Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 26 Oct 2019

1. MPs plan to seize control of the Commons timetable

Rebel MPs plan to defy Boris Johnson by forcing Brexit votes as soon as next week. Campaigners for a second referendum will try to seize control of the Commons timetable if Johnson continues to insist that his withdrawal agreement bill is “paused” until MPs agree to an election on 12 December. They will use a procedure under standing order 24 to take control of the timetable.

2. Police hold four suspects over deaths in lorry in Essex

Police are still questioning four suspects over the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found inside a lorry in Essex. In the first of four arrests, a man was detained at Stansted Airport on Friday on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. The lorry driver is being held on suspicion of murder, while two people from Warrington have also been arrested.

3. May a ‘terrible campaigner’ according to aides

Theresa May was “surly” and a “terrible campaigner,” according to former aides. In his book, May At 10, historian Sir Anthony Seldon says that during the election campaign May told aides: “I don’t want it to be about me”. He writes that she ignored warnings that her manifesto for the 2017 election was “worse than useless”.

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4. Setback for Trump as judge orders release of testimonies

There has been a fresh setback for Donald Trump after a judge ordered the justice department to give the House unredacted portions of grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. US district judge Beryl Howell says the justice department’s argument that existing law barred it from sharing the materials with Congress is “wrong”.

5. Russian serviceman shoots dead eight fellow soldiers

A Russian serviceman has shot dead eight fellow soldiers and seriously injured two more on a military base. Officials say that private Ramil Shamsutdinov might have been suffering from mental health problems. He has been detained. The shooting happened in the military unit No. 54160 in the village of Gorny, not far from the city of Chita, on Friday evening.

6. Blow for Amazon as Pentagon awards contract to Microsoft

Amazon has suffered a high-profile blow after the Pentagon awarded a $10bn (£8bn) cloud-computing contract to Microsoft, rather than the web retailer. The BBC says the 10-year contract for the Joint Enterprise Defence Infrastructure is aimed at making the US defence department more “technologically agile”. Amazon said it was “surprised” by the decision.

7. Queen won't play Glastonbury after badger cull row

Brian May says Queen will not play Glastonbury next year following a row with the festival’s founder over the badger cull. The 72-year-old guitarist and animal rights campaigner said of the festival’s founder, Michael Eavis: “What bothers me... is that he is in favour of the badger cull, which I regard as a tragedy and unnecessary crime against wildlife.”

8. Californians face power cuts as firefighters battle wildfires

Millions of people in California have been warned of a power cut as firefighters tackle wildfires in the state. Amid warnings of a “historic wind event”, Pacific Gas & Electric said it may have to turn off power in 36 counties. The wildfires have already forced some 50,000 people from their homes.

9. Coroner has ‘grave concerns’ after soldier's march death

The senior coroner for Birmingham says she has “grave concerns” after an inquest into the death of a soldier during a test march on a hot day. Louise Hunt ruled that there had been “very serious” failings at all levels as she concluded a hearing into the death of Corporal Joshua Hoole, 26, who collapsed 400 metres from the finish line.

10. Southampton boss sorry after historic 9-0 thrashing

Southampton's manager has apologised after his side were thrashed 9-0 by Leicester in the biggest win in Premier League football history. “My reaction is that I must apologise for this performance. I take 100% responsibility for what happened today,” said Ralph Hasenhuttl. Leicester's Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy both scored hat-tricks in the tie.