Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Sep 2018

1. May considering snap election to save her job

Theresa May’s team have secretly begun planning for a snap election in November to save the Brexit talks and her job. Two senior members of the PM’s unit have begun war-gaming an autumnal vote to win public backing for a new plan. The Sunday Times says one of them told a fellow Tory strategist: "What are you doing in November — because I think we are going to need an election."

2. Corbyn would respect party's wishes on new EU poll

Jeremy Corbyn and his deputy Tom Watson say they would be ready to back another EU referendum if party members want one. The Labour leader told the Sunday Mirror that he would "adhere to" any decision made at this week's party conference. Watson told The Observer the view of party members must be respected. A poll suggests 86% of members want a vote on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

3. Study finds mixed results on university inclusion

More than half of students admitted to 23 universities are from ethnic minorities, reports The Sunday Times. Nearly three-quarters of the student intake at Aston and Bradford universities are from ethnic minorities. However, Oxford and Cambridge are at the bottom of a new social inclusion table based on six measures, including the proportion of working-class, ethnic minority and mature students.

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4. Rod Rosenstein warned he is in jeopardy over Trump

The US secretary of state has hinted that Rod Rosenstein could be in danger after it was reported that the deputy attorney general discussed wearing a wire to secretly record conversations with Donald Trump. Mike Pompeo said Rosenstein "ought to find something else to do". Rosenstein oversees the special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian election interference

5. Palestinians say Israel is ethnically cleansing a village

The Palestinian chief negotiator says the planned demolition of a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank is an act of "ethnic cleansing". Israel's supreme court has ruled that the community of Khan Al Ahmar - which is home to 180 people - should be destroyed. Saeb Erekat says it is part of a bigger plan to create an "apartheid state".

6. Comcast wins the bitter battle for control of Sky

Comcast has won the hard-fought bidding war for Sky with a deal worth £29.7bn. The US telecoms giant, which owns NBC Universal, was declared the winner last night after the third round of a decisive auction against a combination of 21st Century Fox and Disney. It won with a final bid of £17.28 a share, against a Fox bid of £15.67 a share.

7. Kavanaugh's accuser to testify at Senate next week

The woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault will testify against him next week. Dr Christine Blasey Ford has accepted the Senate Judiciary Committee's request to appear before them to be questioned about the alleged attack at a party in 1982. Judge Kavanaugh denies the allegations. Donald Trump says that if the assault happened, charges would have been filed "immediately".

8. Iran accuses Washington-backed states for attack

Tehran has held US-backed Gulf states responsible for an attack on a military parade that killed 25 people. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "puppets of the US" were trying to "create insecurity" in Iran after gunmen opened fire at Revolutionary Guard troops and officials in the south-western city of Ahvaz. Iran has previously accused Saudi Arabia of supporting separatist activity.

9. No deal Brexit? That's no problem, says Farage

A no-deal Brexit would be "no problem", Nigel Farage has claimed at a rally of the Leave Means Leave campaign group. The former Ukip leader said "far from being a cliff edge", the UK would prosper without a deal. David Davis told the same rally that Theresa May’s plans were a "weak compromise" and the government had to deliver Brexit "without dilution".

10. Chas and Dave singer dies at age of 74

Chas Hodges - of the musical duo Chas and Dave - has died at the age of 74. The band’s Twitter account announced that he recently received treatment for oesophageal cancer but died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours. Chas and Dave were famous in the 1970s and 1980s for their rock/cockney style, with hits including Rabbit and Gertcha.