Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

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1. Search for House Speaker intensifies with war in Israel

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.

Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana is expected to fill the position after a closed-door vote Wednesday. His election won't be official until a majority of members in the full House of Representatives — at least 217 — votes for him.

2. Israeli airstrikes kill over 1,000 civilians in Gaza

At least 1,100 people, including at least 326 children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israel's retaliatory airstrikes, the Gaza Ministry of Health said Wednesday. At least 5,339 more people in blockaded Palestinian territory were wounded.

The United Nation's Palestine Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said in a statement that 11 of its workers have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, and at least 20 of its facilities in Gaza had been damaged by the strikes, including two schools. A spokesperson for the group said some "were killed in their homes with their families."

3. Happy 20th birthday to the Pumpkin Spice Latte

In the 20 years since the very first Pumpkin Spice Latte was made, the drink has become a pop culture phenomenon. It was invented in 2003 by Peter Dukes at the research and development space in the Starbucks headquarters in Seattle.

According to Starbucks, the third-ever seasonal beverage introduced by the company, after Eggnog Latte and Peppermint Mocha. Its original name was "Fall Harvest Latte."