All the events in the Harry Potter series from book 3 and on only happened because Fudge was carrying a newspaper in Azkaban on the day it had Scabbers' picture.

Sirius broke out of Azkaban because he saw Pettigrew in the picture in the Prophet that Fudge gave him; which led to Pettigrew escaping back to Voldemort, Bertha Jorkins' capture, freeing Barty Crouch Jr. from imprisonment, and ultimately returning by rebuilding his body with Crouch's assistance.

If Fudge hadn't been carrying the Prophet with him, or if he had visited on a different day, then Sirius would have stayed in Azkaban (eliminating all the events of book 3), Pettigrew would have stayed with Ron, and Voldemort would never have captured Jorkins and found out about Crouch- thus never returning (eliminating everything in books 4 through 7).