Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 30 Jul 2014

1. UK PUT ON EBOLA VIRUS ALERT

British doctors and airlines are on alert for an outbreak of the Ebola virus in these shores. Officials at Public Health England say doctors should “remain vigilant for unexplained illness” in those who have visited West Africa, after more than 600 died of the disease there. But as panic grows, The Independent says Ebola has claimed fewer than 3,000 lives over nearly 40 years.

Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa

2. UN DENOUNCES ISRAEL AFTER GAZA ATTACK

The United Nations has denounced Israel after at attack on a UN-run school housing refugees in Gaza left at least 19 people dead. Head of the UN relief operation in Gaza called the attack "a serious violation of international law by Israeli forces". Spokesman Chris Gunness said Israel had been told 17 times that the school was housing refugees.

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Family of Hamas 'mastermind' killed as Israel-Gaza talks fail

3. BOE TO UNVEIL BONUS CLAWBACK SCHEME

The Bank of England is set to announce a plan which could see corrupt bankers return bonuses up to seven years after being awarded them. The BBC says that poor risk management and losses are among the behaviours that could trigger clawbacks, under new rules to be announced today. The move comes days after Lloyds was fined for £218m.

Bank of England will 'claw back' bankers' bonuses

4. TORIES ‘PLAN STUDENT FEES INCREASE’

Student fees are set to rise again, according to The Independent. Under plans being drawn up by the Tories, universities would be allowed to charge more than £9,000 a year in return for taking on student loan debts. Ministers are acting after recent headlines suggested more than 40% of student loans are likely to remain unpaid.

Selling off student loans to universities: the pros and cons

5. DRIVERLESS CARS IN UK NEXT YEAR

Driverless cars will be allowed on British roads next year, the Government has announced. Ministers want to allow companies to run trials for self-driving cars, which are currently only allowed on private roads. The vehicles work by using GPS technology to locate the vehicle’s position on an electronic map. Motoring groups have raised concern over safety.

6. UKRAINE SEIZES TOWN FROM REBELS

Kiev says Ukrainian troops have seized the town of Avdiivka near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk as fighting in the east of the country continues. Pro-Russian rebels were driven out of the strategically important town, close to Donetsk's airport, on Wednesday. Investigators hoping to visit the site of the MH17 plane crash are still in Donetsk.

7. BOLT DENIES GLASGOW 'S***' COMMENT

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has denied saying that the Commonwealth Games were "a bit s**t" after he was quoted in The Times. He said the story, which claimed he also told a reporter he was "not really" having fun in Glasgow, was "nonsense". The Times says it stands by the story "100%". Journalists were not allowed near Bolt when he left the athletes village today.

Seven ways in which the Commonwealth Games are a bit s***

8. HUGE FIRE AT EASTBOURNE PIER

Firefighters were today battling to save Eastbourne Pier after fire broke out on the Victorian landmark. The pier was evacuated after a small fire was found in an amusement arcade on Monday afternoon. Although there were no reports of injuries the blaze soon spread and engulfed the building around 50 metres from the shore.

9. NO ROLF HARRIS SENTENCE APPEAL

The five year and nine month jail term handed to Rolf Harris for a string of sex offences against girls will not be challenged by the Attorney General for being unduly lenient. Jeremy Wright QC said he would not send the case to the Court of Appeal despite complaints that it was not harsh enough. Harris could be free by early 2017.

10. HOT TICKET: YOUNG VIC'S STREETCAR

A revival of Tennessee Williams's modern classic, A Streetcar Named Desire, has opened at the Young Vic, London. Gillian Anderson stars as fading Southern belle Blanche Dubois, forced to live with her sister and volatile working-class brother-in-law. "An absolute knock-out," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 19 September.

A Streetcar Named Desire – reviews of ‘radical' revival