov), 15:00. 2, Minnesota, Johansson 3 (Boldy), 16:03. Second Period_3, Calgary, Pospisil 2 (Andersson, Kadri), 19:29 (pp). Third Period_4, Calgary, Sharangovich 4 (Zary, Weegar), 3:53 (pp). 5, Minnesota, Faber 3 (Rossi, Boldy), 16:01 (pp). 6, Minnesota, Rossi 6 (Eriksson Ek), 19:26. Overtime_None. Shootout_Calgary 2 (Sharangovich NG, Kuzmenko NG, Kirkland G, Coronato NG, Andersson G), Minnesota 1 (Gaudreau G, Boldy NG, Eriksson Ek NG, Rossi NG, Hartman NG). Shots on Goal_Minnesota 8-3-10-2_23. Calgary 8-11-9-3_31. Power-play opportunities_Minnesota 1 of 3; Calgary 2 of 2. Goalies_Minnesota, Gustavsson 9-3-2 (31 shots-28 saves). Calgary, Vladar 3-4-2 (23-20). A_17,116 (19,289). T_2:37. Referees_Ghislain Hebert, Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Linesmen_Caleb Apperson, Ben O'Quinn.
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Gwen Stefani fans accuse singer, 55, of using FaceTune to promote Catholic prayer app: 'Jesus Christ!' Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By EVE BUCKLAND and HEIDI PARKER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 20:53 GMT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 21:00 GMT, 6 December 2024 e-mail 50 shares 3 View comments Gwen Stefani fans have accused the singer of using FaceTune to promote a Catholic prayer app. The No Doubt star, 55, wowed in a mini dress and showed off a smooth line-free visage as she waxed lyrical about app Hallow while celebrating the run-up to Christmas . She said: 'Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord 'That's why I'm partnering with prayer meditation and music app Hallow for their 25 day prayer challenge.' Stefani's radiant glow quickly caught the eye of fans with one sharing the video with the caption: 'Gwen Stefani?! Jesus Christ...' Another wrote: 'What filter are they using on that camera?' while a second typed: 'Gwen Stefani’s Christian glow up is one of the best things about 2024.' Gwen Stefani fans have accused the singer of using FaceTune to promote a Catholic prayer app The No Doubt star, 55, wowed in a mini dress and showed off a smooth line-free visage as she waxed lyrical about app Hallow while celebrating the run-up to Christmas (pictured R last week) Stefani has had quite the image overhaul since her 1990s rise to fame (pictured 1996) Others wrote: 'The filter is the craziest part' 'Guess she only drinks that holy bath water now....' and 'AI?.' On Wednesday the songbird looked wrinkle-free as she posed for glamour shots on the set of her show The Voice . The musical icon appeared to be half her age as she wore dewy makeup with her blonde hair partially up while posing by a staircase. Fans could not believe how youthful the wife of Blake Shelton seemed as she had no marks or bumps on her face. Some said she appeared to be in her twenties while another called her the 'ageless queen.' 'Looking like your 21 wow,' said one fan which was followed by, 'Beautiful Gwen... timeless inspiration!!!' and 'I am stunned.' It is not known if the Los Angeles native uses filters for the flawless look she gets on social media or if she really is that young looking. Gwen has talked about her looks many times in the past. She said: 'Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord 'That's why I'm partnering with prayer meditation and music app Hallow for their 25 day prayer challenge' Stefani's radiant glow quickly caught the eye of fans with one sharing the video with the caption: 'Gwen Stefani?! Jesus Christ...' Stefani looked wrinkle-free last week as she posed for glamour shots on the set of her show The Voice Last month, she opened up to Drew Barrymore about feeling riddled with insecurity about her appearance as a middle schooler in Anaheim, California . The artist stopped by the talk show to promote her new album Bouquet . Explaining what inspired her song Pretty, she said, 'I was looking back in my life, at all of the photos, like physical and inner beauty of myself. I was thinking about eighth grade, I’m like staring in the mirror in the gym, right, like by myself going, "Am I cute? I can’t tell." 'You know when you’re trying to figure out if you are or not?' The No Doubt frontwoman then explained she was evaluating the throwback snapshots to determine when she felt 'the prettiest' and when she liked herself 'the most.' She pinpointed: 'It was right when Blake started loving me. 'I wanted to write a song about that, because when you actually feel love for the first time, they reflect you. You can see yourself in them.' Stefani previously described her relationship with Shelton, who she met while they were both judges on The Voice, as a 'miracle.' After her heartbreaking divorce from ex-husband Gavin Rossdale in 2015, she wasn't sure how to move forward. And she felt protective of their three sons — Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 10 —after their split. In an interview with People , the singer shared: 'The last four years of my life, I got engaged, then I got married and started my life over. Something that I wanted since I was a little girl is to be married and have this love that I saw my parents have and have babies.' The Hollaback Girl hitmaker and her ex-husband dated for six years before tying the knot in September 2002. Referring to her 13-year union with Rossdale, 59, she added: 'That dream was completely ruined; it was crushed, and I had to figure out how I was going to move forward and make a new dream.' Gwen has been married to country singer Blake Shelton since July 2021; pictured in May 'God putting Blake in my life was just that miracle,' she said about their love story, which started later in 2015. She recalled: 'Especially growing up with this perfect example of love between my parents. They met when they were 15, and they fell in love, and then they had us (children), and they made us feel like we were everything to them. 'And when you have a family and it's the opposite of that, it breaks up... I didn't know what to do or how to protect my children. And I'm still working on that.' Gwen Stefani Blake Shelton The Voice Share or comment on this article: Gwen Stefani fans accuse singer, 55, of using FaceTune to promote Catholic prayer app: 'Jesus Christ!' e-mail 50 shares Add commentCHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey ? It's unclear if it's drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what's behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey's new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they're looking into what's happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she's glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. READ: She doesn't buy what the governor said, that the drones aren't a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there's the notion that people could misunderstand what they're seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they're looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin's view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That's not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon , it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. ___ Golden reported form Seattle. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.None
The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP stands for “Conference of Parties” and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The COP29 meeting was attended by representatives of 196 countries, including the heads of state and governments of 80 countries. This high number occurred even though some European states, especially France and the Armenian diaspora, actively called for a boycott against COP29. France encouraged several heads of state to refrain from attending the event. In addition to France's particular efforts at the beginning of COP29, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that unfairly criticized the presidency and Azerbaijan's global efforts to combat climate change in general. That is, France's ambassador to Baku, Anna Boillon, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and condemned such efforts of France. On the other hand, Armenia was also a part of this smear process from the beginning and tried to cast a political shadow over the COP29 meeting by bringing up the issue of signing a peace agreement before COP29. Therefore, while Azerbaijan was preparing to host a major event to make a positive contribution to global climate change, it had to fight against a serious disinformation and information attack. The COP29 presidency has put forward 14 initiatives covering topics such as the link between climate action and sustainable development goals, green energy zones and corridors, energy storage, harmony for climate resilience, agriculture, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, green digital action and more. Additionally, one of the initiatives includes the establishment of the Climate Finance Action Fund. The key goal of COP29 is to agree on how much money developed countries should provide developing ones to help them fight climate change, a critical plank in efforts to limit the damage caused by rising global temperatures. Different figures floating around in the press about the amount that could be collected. While developing countries were demanding more, developed countries were willing to give less. During this process, a G-20 summit meeting was held and the call made by Azerbaijan expected the support of the G-20 countries in these negotiations. Developing countries insisted on a target worth $1 trillion each year. According to the World Economic Forum, $1 trillion is a realistic and achievable number. While the negotiations were ongoing, the election of Donald Trump, who did not take climate change seriously, had a negative impact on the spirit of the talks. Donald Trump declared that he would remove the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord for the second time if he wins the presidency again. The negotiations were aimed to be completed by Nov. 21, but due to a deadlock caused by differences between developed and developing countries, the negotiation process was extended until Nov. 23. As of Nov. 23, rich countries pledged to contribute at least $300 billion annually to the global fight against climate change. The target, or new collective quantified goal (NCQG), will replace the existing $100 billion goal that is due to expire in 2025. U.N. General Secretary Anthony Guterres underlined that commitments must quickly become cash. All countries must come together to ensure the top-end of this new goal is met. While some delegations applauded the deal, others, especially from the developing world, expressed their deep disappointment at what they argued was an “insulting” financing target and the fact that the agreed text failed to build on an agreement passed last year calling for nations to “transition away from fossil fuels.” Developing countries who had sought over $1 trillion in assistance called the agreement “insulting” and argued it did not give them the vital resources they required to truly address the complexities of the climate crisis. At the end of COP29, countries also agreed on the rules for a U.N.-backed global carbon market. This market will facilitate the trading of carbon credits, incentivizing countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly projects. Alongside finance, the future of fossil fuels is at the heart of COP29, which has stirred disagreement from day one. It is not easy to avoid fossil fuels. On the one hand, the cost of renewing old infrastructure in the transition to green energy; on the other hand, the increasing world population and industrialization increase the demand for fossil resources. Renewable energy sources are insufficient to meet the demand in the face of a growing population. Mohamed Hamel, secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, went a step further in his praise for fossil fuels. “As the world’s population grows, the economy expands, and human living conditions improve, the world will need more natural gas, not less.” COP29 was also an excellent opportunity to attract international capital to invest in Azerbaijan's renewable energy resources. Azerbaijan is dedicated to international cooperation, sustainable development goals, and unlocking its green energy potential. This achievement will accelerate our energy transition efforts while enhancing our contribution to global climate objectives. Azerbaijan is one of the countries with a high potential for abundant energy sources. Thus, the potential of renewable energy sources, which are economically viable and technically feasible, is estimated at 27,000 MW, including 3,000 MW of wind energy, 23,000 MW of solar energy, 380 MW of bioenergy potential and 520 MW of mountain rivers. the technical potential of offshore wind energy in the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea is estimated at a total of 157 GW. Azerbaijan has started a "green energy" partnership with 7 international companies. As of 2020, cooperation with the energy projects of Masdar, ACWA Power, BP, Fortescue Future Industries, China Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment, Total Energies, Nobel Energy, A-Z Czech Engineering and Baltech companies has started. During COP29 Azerbaijan concluded its first-ever renewable energy auction with technical assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The outcome of the competitive auction was announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29). The company Universal International Holdings Limited, which submitted the lowest bid for the price per kilowatt-hour of electricity, won the auction. The plant, which is planned to be commissioned in 2027, is expected to produce around 260 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This will not only save about 57 million cubic meters of natural gas each year but will also reduce carbon emissions by 124,000 tons. One of the most important side effects of climate change is the decrease in water reserves. In this context, within the framework of COP29, the Declaration of Climate Action on Water was accepted for the first time in Baku. COP29 Presidency launched Water for Climate Action endorsed by 50 countries and non-state actors. This program commits to taking integrated approaches to combat the causes and impacts of climate change on water basins, paving the way for greater regional and international cooperation. To support these efforts, signatories will work together to strengthen the generation of scientific evidence on the causes and impacts of climate change on water resources and water basins, including through data sharing and the creation of new basin-wide climate scenarios. As a result, this agreement reached in Baku is a historic success in combating climate change. Although the demand for $1 trillion in developing countries has not been met, the annual target of $300 billion is more than $100 billion. For the agreement to be realized, developed countries must turn their promises into cash. On the other hand, we see that countries are taking steps towards transitioning to green energy. However, industrial developments and increasing influence in the world show that a gradual transition to green energy will be healthy.NoneSavion Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards as TCU pulled away from Arizona in the second half, winning 49-28 on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions, starting late in the first half after the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled within 14-13. Williams carried nine times for 80 yards, scoring on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the first half. Hoover completed 19 of 26 passes, with one touchdown and one interception, before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter when the Frogs were up by 21. TCU took control after leading 21-13 at halftime, going up 35-13 on a 38-yard reception to JP Richardson midway through the third. Arizona kept its hopes alive, ending a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hunter on fourth down on the first play of the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion made it 35-21. But the Horned Frogs responded with another TD drive, capped by a 6-yard run by Cam Cook for a 42-21 advantage. Arizona added a 70-yard fumble return touchdown with one minute to go for the game's final score. Tetairoa McMillan caught nine passes for 115 yards to become the Arizona career leader in receiving yardage with 3,355. He surpassed his receivers coach, Bobby Wade (3,351), at the top spot. The Wildcats' Noah Fifita completed 29 of 44 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, which happened on the game's first snap. TCU promptly scored on a 4-yard run by Trent Battle, and Williams added a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. But the Wildcats fought back, getting a 17-yard touchdown reception by Hunter and field goals of 53 and 43 yards from Tyler Loop to climb within 14-13 with 1:55 go before halftime. That's almost how the half ended, but the Horned Frogs converted third-and-18 on the ensuing drive and then gained 24 yards on third-and-25 to the Arizona 20. That set up a 20-yard run by Williams on fourth-and-1 with 13 seconds left for a 21-13 lead. --Field Level Media
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) — Quintell Quinn ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns to lead Texas Southern to a 31-23 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. Quinn scored on a 32-yard run to open the scoring midway through the first quarter, and his 75-yard touchdown run gave Texas Southern a 17-13 lead with 6:59 remaining in the third. A little more than three minutes later, Jace Wilson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Leary that stretched the Tigers' lead to 24-13. Athean Renfro added 55 yards rushing with a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for Texas Southern (5-6, 4-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference). DJ Stevenson threw a touchdown pass and an interception for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-8, 2-6). Abdulbasit Osholake had an 80-yard pick-6 that tied it 7-all late in the second quarter for the Lions. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
NoneBy Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.