Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 6 Sep 2017

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1. Strongest recorded Atlantic hurricane
2. Plastic fibres found in tap water worldwide
3. Leaked papers show EU migration plan
4. Forest Gate shooting victim dies at 14
5. Obama: Trump migrants decision 'cruel'
6. Passengers airlifted from Weymouth tower
7. Commentator John Motson to retire
8. Public asked to rescue Ben Nevis data
9. Woman trapped trying to retrieve poo
10. Briefing: Early predictions for next year's Oscars contenders

published 6 September 2017

1. Strongest recorded Atlantic hurricane

The most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic has made landfall in the Caribbean. The category five storm, with sustained winds of 185mph, has reached Antigua and Barbuda. Garfield Burford, a journalist on Antigua, said roofs had been blown off, most people were without electric power and 1,000 were in shelters.

2. Plastic fibres found in tap water worldwide

US researchers have found tap water to be contaminated with tiny pieces of plastic, around the world. Scientists analysed samples from more than 12 nations and 83% were contaminated with plastic fibres. The worst contamination rate was in the US, at 94%. The UK was among the lowest, but still had a rate of 72%.

3. Leaked papers show EU migration plan

The Guardian says leaked papers from the Home Office detail a plan to deter EU migration by ending free movement of labour for lower-skilled workers immediately after Brexit. The right to bring family members would be restricted. Adopting the policy would mean a backlash against Britons working in the EU, critics say.

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4. Forest Gate shooting victim dies at 14

A 14-year-old boy, Corey Junior Davis, who was one victim of a double shooting in east London on Tuesday has died of his injuries in hospital. A murder investigation is underway and extra police have been put on the streets because of "serious concerns" of retaliation. The other victim, who is 17, has suffered life-changing injuries.

5. Obama: Trump migrants decision 'cruel'

Barack Obama has said his successor's decision to close an amnesty for migrants brought to the country illegally as children is "wrong" and "cruel". US President Donald Trump said yesterday he will end the Dreamers programme, which allows migrants to apply to live and work legally in the US. Obama called it a "political decision".

6. Passengers airlifted from Weymouth tower

Thirteen people were airlifted from the moving observation deck on Weymouth's 174ft Jurassic Skyline tower yesterday afternoon after it came to a halt due to a mechanical fault. Firefighters climbed up to the trapped people to reassure them and, after three hours, a Coastguard helicopter was sent to winch them to safety.

7. Commentator John Motson to retire

Much-loved football commentator John Motson has said he will retire at the end of this football season, aged 72. Motty is in his 50th year at the BBC and has covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships, 29 FA Cup Finals and more than 200 England games. A study found he can speak twice as loudly or softly as the average person.

8. Public asked to rescue Ben Nevis data

Meteorology researchers are asking for help from the public to digitise data collected at a Victorian observatory which stood on top of Britain's highest mountain from 1883 to 1904. Three or four men were always present in the low building built on top of Ben Nevis to observe the weather and record data in five large volumes.

9. Woman trapped trying to retrieve poo

A Bristol university student has set up a crowdfunding page to repair a window in his flat damaged when the fire brigade rescued his date. After using his toilet, the woman found her waste would not flush. Panicking, she wrapped it in toilet paper and threw it out of a window, only to find it stuck on a ledge. She then got stuck trying to retrieve it.