my rapid journey planner

MyRapid PULSE 4+

Suhaimi maidin.

• #45 in Travel
• 2.0 • 593 Ratings

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Description.

MyRapid PULSE for Rapid KL, Rapid Penang, and Rapid Kuantan public transport users. Features include Journey Planner, Arrival Time of train and bus, Fare Calculator, Service Status of trains, Stations and Points of Interest, app push notifications, and Contact Us. Traveling is now more convenient with MyRapid PULSE.

Version 3.1.9

Bug fixes and performance enhancement

Ratings and Reviews

593 Ratings

Bus in the map

The version before this shows where the bus approximately in the map, the bus tracker. I prefer it that way rather than knowing the arrival times since the arrival times will keep changing over time. I rather see where my bus is in the map. Hopefully can add it back in the later version. This app has a lot of things that can be improve and others have pointed them out. However, the bus tracker is for me the best feature in this app. Really hope you can bring it back.

As the title said, this app needs much more improvement despite being advertised as an application with the ability to ease your journey. This app does not show the correct estimated time of arrival, of which was the reason I was forcefully asked to download and try by their customer service representative on twitter. It will show you which line and bus you should take and if you’re lucky enough, the time when the bus would arrive. Some places might not be registered yet on the app such as my the area where I worked at in Balakong. If you need to find the ETA of a bus at a specific bus stop, you will need to remember the full name indicated at the stop, or else it won’t show up in the search bar. All in all, if you’re hoping to find the timetable for your bus line, this isn’t the application I’d suggest you to use nor should you try their journey planner on the website as it is just as unreliable.

Developer Response ,

Dear Eddy, duly apologise for any inconvenience caused. We will take you feedback seriously and will work to improve the app it in every update. For any suggestions or feedbacks, do email us at [email protected]. Thank you.

Unreliable bus timing

T778. There isn’t much people taking the bus during non peak hours and the weekend but this affect my daily schedule. There’s a bus daily timetable printed out however sometimes the bus isn’t operating. I’m not sure this caused the driver, perhaps they are not scheduled to work. This cannot be because the bus runs daily. This App estimated time of arrival do not reflect similarly the same. For example, the bus arrived at 4.20pm but this app shows the next bus to arrive at 11pm. There’s no indication where the bus is and the GPS tracking in the map isn’t showing. I’m hoping the app can be improve, to at least update if the bus is operating/breakdown/maintenance so I won’t waste my time waiting at the bus stop.

App Privacy

The developer, Suhaimi Maidin , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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• From Zafigo

The Ultimate Guide To Public Transport In The Klang Valley

Eager to learn how to take public transport in the Klang Valley but everything seems very confusing? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. (Image by Deva Darshan .)

It can get confusing and frustrating at first to figure out public transport (PT) in the Klang Valley (KV) that encompasses Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding townships, but with time, practice — and of course, this guide — you’ll be a pro in no time!

The first step is understanding the different routes, and the kinds of transportation available. In general, the KV has multiple rail transits, buses, taxis, and e-hailing services. But before we get into each kind of PT, let’s look at some general tips and safety concerns.

Planning your route

The most common way of figuring out how to get anywhere is to usually start with a simple Google search. Once you’ve located your destination, plan your journey using Google Maps , the Moovit app , MyRapid’s Journey Planner , or the MyRapid PULSE app .

The ‘Transit’ option on Google Maps will show you a few routes — the shortest or fastest route is usually the easiest. If you find yourself confused, don’t worry, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. We promise it gets easier to understand with this guide. If all else fails, try asking a friendly stranger for directions.

Personal safety

As women, safety is a very valid concern. Here are some tips that will help ease your worries while using public transport:

• Check your device/map in a safe location before you walk on the streets.
• In secluded areas, walk with a friend, or avoid them completely if it’s dark out.
• Carry pepper spray to protect yourself.
• If you’re out while it’s dark, take a trusted e-hailing service instead of walking.

Travel etiquette

Public transportation is a shared service, and practicing simple etiquette will make everyone’s journey smooth and comfortable. For instance, when a train or bus arrives, wait for others to exit before you enter the vehicle. Once inside, don’t crowd the entrances and exits; move towards the centre or back of the vehicle to make room for others to embark. This is especially important during peak hours.

Priority seats in trains and buses (usually in red, orange, or a different colour) are catered to disabled, elderly, pregnant folks, and persons with infants or children. Even if you aren’t seated in a priority seat, it’s common courtesy to give your seat up to someone who might need it more.

Smoking, eating, and drinking are not allowed at all stations, platforms, and of course, on board trains and buses. This is to help keep our public transport environment clean and pleasing for everyone to use. For more information on general travelling etiquettes, visit MyRapid’s website, here .

Money matters

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Loka Made (@thelokamade)

For payment methods, the Touch n’ Go (TnG) card is commonly used for cashless payments. If you hold a Malaysian Identification Card (IC), your IC can be used as a TnG card. Otherwise, you can purchase a TnG card from RapidKL’s Customer Service Counters at MRT, LRT, Monorail, and BRT stations. If you’d like to pay by cash at rail transits, tokens can be purchased at the stations’ Customer Service Counters or the Ticket Vending Machines.

If you’re taking PT regularly, the My50 RapidKL travel package will help you save some money. It is a travel pass that offers you 30 days of unlimited rides across all RapidKL LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT, RapidKL Buses, and MRT feeder buses in the KV. Concession cards are also available for the disabled, elderly folks, and students, which entitles you to a 50% fare discount on all RapidKL rides. There are also travel passes for tourists and family group rides like the MyCity Pass and Kelurga Malaysia Pass .

Rail transits

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Rail transits connect many major parts of the KV and is the most convenient form of public transport besides e-hailing. If you’re travelling using only rail transits, this Klang Valley Integrated Transit Map is all you’ll need. All railway lines are shown on the map, and you’ll be able to see where each line intersects with each other.

Here are some common terms to help you understand rail transit routes better:

• Line: The rail transit/route you’re taking. For example, Kelana Jaya line.
• Interchange station: Stations that cater to more than one railway route, and allow passengers to change from one line to another, usually without having to exit the station.
• Connecting station: Similar to interchange stations, but may require passengers to exit the station and walk to a nearby rail transit.
• Terminal station: The last station on both ends of a route. The way-finding signages at train stations will usually show the terminal station in the direction you’re heading. For example, if you’re going to KLCC from KL Sentral, take the train that goes towards Gombak station. Vice versa, if you’re going to Kelana Jaya from KL Sentral, take the train that goes towards Putra Heights.

Now that you understand rail transit routes a little better, it’s also good to know that there are two main railway service providers in the KV:

• MyRapid (runs the LRT, MRT, and Monorail lines): RapidKL train services are timely, but do expect technical difficulties from time to time. Service statuses can be tracked using the MyRapid PULSE app .
• KTM Berhad (runs the KTM Komuter lines): KTM train schedules can be found here — train frequencies can run between 20 minutes to an hour, so we’d advise you to check the train schedule beforehand to plan your journey.

Last but not least, here’s the list of rail transits available in the Klang Valley:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by JK™️ (@baba_kubor)

Monorail KL Covers: Kuala Lumpur (KL) city areas (Eg. KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, Chow Kit, Titiwangsa) Terminal stations: KL Sentral, Titiwangsa Interchange stations: Hang Tuah, Titiwangsa Connecting stations: KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku Check train frequency and operating hours here .

LRT Kelana Jaya Covers: The line runs from Putra Heights to Subang and Petaling Jaya areas, passing through KL City, and heads towards Gombak. Terminal stations: Putra Heights, Gombak Interchange stations: Putra Heights, USJ 7, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek, Connecting stations: Subang Jaya, KL Sentral, Pasar Seni, Dang Wangi Check train frequency and operating hours here .

LRT Sri Petaling Covers: Continuing from the Kelana Jaya line, LRT Sri Petaling runs from Putra Heights to Puchong areas, towards Bukit Jalil and Bandar Tasik Selatan, passing by Cheras into KL City, and ends at Sentul Timur. Terminal stations: Putra Heights, Sentul Timur Interchange stations: Putra Heights, Chan Sow Lin, Hang Tuah, Plaza Rakyat, Masjid Jamek, Titiwangsa Connecting stations: Bandar Tasik Selatan, Sultan Ismail Check train frequency and operating hours here .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hummingbird Trans (@hummingbird_trans)

LRT Ampang Covers: The Ampang LRT starts from Ampang and Cheras areas, going into KL City and Sentul. Terminal stations: Ampang, Sentul Timur Interchange stations: Maluri, Chan Sow Lin, Hang Tuah, Plaza Rakyat, Masjid Jamek, Titiwangsa Connecting stations: Sultan Ismail Check train frequency and operating hours here .

MRT Kajang Covers: Starting from Sg. Buloh area, going into Bandar Utama and Damansara, passing through KL City, then into Cheras and Kajang areas. Terminal stations: Kwasa Damansara, Kajang Interchange stations: Kwasa Damansara, Pasar Seni, Merdeka, Maluri Connecting stations: Muzium Negara, Pasar Seni, Bukit Bintang, Kajang Check train frequency and operating hours here .

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MRT Putrajaya Covers: This MRT line starts at Kwasa Damansara, passing through Sungai Buloh, Damansara Damai, Sri Damansara, and Kepong areas, heads into Sentul and KL, then passing through Serdang, and eventually ending at Cyberjaya and Putrajaya Sentral. Terminal stations: Kwasa Damansara, Putrajaya Sentral Interchange stations: Kwasa Damansara, Titiwangsa, Tun Razak Exchange, Chan Sow Lin, Sungai Besi, Connecting stations: Sungai Buloh, Sri Damansara Timur, Kampung Batu, Ampang Park, Putrajaya Sentral Check train frequency and operating hours here .

BRT Sunway Covers: Although not a train, this Bus Rapid Transit operates on its designated roadway and is part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. It services the southeast suburb of Petaling Jaya, which is the Sunway area. Terminal stations: Sunway-Setia Jaya, USJ 7 Interchange stations: USJ 7 Connecting stations: Sunway-Setia Jaya Check the BRT frequency and operating hours here .

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KTM Tanjung Malim-Pelabuhan Klang Covers: Starting from the Perak/Selangor border, the train passes through Rawang into Sungai Buloh and Kepong, going through KL City, then into Subang and Shah Alam before heading towards Klang. Terminal stations: Tanjung Malim, Pelabuhan Klang Interchange stations: Putra, Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur, KL Sentral Connecting stations: Sungai Buloh, Putra, Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur, KL Sentral, Setia Jaya, Subang Jaya Check train times here . A separate route map just for KTM Komuter lines can be found here .

KTM Batu Caves-Pulau Sebang Covers: This train runs from Batu Caves, passing through Sentul and KL, into Serdang and Kajang, then through Nilai, goes into Seremban, and ends at the Malacca/Negeri Sembilan Border, Pulau Sebang. Terminal stations: Batu Caves, Pulau Sebang/Tampin Interchange stations: Putra, Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur, KL Sentral Connecting stations: Putra, Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur, KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Check train times here . A separate route map just for KTM Komuter lines can be found here .

Now, on to KV’s buses. Although they are dependable most of the time, their frequencies are highly dependent on traffic conditions. Expect delays, and plan ahead if going somewhere new. Each bus route has a number, and that number will be displayed at the top front of buses together with the name of the terminal station.

At most bus hubs, an informational display will show the bus routes and their estimated time of arrival. Most bus services have mobile applications to help track bus locations now— which we’ll mention in the list below.

Take note that all RapidKL buses only accept TnG cashless payments, so having a TnG card will be handy if you’ll be taking these buses often. However, Omnibus Selangor buses still use a standard cash ticketing system. After you’ve boarded the bus, a bus conductor will approach you for payment and you’ll be handed a physical ticket.

RKL Rapid Mobility Although in fact a van, the RKL Rapid Mobility is a public transport ‘door-to-door’ service provided by RapidKL to folks with disabilities. These vans are fitted with a hydraulic lift, giving passengers with wheelchairs ease of boarding.

For more information on service coverage area, operating hours, and booking, visit the website here , or the FAQ section under Rapid Mobility in Klang Valley. We have not personally tried RKL Rapid Mobility, but would love to hear from anyone who has experienced this service before.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Osh Hisham (@osh_citywalker)

RapidKL Buses Check RapidKL Bus routes here . Track bus location: MyRapid PULSE app

MRT Buses The MRT buses services passengers to and from MRT Kajang line stations. Check MRT Bus routes here . Track bus location: MyRapid PULSE app

GoKL Buses GoKL is a free bus service managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). Their buses are not numbered, but are named by colour. For example, the GoKL Green Line services the Suria KLCC and Bukit Bintang areas. Pay attention to the name of the bus when boarding.

Check GoKL Bus routes here . Track bus location: GoKL app (Get it on Google App Store or Apple App Store .)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (@pjcitycouncil)

PJ City Buses This free bus service has six routes in the Petaling Jaya (PJ) area, with bus stations conveniently located at LRT Taman Bahagia and LRT Taman Jaya. Check PJ City Bus routes here . Track bus location: PJ City Bus app (Get it on Google App Store or Apple App Store .)

Smart Selangor Buses The Smart Selangor Buses started implementing a ‘Scan-to-Ride’ feature in 2021. You’d have to download the CEpat app beforehand and register an account for yourself. Remember to scan the QR code using the CEpat app when you board and when you leave the bus. This bus service is free for Malaysians, while an RM0.90 fee is charged to non-Malaysian passengers.

Note: We’ve seen some frustrated netizens having trouble registering on the CEpat app. While some have had luck showing their Malaysian IC to board the bus, some were denied boarding if they did not have the app. We’d encourage you to download the app before attempting a journey, or find an alternative mode of transportation.

Check Smart Selangor Bus routes here . Track bus location: Smart Intelligent Transport System (SITS) app

Selangor Omnibus Check Selangor Omnibus routes here .

Taxis & e-hailing

This mode of public transportation probably needs no introduction. There are many ways to book a ride in the KV via e-hailing. Some of the apps we know and frequently use ourselves are Grab , Gojo , and AirAsia Ride . Of course, there’s also the good ol’ wave-down-a-taxi method to take a metered ride. Most e-hailing apps will also have the taxi option if you’d like to utilise that.

Just be sure that your cabbie uses the meter as sometimes they may try to set an exorbitant flat fee to take you where you want to go. This occurs especially at tourist-heavy locations (such as in front of Pavilion KL), so just ask your driver if they’re using the meter before you hop in.

Well, we hope that was sufficient information to get you started on your public transport journey (literally and metaphorically). All the best and stay safe!

(they/them) River is a pawrent to 2 cats and an introvert. Part of the UBI (Useless Bits of Information) brain club, inspiration usually strikes when they're in the shower, on the toilet bowl or during commutes.

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KL Sentral » Train & Transit Services » Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Kelana Jaya Line

Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Kelana Jaya Line

The  Kelana Jaya Line LRT  runs from Putra Heights through Kelana Jaya to Gombak, serving the Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya regions to the south, southwest and central Kuala Lumpur, and Kuala Lumpur City Centre to low-density residential areas further north. The Kelana Jaya line LRT is the first fully automated and driverless rail system that forms a part of the  Greater KL / Klang Valley Integrated Transit System .

Operating hours

Station Opening Hours

Stations are open for travellers from 6 am on Monday to Sunday. On special days, some stations may open earlier.

Station Closing Hours

Closing time for stations varies depending on location. Travellers exiting at stations with its shutters rolled down don’t panic. You may exit at the bypass door as indicated by station staff.

Note: In the event of any approved service extension hours or special-request events, a dedicated train schedule and operation plan will be introduced. This includes all unique operations i.e. Ramadhan operations, where the morning and evening peak hours vary. We advise all travellers to plan their journey well and be aware of the closing hours for the intended exit station.

Train Frequency

The average time interval for the next train to reach the station is about 5 minutes, 3 minutes for the peak hours and 14 minutes for the late hours.

Train Fares & Journey Duration

The total journey duration from KL Sentral to the end station Gombak is 32 minutes , while towards Putra Heights end station is about 56 minutes .

Read Kelana Jaya Line LRT Train Fares and Journey Duration for the breakdown timing and fares for each station.

Quick Info on Tickets

Type of Fares, descriptions, where to buy and how to buy?

You can purchase the Single Journey or Concession Token by cash at the Token Vending Machine (TVM).

Cashless or Stored Value Ticket (Touch N’ Go) can be purchased at the at the Customer Service Office.

Monthly MyRapid Tn’Go Smart 30 can be purchased at the Customer Service Office at any LRT, Monorail, and BRT station. A nominal subscription fee of RM10.00 is charged for the MyRapid Smart 30 Monthly which is valid for 30 consecutive days renewals.

Weekly MyRapid Tn’Go Smart 7 can also be purchased at the Customer Service Office at any LRT, Monorail, and BRT station. A nominal subscription fee of RM2.50 is charged for MyRapid Smart 7 Weekly which is valid for 7 consecutive days.

Concession for Student, OKU or Senior Citizen can be purchased at the Concession Registration Counter located at Pasar Seni Bus Hub.

• Use the MyRapid Journey Planner here .

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Israel-Hamas war

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April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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Biden administration announces another round of loan cancellation under new repayment plan

President Joe Biden speaks during a trilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is canceling student loans for another 206,000 borrowers as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster route to forgiveness.

The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellations Friday in an update on the progress of its SAVE Plan . More people are becoming eligible for student loan cancellation as they hit 10 years of payments, a new finish line for some loans that’s a decade sooner than what borrowers faced in the past.

Casting a shadow over the cancellations, however, are two new lawsuits challenging the plan’s legality. Two groups of Republican-led states, fronted by Kansas and Missouri, recently filed federal suits arguing that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in creating the repayment option.

“From day one of my Administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “I will never stop working to cancel student debt — no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us.”

With the latest action, the Education Department has now approved cancellation for about 360,000 borrowers through the new repayment plan, totaling $4.8 billion.

The SAVE Plan is an updated version of a federal repayment plan that has been offered for decades, but with more generous terms.

Congress created the first income-driven repayment option in the 1990s for people struggling to afford payments on standard plans. It capped monthly payments to a percentage of their incomes and canceled any unpaid debt after 25 years. Similar plans were added later, offering cancellation in as little as 20 years.

Arguing that today’s borrowers need even more help, the Biden administration merged most of those plans into a single repayment option with more lenient terms.

The SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan allows more borrowers to pay nothing until their income rise above certain limits. It also lowers payments more than past plans, eliminates interest growth and cancels unpaid debt in as little as 10 years.

Biden announced the plan in 2022 alongside his broader proposal for a one-time cancellation of up to $20,000 for more than 40 million people. While the one-time cancellation was struck down by the Supreme Court, the SAVE Plan moved forward and initially escaped legal scrutiny.

The repayment plan opened for enrollment last fall, with certain provisions scheduled to be phased in later this year. The faster path to cancellation was among those slated to start this summer, but the Biden administration fast-tracked that benefit early this year, announcing forgiveness for 153,000 borrowers who had hit 10 years of payments.

Almost 8 million Americans have enrolled in the plan, including 4.5 million who pay nothing because they have lower incomes.

In a call with reporters, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the plan provides relief and prevents borrowers from falling behind on their loans.

“Now they have some money back in their pockets, instead of a bill that too often competed with basic needs like groceries and health care,” he said.

Under the plan, borrowers who originally borrowed $12,000 or less are eligible for forgiveness after 10 years. Those who took out more than $12,000 can get cancellation but on a longer timeline. For each $1,000 borrowed beyond $12,000, it adds an additional year of payments on top of 10 years.

The Biden administration says it’s designed to help those who need it most. Counterintuitively, those with smaller student loan balances tend to struggle more. It’s driven by millions of Americans who take out student loans but don’t finish degrees, leaving them with the downside of debt without the upside of a higher income.

In two separate lawsuits, Republican attorneys general in 18 states are pushing to have the plan tossed and to halt any further cancellation. They say the SAVE Plan goes beyond Biden’s authority and makes it harder for states to recruit employees. They say the plan undermines a separate cancellation program that encourages careers in public service.

It’s unclear what the suits could mean for loans that have already been canceled. A court document filed by Kansas’ attorney general says it’s “unrealistic to think that any loan forgiveness that occurs during this litigation will ever be clawed back.”

The lawsuits don’t directly address the question, and the attorneys general didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press request.

The Education Department says Congress gave the agency power to define the terms of income-driven payment plans in 1993, and that authority has been used in the past.

Along with the repayment plan, Biden is trying again at a one-time student loan cancellation. In a visit to Wisconsin on Monday, he highlighted a proposal to reduce or cancel loans for more than 30 million borrowers in five categories.

It aims to help borrowers with larges sums of unpaid interest, those with older loans, those who attended low-value programs, and those who face other hardships preventing them from repaying student loans. It would also cancel loans for people who are eligible for other forgiveness programs but haven’t applied.

The Biden administration says it will accelerate parts of the proposal, with plans to start waiving unpaid interest for millions of borrowers starting this fall. Conservative opponents have threatened to challenge that plan, too.

On Friday the administration also said it’s canceling loans for 65,000 borrowers who are enrolled in older income-driven repayment plans and hit the finish line for forgiveness. It also announced cancellation for another 5,000 borrowers through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Through a variety of programs, the Biden administration says it has now provided loan relief to 4.3 million people, totaling $153 billion.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

Toronto Pearson Airport reveals multibillion-dollar plan and here's what's changing

Latest Videos

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has announced a multibillion-dollar plan aimed at modernizing and updating Toronto Pearson International Airport . 

On Friday, Toronto's airport authority said it had initiated discussions with design and construction companies on Pearson LIFT (Long term Investment in Facilities and Terminals), regarding the program's procurement, planning, and vision. 

The capital plan spans more than a decade and will invest billions of dollars into Pearson's facility through multiple construction programs aimed at preparing the travel hub for challenges and service demands. 

"This is the very beginning of what will be a decade-long investment in our facilities and our terminals across the airport," said Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the GTAA.

Earlier today, Toronto Pearson executives launched the first phase of a procurement process for LIFT at an industry forum for 700 construction industry stakeholders. LIFT will focus on modernizing airport assets, including high-speed taxi lanes to improve airfield performance,… pic.twitter.com/KTUVVYMgGo — Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) April 12, 2024

"After many, many years, where we have had tired and aged assets across the airport facility, we'll be systematically investing in those, investing in them to bring them up to not just a state of great repair, but positioning them for the future."

According to the GTAA, Pearson has been meeting passenger needs by "deploying extraordinary resources to many of its aged assets and facilities," which it says is "not a sustainable solution." 

Passenger traffic at the travel hub is expected to grow to approximately 65 million annually by the early 2030s, well above the 45 million passengers it saw in 2023. 

The first program of LIFT is set to focus on modernizing airport assets, including high-speed taxi lanes to improve airfield performance, modernized airfield electric lighting and control systems, interim terminal facilities, and investments in power generation to advance towards net-zero targets. 

BobNoah /Shutterstock

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• ENVIRONMENT

The U.S. plans to limit PFAS in drinking water. What does that really mean?

The EPA’s plan to limit forever chemicals will be costly, experts say—but will protect millions of Americans from a host of health problems.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on April 10 the first-ever limits on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, in drinking water.

The agency says that the new rule will protect 100 million Americans from six PFAS known to accumulate in the body and cause a host of health problems —including kidney and testicular cancer as well as pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm birth, and liver and immune system problems.

“I applaud the decision,” says Susan M. Pinney , director of the Center for Environmental Genetics at University of Cincinnati. “It’s in line with what we know about the health effects of PFAS.”

( Toxic "forever chemicals" are more common in water than we thought .)

But while public health experts approve of the new rule, they contend that getting forever chemicals out of our drinking water will be a herculean task given the sheer quantity of PFAS found in it along with the difficulty in removing them. And it may come at a cost to consumers. Here’s what to know about what comes next—and what the new rule means for you.

Next steps in cleaning up the nation’s drinking water

The downside of the new rule is the cost of installing the technology to fix the problem—which estimates suggest could be between $1.5 billion to $4 billion. Under the new rule , all U.S. public water systems will have three years to test their water for the six PFAS tagged by EPA and five years to reduce levels to the new national standard of 4 parts per trillion.

The EPA estimates that between 6 and 10 percent of the nation’s 66,000 public drinking water systems may have to make changes to their infrastructure in order to abide by the new rule. Eleven states already limit PFAS levels but many will still have to make operational changes if their levels are above the national limit.

Their first task, Pinney says, should be determining the source of pollution to prevent it from entering the water system—which is cheaper and easier than removing pollution that’s already there. Many facilities will have to install granular active carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis water filtration systems, proven but costly methods for filtering PFAS from water.

As for infrastructural changes, the typical facility already has processes in place to coagulate or remove solids from water, polish it to remove things like heavy metals, and a chlorination treatment to disinfect the water of harmful microorganisms. “New infrastructure will likely fall somewhere in between the polishing and chlorination phase,” says Chris Moody, who handles regulation compliance for American Water Works Association (AWWA), an organization whose membership is made up of 4,300 utility suppliers.

( Is tap water safe to drink? Here's what you need to know .)

Updating infrastructure may also require hiring an engineer to design any new system for filtering PFAS as well as a piloting process to test that it’s working, adds Moody.

The EPA estimates the annual cost of compliance at $1.5 billion but Moody contends it’s vastly underestimated. In a report last year, AWWA estimated the implementation budget as closer to $3.8 billion .

What will that mean for your water bill? Moody says the cost burden depends on the size of your local water treatment facility. “Small systems just don’t have the economy of scale so your cost is much higher per household,” he says.

The EPA has already announced $1 billion in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but municipalities may also have to secure funding at the state level and much of that cost is likely to be shouldered by the consumer. Moody estimates it could cost thousands annually per customer for smaller utilities and hundreds for the larger systems where the cost is spread over a greater population.

Is it worth it?

But many experts argue that the new limits make sense given the “weight of evidence” showing health problems associated with PFAS.

“It is these very low concentrations that can have big effects overtime as chemicals bioaccumulate in the body,” says Scott Belcher , director of the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

( Here's where forever chemicals are hiding in your kitchen .)

PFAS are ubiquitous, found in everything from cleaning products and food packaging to water-resistant fabrics. Water, says Belcher, is low-hanging fruit when it comes to cleaning up what he calls a “long-term pollution crisis.”

While the EPA has only imposed strict limits on six PFAS based on a preponderance of scientific evidence, thousands more persist in the environment. The hope is that once new infrastructure is in place it will also remove many of those chemicals that haven’t yet been banned.

In the future, Belcher says, identifying polluters ahead of time needs to be a priority. “We’ve learned lessons over the past few decades that once these compounds get into our environment, they’re extremely difficult to remove."

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Biden administration announces another round of…

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Biden administration announces another round of loan cancellation under new repayment plan

By COLLIN BINKLEY (AP Education Writer)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is canceling student loans for another 206,000 borrowers as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster route to forgiveness.

The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellations Friday in an update on the progress of its SAVE Plan . More people are becoming eligible for student loan cancellation as they hit 10 years of payments, a new finish line for some loans that’s a decade sooner than what borrowers faced in the past.

Casting a shadow over the cancellations, however, are two new lawsuits challenging the plan’s legality. Two groups of Republican-led states, fronted by Kansas and Missouri, recently filed federal suits arguing that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in creating the repayment option.

“From day one of my Administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “I will never stop working to cancel student debt — no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us.”

With the latest action, the Education Department has now approved cancellation for about 360,000 borrowers through the new repayment plan, totaling $4.8 billion.

The SAVE Plan is an updated version of a federal repayment plan that has been offered for decades, but with more generous terms.

Congress created the first income-driven repayment option in the 1990s for people struggling to afford payments on standard plans. It capped monthly payments to a percentage of their incomes and canceled any unpaid debt after 25 years. Similar plans were added later, offering cancellation in as little as 20 years.

Arguing that today’s borrowers need even more help, the Biden administration merged most of those plans into a single repayment option with more lenient terms.

The SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan allows more borrowers to pay nothing until their income rise above certain limits. It also lowers payments more than past plans, eliminates interest growth and cancels unpaid debt in as little as 10 years.

Biden announced the plan in 2022 alongside his broader proposal for a one-time cancellation of up to $20,000 for more than 40 million people. While the one-time cancellation was struck down by the Supreme Court, the SAVE Plan moved forward and initially escaped legal scrutiny.

The repayment plan opened for enrollment last fall, with certain provisions scheduled to be phased in later this year. The faster path to cancellation was among those slated to start this summer, but the Biden administration fast-tracked that benefit early this year, announcing forgiveness for 153,000 borrowers who had hit 10 years of payments.

Almost 8 million Americans have enrolled in the plan, including 4.5 million who pay nothing because they have lower incomes.

In a call with reporters, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the plan provides relief and prevents borrowers from falling behind on their loans.

“Now they have some money back in their pockets, instead of a bill that too often competed with basic needs like groceries and health care,” he said.

Under the plan, borrowers who originally borrowed $12,000 or less are eligible for forgiveness after 10 years. Those who took out more than $12,000 can get cancellation but on a longer timeline. For each $1,000 borrowed beyond $12,000, it adds an additional year of payments on top of 10 years.

The Biden administration says it’s designed to help those who need it most. Counterintuitively, those with smaller student loan balances tend to struggle more. It’s driven by millions of Americans who take out student loans but don’t finish degrees, leaving them with the downside of debt without the upside of a higher income.

In two separate lawsuits, Republican attorneys general in 18 states are pushing to have the plan tossed and to halt any further cancellation. They say the SAVE Plan goes beyond Biden’s authority and makes it harder for states to recruit employees. They say the plan undermines a separate cancellation program that encourages careers in public service.

It’s unclear what the suits could mean for loans that have already been canceled. A court document filed by Kansas’ attorney general says it’s “unrealistic to think that any loan forgiveness that occurs during this litigation will ever be clawed back.”

The lawsuits don’t directly address the question, and the attorneys general didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press request.

The Education Department says Congress gave the agency power to define the terms of income-driven payment plans in 1993, and that authority has been used in the past.

Along with the repayment plan, Biden is trying again at a one-time student loan cancellation. In a visit to Wisconsin on Monday, he highlighted a proposal to reduce or cancel loans for more than 30 million borrowers in five categories.

It aims to help borrowers with larges sums of unpaid interest, those with older loans, those who attended low-value programs, and those who face other hardships preventing them from repaying student loans. It would also cancel loans for people who are eligible for other forgiveness programs but haven’t applied.

The Biden administration says it will accelerate parts of the proposal, with plans to start waiving unpaid interest for millions of borrowers starting this fall. Conservative opponents have threatened to challenge that plan, too.

On Friday the administration also said it’s canceling loans for 65,000 borrowers who are enrolled in older income-driven repayment plans and hit the finish line for forgiveness. It also announced cancellation for another 5,000 borrowers through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Through a variety of programs, the Biden administration says it has now provided loan relief to 4.3 million people, totaling $153 billion.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

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Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse.

If you can’t get enough of totality, or missed out this time, you’ll have three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia.

• Share full article

By Danielle Dowling

Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Monday’s solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldn’t make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is “ Where and when will it happen again?”

“People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is ‘I’ve got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable.’ That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is,” said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.

Future Eclipses

Eclipse chasers will have several more chances this decade to view a total solar eclipse .

Last week, as Victoria Sahami , the owner of Sirius Travel , was preparing to guide a group of tourists in Mazatlán, Mexico, for Monday’s big event, she was also planning for these other upcoming eclipses. Ms. Sahami joined the ranks of the eclipse-obsessed when she witnessed one in Venezuela in the 1990s. “Like many people, I was hooked. There was no going back,” she said.

Total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly — about every one to two years — in locations scattered around the world. “That’s the great thing about them: You wind up in places that you don’t normally go,” Ms. Sahami said.

A major spoiler is weather, which will be a big variable in the 2026 eclipse — one Greenland, Iceland and Spain will see.

“Iceland normally has a lot of cloud during that time of year,” said Paul Maley , who runs Ring of Fire Expeditions . “The data shows Spain to have the higher good-weather prospects of all three. However, the sun is low in the sky and the eclipse ends as the sun hits the horizon at sunset.”

Because of Iceland’s mercurial meteorology, Ring of Fire Expeditions is going all in on Spain, with a 10-day excursion on the mainland. Sirius Travel is offering not only a five-day trip to Majorca but also an eight-day tour around Iceland. It will be based in Reykjavik, and the itinerary will remain flexible on the day of the eclipse so the tour can easily pivot toward the location with the least cloud cover. Ms. Sahami recommends the trip for those who already have a few eclipses under their belt and would be happy just to take in the sights of Iceland if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The 2027 eclipse, on the other hand, promises to be truly stellar: Luxor, Egypt — the site of numerous ancient temples as well as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens — sits right in the middle of the path of totality and will be bathed in darkness for a full 6 minutes 23 seconds. Weather-wise, it is what Ms. Sahami called “a slam dunk.” “You know you’re going to see it. You know that you’re not going to get any clouds,” she said.

But for all its potential, those considering Egypt should be aware that the State Department has a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning for the country because of the risk of terrorism.

The 2028 eclipse will darken the skies over Sydney, Australia, for 3 minutes 49 seconds. It will be the first time the city has experienced a total solar eclipse since 1857. Ms. Sahami has her eyes on a trip based out of there, while Mr. Maley has chartered a cruise ship off the northwest coast of Australia. It will be winter there, he said, but that isn’t likely to mean bad eclipse-viewing weather.

If you want to see any (or all) of these eclipses, you should get started on planning and booking now, particularly if you want to sign up for a trip organized by a tour company. One of Sirius Travel’s excursions to Luxor is already full.

Scrutinize refund policies and look into insuring your trip. Several companies will fully refund your deposit if you cancel a year in advance. A lot can happen, Ms. Sahami said, “but if you think you’re going to go, why not?”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.

• 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
• Travelers worldwide will likely head to Spain, Iceland, and Greenland for the event.
• A hotel expert encouraged travelers to start planning and booking their trips now.

It'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US .

Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation.

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com that up to 3.7 million people likely traveled for the solar eclipse on Monday.

HotelPlanner's chief communication officer, Philip Ballard, told Business Insider that the eclipse was a major revenue generator for many cities. For places like Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York, it could have created $1 billion in revenue, Vox reported.

"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said.

Ballard added that the next solar eclipse , which will pass through Iceland, Greenland, and Spain on August 12, 2026, could result in similar tourism and revenue influxes.

And if travelers are considering a trip to Europe for the solar eclipse, Ballard recommends planning your trip now.

Determine your eclipse viewing destination

According to Space.com , 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Its path will go through Greenland, parts of western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Choosing where to watch the eclipse will be a tough and important decision for travelers.

Iceland and Greenland have some positives. These regions will experience longer totality times, so viewers can watch the eclipse longer. Plus, the sun will be higher in the sky, so finding a spot to watch the eclipse will be less challenging, Space.com reported.

The downside is that these regions are more likely to be cloudy, according to the outlet.

Related stories

While parts of Spain are likely to offer clearer skies, the eclipse's timing will be shorter and closer to the horizon, which means travelers will need to plan and track down a viewing location with unobstructed views of the western horizon, Space.com reported.

Regardless of the destination, according to the outlet, one bonus is that the strongest meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere will happen the following night, so travelers can pack two events into one trip.

Book flights and hotels far in advance

Ballard encouraged people to book their hotels in their destination of choice as far in advance as possible.

"You should start looking now and booking hotels now because those cities in the path are already going to be at peak season," Ballard said.

Ballard said it's similar to when a Super Bowl city is determined or a Taylor Swift tour date is announced — you immediately see spikes in bookings. He predicts hotel occupancy rates will hit near-record highs, and room prices may double around the solar eclipse date.

Ballard's general rule of thumb is to book international travel at least three months in advance, but since this is such an anticipated event, booking earlier is smart. His advice is to start discussing plans with friends and family. If you decide on a destination, book a refundable room to keep your options open if plans change.

Regarding purchasing a plane ticket, a study from Expedia states that international travel's sweet spot is at least six months in advance.

According to Expedia, travelers who book six months in advance save an average of 10% more than travelers booking within two months or less.

Skip the hassle of planning altogether and book a solar eclipse tour

Another option is to let a tour operator do the work for you. A handful of tour companies have seen the increased interest in the solar eclipse and launched tours designed around the event.

These tours will have predetermined locations to view the eclipse, hotel blocks reserved, and itineraries highlighting both the region and the eclipse.

However, these can sell out quickly. For example, Space and Telescope created an 11-day tour of Spain around viewing the 2026 solar eclipse. The tour has already sold out as of Wednesday, and the waitlist is full.

Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Watch: A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse

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Biden is canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers. Here's who is eligible.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 3:29 PM EDT / CBS News

The Biden administration on Friday said it's canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers, with the recipients scheduled to receive emails today to alert them to their loan discharges. 

The latest effort extends the debt relief provider under President Joe Biden after the Supreme Court last year blocked  his administration's plan for broad-based student loan forgiveness. With the latest batch of loan cancellations, the White House said it has forgiven about $153 billion in debt for 4.3 million student borrowers. 

Biden, who had made student loan relief a major campaign pledge, is tackling an issue that affects about 43 million Americans with a combined  $1.7 trillion in student debt. It's a burden that some borrowers and their advocates say has harmed their ability to save for a home or achieve financial milestones, an issue that was echoed by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a conference call with reporters. 

"I talked to a teacher in New York this week who took out a loan for $30,000," Cardona said Friday, "and after over a decade of paying and being a teacher the debt was $60,000, and she was saying that the interest was so high that the payments that she was making wasn't even touching her principal."

He added, "We are fixing a broken system. We're relentless and taking steps to transform a broken system into one that works people across the country."

Here's what to know about who is eligible for the latest round of forgiveness.

Who qualifies for the student loan forgiveness?

Three groups of people qualify under the latest round of debt relief, the White House said. 

• $3.6 billion for 206,800 borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan.

About $3.6 billion will be forgiven for nearly 207,000 borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, an income-driven repayment program, or IDR, that the Biden administration created last year. 

The White House said borrowers who are getting their debt discharged under SAVE had taken out smaller loans for their college studies. The plan allows people to receive forgiveness after they made at least 10 years of payments if they originally took out $12,000 or less in loans to pay for college; borrowers with larger loans are eligible after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on what types of loans they have. 

 "You sacrifice and you've saved for a decade or more to make your student loan payments, and you originally borrowed $12,000 or less, you're going to see relief," Cardona told reporters. "An overwhelming number of those who qualify for SAVE were eligible for Pell grants and come from low- and middle-income communities."

• $3.5 billion for 65,700 borrowers in income-repayment plans.

These borrowers will receive forgiveness through "administrative adjustments" to repayment plans where loan servicers had made it tougher for some borrowers to qualify for relief.  

"These are people who paid for a long time but were being deprived of relief because of administrative and servicing failures," Cardona said. "These people met the contract of their loan" and will receive forgiveness.

• $300 million for 4,600 borrowers through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).  

The PSLF program is designed to help public servants like teachers and government employees achieve debt forgiveness after 10 years of repayment. It's a program that started in 2007 but had been plagued with complex rules that effectively hampered people from getting their debt discharged, with only 7,000 receiving loan forgiveness prior to the Biden administration. 

With the latest round of discharges, the Biden administration has forgiven $62.8 billion in loans for 876,000 borrowers through PSLF. 

Are there legal challenges to Biden's debt forgiveness plans?

In two separate lawsuits, Republican attorneys general in 18 states are pushing to have the SAVE plan tossed and to halt any further student debt cancellation. They say the SAVE plan oversteps Biden's authority and makes it harder for states to recruit employees. They also contend the plan undermines a separate cancellation program that encourages careers in public service.

It's unclear what the suits could mean for loans that have already been canceled. A court document filed by Kansas' attorney general says it's "unrealistic to think that any loan forgiveness that occurs during this litigation will ever be clawed back."

—With reporting by the Associated Press.

• Biden Administration
• Student Loan

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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