The U.S. Secretary of State is set for another trip to the Middle East as recent developments prompt fears of the war spreading. And an Olympic athlete convicted of murdering his girlfriend has been released from prison. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024

Blinken to visit the Middle East amid fears of war growing in region

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to begin a diplomatic tour of the Middle East on Friday, Jan. 5, as tensions mount in the region amid fears the war between Israel and Hamas could grow into a broader conflict. Blinken’s fourth trip to the region in three months will see him visit nine locations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the West Bank, and Egypt.

In Israel, Blinken is expected to press for the increase of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a shift in the Israeli army’s operations, and efforts to release the hostages taken by Hamas, including Americans. U.S. officials said Blinken would also be looking for ally support to diffuse the situation in the Middle East before it escalates any further.

Blinken’s trip to the Middle East comes amid a series of developments in the region this week that have sparked concerns about the war spreading. A drone strike in Beirut on Tuesday, Jan. 2, killed a top Hamas leader, with Hamas, Lebanon, and U.S. officials attributing it to Israel.

The next day, more than 100 people were reportedly killed after explosions in Iran targeted a memorial service for the country’s former top general who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years ago. On Thursday, Jan. 4, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A U.S. drone strike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq on Thursday, Jan. 4, killed its commander, who U.S. officials said had been involved in attacks on American personnel. On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the United States, along with a dozen other nations, issued a warning to Iran-backed Houthis to cease their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

I’m returning to the region to engage in additional diplomacy on the situation in Gaza. I will continue to urge the protection of civilian life and work intensely with partners to secure the release of hostages and ensure sustained delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. https://t.co/zylFYbs5uw

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 4, 2024

Hours later, the Pentagon said an armed unmanned surface vessel launched from the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen came within “a couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea before detonating.

NYC sues bus companies bringing thousands of migrants from Texas

Tensions between New York City and Texas officials are growing as tens of thousands of migrants have been put on buses and sent to the Big Apple. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city is suing 17 bus companies for $708 million.

According to the lawsuit, since the beginning of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, more than 33,000 migrants have been put on buses and sent to New York City, which is struggling to keep up with the financial burden of caring for the migrants.

New York City has and will continue to do our part in the asylum seeker crisis. But we can't bear the costs alone — and we won't let those complicit in @GovAbbott's scheme get away with violating our state laws.

We’re seeking approximately $700 million from 17 charter bus… pic.twitter.com/e95D6I5V2M

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 4, 2024

“New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,” Mayor Adams said in a statement.

Gov. Abbott fired back and said the lawsuit is baseless and should be sanctioned.

“It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Abbott said.

My statement on NYC Mayor Adams’ baseless lawsuit targeting Texas’ migrant transportation program. pic.twitter.com/0I7Xwdz5RV

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 4, 2024

The lawsuit cites a New York state law that requires anyone who brings a person in need to the state to support them at their own expense. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended the lawsuit brought by Mayor Adams.

Sixth grader killed, 5 others injured in Iowa school shooting

A sixth grader was killed and five others were injured when a teenager opened fire inside a high school on Thursday, Jan. 4. The school district has canceled classes Friday, Jan. 5, as the community continues to cope with the tragedy. Police said the wounded included four students and an administrator, identified later by school district officials as the high school principal.

The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police added that the shooting unfolded on the first day back from winter break, during a breakfast program for middle and high school students. Investigators found improvised explosives at the school. They said the suspect was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. A motive for the shooting is not yet known.

South African Olympian who killed his girlfriend released from prison

Oscar Pistorius, a South African Olympian who was convicted of killing his girlfriend in 2013, has been released from prison. Pistorius served more than seven years of the 15-year prison sentence handed down to him for killing Reeva Steenkamp, his then-girlfriend, a decade ago.

In 2013, the murder dominated headlines around the world, and Pistorius’ seven-month-long trial was televised. On Friday, Dec. 29, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections Services said that Pistorius was at home and would be under parole supervision until 2029. He is also required to go to rehabilitation programs and is banned from consuming alcohol and illegal substances.

After initially opposing his release, the Steenkamp family hoped releasing him would bring them some respite as the family faced intense scrutiny as the trial played out in court.

SpaceX sues labor agency after being accused of unlawfully firing employees

SpaceX filed a lawsuit on Thursday, Jan. 4, against a U.S. labor agency that had accused the company of unlawfully firing eight employees who wrote a letter to executives critical of CEO Elon Musk. A regional director for the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint about SpaceX’s actions following the employees’ letter in June of 2022 and said the company violated federal labor laws.

In their letter, the employees claimed that a series of Musk’s social media posts did not align with SpaceX’s diversity and workplace misconduct policies. The employees described Musk as “a distraction and embarrassment,” and they called on executives to condemn Musk’s behavior.

In addition to the firings, the agency’s complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other employees about the letter. In response to the complaint, SpaceX sued the labor agency, saying it is “unconstitutionally structured” and calling its actions “unlawful.”

Sweethearts releasing situationship boxes to target Gen Z

With Christmas and New Year’s behind us, most stores have already turned their attention to February and Valentine’s Day. One of the biggest candies for the holiday each year, conversation hearts, is switching things up to target Gen Z consumers and their not fully defined relationships, known as “situationships.“

Spangler, the company behind the Sweethearts candies and their romantic phrases of “love you” and “be mine,” said it will be introducing a limited-edition version of their heart-shaped treats that will have blurred, misprinted sayings that are “as hard to read as Gen Z relationships.”

The SweethearSituationship boxes will be available on the Sweetheart’s website starting Monday, Jan. 8.