google travel update

Google’s New Travel AI Tools Want to Plan Customer Trips

Justin Dawes , Skift

March 27th, 2024 at 12:04 PM EDT

Google is the among the tech giants investing in a reimagined, AI-powered future of travel planning and booking. How can the smaller companies compete?

Justin Dawes

Google said Wednesday that it is adding several new tools meant to help travelers plan trips and explore destinations. 

Most notably, they include the ability for Google Search to create itineraries based on prompts from users, as well as enhanced information in Maps about certain cities and places to visit.  

AI-Powered Trip Itineraries in Search

Google has added an experimental AI-based itinerary creation capability to its traditional Search tool for users that opt in. 

Users can prompt Search for an itinerary for a certain destination, and it responds with flight and hotel options, as well as suggestions for attractions and dining. Any links that Google provides bring the users to travel company websites, where they can complete the bookings. 

To create the itineraries, Google said the AI draws on information from across the web, as well as reviews and photos that users post about businesses. 

Users can then export the trip ideas to Gmail, Docs, or Maps, the company said. 

Google said in May 2023 that it would be experimenting with integrating generative AI into search and invited users to test the new tech. The trip itinerary capability is a new piece of that experiment. 

It’s available in English in the U.S. only. Users can try it by enrolling in Search Labs and enabling the Search Generative Experience.

Microsoft relaunched Bing in February 2023 with similar attributes powered by OpenAI and has made updates along the way, such as for personalized event suggestions . 

Several startups have emerged with similar products over the months, a handful having received small amounts of venture capital. Since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, experts have questioned whether entrepreneurs stand a chance against giants like Microsoft and Google, which have vast amounts of data and resources. 

Recommendations and Customizable Lists in Google Maps 

Google is adding a capability to its Maps app meant to provide users with more details about destinations for select cities in the U.S. and Canada. 

It includes recommendations from locals and publishers, like The Infatuation, as well as lists of “trending, top, and hidden gem” restaurants created by info from Google Maps. 

When looking at a specific restaurant or place on Maps, a new AI-based feature is meant to show users key photos and reviews that summarize people’s favorite aspects. The AI can also help identify what a dish is called, Google said, which could be helpful for travelers in a new country. 

Another new Maps feature: Users will be able organize lists they create within the app. The list creation tool has existed for a while, but the new capability allows users to organize based on their top favorites or something else. The lists can also link to content from social media channels, meant to add context for anyone viewing a saved list. The list update is being released globally this month for Android and Apple devices.

As Google continues to enhance its trip planning capabilities, it becomes a bigger threat to companies like Tripadvisor, which offers itinerary-creation tools. Tripadvisor’s hotel metasearch business has already taken a hit since Google Hotels entered the market. 

Translation 

Google is “soon” adding a new capability, accessible through select Android mobile devices, that’s meant to translate content on the screen without switching apps. It could be especially useful to travelers trying to find their way around a country where they don’t speak the language. Google used the examples of translating a PDF restaurant menu or a social media post. 

It’s part of the Circle to Search tool that was released in January, which allows Android users to initiate a Google search by circling text or an image on the screen.

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Tags: artificial intelligence , google , maps , online travel newsletter , search

Photo credit: Google is releasing updates to Search and Maps for travelers. Pixabay

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Two new ways the Google Assistant can help with an upcoming trip

Jan 08, 2019

[[read-time]] min read

The start of a new year is a great time to de-stress from the holidays and plan vacations for the year. While we can’t promise shorter security lines, extra leg room or a suite with an ocean view, we’re introducing a couple of new features in the Google Assistant to make your travels a little smoother.

Check in for your flight with ease

If you’re traveling domestically on United Airlines and your flight confirmation is in Gmail, the Assistant will send you a notification on your phone to remind you that check-in is available. You can also say, “Hey Google, check in to my flight” to prompt the Assistant to check in for you, so you don’t need to remember your confirmation number. And after you’ve checked in, you can view your boarding pass in Google Pay or say, “Hey Google, show me my boarding pass.”  

We’re rolling out this feature first with domestic flights serviced by United Airlines, and we look forward to expanding this feature to more airlines and flights soon.

Sleep easy with hotel bookings from the Assistant

We’re working with a range of companies to enable fast, simple hotel bookings, from hotels like Choice Hotels, AccorHotels and InterContinental Hotels Group to online travel agencies and partners such as Priceline, Expedia, Mirai and Travelclick - an Amadeus company. This feature is currently available in the U.S. on Android and iOS smartphones and is just the first step in our goal of easing the hotel booking process with the Assistant.

This is a busy time of year, so we hope these new tips with the Google Assistant can help you save time and focus on the most important part of traveling—the journey itself.

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New Google Travel Features Could Make Trip Planning Easier Than Ever

Google has been steadily trying to improve the trip planning process, and it's about to roll out some major updates.

Earlier this year, the search engine released new flight and hotel search features and added vacation rentals to its hotel search function. Now, Google Trips will organize your searches and reservations at Google.com/Travel and make it easier to find information relevant to your trip at Google Search and Google Maps, regardless of whether you're searching on desktop or mobile.

Related: The 7 Best Starter Travel Credit Cards

Say you're planning a trip to Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot (which I currently am). When you book your flight and hotel, it'll be automatically added to your trip timeline and your Google calendar. If you go to the "My Trips" page, Google will show links to relevant articles about the area, listings for sights to visit, day plans, events happening on your travel dates, popular restaurants and even the weather forecast.

Make a restaurant reservation through OpenTable or Resy and, as long as it's linked to your Gmail, it'll automatically be added to your trip timeline. You can now make edits to your trip timeline and — in just a few weeks — you'll also be able to manually add new reservations, which will come in handy if you're traveling to a place where you still need to book a table the old fashioned way, by calling.

Planning ahead? You can get a jump start on researching a trip that's weeks or months away and Google will save your searches so you can return to them later. All of your trip planning info will be private to you, but you can easily share it with family and friends by email. Of course, you can also opt out if you don't want to see private search results.

Google is also trying to make it easier to find things to do on-the-go, after you arrive in a destination. Since last year, Google Maps has been showing you things to see and do in the area. Now, it will also point out popular neighborhoods and what they're known for, helping you get the lay of the land in a new city. In a few months, your reservations for hotels and restaurants will be accessible in Google Maps, too.

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Google's AI Tool Can Now Help You Plan Your Next Vacation — Here's How

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It will soon be easier to plan your next vacation from start to finish with artificial intelligence. Google’s Bard AI service recently rolled out several new features that will benefit travelers both in booking their trip and along the journey itself. (Bard is a conversational artificial intelligence service, similar to ChatGPT, but the integration into a user’s data helps turn it into a personal concierge.) Google announced that the Bard service can now be integrated with different Google products — such as Gmail, Google Flights, and Google Maps — for seamless integration when communicating with the AI service. For example, you can now create prompts to determine flight duration, preferences, and distance between destinations. 

In a blog post by Yury Pinsky, Bard’s director of product management, the service shares an example of how the service can be used for trip planning: “If you’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon (a project that takes up many tabs), you can now ask Bard to grab the dates that work for everyone from Gmail, look up real-time flight and hotel information, see Google Maps directions to the airport, and even watch YouTube videos of things to do there — all within one conversation.”  Being able to link Google Flights with Bard may help travelers find discounts on flights or find additional destinations to visit. Google Flights recently introduced new tools that help predict the time a traveler can get the best deal on a flight.  For travelers looking to give Bard a try, it is currently available for free at bard.google.com .  

T+L has previously reported on the rise of artificial intelligence within the travel industry, such as Expedia’s push into AI trip planning , and how one traveler used ChatGPT to plan a trip in London . 

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About Price guarantee on Google Flights

Price guarantee is a pilot program available on select itineraries within Google Flights. For some flight prices, Google's algorithms are confident that the price you find is the lowest available before the flight departs. For those flights, we'll monitor the price until the first flight in your itinerary departs. If the price drops, we’ll make up the difference.

Up until now, Price guarantee was available on select Book on Google itineraries. We’ve expanded our program to select itineraries that you find on Google Flights but book on an airline or travel agency’s website.

To get the best help, select your reservation method:

Booked a Book on Google itinerary

If you choose a Price guaranteed itinerary that lets you book on "Book on Google,” which means you stayed on Google to complete your transaction with the airline or travel agency, choose this option.

Price guarantee pays you the difference between the flight price when you book and the lowest ticket price between then and departure. To get a payout, the price difference must be greater than 5 USD. You can receive up to 500 USD total per Google account across all eligible itineraries in a given calendar year. You can have up to 3 open Price guaranteed bookings at any one time. This means that the first flight in the itinerary hasn’t departed yet. If eligible, you’ll receive a payout after the first flight in the booked itinerary takes off.

• Your country/region must be set to US and your currency must be in USD to see guaranteed flights.
• Price guarantee only applies to one-way and round-trip flights that depart from the United States.
• You must use a US billing address and US phone number on the Book on Google page.
• You must be signed in to your Google Account.

• Beneath “Departing flights,” select a badged flight.
• For Price guarantee to apply, all flights in your itinerary must have the Price guarantee badge.
• Click the “Book on Google” link.
• On the Book on Google Page, check the box next to “Price Guarantee” to accept the Terms of Service .

You receive a confirmation email when the flight is guaranteed.

Price guarantee goes into effect after you book on Google. However, if the airline updates prices faster than they load on Google Flights, we may not be able to provide the guarantee anymore. You may find a price guarantee, but if the price updates before you book, the guarantee may not be available when you go to book.

No. The Price guarantee is at no cost.

After you book, we monitor the price until the first flight in your itinerary departs. We then send you an email to let you know if the price dropped or not. You may also get an email update between booking and departure. If the price dropped, we pay you the difference back in Google Pay. If the price didn't go down, you can rest assured that you got the best price with Google Flights.

• You must be over 18.
• You must have a Google Pay account or create one to claim your payout. You must be signed in with the same Google account that you used to book your flight on Book on Google.
• When you become a Google Pay user, you’re subject to Google Pay Terms of Service .

If the price drops, we notify you after takeoff and pay you the difference back in Google Pay. It usually takes up to 48 hours for the money to be deposited into your account.

If you don’t have a Google Pay account, you must create one so we can pay you back the difference:

• Click Get your $X within the email we send you and create a Google Pay account within 90 days of the departure of the first flight in your itinerary. Within 48 hours, we’ll deposit the difference into your Google Pay balance or Money in Google Pay on pay.google.com .

You can transfer the money to your bank account once it’s in your Google Pay balance or Money in Google Pay :

• Go to pay.google.com .

• Enter the amount that you want to transfer out.
• If you don’t already have a bank account saved, follow the steps to add an account .
• Click Transfer out .

If you experience issues when you download the Google Pay app, go to the Google Pay help center .

If you change your trip or cancel any part of it, you won't get the difference back.

You can find program details in our Terms of Service . If your flight has a Price guarantee, the Price guarantee Terms of Service apply.

If you have issues or questions, contact us about your flight .

Frequently asked questions

Do i have to do anything after i book, if the price drops, when do i get paid the difference, can i cancel my guarantee, what happens if my flight is canceled or rescheduled, what happens if the price drops & then goes up again, booked on airline or travel agency website.

If you select a Price guaranteed itinerary on Google Flights but booked with an airline or online travel agency on their website, choose this option.

When you select a price guaranteed booking option on Google Flights, the Price guarantee pays you the difference between the flight price at that time and the lowest ticket price for that exact itinerary as seen on Google Flights between then and departure. To get a payout, the price difference must be greater than 5 USD. You can receive up to 500 USD total per Google account across all eligible itineraries in a given calendar year. You can have up to 3 confirmed Price guaranteed bookings at any one time. If eligible, you’ll receive money back after the first flight in the booked itinerary has taken off.

• To find guaranteed flights, your country/region must be set to the US and your currency must be in USD.
• For Price guarantee to apply, all flights in your itinerary must have a Price Guarantee badge.
• Price guaranteed booking options have a Price Guarantee badge.
• We guarantee that the price that you find next to the Price guarantee badge won’t get any lower before departure.
• On the airline or travel agency website, book the exact itinerary guaranteed on Google Flights. For Price guarantee to apply, all components of the booked itinerary must match, including airline, flight number, dates, number of passengers, fare and cabin class, and cancellation policy.
• You’ll receive an email after takeoff to let you know if the price dropped or not.
• Enter your confirmation number and last name and check the box to accept the Terms of Service .
• Click Confirm .
• Find your guaranteed itinerary.
• Click Yes, I booked this .
• Enter your confirmation number and last name, then check the box to accept the Terms of Service.

On the Price guarantee page , you can find your guaranteed flights. Under “ Travel Settings ,” you can update your email preferences.

After you select a Price guaranteed booking option on Google Flights, Price guarantee goes into effect.

After you select a guaranteed booking option, we monitor the price until the first flight in your itinerary departs. You’ll then receive an email to let you know if the price dropped or not. You may also get an email update between selecting the guaranteed booking option and departure. If the price dropped, you must confirm you booked the flight no later than 30 days after the departure of the first flight in your itinerary so we can pay you the difference in Google Pay. If the price didn't go down, you can rest assured that you got the best price with Google Flights.

If you selected a price guaranteed booking option, you can manage your flight on the Price guarantee page .

If the price drops for a guarantee-eligible flight you selected, you'll receive an email from Google Flights. To confirm the guarantee, in your email, click Yes, I booked this flight and follow the instructions:

• The confirmation number is the alphanumeric code in the booking confirmation email you received after purchasing your flight on the airline or travel agency website (example: SFTORB).

Alternatively, to manage your guarantee, go to the Price guarantee page . To confirm the guarantee, click Yes, I booked this and follow the instructions.

You can have up to 3 confirmed guaranteed bookings at any one time.

• You must have a Google Pay account or create one to claim your payout. You must be signed in with the same Google account that you used to search for your flight on Google Flights.

If the price drops, we notify you after takeoff and pay you the difference in Google Pay. If you haven’t yet confirmed that you booked the flight, we’ll ask you to do so. Once you confirm, we pay you the difference in Google Pay. It usually takes up to 48 hours for the money to be deposited into your account.

If you don’t have a Google pay account, you must create one so we can pay you back the difference:

• In the email or on the Price guarantee page , click Get your $X .
• Create a Google Pay account within 60 days of the departure of the first flight in your itinerary.
• Within 48 hours, we’ll deposit the difference into your Google Pay balance or Money in Google Pay on pay.google.com .
• Confirm that you booked the flight no later than 30 days after the departure of the first flight in your itinerary.
• On the Price guarantee page , click Get your $X .
• Create a Google Pay account within 60 days of confirming your booking.

If you have issues when you download the Google Pay app, go to the Google Pay help center .

Manage your guarantees on the Price guarantee page . When you click No, I didn’t book , we won’t send any more email notifications for that specific itinerary.

You can also turn off email notifications on Travel settings . However, if you confirm a guaranteed itinerary, even if you opt out of email notifications, you’ll receive a final email to let you know if the price dropped or not.

You can also turn off Google's Price Guarantee feature on Travel settings . When you turn this feature off, you’ll remove all your existing Price guaranteed flights and we won’t show Price guaranteed badges in Google Flights. You won’t be paid for any pending guarantees, even if you’ve already confirmed them.

You can find program details in Google Price Guarantee Additional Terms of Service . These terms apply to any flight with a Price guarantee.

If your flight is canceled or rescheduled, you don’t get the difference back.

You still get the difference between the price when you selected the guaranteed booking option on Google Flights and the lowest price available before takeoff.

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Google Travel

Google’s travel website to stop creating trip summaries.

From 2016 – 2019 , the Google Trips app made for a great little utility that grouped together travel details and stored everything offline. Some of that functionality lived on in google.com/travel after the Android and iOS client was deprecated, but trip summaries are now going away this year. 

According to a notice on google.com/travel , “Trip summaries won’t be available anymore beginning May 1, though your travel reservations may still appear in other Google services. To save a trip summary, click or tap on the ‘Share’ button.”

This presumably refers to both past and future trip summaries, with the former appearing by scrolling to the bottom of the website’s main tab. These summaries grouped together flight details, hotel stays, and other reservations, like for restaurants, in a nice chronological timeline.

Besides what appeared from Gmail confirmations, you could manually add places, notes, hotels, flights, trains, buses, car rentals, restaurants, and events to a trip. These summaries also provided “Discover” suggestions and surfaced “What people ask” by costs, local favorites, getting around, neighborhoods, and events/festivals, as well as travel articles from the web. 

It was really quite useful for an upcoming/active trip while also great for viewing past trip details and finding places you visited. Google says you save past trip summaries by emailing them to yourself from the overflow menu.

Google says, “Travel reservations may still appear in other Google services,” in reference to Google Maps > Your Timeline > Trips tab from 2020 (which we still have today). 

You see a similar list of past places you’ve visited, but each lacks the timeline functionality. Rather, you get carousels of visited places, destinations, your daily itinerary plotted on a map, and the ability to see your images from Google Photos.

Thanks, Darren

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Why These 3 New Google Updates Will Make Summer Travel Easier Than Ever

Post may contain affiliate links; we may receive compensation if you click links to those products. This has no impact on how offers are presented. Our site does not include all offers available. Content on page accurate as of posting date.

We've come a long way since the days of physical maps and asking strangers for directions, but there's still a lot to learn and improve when it comes to making travel an easier, more enjoyable experience.

Luckily for us, industry giants are constantly trying to find that next great feature that'll revolutionize the way we travel, and the latest to come out with some truly exciting news is Google.

Three brand new updates were introduced for Google Maps , which, at the risk of sounding biased, has been my holy grail during my travels these past few years.

These recently launched features are set to make the app experience that much more effortless and helpful – so, people, summer travel just became easier than ever.

Here's how:

You'll Get The Most Up-To-Date Recommendations

This first update is designed to help you get the most up-to-date recommendations on places to see and things to do in a new city from people who already know the place inside out.

Let's say you're traveling to Greece this summer, which, by the way, I highly recommend you do.

You're excited but you quickly realize you know very little about the country and the places that are worth visiting beyond what you've seen on social media.

That's when you can go on Google Maps, search for your town/city, and swipe up so you can view a meticulously crafted list of the latest recommendations from locals or travelers who've just been to that same exact place.

That way, you can quickly browse through the already-vetted sights and attractions and either go through them all or pick the ones that grab your attention – that goes for bars and restaurants, too.

What's more, you can further control the results you get by choosing one of three available recommendation lists.

The "Top List" features what you'd consider classic tourist attractions – think the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Times Square in NYC.

These are longstanding favorites that have always been (and continue to be) loved among travelers, so if you're spending a very limited amount of time in your destination of choice, these are the places you'll want to prioritize.

The "Trending List," true to its name, is a collection of attractions that have just recently spiked in popularity – the perfect round-up of the coolest places that have yet to be overrun by mass tourism.

Lastly, the "Gems List" will take you through some of the best local sights and eateries that are still flying under the radar – ideal for those looking to venture a bit off the beaten path.

You'll Be Able To Create An Itinerary And Share Recommendations All In One Place

There's nothing worse than being somewhere completely foreign (likely with limited data, too) and having to scroll back and forth between your itinerary and map trying to figure out where to go first and how long it'll take to get there.

Google Maps has finally found a solution to this problem – not only can you create an itinerary right there on the app, but you can also keep track of the places you've already seen (with ratings, of course), and send them directly to a fellow traveler so that they know what's worth seeing, as well.

All you need to do is tap on the "New List" button in the "Saved" tab, write and reorder the places you want to see, and even link content from social media if you'd like-you can't imagine how helpful having everything you want to see right there on the Google Maps app can be!

You'll Get Valuable Information On Attractions and businesses Within A few Seconds

Finding good shops and restaurants someplace new is always a challenge, especially if your first pick didn't pan out and now you're frantically looking for a good place to eat near you when it's way past lunchtime.

Well, now, just by tapping on a restaurant (or other business) on the Google Maps app, you get to see photos and verified reviews that give you a run-down of what you need to know about the place, what's worth ordering, the overall vibe, prices, and so on.

And when you're scrolling through the photos, the app will even let you know the name of the dish you're looking at, so you can order it right away!

Having explored over 20 countries in the last 3 years, Megi is committed to bringing the freshest, most up-to-date news and perspectives on the world's most fascinating destinations.

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The post Why These 3 New Google Updates Will Make Summer Travel Easier Than Ever  appeared first on Travel Off Path .

Google reveals top destinations for summer vacation 2024

Paris, Puerto Rico and more made the top 20!

For anyone feeling a sudden urge for summer wanderlust, Google unveiled its top 20 destinations that travelers have already taken an interest in for any upcoming warm weather getaways.

From domestic to international locations, Google shared insights based on past flight booking data and search trends with "Good Morning America" to help people start planning summer vacation spots or shape an ideal itinerary.

Much like snubs and surprises during awards season, there are a couple of places that fell out of favor since last year as well as some new additions that made this year's list.

Check out all the spots below.

Top summer 2024 destinations on Google flights

The search engine technology company said the list reflects people in the U.S. searching on Google Flights for travel anytime between June 1 through August 31, 2024.

Cancun, which previously came in at number one during summer, dropped to number six, while Tokyo is on the rise, with Madrid and San Juan new to the summer location lineup.

1. London 2. Paris 3. Tokyo 4. Rome 5. New York 6. Cancun 7. Orlando 8. Las Vegas 9. Seattle 10. Athens 11. Los Angeles 12. Miami 13. Barcelona 14. Dublin 15. Fort Lauderdale 16. Honolulu 17. Denver 18. Madrid 19. Boston 20. San Juan

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The biggest change from 2023, according to Google, is that Cancun moved down from the number two spot to number six, while Tokyo rose from number eight to number three.

Newcomers to the top destinations list include San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Madrid, Spain. Chicago and San Francisco didn't make the top 20 this year.

Travel trends on Google search

Google gathers insights from mid-January to mid-March from U.S. users to find out what travel-related queries are top of mind ahead of summer.

Searches for "travel itinerary" and "solo travel" reached an all-time high in January.

Two of the top trending "weekend getaway" destinations are Palm Springs and Florida Keys.

The top trending "romantic getaway" destinations were Napa, the famed California wine country, and Key West, home to the southernmost point in the Continental U.S. with historic landmarks.

Finally, La Romana and Saint John were the top trending destinations searched with all-inclusive resorts.

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• International

Israel wages war on Hamas

1947 - 2024

O.J. Simpson dead

April 2, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lau, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal and Tori B. Powell , CNN

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

Australian aid worker killed in Gaza leaves "legacy of compassion, bravery and love," family says

From CNN’s Dhruv Tikekar and Manveena Suri

The family of an Australian aid worker killed in Gaza says she leaves a "legacy of compassion, bravery and love for all those in her orbit."

A statement issued by Zomi Frankcom's family said they are "deeply mourning the news that our brave and beloved Zomi has been killed doing the work she loves delivering food to the people of Gaza.

"She was a kind, selfless and outstanding human being that has traveled the world helping others in their time of need. She will leave behind a legacy of compassion, bravery and love for all those in her orbit,” the Frankcom family said in a statement to CNN affiliate Channel 9.

It added that the family was “still reeling from the shock” and has asked for “privacy during this difficult time".

Foreign nationals were among the seven aid workers from the non-profit World Central Kitchen killed in an Israeli military strike on Tuesday as they were delivering food to starving civilians in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for full accountability for the deaths and said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was working to have her body returned to Australia.

“This is someone who volunteered in Australia to help people during the bushfires... (and) was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity for people who are suffering tremendous deprivation in Gaza,” Albanese said of Zomi.

World Central Kitchen worker killings has touched off fury inside the Biden White House, official says

From CNN's MJ Lee

An Israeli strike in Gaza that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers has touched off fury and indignation inside the White House, prompting President Joe Biden on Tuesday to release a public statement using a word he has rarely invoked over the course of the tragedy-ridden conflict: “Outraged.”

The deaths of the workers who were delivering food to starving civilians in the besieged enclave — including one dual US-Canadian citizen – has frustrated Biden and his top officials to a new level, a senior administration official told CNN. 

The strike has been a “standout incident” as far as the White House is concerned, the official said, prompting serious consternation and concern in what had already been a moment of high tensions between the US and Israel. 

The president discussed the deaths of the workers with a small group of Muslim community leaders at the White House Tuesday, according to one of the attendees. Some of the participants were doctors who had spent time in Gaza and had seen first-hand the plight of the Palestinian civilians there. One of them, CNN reported,  walked out of the meeting early in a show of protest.

“The president expressed that this is a very difficult situation and that he would like to see an end to this war,” said Salima Suswell, founder of the Black Muslim Leadership Council. “The conversation was difficult at moments.”

Asked about Biden blaming Israel for failing to protect civilians and aid workers in his statement, a senior adviser to the president told CNN: “It’s what he wanted to say.”

Israel takes responsibility for killing aid workers in strike, prime minister's spokesperson says

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam

A spokesperson for Israel's prime minister said Tuesday that the country takes responsibility for its mistakes, referring to the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in central Gaza.

Tal Heinrich noted that Israel is still waiting for the findings of an investigation into the killings.

"When Israel makes mistakes, even the most tragic ones to admit, we take responsibility," he told CNN's Erin Burnett. "We admit to the most painful incidents, so we tell the truth, even when it's the most inconvenient thing to stay," Heinrich added.

Israel's military chief apologizes for strikes that killed 7 aid workers. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

Israel Defense Force's chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi apologized Tuesday for the airstrikes that killed seven aid workers in Gaza, calling it “a mistake that followed a misidentification.” He said the fatal incident is being investigated.

US President Joe Biden said he was “ outraged and heartbroken ” by the killings of the humanitarian aid workers, adding that Israel has “not done enough to protect civilians.”

The charity, World Central Kitchen, on Tuesday shared the identities of those who were killed: John Chapman, 57; James (Jim) Henderson, 33; James Kirby, 47; Jacob Flickinger, 33; Damian Sobol; Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom and Saifeddin Issam.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More on Israel's strike on aid workers: A friend of one of the aid workers who was killed, Zomi Frankcom, remembered her as someone who met people with a smile when they were experiencing the darkest time of their lives. Also, American Near East Refugee Aid workers inside Gaza fear they will be targeted following the strike on the WCK workers, according to the charity's Palestine Country Director Sandra Rasheed.
• Official reactions: During a phone call with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Britain’s Rishi Sunak “demanded a thorough and transparent independent investigation" and said he was appalled by the attack. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had a “reasonably long” phone call with Netanyahu early Wednesday during which he said Netanyahu expressed his condolences for the death of Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom and “committed to full transparency” in the investigation into the strike.
• Damascus aftermath: The US assesses that  Israel carried out the fatal airstrike Monday in Damascus on what Iran has said was a consulate building, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said. Iran and Syria also accused Israel of authoring the attack, with Tehran warning of a “serious response,” and the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah saying the strike would be met with “punishment and revenge.” Iran also said it would hold the US “answerable” due to its support of Israel. The Biden administration  reiterated Tuesday  that it was not involved in the airstrike.
• More from the Biden administration: The Biden administration has come under immense scrutiny domestically, and from members of the US government workforce, for its policy on Israel and the Gaza war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken marked the start of National Arab American Heritage Month in a statement Tuesday by noting that it comes “at a time of immense pain.” Underscoring the high tensions, a Palestinian-American doctor on Tuesday walked out of a meeting with Biden before it was over "out of respect" for his community. He told CNN he was disappointed that he was the only Palestinian in attendance.
• Jerusalem protestors: Some anti-government protesters Tuesday breached security barriers near Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence, according to social media videos. Israeli police said most of the demonstrators behaved lawfully, but noted that some were "disorderly" as they tried to approach the leader's home. Israeli media reported several arrests.
• Renewed request: The Palestinian Authority sent the UN secretary-general a letter renewing its request for UN membership, according to a post on social media from the Palestinian permanent observer mission to the UN on Tuesday.

Biden says Israel has "not done enough to protect civilians" in Gaza after airstrikes kill 7 aid workers

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

US President Joe Biden said he is “outraged and heartbroken” after an Israeli air strike in Gaza killed seven aid workers Monday. He admitted the strike was “not a stand-alone incident” and that Israel has “not done enough to protect civilians.”

“They were providing food to hungry civilians in the middle of a war,” Biden wrote in a statement Tuesday. “They were brave and selfless. Their deaths are a tragedy.”

He wrote that Israel had “pledged to conduct a thorough investigation” into the incident, but that the “investigation must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.”

“Even more tragically, this is not a stand-alone incident,” Biden wrote. “This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed. This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult – because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.”

He said that incidents like this “simply should not happen,” and that “Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians.”

World Central Kitchen identifies 7 aid workers killed by Israeli strike

From CNN's Hira Humayun

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) shared the identities of the seven aid workers who were killed by an Israeli strike in central Gaza on Monday.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the aid group revealed the victims to be:

• John Chapman, 57,a United Kingdom citizen on the security team.
• James (Jim) Henderson, 33, a UK citizen on the security team.
• James Kirby, 47, a UK citizen on the security team.
• Jacob Flickinger, 33, a US-Canadian dual citizen on the relief team.
• Damian Sobol, 35, a Polish citizen on the relief team.
• Lalzawmi (Zomi) Frankcom, 43, an Australian citizen and a lead on the relief team.
• Saifeddin Issam, 25, a Palestinian on the relief team.

“These are the heroes of WCK. These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) in a strike as they were returning from a full day's mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories,” WCK quoted CEO Erin Gore.

The IDF said the incident is being investigated and that the strike was a "grave mistake" and that it did not intend to harm the aid workers.

Palestinian-American doctor says he walked out of meeting with Biden and Muslim community

From CNN's Betsy Klein and Alex Marquardt

A Palestinian-American doctor walked out of a meeting with US President Joe Biden before it was over Tuesday evening, underscoring the high tensions, anger and concern from Arab, Palestinian and Muslim-American communities around the Israel-Hamas war. 

Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency physician from Chicago who traveled to Gaza earlier this year, told CNN he abruptly left the meeting that included Vice President Kamala Harris, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, other administration officials and a small group of Muslim community leaders.  

Following the meeting, a White House official said in a statement that the president and vice president "know this is a deeply painful moment for many in the Muslim and Arab communities.”

Biden, the official said, expressed commitment “to continue working to secure an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal to free the hostages and significantly increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

Ahmad traveled to Gaza as part of a delegation of doctors from the NGO MedGlobal, working in the city of Khan Younis as fighting raged around the Al Nasser hospital. He discussed his experience there, citing massive numbers of displaced, injured and dying people, and he spoke out against an expected Israeli offensive in Rafah.

“I said it was disappointing I’m the only Palestinian here, and out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave,” Ahmad said he told the president.  

Before he left, he handed Biden a letter from an 8-year-old orphaned girl, Hadeel, who lives in Rafah.  

“I beg you, President Biden, stop them from entering Rafah,” a translation of the letter shared with CNN says. Hadeel is referring to Israel's declared plan to enter the southern Gaza city, which the US has said Israel should not do without a comprehensive plan to protect civilian lives.

Biden told him he understood that he needed to leave, Ahmad said. 

CNN previously reported that what was supposed to be an iftar dinner to break the Ramadan fast was changed to a meeting because participants didn’t feel comfortable having a celebratory meal while hundreds of thousands in Gaza are on the brink of famine.

The post was updated with comments from a White House official. 

Australian prime minister speaks with Netanyahu after Israel's deadly strike on aid workers

From CNN's Hilary Whiteman and Natalie Barr

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had a “reasonably long” phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Wednesday.

It’s the first time the leaders had spoken since seven aid workers, including one Australian national, were killed in an Israel Defense Forces strike on Tuesday.

The IDF said the strike was a "mistake that followed a misidentification," did not intend to harm the aid workers and was a "grave mistake."

Albanese said Netanyahu expressed his condolences for the death of Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom and “committed to full transparency” over Israel’s investigation into the incident.

Separately, he said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken to her Israeli counterpart and expressed that Australians were “outraged” about the incident.

In a statement Tuesday, Wong said the “death of any aid worker is outrageous and unacceptable.” 

The government calls for a “thorough and expeditious review,” she said.

“We expect full accountability for these deaths,” she added.

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Total solar eclipse 2024 from across New England

A total solar eclipse will be visible across parts of maine, new hampshire and vermont on monday afternoon, by staff reports • published april 8, 2024 • updated on april 9, 2024 at 12:25 am.

A total solar eclipse was visible in over a dozen U.S. states on Monday afternoon. But parts of three New England states — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — were among the best places in the country to view the big event due to the mostly clear weather forecast.

You can follow our live updates all day long from NBC10 Boston reporters and meteorologists, NBC News and our NBC affiliate stations in Maine and Vermont.

Capturing the eclipse in Maine

By Steve Shannon | NBC10 Boston

Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters.

We started setting up by Flagstaff Lake in Eustis, Maine, around 12:30 p.m. After using a phone app to check where the sun would be, we began to put the gear for. Our kit includes a close-up stills camera, a wide stills camera, a wide video camera and a close-up video camera.

The close-up video camera is the setup that required the most work to get going. It's a Canon C100 with a Tamron 150-600mm lens with a 2x adaptor. Shooting 1000mm on a mechanical tripod head that will rotate to follow the sun, with the hope of sending back live pictures and creating a time lapse at the end of the day!

Getting to the path of totality

By Michael Rosenfield | NBC10 Boston

Southbound traffic in northern New England was backed up after Monday's eclipse, just as northbound traffic had been before it.

"We wanted to be a part of it, because we probably won't be a part of the next total one that's around here," said Dawn Newton of Colchester, Connecticut.

Monday morning, it was bumper-to-bumper at times, forcing some to change their plans.

"We were using Waze to help navigate it," said Frank Hekel of Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. "We took a few detours, but at the end of the day, we just got stuck in it."

Hekel and Nicole Curran, who wanted to get to the path of totality, decided to pull over in New Hampshire.

"We got a 99% view and a head start on the traffic back," said Curran. "We're pretty happy about the experience, it was pretty amazing."

Dr. Andrew Szentgyorgyi from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics traveled to Texas. He says it's always a crapshoot when it comes to chasing an eclipse.

"We had to drive 250 miles to find a hole in the clouds. Unfortunately, Texas is cloudy and New England is clear," said Szentgyorgyi. "People in New England who drove up to Burlington were winners."

Breathtaking view from Burlington, Vermont

By Matt Fortin | NBC10 Boston

Crowds with a front-row view to the solar eclipse in Burlington, Vermont, were left in awe.

The view made for a worthy trip for people from all over.

"We got here before dawn, 5 something in the morning, and here we are," said Terry Day of Virginia.

"I needed to be in the path of totality, so I had to be here," said Michelle Jones of Philadelphia.

"These things are like once, maybe twice, in a lifetime," said Massachusetts resident Jennifer Garland. "I don't want to miss it, these things are almost mystical."

Burlington landing in the path of totality and the great weather were strokes of luck, but the city has been carefully planning the events surrounding the eclipse for a year.

It could be a tough commute heading out of Burlington, and the city is hoping that people stay a while to ease traffic. For the businesses here, they hope the taste tourists had of Burlington will be enough to bring them back.

Photos from Moscow, Maine

By Marc Fortier | NBC10 Boston

Several dozen people gathered by the Kennebec River in Moscow, Maine, inside the path of totality, on Monday afternoon to view the eclipse.

Here are some viewer photos from the area, courtesy of Kelton Reed.

The NBC10 Boston team is ready for the eclipse!

The NBC10 Boston team is so ready for Monday's eclipse.

Award-winning photographer Mark Garfinkel is all set up and ready to capture images of the celestial event.

Are you ready for #SolarEclipse2024 ?! I am all set up! Last #Boston eclipse, in 2017, I got lucky and an airplane flew “through”the sun. This might happen again as it’s pretty active up there with European flights coming in to JFK and Newark. ⁦ @NBC10Boston ⁩ has the coverage pic.twitter.com/Xyn3VHFxk0 — Mark Garfinkel (@pictureboston) April 8, 2024

And meteorologist Pete Bouchard and other members of the NBC10 Boston crew are outside the Boston Media Center in Needham ready to take it all in.

The #eclipse is starting here in Needham @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/gQNBgaJnPp — Jason Solowski (NBC 10 Boston’s Version) (@JasonSolowski) April 8, 2024

Even hours before the eclipse, the NBC10 Boston morning team was ready for action!

We are ready! Are you? Who is excited about the #SolarEclipse2024 ? Or are you tired of all the talk? pic.twitter.com/grwDcJ1sGv — Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) April 8, 2024

And somehow, meteorologist Tevin Wooten made the four-hour drive from Needham to Lyndonville, Vermont, to take in the eclipse.

Raced to totality, and made it to Lyndonville, VT! 🙌🏾 #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/9454VLH570 — Tevin Wooten (@TevinWooten) April 8, 2024

Eclipse chasers from all around make their way to Maine

I left New Hampshire at 5 a.m. to make my way up to Flagstaff Lake in Eustis, Maine. Thankfully, this area has not had the heavy traffic we have seen in other parts of New England. The only time I had to slow down was for traffic going to Sugarloaf ski resort.

I made it to the lake around 8:30 a.m., and found people had already started to line the roads along the water. I met one eclipse chaser from Oregon who had been planning to travel to Texas before the weather forecast came out.

A filmmaker I met from Virginia was very excited to be here, originally planning to be in Plattsburgh, New York, before changing his mind at the last minute. Walking up and down the road, it was a very relaxed atmosphere, with families in camping chairs setting up hours ahead of the eclipse, which will hit our location here in Maine around 3:20 p.m.

Traffic delays getting worse in NH

By Mary Markos and Marc Fortier | NBC10 Boston

Major traffic delays are being reported on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire as solar eclipse tourists seek to make their way to northern New Hampshire and Vermont in time for Monday afternoon's big event.

NBC10 Boston's traffic map shows heavy delays from the Hooksett area all the way to Bow and Concord , where things start to ease up a bit. Traffic begins to back up again on I-93 as you approach the White Mountains region and Franconia Notch State Park.

New Hampshire State Police shared aerial video of the backups on social media.

#TrafficAlert ⚠️ Aerial video from the #NHSP Special Enforcement Unit shows drivers heading northbound via I-93 and I-89 are experiencing delays from Hooksett through the Concord area. For real-time traffic updates, visit https://t.co/u9bTeru7p2 . #Eclipse #Eclipse2024 #traffic pic.twitter.com/PHniACRS0g — New Hampshire State Police (@NH_StatePolice) April 8, 2024

The traffic backup raises the possibility that many motorists won't have reached their desired destinations when the eclipse occurs.

"We know exactly where we're going to stop on the highway — it's in the path of totality," one person said. "But I don't know with this traffic if we can make it or not. We'll try."

Maine State Police already appear to be preparing for that possibility, warning motorists on social media not to stop or get out of their vehicles to watch the eclipse.

We know people are excited for the eclipse but PLEASE do not stop or get out of your vehicle on the Interstate shoulders, crossovers, overpasses or on-ramps. Please exit the roadway and find a safe place to view the eclipse. — Maine State Police (@MEStatePolice) April 8, 2024

Burlington is bustling!

Vermont’s largest city has rolled out the red carpet for visitors from all over who are anxious to see a rare total solar eclipse.

Burlington's lakefront has been gradually filling up throughout the day, with solar tourists setting up telescopes, tents chairs and more. Many people are lining up at merchandise tents to get a souvenir to mark the occasion.

Jennifer Garland, of Massachusetts, said she missed the last total eclipse in 2017, so she was sure to have a spot early in the day in Burlington right on Lake Champlain.

“I had cancer at the time,” Garland said, recalling 2017. “I couldn’t travel… It killed me. These things are like once, maybe twice in a lifetime, and I don’t want to miss it.”

As of noon, parking lots were quickly filling up and crowds were filling downtown Burlington's sidewalks toward the lake for viewing.

Hands on learning experience

By Mary Markos | NBC10 Boston

Kailani Fyfiele, 7, of Boston, was another total eclipse tourist we interviewed along I-93 in New Hampshire on Monday. She said she is excited to take pictures of the total eclipse to show her freinds back at school.

She was headed to Stowe, Vermont, with her family on Monday.

Dushyant Bhagay and his son, Aayush, are from Montreal, but he Dushyant said the eclipse is better in the U.S. He said they came to visit family in Massachusetts on Friday and were heading back north to watch the eclipse on Monday before making their way back to Canada.

The DiGiorgio family — father Michael, mother Jill, and sons Cameron, 13, and William, 10 — were traveling from Reading, Massachusetts to Burlington, Vermont, together on Monday. Cameron planned the whole trip after learning about the eclipse in science class.

If they get there early enough, William said he is excited to see the world's largest filing cabinet, which is located in Burlington.

A man and his best friend taking in the eclipse together

NBC10 Boston caught up with John Ati and his dog Tor along I-93 in New Hampshire. They were on their way to Montpelier, Vermont, to watch the eclipse.

John said he thinks it will be cool to see his place in the cosmos. And he said he doesn't think Tor will notice!

Ati is an engineer who works in the aerospace industry and has never seen an eclipse before. In addition to Tor, he made the trip up to Vermont with a group of friends.

What time can I see the eclipse in Maine, NH and Vermont?

By Pamela Gardner | NBC10 Boston

NBC10 Boston meteorologist shared some of the peak viewing times for the eclipse for northern New England states in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday morning.

The peak viewing time in Burlington, Vermont, is at 3:26 p.m., while the peak viewing time in Colebrook, New Hampshire, is at 3:28 p.m. The peak viewing time in Presque Isle, Maine, meanwhile, is 3:33 p.m.

Here are some peak viewing times from northern New England in the path of totality. Boston's view will be something like a crescent sun at 93% blockage at 3:29pm. Protective eye wear at all times, #Boston ! #EclipseSolar2024 #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/uv4fFKkolS — Pamela Gardner NBC10 Boston (@Pamelanbcboston) April 8, 2024

Maine, NH, Vermont have the most Google 'eclipse' searches

By Joe Murphy | NBC News

A higher proportion of people are searching Google for "eclipse" in states along the path of today's solar eclipse – with the highest proportion in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont .

Traffic backing up ahead of I-93/I-89 split in NH

Significant backups are being reported on Interstate 93 north in New Hampshire, just south of the I-93/I-89 split heading to Vermont or northern New Hampshire.

Aerial images from NBC10 Boston's SkyRanger helicopter showed northbound cars blanketing the highway, while southbound traffic continues to flow freely.

New Hampshire officials had warned in the days leading up to the eclipse that motorists should leave early to make sure they aren't stuck in traffic when the eclipse occurs.

Rooftop views of the eclipse

Boston isn't in the "path of totality" for Monday's eclipse, but it's still going to be a spectacular event. And there are some spectacular options to watch the eclipse as well.

The Revere Hotel hosted a solar eclipse party on its rooftop from 12-5 p.m. Guests will get special glasses, there will be eclipse decorations and there will be eclipse-themed food and drink, like the Eclipse Elixir and Moon Pies. Over 100 people are expected to attend.

View Boston — the former "Top of the Hub" — also hosted a viewing party for the eclipse, with glasses and discounted tickets. Aerial video from NBC10 Boston's SkyRanger helicopter showed a good crowd of people gathered on the roof deck.

Hundreds of people also put blankets out on Boston Common to get a view of the eclipse on Monday afternoon.

Drivers aren't bothered by eclipse traffic

People have never been so happy to sit in traffic.

The path of the total solar eclipse cuts across more than a dozen states, and northern New England has the best weather for a clear view. Officials across the region have been urging people to get there early and stay late, pack snacks, fill up their gas tanks and be patient.

We’re just a few miles south of the Interstate 93/Interstate 89 split – so drivers here are heading to both northern New Hampshire and Vermont. And it’s already backed up as of 10:30 a.m. AAA Northeast says they expect traffic to be like a holiday weekend!

State officials are estimating up to 20,000 people will head to the northernmost part of New Hampshire, up to 40,000 people will visit Maine and around 160,000 are going to Vermont. But that’s not stopping people driving hours for a once in a lifetime experience.

“We want to see the entire eclipse, get the full experience, so we don’t care about the travel," Danielle Printz said. "We got the day of from work today, so yeah, it’s worth it."

"I definitely think there’s going to be some traffic, but my son really enjoys this type of stuff and it's just going to be an experience that we don’t get to see too often," said Dave Dixon.

Good morning from Vermont!

Good morning, from Burlington, Vermont!

Activity is beginning on the shores of Lake Champlain in anticipation of Monday's total solar eclipse.

Hours before the eclipse, solar tourists look comfortable with blankets, coolers and snacks. Traffic so far isn’t too bad getting into town.

Traffic already backing up in NH

By Alysha Palumbo | NBC10 Boston

Shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, traffic on Interstate 93 north was already backed up ahead of the split to Interstate 89 to Vermont as last-minute travelers made their way to northern areas of New Hampshire and Vermont to see the eclipse.

🚨ECLIPSE TRAFFIC ALERT🚨 93 North in NH is already backed up before the split to VT. Head up now if you’re trying to see the total eclipse this afternoon!🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔 @NBC10Boston @NECN pic.twitter.com/pdjBoTYtpp — Alysha Palumbo NBC10 Boston (@AlyshaNBCBoston) April 8, 2024

When and where to see Monday's eclipse

Here's a quick look at the " path of totality " for Monday's eclipse, which will include parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

And if you're planning on heading north on Monday, here's a look at the best spots in northern New England to see the eclipse .

We also heard last week from the governors of Maine , New Hampshire and Vermont on their advise for viewing the big event.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott compared the eclipse excitement to "peak foliage weekend on steroids," while New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu advised people to expect traffic similar to what you'd see for a New England Patriots game.

Eclipse traffic expected to be heavy

While many tourists headed north over the weekend, even more are expected to make the drive from parts of southern New England to the north during the day on Monday .

NBC10 Boston's Alysha Palumbo, in Hooksett, New Hampshire, said the traffic heading north wasn't too bad on Monday morning but was still a bit heavier than usual.

Authorities have urged people to fill their gas tanks, and bring plenty of snacks and water in case of major traffic delays. They have also said that people should leave early, stay on major roadways and not stop on the highway to view the eclipse.

Your last-minute eclipse forecast

By Tevin Wooten and Sydney Welch | NBC10 Boston

NBC10 Boston meteorologist Sydney Welch says that the weather will be in the low 60s with mostly clear skies for Monday's eclipse. That means that while there may be some hazy skies, it shouldn't get in the way of eclipse viewing.

Meteorologist Tevin Wooten added that the forecast is still in our favor despite the inbound clouds.

The peak eclipse is about 3:29 p.m. in Boston. The partial eclipse starts at 2:16 p.m. and ends at 4:39 p.m. And don't forget to wear your eclipse glasses!

7 a.m.: Tourists arrive early

Many eclipse tourists traveled to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont over the weekend, making sure they arrived early and didn't have to fight last minute traffic.

In Vermont, downtown Burlington had a Mardi Gras vibe on Sunday, as people packed the pedestrian mall.

📍Church Street, Burlington, Vt. #Eclipse pic.twitter.com/vLyAcz94s6 — Tyler Jankoski NBC5 📺 (@TylerJankoski) April 7, 2024

And as early as Saturday in Maine, things were already getting pretty wild in Houlton, Maine, including this group of costumed aliens that was seen making their way through the streets.

These guys have arrived in Houlton… #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/Bwaq9fr68n — photojournalist at @newscentermaine (@where_is_scout) April 6, 2024

And numerous people shared photos of cars decorated with eclipse messaging.

I love how excited people are. These are the few moments we still have where we can collectively share an experience that transcends all our differences. #EclipseSolar2024 #Eclipse2024 ☀️🌑 pic.twitter.com/4doZjqoCAX — Dave Epstein (@growingwisdom) April 7, 2024

More on the 2024 solar eclipse

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The 13 summer trips Americans are searching for the most, according to Google Flights

• Google Flights revealed the top searched destinations on its platform for summer 2024.
• The data is based on the most searched travel destinations from US users between June and August.
• Neither New York nor Paris took the top spot.

If you're looking to get away this summer, you may find inspiration from Google Flights' list of the top searched destinations for the summer of 2024.

The list is based on US users' most searched destinations on Google Flights for travel between June 1 and August 31.

The list remained largely consistent from 2023, but Chicago and San Francisco didn't make the top 20 this year. The insights also revealed that searches about travel itineraries and "solo travel" reached an all-time high in January 2024.

Here are the top 13 destinations.

13. Barcelona

There's a long list of tourist attractions in Barcelona including renowned museums featuring Picasso and Joan Miró, exploring the Gothic Quarter's architecture. Barcelona is also well known for its iconic nightlife.

Miami is known for its clear beaches and vibrant culture. It's also rated second in US News and World Report's "10 Best Party Cities " in the US.

The travel destination is also a popular site for families, and made the third spot in Google searches for top places to do things with kids, according to Google trend insights from for January 14 to March 14.

11. Los Angeles

Located in Southern California, LA is known for its beaches, Hollywood glamour, Mediterranean climate, and wellness culture. The city has a number of tourist sites, including the iconic Hollywood sign, Universal Studios, and the Getty Center.

If you plan to visit LA, make sure you factor in the cost of transportation — and the time you may spend in traffic .

Athens is rich in history and has a number of tourist attractions. BI has previously suggested visiting the Athens National Garden National Garden, the Acropolis, Panathenaic Stadium, Areopagus Hill, and Mount Lycabettus.

Seattle , often referred to as the Emerald City, is home to major companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Tableau. Surrounded by water, mountains, and forest, it's also known for classic attractions like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and its grunge music scene.

8. Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for its extravagant gambling scene and luxurious hotels . It was also ranked the number one city to party as of August 2023, according to US News and World Report.

It's not just a hot spot for bachelor parties though — according to Google travel insights from January 14 to March 14, it was the number one location people searched in the US for places to go as a couple.

Orlando was the first ranked location for searches that led with the prompt "things to do" with kids, according to Google travel insights from January 14 to March 14. The Florida destination is filled with family-friendly tourist attractions , like Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Cancún is a popular vacation destination known for its Caribbean waters, luxurious all-inclusive resorts , and vibrant nightlife. That, and it's often budget-friendly for the experience you're getting.

Cancún moved down from second to sixth place in Google Flights' 2024 destination list. The popular vacation spot was also listed in the top five locations for couples and families searching to get away, according to Google search insights from January 14 to March 14.

5. New York

New York City, also known as the Big Apple or the city that never sleeps, has a seemingly endless list of tourist attractions. It has iconic landmarks, like the Statue of Liberty; world-renowned museums; a vibrant theatre scene; eclectic nightlife; and some of the world's best restaurants.

New York has something for everyone — but it's expensive. Prepare to spend more on everyday items if you visit New York City.

Rome is filled with rich history and architecture that makes it an easy site for tourists to occupy themselves. Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Colosseum are a few of the most popular spots.

If you do visit Rome, make sure you avoid common tourist mistakes and tip the servers.

Tokyo rose from eighth place to third in the last year, according to Google Flights.

The city in Japan has a convenient public transportation system and is relatively affordable. It also includes culturally rich sites like Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and Sensō-ji Temple .

Paris is known for its authentic culture, charming architecture, and buttery croissants.

If you visit Paris, you'll want to visit some of the famous tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Palace of Versailles. That, and you may want to brush up on your French too.

London maintained its spot as the number one searched tourist destination for summer travel. While living in London can be expensive and cloudy, the city is lively and vibrant during the summer.

Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the thriving theatre scene are just a few of the activities this city has to offer.

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4.8 magnitude earthquake rattles NYC, New Jersey: Live updates

NEW YORK – A 4.8 magnitude earthquake recorded in New Jersey that shook residents in surrounding states and New York City on Friday morning was one of the strongest in state history.

The temblor was reported about 5 miles north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, at about 10:23 a.m. Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 45 miles from New York City, where residents reported shaking furniture and floors.

“Earthquakes in this region are uncommon but not unexpected. It’s likely people near the epicenter are going to feel aftershocks for this earthquake in the magnitude 2-3 range, and there’s a small chance there can be an earthquake as large or larger, following an earthquake like this,” Paul Earle, a seismologist at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program told reporters. “In terms of our operations, this is a routine earthquake … Immediately we knew this would be of high interest and important to people who don’t feel earthquakes a lot.”

People reported feeling the shaking as far north as Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, following the quake, according to USGS. Scientists said those in the affected area should listen to local emergency officials and be prepared to seek cover if aftershocks occur.

“If you feel shaking, drop, cover and hold,” Earle said.

No major disruptions or damage have been reported in New Jersey or New York.

"We have activated our State Emergency Operations Center. Please do not call 911 unless you have an actual emergency," said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

President Joe Biden spoke with Murphy about the earthquake and the White House is monitoring the situation.

“He thinks everything's under control,” Biden told reporters before leaving the White House for a trip to Baltimore. “He’s not too concerned about it, the governor of New Jersey, so things are all right.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the quake was felt throughout New York, and officials are assessing impacts and any potential damage.

In Yonkers, New York, Mayor Mike Spano said City Hall shook but no injuries were reported.

"A few moments ago our entire house shook for about 25 seconds or so here in Mendham, New Jersey," former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

USGS is still investigating the exact fault line at the center of Friday’s quake and said it occurred in a region with dozens of fault lines that were more active millions of years ago.

4.0 magnitude aftershock strikes hours after earthquake

Officials in New York and New Jersey alerted residents to an aftershock Friday evening, nearly eight hours after the earthquake.

A 4.0 magnitude aftershock slammed New Jersey at around 6 p.m., with an epicenter about four miles southwest of Gladstone, according to the USGS. New York City’s emergency notification system alerted residents to the aftershock minutes later, urging people to remain indoors and call 911 if injured.

Hochul said there were no reports of serious damage after the aftershock, and officials were continuing to assess critical infrastructure.

The aftershock Friday evening was at least the third that USGS recorded after the quake struck.

As of Friday afternoon, the USGS aftershock forecast predicted a 36% chance of aftershocks at a 3.0 magnitude or higher, an 8% chance of aftershocks at a 4.0 magnitude or higher, and a 1% chance for aftershocks at a magnitude of 5.0 or higher over the next week.

USGS scientists said informal observations can be a big help in understanding earthquakes, especially in a region where they’re less common.

“We encourage people to fill out the ‘Did You Feel It?’ reports on our website,” said Sara McBride, a scientist with the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. “This citizen science project is critical in terms of building our knowledge around earthquakes.”

By midafternoon on Friday, the agency said it had received more than 161,000 reports, and extrapolated that the quake had been felt by millions of people. McBride acknowledged that earthquakes can be nerve-wracking for people who don’t live in seismologically active regions, and said knowledge is power in combatting that discomfort.

“The best thing you can do to relieve any unsettling feelings you might have is to learn how to protect yourself during shaking and how to prepare for earthquakes in the future,” she said.

Man getting vasectomy during earthquake recounts experience

One Horsham, Pennsylvania, man shared his unusual earthquake experience, saying the tremors hit when he was in the middle of receiving a vasectomy.

"The surgeon sort of froze and all of us kind of seemed a bit confused," Justin Allen told USA TODAY . "Even when the surgeon said 'that’s gotta be an earthquake,' I thought he was joking."

Luckily, Allen's doctor was able to resume the procedure after a brief pause, and the rest went off without a hitch. Now recovering at home, Allen said it's an experience no one involved will forget, especially because his social media post about the incident has since gone viral.

"My wife says that 'this is a clear and obvious sign that we should not have any more kids,'" Allen said.

New Jersey resident thought sound from earthquake was an explosion

Madeline Nafus had just finished feeding her 7-week-old baby when, simultaneously, she was thrown off balance and the loudest sound she’d ever heard rang out.

“I thought it was either an explosion or a bombing because of how loud it was,” said Nafus, who lives in Long Valley, New Jersey, a few miles from the earthquake's epicenter. “It was just terrifying.”

Nafus, 29, watched as her light fixtures swung and wine glasses, framed photos and a 6-foot elk head crashed onto the floor. Feeling as if her “house was going to crumble,” she picked up her baby boy, grabbed some blankets and headed outside. Meanwhile, her friend came running downstairs and picked up Nafus’ quivering dog, Olivia, a small golden doodle.

After about 15 seconds, the rumbling went away and only occasional, minor tremors could be felt. Nafus called her husband, who was teaching a golf lesson at the time, and then their 2-year-old’s day care.

“They said the children were all confused and asking a lot of questions but that they were OK,” she said.'

How common are East Coast quakes?

Earthquakes are less frequent in the eastern part of the country than in the west, but they have occurred in every state east of the Mississippi River, according to the USGS.

"Since colonial times people in the New York – Philadelphia – Wilmington urban corridor have felt small earthquakes and suffered damage from infrequent larger ones," according to the USGS. "Moderately damaging earthquakes strike somewhere in the urban corridor roughly twice a century, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly every two to three years."

USGS officials also said that even smaller-magnitude quakes are more likely to be felt more widely on the East Coast than similar size quakes on the West Coast due to the rock properties of eastern soil, which can cause concern to East Coasters not used to the tremors.

Rocks in the eastern part of the country are much older than in the west, by up to millions of years. Those older rocks have been exposed to more extreme temperatures and pressure, and faults have had more time to heal. Seismic waves travel across the resulting harder and denser faults much more efficiently, so the effects of a quake are felt across a larger area. In the West, faults are newer and absorb more of the seismic wave energy without spreading as far.

Quake felt in Massachusetts

In Auburn, Massachusetts, more than 200 miles from the earthquake's epicenter, Jerry Steinhelper was on a video call for work when his house began to tremble. His dog Maize started barking, and books and trinkets fell from their shelves. He looked out the window and saw trees shaking.

“I thought at first it may be ice falling off the roof. But it kept going and the entire house was shaking,” he told USA TODAY. “Then I just knew it was an earthquake.”

Steinhelper, 55, lived in San Diego in the 1980s and experienced temblors there, but he’s never felt one in Massachusetts, where he’s been for over 25 years.

“It was an interesting 10 to 15 seconds,” he said.

'It felt like a plane crashed outside' near epicenter

Nicole Kravitz, 33, was baking muffins at the cafe she co-owns with her husband in New Jersey when the floor began to shake. She and the cooks looked at each other for a few moments, and then at some stacked plates and glasses that had started vibrating.

Their eatery, Branchburg's Best, is located in New Jersey's Somerset County, near the epicenter of Friday’s earthquake.

“It felt like a plane crashed outside,” she said. “No one knew what was happening.”

Some workers ran out the door to see if something had smashed into the building while she checked the basement for damage. Meanwhile, Patrick Tucker, her husband, who was picking up beef from a nearby farm, watched agitated chickens and cows run around in their pens, visibly shaken by the quake.

Kravitz said the intensity of the earthquake made her feel like she was back in Southern California, where she had lived for several years before she returned to her home state in 2016.

Quake was one of the strongest to ever impact New Jersey

Friday's earthquake was the most significant in New Jersey since 1884 , when an Aug. 10 earthquake somewhere near Jamaica Bay, New York, toppled chimneys and moved houses off their foundations as far as Rahway, New Jersey, 30 miles away.

Other than that quake, there were only  three earthquakes in modern history  that caused damage in the state: 1737 (New York City), 1783 (west of New York City) and 1927 (New Jersey coast near Asbury), according to New Jersey Office of Emergency Management records.

The Dec. 19, 1737 earthquake is believed by modern experts to have been a 5.2 magnitude quake. Charted as taking place in the greater New York City area, some accounts say its epicenter was near Weehawken. State records show it threw down chimneys. Chimneys were also hurled down during the Nov. 29, 1783 quake. Estimated at a 5.3 magnitude that originated in modern-day Rockaway Township, according to state records, it was felt from Pennsylvania to New England.

The Aug. 10, 1884 quake, estimated at a 5.2 magnitude was the last the state has seen of its significance and was felt from Virginia to Maine, according to state records.

  Read more about New Jersey's earthquake history.

– David M. Zimmer, NorthJersey.com

New Jersey business owner describes worst quake ever felt but went right back to work

It was a busy day for La Bella Salon & Spa in Lebanon, New Jersey, when an earthquake struck near the rural township.

About a dozen stylists and customers, some whom were getting their hair dyed while others got manicures and eyelash extensions, all froze as the building rattled for about 30 seconds.

“People started to feel the shaking, and it got worse and worse. We were like ‘Oh, my god, what is going on?’" said shop owner Rosanne Drechsel. “I thought a truck hit the building or something.”

After the tremor subsided, nearly everyone in the building started receiving texts and phone calls from friends and family, Drechsel, 61, said.

Nothing was damaged and no one was injured, but Drechsel, who was born and raised in New Jersey, said it was “by far the worst earthquake” she had ever felt.

“We all went back to work and finished the appointments,” she said. “Customers are calling now to see if we're still open and if they can still make their appointments later on today.”

'It was scary': Quake rattles shelves in Brooklyn bodega

In Brooklyn, residents said they felt their buildings shake and many went outdoors after the rumbling stopped to check in with neighbors.

Julio Melo, a deli worker, said he thought the sounds of the earthquake resembled those of a large truck going down the street. But when Melo, 32, looked around and saw beer bottles rattling on store shelves, and a potted plant shimmy down the counter, he thought it might be something bigger, he told USA TODAY.

“I looked at my employee and he had the same tragic face on as me, it was scary,” he said at Jenesis’ Grocery Corp. in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

– Claire Thornton

Where was the earthquake felt?

Residents and officials said the earthquake was felt throughout New York, as well as in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. It was also felt as far away as Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 250 miles away from the reported epicenter.

Charita Walcott, a 38-year-old resident in the Bronx borough of New York, said the quake felt "like a violent rumble that lasted about 30 seconds or so."

"It was kind of like being in a drum circle, that vibration," she said.

Earthquakes common in the region, but the size is unusual: Expert

Chuck Ver Straeten, a geologist and curator of sedimentary rocks at the New York State Museum, told USA TODAY it’s not surprising this earthquake happened where it did.

“New York, around New York City going into New Jersey, there’s a lot of earthquakes historically down there. Happens every year,” he said. But it’s less common for them to be of such a high magnitude. It’s not surprising that many people felt it, he said. Usually, earthquakes in the region are at a lower magnitude and less likely to be felt.

Ver Straeten said the real question now is if this is just a precursor to a larger quake.

“You never know what is the earthquake, what is a pre-earthquake, what is an earthquake happening after the main earthquake, you just have to see,” he said. “One slip along the rock fault, when one happens, it makes other areas around there more tense also and they start to slip and you slip again and slip again.”

But, he added, it would be unlikely for a larger quake to follow this one. In the Northeast, it’s more common for one large quake to be followed by smaller aftershocks, rather than a mounting series of tremors. 

What does magnitude mean in an earthquake?

Magnitude is a measurement of the strength of an earthquake . Officially it's called the Moment Magnitude Scale . It's a logarithmic scale , meaning each number is ten times as strong as the one before it. So a 5.2 earthquake is moderate while a 6.2 is strong.

The magnitude and effect of an earthquake, according to Michigan Technological University :

◾ Below 2.5: Generally not felt

◾ 2.5 to 5.4: Minor or no damage

◾ 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings

◾ 6.1 to 6.9: Serious damage

◾ 8.0 or greater: Massive damage, can totally destroy communities

Intensity scales, measured in Roman numerals, are used to describe how strong the earthquake felt to people in the area.

According to the California Earthquake Authority , an intensity of I is typically felt only under especially favorable conditions. A IV, which leads to light shaking, is felt indoors by many, but not typically outdoors. It might awaken some people at night and lead to a sensation like a truck striking a building. A parked car would rock. Intensities VI and above would be strong, frightening and felt by all, with the damage increasing up to a X where the shaking would be violent. Some well-built wooden structures would be destroyed and most masonry and frame structures along with their foundations would be ruined.

While you might have heard the term " the Richter Scale " used to describe earthquakes, it is no longer commonly used because it was only valid for certain earthquake frequencies and distance ranges.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Contributing: Reuters