Your morning briefing: What you should know for Tuesday, October 29

PM in final push to force early election

Boris Johnson will today try one more time to force a general election before Christmas despite his bid being rejected in the three times.

The Prime Minister is to abandon his attempts to push his withdrawal bill through Parliament as he launches his final push for a snap poll.

Mr Johnson said he would table a short bill later that would change the law in order to hold an election on December 12.

Some 299 MPs voted in favour of a general election, while 70 voted against it – falling short of the “super majority” needed.

Grenfell death toll could have been lower, report finds

The death toll from the Grenfell Tower fire could have been lower, a long-awaited report into the blaze has concluded.

The public inquiry's first report into the blaze, in which 72 people died, identified "systemic" failures by the London Fire Brigade.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said fewer people may have died if key decisions had been made earlier.

He criticised the fire service for its "stay-put" strategy when residents were told to remain in their flats by firefighters and 999 operators for nearly two hours after the blaze broke out.

The report is set to be published on Wednesday but has been seen by PA news agency.

London Fire Brigade said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on its findings until they were officially released.

Grandfather charged after young girl plunges to death from cruise ship

The grandfather of a young girl who plunged to her death from the 11th storey of a cruise ship in Puerto Rico has been charged.

The arrest of Salvatore Anello, who has been accused of negligent homicide, was ordered by a judge yesterday.

Prosecutors said his two-year-old granddaughter Chloe Wiegand fell when he raised her up to an open window on the vessel.

Warning as brain illness spread by ticks reaches UK

A disease that can harm the brain and which is spread to humans by tick bites has been identified in the insects in Britain for the first time.

Officials confirmed the presence of the tick-borne encephalitis virus in Thetford Forest and on the Hampshire-Dorset border.

Public Health England said the risk is "very low", but it is investigating how common the infected ticks might be.

Inspiring youngster honoured at Pride of Britain Awards

An 11-year-old boy who inspires other disabled youngsters with his upbeat outlook was honoured at the 20th Pride of Britain Awards.

Dante Marvin has suffered more than 100 broken bones due to brittle bone disease, but regularly speaks at events.

He tells audiences: "There are no disabilities, only abilities."

Dante received his Pride Of Britain 2019 Child of Courage Award award from Ashley Banjo, Anne-Marie and Jason Manford.

Among other winners was Margaret Walker.

The 80-year-old has dedicated her life to helping people with learning disabilities to communicate.

On this day...

1618: Sir Walter Raleigh, English seafarer, once a favourite of Elizabeth I, was beheaded at Whitehall, falsely accused of treason.

1787: Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was first performed, in Prague.

1929: "Black Tuesday" - so-called when Wall Street crashed, leading to the Great Depression.

1956: Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and troops pushed on towards the Suez Canal.

1986: The final section of the M25 around London was opened.

1987: Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns won the world middleweight title, making him the first boxer to win a world title at four different weights.

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