Today’s Big Story

Thinking of Getting Away?

The time to plan your spring and summer trips is now

It’s cold outside and the world seems unpredictable at the moment, so it seems natural to want to escape. And if you’re starting to daydream about getting away and going on a spring break trip or summer vacation, don’t wait: Now’s the time to start planning and booking your flights and accommodations.

According to Travel + Leisure, summer is traditionally one of the most popular times of the year to travel, which means it can be tough to find a good deal on airfare. Ideally, you should book flights for summer travel as soon as possible, preferably at least six months in advance. “The best time to book for peak season is… the opposite season,” says Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. “While most of us are scrambling to focus on our winter holiday plans, we should also keep our eyes open for some great summer fares.”

And she advises that if you do book something, keep that flight alert on. “If it drops again, depending on your ticket type, you can call to rebook and get a refund or travel credit back with the difference,” she says. “Most airlines don't charge for change fees on main cabin tickets, meaning you won't be spending more to save.”

Afar agrees. They say that if you have your heart set on a specific destination or time frame, start tracking flights early to get a sense of the standard range. That way you’ll know a good deal when you see one—and can pounce when an attractive airfare pops up.

And the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler columnist suggests that traveling off-season, playing with flexible dates and going somewhere off the beaten path are also tried-and-true budget travel strategies. “Reserve lodgings early, too, but make sure they are refundable so that if prices drop you can rebook at the lower rate.” And if you’re thinking about a cruise, they say that bookings typically crest in the first quarter, January through March. This is wave season, when cruise lines issue some of their biggest booking incentives of the year. “The offers aim to reach travelers as they are planning their summer vacations in a season when the promise of life at sea is more alluring than the views at home.”

Israel Lets Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza

It’s the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas

Israel earlier today began allowing thousands of Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas, in accordance with a fragile ceasefire. The opening was delayed for two days over a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which said the militant group had changed the order of the hostages it released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. But mediators resolved the dispute overnight.

Video footage showed people traveling by foot along the coast early Monday local time, while Hamas confirmed in a statement that people had started “returning to the areas from which they were forcibly displaced.” Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman, said on social media that people could start returning by foot at 7 a.m. local time. Vehicles would be allowed to follow a different route north two hours later, he said, and would be subject to inspections.

The Israeli prime minister’s office told the Washington Post that it had also received a list detailing the status of all the hostages who are to be released in the first phase of the truce, including information on whether they were alive or dead. Israeli officials and families of hostages have sought this information since the deadly Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Still, Israeli troops remained in Lebanon past a 60-day deadline to withdraw, amid concerns that the militant group Hezbollah is still active. Negotiators had hoped a November ceasefire deal there would become permanent. The White House said Sunday the truce would be extended until Feb. 18. The brief statement did not make clear whether the other parties had agreed to an extension.

A New Bid for TikTok

The deal could give the U.S. government a 50% stake

Perplexity AI has presented a new proposal to TikTok’s parent company that would allow the U.S. government to own up to 50% of a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter. The proposal, submitted last week, is a revision of a prior plan the artificial intelligence startup had presented to TikTok’s parent ByteDance on Jan. 18, a day before the law that bans TikTok went into effect.

According to the Associated Press, the new proposal would allow the U.S. government to own up to half of that new structure once it makes an initial public offering of at least $300 billion. President Trump said over the weekend he was in talks with multiple people over buying the app and would likely have a decision on the popular app's future in the next 30 days.

On a flight from Las Vegas to Miami on Air Force One, Trump also said he hadn’t discussed a deal with Larry Ellison, CEO of software maker Oracle, despite an NPR report that Oracle, along with outside investors, was considering taking over TikTok’s global operation. Free speech advocates have opposed the ban under a law passed by Congress and signed by former President Biden. The company has said U.S. officials have misstated its ties to China—arguing its content recommendation engine and user data are stored in the United States on cloud servers operated by Oracle while content moderation decisions that affect American users are also made in the U.S.

Ready for Super Bowl 2025?

Will the Chiefs become the first team to win three straight championships?

The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to their fifth Super Bowl in six years after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game Sunday. They’ll take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LIX, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 9, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

And the Chiefs will finally have the chance to do something no NFL team has done during the Super Bowl era: win three straight championships. Starting in 1966 with the Green Bay Packers, winners of the first two Super Bowls, eight teams have won back-to-back titles, yet zero were able to capture an elusive third in a row.

That title isn’t going to be easy for Kansas City. But it’s now only one win away. As ESPN points out, this a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which capped the 2022 season and put the Chiefs on a path toward a historic Super Bowl run. The Chiefs came from behind to defeat the Eagles in that game, 38-35, then went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII last season.

Find Time to Work Out

Expert strategies to fit in your fitness

Finding time to work out can feel impossible when juggling work, family, social commitments, and everyday responsibilities. However, we know that working exercise into our daily routine is essential for both physical and mental health. The reality is that for a lot of people, a hectic everyday routine means that exercise just doesn't make the cut as a priority.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 20% of adults in the U.S. actually get enough exercise each week. While you shouldn't beat yourself up over a few missed workouts, making a habit of skipping exercise can lead to health problems in the future.

So how do you fit exercise into a busy schedule? The key is to plan strategically and make fitness a non-negotiable part of your life. Here's how you can find the time to prioritize your health and well-being.

Be grateful. Stay hungry.