Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 14 Oct 2018

1. David Davis calls for Cabinet rebellion over Brexit

Ministers should "exert their collective authority" and rebel against Theresa May's proposed Brexit deal, says ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis. Writing in The Sunday Times, Davis said the PM’s plan is "unacceptable". May has suggested a temporary customs arrangement for the UK to remain in the customs union while the Irish border issue is resolved. Davis said the government's negotiating strategy had "fundamental flaws".

2. UK and US may boycott conference in Saudi Arabia

Britain and the US may boycott a major international conference in Saudi Arabia after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The critic of the Saudi government vanished on 2 October after visiting its consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities believe he was murdered there by Saudi agents. Donald Trump has said he would "punish" Saudi Arabia if it was responsible.

3. Two killed as storm Callum lashes Britain

Two people have been killed after storm Callum caused chaos in Wales, western parts of Britain and coastal regions. As a Met Office alert warned of danger to life from fast-flowing, deep floodwater and power cuts, Dyfed-Powys police were called to a landslip at Cwmduad between Carmarthen and Cardigan, where a person was confirmed dead at the scene. Another man was swept away by rough seas in Brighton.

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4. Black Britons increasingly targeted by stop and search

Black people are increasingly likely to be stopped and searched by police compared with white people, according to the most authoritative analysis of data since the Stephen Lawrence inquiry nearly 20 years ago. The study found that black Britons are now nine times more likely to be stopped and searched for drugs than white people, despite using illegal substances at a lower rate.

5. DUP's Arlene Foster 'ready to trigger no-deal Brexit'

The DUP leader, Arlene Foster is now "ready" to trigger a no-deal Brexit and regards this as the "likeliest outcome," reports The Observer. After Foster’s meeting last week in Brussels with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, senior government advisers were immediately informed that the DUP leader was "ready" for the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal.

6. Digital crackdown planned on free prescription claims

Patients claiming free prescriptions will soon face checks before their medicine is issued in a bid to stamp out fraud. A new digital system to be piloted in 2019 will mean pharmacies can instantly verify who is entitled to free medication. It is estimated that prescription fraud costs the NHS an estimated £256m a year in England. However, some pharmacists fear the plan with damage patient trust.

7. Stephen Hawking's final fear was rise of superhuman

Stephen Hawking’s last fear was the rise of the superhuman, according to a new book. The legendary scientist suggested that genetic engineering was likely to create a new species of superhuman that could destroy the rest of humanity. "Some people won’t be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as memory, resistance to disease and length of life," he wrote.

8. Melania Trump admits 'care' jacket was a message

Melania Trump has admitted that she wore a jacket emblazoned with "I really don't care, do you?" during a trip to a migrant child detention centre to send out a message. At the time of the trip, her communications chief insisted it was "just a jacket". Now, Trump has told ABC it was "was a kind of message, yes… for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticising me".

9. British vaping industry 'is targeting children'

The £1bn vaping industry in Britain uses cartoon characters and images of confectionary, popcorn and ice cream to market nicotine products to children, a Sunday Times investigation has found. Vaping manufacturers are exploiting lax regulations by marketing products such as "tangy tipple" with "lime zest" and "juicy pineapple chunks". Another describes its range as "scrumdiddlyumptious".

10. Tory backbenchers to rebel against trans reforms

Tory MPs are rebelling against proposed new rules that would allow people to change gender without consulting a doctor. The Sunday Times says Penny Mordaunt, the minister for equalities who is hoping to introduce the changes, risks a bitter showdown with Conservative backbenchers, whose support she would rely on in a future Tory leadership contest. A poll found only 9% of Tory MPs back self-declaration without a doctor.