Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 2 Jul 2017

1. Leading Conservatives revolt over public spending

Top Tories are in revolt against Theresa May over public spending, telling the PM it is time to ease austerity. The Observer says over 60% of voters now view the prime minister less favourably than they did before. Meanwhile, Downing Street has told business leaders that May could "storm out" of Brexit talks over the divorce bill, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

2. 'Credible' evidence emerges of SAS war crimes in Afghanistan

A "rogue" SAS unit has been accused of executing civilians in Afghanistan, reports The Sunday Times. SAS members killed unarmed Afghan civilians and covered up evidence in a "potential war crimes scandal", says the paper. The allegations emerged in a classified multimillion-pound Royal Military Police investigation, Operation Northmoor. Senior military police say the evidence is "credible".

3. House prices in danger of 'slipping into negative equity'

House prices are a on the brink of a crash that could be as bad as the bust of the 1990s, claims the Mail On Sunday this morning. Paul Cheshire, of the London School of Economics, says there are already indications that prices are heading towards a 40% plunge, threatening the return of 'negative equity' – when a house’s value falls so far it is worth less than the mortgage.

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4. Corbyn is completely safe for years, says Watson

Jeremy Corbyn is now "completely secure" as Labour leader for years to come, says the party’s deputy. Speaking to The Observer, Tom Watson says Corbyn can win a majority by reaching out to traditional working-class voters. He called on Corbyn’s allies to back away from unnecessary attempts to change party rules to shore up their leader’s position.

5. Parents to be fined £60 if children late for school

Parents face £60 fines if children are repeatedly late for school and could be prosecuted if they do not pay. Schools in the West Midlands, Hampshire and Essex have extended the £60 fixed penalties they issue for absenteeism to late arrivals. The government’s behaviour tsar, Tom Bennett, said parents whose teenage children were regularly late should walk with them.

6. Donald Trump defends his controversial Twitter activity

Donald Trump has defended his approach to Twitter, writing: "My use of social media is not presidential - it's modern day presidential." The comment comes after the US president launched lewd personal attacks on Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough. On Friday, the New York Post published a three-word editorial in response to Trump's tweets: "Stop. Just stop."

7. BBC's movie critic Barry Norman dies at 83

The film critic Barry Norman has died aged 83, his family announced yesterday. The journalist and broadcaster passed away in his sleep on Friday night. A statement from his family said: "He had a great life, a wonderful marriage and an enviable career." The Daily Telegraph says Norman "could not have been further removed from the cliché of the film critic as a snooty killjoy".

8. Will economic clouds force the Bank of England to cut rates?

The growing threat of an economic downturn should force the Bank of England to cut interest rates, say City economists. As the Monetary Policy Committee comes under increasing pressure to raise the cost of borrowing, City analysts have argued that such a move would be a mistake – and could exacerbate an economic downturn and worsen the impact of rising inflation.

9. Why bigger brains 'give men higher IQs'

Men’s average IQ is four points above women’s because they have bigger brains, according to new research. Scientists used the latest scanning techniques to measure the brain volumes of 896 people and also submit them to intelligence tests. "We found that the average IQ of men was about four points above that of women," said Professor Dimitri van der Linden, of Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

10. Prince Charles praises Canada's 'diversity and inclusion'

Prince Charles has hailed Canada as "an example to us all". Speaking at a star-studded event to mark the nation's 150th birthday, he said: "We should be clear and proud that we are celebrating a country that others look to for example." He added that Canada is "a champion of human rights" and "a powerful and consistent example of diversity and the power of inclusion".