Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 14 Dec 2015

1. Guantanamo: Shaker Aamer 'will not sue government'

The last British resident to be held without trial at Guantanamo Bay has given his first interview since being released from 14 years detention. Saudi-born Shaker Aamer says he was beaten in Afghanistan with a British agent in the room but will not sue the government. He said extremists should "get the hell out" of the UK.

2. Man convicted of plotting IS knife attack

A man has been convicted of planning a knife attack in London after being inspired by Islamic State. Nadir Syed, 22, from Southall in west London, was arrested hours after buying a chef's knife in November 2014. The jury failed to reach a verdict on two other men. In France a teacher who claimed he was attacked by an IS terrorist has reportedly admitted concocting the story.

3. Failing children's services to face 'takeover'

David Cameron has today announced that local authority social services in England which are found to be failing vulnerable children will be taken over by charities or other, better-performing, councils if they don't improve within six months. It is to be made easier for whistleblowers to trigger investigations by the watchdog Ofsted.

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Failing children's services to face takeover

4. Sturgeon and Cameron meet to discuss powers

David Cameron and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon are meeting today at Downing Street to discuss devolving powers on tax and welfare, the first time they have negotiated the Scotland Bill in person since May. Sturgeon said she would tell the Prime Minister that negotiating the powers was "crucial" for the Union.

Scottish independence: Is IndyRef2 'dead' after election losses?

5. Julian Assange to be questioned by Sweden

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in self-imposed seclusion in the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge for three years, is to be questioned there by the Swedish authorities after six months of wrangling. Sweden wanted to extradite Assange to face sex crime charges but he fears he could then be sent to the US.

Will Julian Assange be forced to leave Ecuador’s London embassy?

6. Angela Merkel defends immigration policy

Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended her policy on immigration, telling her CDU party conference that the migrant crisis was "an historic test" for Europe. She bowed to pressure from within her party and pledged to reduce the flow of immigrants into the country but insisted that Germany has a humanitarian duty to accept refugees.

7. UK astronaut 'looking forward to space walk'

The British crewmember of the International Space Station (ISS), Major Tim Peake, has told a press conference he is looking forward to making a space walk, and loves the feeling of weightlessness. Peake and the other crewmembers will blast off at 11.03am tomorrow, UK time, for a six-month scientific mission to the ISS.

8. Hollywood gets ready for Star Wars premiere

The new Star Wars film - The Force Awakens - is to be screened in public for the first time in LA tonight, two days ahead of its British premiere. Fans have been queuing for days outside the cinemas where they believe the film will be shown, even though the locations have been kept secret. Cast members will hit the red carpet tonight.

Star Wars: Carrie Fisher claims she had affair with Harrison Ford

9. Briefing: the smarter way for retirees to save

Research has found that people in their 60s, 70s and 80s are the nation's biggest savers - putting aside far more a year than younger generations. But the majority of savings made by older people are sitting in low interest current accounts - when there may be far more lucrative options available.

Are retirees saving in the right places?

10. 'No evidence' of bomb on Russian plane, says Egypt

Egyptian investigators say there is "no evidence" that a Russian plane which crashed in Sinai in October was brought down by a bomb. A group linked to Islamic State claimed responibility for the crash, which killed all 224 people on board. Russian officials said a terrorist bomb was to blame and "traces of foreign explosives" had been found on the debris.