Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 23 Sep 2017

1. UK credit rating slashed as outlook 'weakens significantly'

The UK's credit rating has been downgraded by a major ratings agency amid anxiety over the UK's public finances and fears Brexit could damage growth. Moody's downgraded the UK to an Aa2 rating from Aa1, saying the outlook for public finances had "weakened significantly" since it last changed the country's rating. However, Downing Street dismissed the firm's Brexit assessments as "outdated".

2. Hundreds of thousands sign pro-Uber petition

More than 400,000 people have signed a petition calling for Transport for London to reverse its decision not to renew Uber's licence. The regulator has ruled Uber is not "fit and proper" to hold a London private hire operator licence on the grounds of "public safety and security implications". The ride-hailing app firm says it will appeal against TfL's decision.

3. Brussels applauds May's 'constructive' Brexit speech

Theresa May has been praised in Brussels for her "constructive spirit" after she outlined plans to keep Britain in the EU in all but name until 2021. In a Florence speech widely described as conciliatory, the Prime Minister also said Britain would pay €20bn into the EU budget after Brexit and signalled the contribution was only a down-payment on what could be a considerably larger exit bill.

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4. Kim Jong Un threatens to explode hydrogen bomb in Pacific

North Korea has threatened to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific. The latest outburst came after leader Kim Jong Un warned that Donald Trump would "pay dearly" for his threat this week to "totally destroy" North Korea. North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters that Mr Kim’s earlier warning of the "highest level of hardline countermeasure in history" could mean a hydrogen bomb.

5. Half of tax-break eligible couples are not claiming it

Nearly 50% of couples eligible for the marriage tax allowance are failing claim it, according to the taxman. Worth £230 a year, the tax allowance can be claimed by married couples or those in a civil partnership if they meet certain conditions. However, since it was introduced in 2015, only 2.2m couples have claimed it from the 4.4m eligible, says HMRC.

6. McCain dashes Trump's latest bid to replace Obamacare

Donald Trump’s latest bid to repeal Obamacare has hit the rocks after John McCain said he could not support a bill due to reach the Senate next week. Trump and his Senate leadership had been striving to deliver on a seven-year-old Republican promise to overturn Barack Obama’s signature legislation. But McCain, long a Republican thorn in the side of Trump, said he "cannot in good conscience" vote for the latest proposal.

7. 'War games' in Sweden as government fears Moscow

Sweden has staged a huge military exercise in the face of Russian pressure on the Baltics. The Stockholm government is bringing back conscription in October as it looks to enlist 4,000 recruits. Sweden is holding what Sky News describes as "its biggest war games in 23 years", because it is worried about Russia's recent military action in Europe.

8. Tens of thousands evacuated in Puerto Rico as hurricane hits

Authorities in Puerto Rico are rushing to evacuate tens of thousands of people from their homes after Hurricane Maria damaged a dam and unleashed "extremely dangerous" flash floods. After a crack appeared in the nearly 90-year old Guajataca dam, around 70,000 residents in the municipalities of Isabela and Quebradillas were being evacuated by bus. News media reports have put the death toll on the island as high as 15.

9. Watershed as far-right party joins German parliament

A far-right nationalist party is set to join Germany’s parliament for the first time in almost six decades. The populist Alternative für Deutschland strengthened its momentum in the last week before the vote, with two polls published yesterday showing the party on third place. The Guardian says the development is a "watershed moment" in Germany’s "postwar history".

10. David Jason protected round the clock after 'nutter' threat

Actor Sir David Jason is being constantly protected by bodyguards after a "credible threat" was made against him, says the Daily Mail. The 77-year-old Only Fools and Horses star is reportedly being guarded by two men in suits on and off the set of the BBC series in Doncaster, Yorkshire. A threat was against him by an individual who has been described as a "nutter".