Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 29 Oct 2014

1. REPORT: 'SHOCKING' NHS BLUNDERS

Patients are still being sent home from hospital too early, warns the health watchdog. The NHS has made “shocking” blunders, an official report found. Among the cases highlighted are those of a woman in her 80s who died after being left on a hospital floor for six hours, while a baby just one day old was left with permanent brain damage because of glaring errors by hospital staff.

2. MIGRANTS: CALAIS SLAMS UK 'SOFT TOUCH'

The Mayor of Calais has attacked Britain’s welfare system, telling MPs that that thousands of migrants are flocking to the French port in search of the £36-a-week benefits that Britain hands asylum seekers. Many of the 2,500 waiting in Calais are “prepared to die to come to England”, she said. Natacha Bouchart described Britain as an “El Dorado” for immigrants.

3. NASA ROCKET EXPLODES ON TAKE OFF

An unmanned rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station has exploded seconds after lift-off from Virginia. Antares, a 14-storey rocket, blew up after leaving its launch pad at Wallops Flight Facility. The US public has been warned to keep away from any hazardous debris they might find near the site of what Nasa is describing as a "catastrophic anomaly".

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Nasa rocket explodes seconds after lift-off – video

4. HARMAN TAUNTS PM WITH T-SHIRT

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman taunted David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions today by wearing a T-shirt with the slogan: "This is what a feminist looks like". Cameron has refused to don one of the T-shirts as part of an Elle magazine campaign, although Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg were pictured wearing them.

5. WHITE LEADER APPOINTED IN ZAMBIA

Zambia's vice-president Guy Scott has become the first white leader in Africa since South African apartheid leader FW de Klerk following the death of the country's president Michael Sata. Sata, 77, was in London for treatment for an undisclosed illness and passed away after "a sudden onset [of] heightened heart rate". Scott has taken over on an interim basis.

6. D.E.C LAUNCHES EBOLA AID APPEAL

An Ebola aid appeal has been launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee in what the organisation says is "a sign of how serious the situation has become". The move marks the first time the DEC – an umbrella group of 13 British charities - has sought funds over a disease outbreak. The appeals will be aired by all the main UK broadcasters on Thursday.

Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa

7. ARGENTINA CALLS FOR FALKLANDS EXIT

Argentina has called on Britain to close its military base in the Falklands, insisting that there is “absolutely no chance of another invasion from the mainland”. The Buenos Aires special secretary for the Falklands said Britain should follow its withdrawal from Afghanistan by leaving the South Atlantic territory.

Argentina: 'UK should remove troops from Falkland Islands'

8. 82-YEAR_OLD GUILTY OF DOUBLE MURDER

An 82-year-old man has been convicted of murder after shooting dead two women at his puppy farm in Hampshire earlier this year. Lowe told police he had "put down" his partner Christine Lee, 66, and her daughter Lucy Lee, 40. Lowe's guns had been confiscated in 2013 after reports he had made threats to kill a previous partner, but were later returned.

9. SFO LAUNCHES TESCO INVESTIGATION

The Serious Fraud Office has launched a criminal investigation into accounting irregularities at supermarket Tesco after it overstated its profits by £263m. Eight executives were suspended by the retailer after the overstatement was revealed in August. Last week, Tesco revealed that first-half profits had plunged by 92%, to £112m.

Tesco ends sale of 5p single-use carrier bags

10. HOT TICKET: THE WILD DUCK UPDATED

An updated version of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck has opened at the Barbican, London. A man lives a quiet but contented life with his family until an old friend arrives determined to reveal a secret from their past. "Searing modern-day tragedy," says The Times. Until 1 November.

The Wild Duck – reviews of 'radical' Ibsen update