Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 28 Dec 2015

1. Government facing anger over flood spending cuts

David Cameron is expected to visit flood-hit areas of northern England, as beleagured communities continue to battle against raging waters. But the failure of the region’s flood defences has cast doubt on the UK’s readiness for a new weather era, says The Guardian. The government is facing growing anger over its decision to cut flood-defence spending in 2010.

2. Over a third of NHS medics born abroad

More than a third of NHS doctors were born abroad, reports the Daily Telegraph. Critics say this has led to a “revolving door” immigration policy that sees the UK spending billions training medics who move abroad, and then rely on overseas labour to plug the gaps. The report found Britain relies more heavily on foreign doctors than any other major EU nation.

3. Osama bin Laden's bodyguard dies

Osama bin Laden's former bodyguard Nasser al-Bahri has died after a long illness, says the BBC. Medical sources in Yemen said Bahri, a Yemeni national, died on Saturday in a hospital in the southern city of Al Mukalla. He is believed to have been in his 40s. In 2010 he warned that young people in his native Yemen were susceptible to the lure of extremism.

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4. Teach pupils Britain is Christian, says minister

Schools should teach pupils that Britain is a Christian country says the education secretary. Nicky Morgan argued that schools are entitled to prioritise the views of established religions over atheism. She has published new guidance to non-faith schools which makes clear that they do not need to give "equal parity" to non-religious views.

5. Ed Balls appointed Norwich City chairman

Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has been named as the new chairman of Norwich City FC. The 48-year-old Canaries fan, who lost his Commons seat in May's election, said: "From the moment my dad first took me to watch from the terraces at Carrow Road in 1973, my earliest ambition was to play for the club. The next best thing is to become chairman."

6. Islamic State 'suffers heaviest defeat to date'

Islamic State has suffered its bitterest defeat so far after Iraqi troops backed by US airstrikes took the key city of Ramadi. Following six days of fighting, government forces announced the end of resistance at the expansive government building that was the jihadists’ last major powerbase. However, the area remained strewn with booby traps.

7. Star Wars fans count Force Awakens 'mistakes'

Star Wars fans have spotted as many as 25 mistakes in The Force Awakens, reports The Sun. In one such blunder, Rey eats a taco snack with a distinctive Romanesco broccoli in it, but after a momentary cutaway, she is eating a different snack. In another alleged mistake, cables from the Millennium Falcon seem to move mid-scene.

8. Further stabbings in Israel and West Bank

Israeli forces have shot two Palestinians who stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier in the West Bank on Sunday. The attackers, named by Palestinian authorities as two male relatives aged 17 and 23, died at the scene in Huwara, near Nablus, in the north of the West Bank. Earlier in the day an Israeli soldier was stabbed at a bus stop in Jerusalem, where the attacker was detained.

9. Corbyn ruined my Christmas, says shadow minister

Jeremy Corbyn “ruined Christmas” for shadow cabinet ministers with a purge threat, says the Daily Telegraph. A member of the shadow cabinet tells the paper that centrist members of Corbyn's front-bench team feel like they have “targets on their back” ahead of an expected New Year purge. The Labour leader is expected to sack figures including Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary.

10. Report: even a win cannot save Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal's Old Trafford reign is set to end even if Manchester United beat Chelsea tonight. The Daily Telegraph says the Dutchman will depart regardless of the result. United midfielder Michael Carrick has hit back at “disrespectful” accusations that the squad are not fighting for their beleaguered manager.