BBC News Briefing 4 October 2023 : How Mr McCarthy lost the political fight of his life. We also have the latest about a deadly bus crash in Venice and more...

 

4 October, 2023

Sofia Lotto Persio Hello. A major historical precedent has been set in the US, with Kevin McCarthy becoming the first-ever House of Representatives Speaker to lose a no-confidence vote. Anthony Zurcher and Sam Cabral document how Mr McCarthy lost the political fight of his life. We also have the latest about a deadly bus crash in Venice. And there's audio recording that will feel relatable to anyone who's ever had a bad day at work - but infuriate football fans, especially Liverpool supporters. TOP OF THE AGENDA US navigates uncharted waters There is no clear successor to oversee the House Republican majority. Credit: Reuters Kevin McCarthy's apparent confidence in the lead up to a vote that would decide his political fate as US House of Representatives Speaker turned out to be misplaced. The deal he struck with his party members to secure that role in the first place, which allowed for any one member of Congress to force a vote to oust him, came back to haunt him as eight Republicans turned against him. That, alongside Democrats joining the vote against Mr McCarthy, gave a final tally of 216-210 in favour of removal. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a hardline Republican who put forward the bid to oust Mr McCarthy, showed whoever seeks the role that they'll have to win his support first. But his plan lacked a critical element: a candidate to replace Mr McCarthy. With just over 40 days to agree on a deal to avoid another potential government shutdown, time is of the essence. But what lies ahead is in uncharted waters. • At the scene: On Capitol Hill, Sam Cabral witnessed how Mr Gaetz sat alone but ultimately won the fight, and exited the chamber among House Democrats. • Poisoned chalice: Whoever replaces Mr McCarthy will have to reconcile a disunited and disillusioned Republican party, writes Anthony Zurcher.  • Meanwhile in Canada: The US's northern neighbour has elected Liberal MP Greg Fergus to be the new Speaker of the House of Commons, the first black man to hold the role. WORLD HEADLINES • Nobel leak: The Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to three scientists, whose names appeared to have been released accidentally before the official announcement. • Tragedy in Venice: At least 21 people, including four children, have died after a tourist bus crashed off a flyover near the famed Italian city and caught fire.  • Gag order: The judge presiding over Donald Trump's civil fraud case has issued a limited gagging order after the ex-president made "disparaging" remarks about a court clerk. • In the dock: Jury selection completed, opening arguments are expected today in the trial of former crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried in what's been billed as one of the biggest financial frauds in US history.  • Touchy subject: Chinese censors have blocked an image of two athletes at the Asian Games whose quick embrace inadvertently referenced Tiananmen Square. AT THE SCENE |   Nagorno-Karabakh The aftermath of a light-speed defeat Nearly 120,000 Armenians, virtually the entire population, have now left Nagorno-Karabakh over the past two weeks. They rushed to flee before experiencing life under the rule of Azerbaijan, an autocratic state with which the Armenians have a long history of violent conflict. Joel Gunter, senior reporter At an Armenian outpost high in the mountains of Nagorno-Karabakh, a half-full cooking pot sat next to a half-eaten plate of food. There was a half-smoked cigarette and half a bread roll. These remnants testified to the speed with which the Armenians had lost control two weeks earlier, during a lightning-fast military operation by Azerbaijan. Along the Lachin corridor - the only route out of the region to Armenia - abandoned cars and possessions still litter the roadway, having broken down or run out of fuel in the miles-long queue to leave.  Read more BEYOND THE HEADLINES Portrait of an author Khalifa "retained a childlike quality of innocence and wonderment," Sinjab writes. Credit: AFP The passing of renowned Syrian author Khaled Khalifa has shocked the community at home and abroad. Lina Sinjab shares her memories of the writer, a "larger-than-life personality". In her words SOMETHING DIFFERENT An unlikely remote working hub A scenic town at the base of the Pirin Mountains is popular with digital nomads. Explore Bankso And finally... Football fans would spend hours discussing whether a goal was offside or not. VAR technology was meant to help avoid such controversy, but a disputed Liverpool goal in a match against Tottenham has revealed the fallibility of the system. In a recently released audio recording, match officials can be heard discussing the decision, complimenting themselves on its execution, before finally realising that they made the wrong call. Future Planet Explore the wonders of our amazing planet. Watch now Do you have suggestions for what we cover in BBC News Briefing? You can email me to let me know what you think. And why not forward it to friends? They can sign up here. While you're at it, add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading! – Sofia

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