Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Friday, October 13, 2023.

For daily news updates, watch AC 24/7 on The Advocate Channel.

1. Blinken visits Israeli and Palestinian leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel in the wake of devastating Hamas attacks over the weekend. He told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "as long as America exists ... We will always be there by your side."

He also warned against harming Palestinian civilians as they retaliate against Hamas, stating: "It's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians."

Blinken also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, the capital in Jordan. The Palestinian Authority partially controls the West Bank and is a fierce political opponent of Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

At 87-years-old, Abbas has been the leader of the Palestinian Authority for 18 years. His initial four-year term was extended due to the inability to hold elections there.

2. Biden Administration moves to crack down on "junk fees"

The Biden administration is proposing a new rule to prohibit companies from hiding fees from consumers. The Federal Trade Commission recently proposed the policy, which would crack down on "junk fees," requiring all industries to show the full price upfront, including for concert and sports tickets, hotel rooms, and apartment and car rentals.

"If these rules are finalized, they won't just be voluntary, they'll be made mandatory. It will do more than embarrass companies, it will make it mandatory," Biden said.

3. Scalise drops out of House Speaker race after receiving GOP nomination

Steve Scalise abruptly dropped out of the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives after receiving the nomination from the Republican party. The GOP must now hold an internal meeting Friday to determine their next steps forward.

The unexpected escalation between Hamas and Israel increases the necessity for House Republicans to come to agreement on who is succeeding Kevin McCarthy quickly. A new speaker must be appointed before the House can pass emergency military aid for Israel, and Congress needs to pass a new spending bill by mid-November in order to avoid a government shutdown.