Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 15 Dec 2011

1. CHIRAC GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT

Former French president Jacques Chirac has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of embezzling public funds while he was mayor of Paris to illegally finance the conservative party he led. He is the first former French head of state to be prosecuted since the Second World War.

Vive la justice: Chirac is convicted for corruption

2. STARS AND STRIPES COME DOWN IN BAGHDAD

The US formally marks the end of its military operations in Iraq today with a flag-lowering ceremony. Speaking to returning troops, president Barack Obama said yesterday they were leaving behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq" - but some Republicans voiced concerns about the country's security.

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Obama ends Iraq war as US loses power and relevance

3. 'THE ARTIST' AND WINSLET LEAD GOLDEN GLOBES

The Golden Globe nominations have been announced and the field is led – for the first time in the award's 67-year history - by a silent movie. French flick The Artist, which silently tells the story of a silent film star, is nominated in six categories. Leading the ladies is Kate Winslet with two nominations.

4. RAPE VICTIM FREED IN AFGHANISTAN

A woman, known only as Gulnaz, who became a symbol of the abuse of women's human rights in Afghanistan was today released from jail after she was pardoned by president Hamid Karzai. She had earlier been sentenced to 12 years in jail after she reported her husband's cousin to the authorities for rape.

Afghan woman jailed after rape is released from Kabul prison

5. £400M SCHEME AFTER UK RIOTS

The Government's response to last summer's riots will involve creating a £448m national network of caseworkers charged with finding and helping 'problem' families in Britain's most deprived areas. Home secretary Theresa May also announced a national review of police 'stop and search' practice.

6. CAMERON 'DEEPENS EU TENSIONS'

David Cameron has been accused of exacerbating tensions with Europe after the Government initiated talks with other EU states said to be concerned about the treaty changes he vetoed last week. Downing St also dismissed a call by the IMF for the UK to pay more to the euro bail-out fund as a "cut and paste job".

Cameron 'the obstinate kid' claims euro pact will unravel

7. 'I'M JIMMY SAVILE'S LOVECHILD'

A 40-year-old woman who claims Jimmy Savile seduced her waitress mother by carrying her to his campervan is seeking to prove that she is the late DJ's lovechild. Blonde Georgina Ray, who suffered "Owza bout that then?" teasing at school, says her mother Christine had a two-week fling with Savile in 1970.

8. PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS GO MISSING

The private sector is not supplying the employment needed to offset the government's large-scale public sector job cuts, new figures show. It was announced yesterday that unemployment had hit a 17-year high of 2.64m. Meanwhile, analysts fear the UK is heading back into recession.

9. WORLD CUP 'TICKETS FOR GUNS' PLAN

Fifa is considering a request by Brazil, the hosts of the 2014 football World Cup, to be allowed to hand out tickets as part of a guns amnesty. The justice ministry would like gun owners to be encouraged to swap their weapons for match tickets in an effort to combat the country's rampant gun culture during the tournament.

Brazil wants 'tickets for guns' deal at 2014 World Cup

10. HOT TICKET: SAME OLD BRIAN FERRY

Former Roxy Music frontman and king of croon Bryan Ferry sidles on stage tonight for the second of two gigs. Bringing black-tie elegance to the prefab world of pop, Ferry sings a selection from his canon of cool, including old classics such as Same Old Scene and Avalon. O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.