Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 13 Nov 2012

1. ABU QATADA ARRIVES HOME AFTER RELEASE

Abu Qatada was met by protesters shouting “Get him out!” outside his northwest London home today after he was released from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire. Last night, Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs committee, said the radical cleric’s successful appeal against deportation to Jordan was “farcical” and demanded that ministers work with Jordan to overturn the decision.

Angry MP: 'deport Abu Qatada and damn the consequences'

2. GAS PRICE FIXING INVESTIGATED

Energy companies are being investigated for rigging gas prices used to set consumers' utility bills after whistleblower Seth Freedman handed a cache of messages and voice recordings to regulators. Energy Secretary Ed Davey is "extremely concerned" about the allegations, which follow the recent Libor bank rate fixing scandal.

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'Big companies' named in gas price fixing investigation

3. GEORGE ENTWISTLE PAID 'TO GO QUIETLY'

George Entwistle was given a £450,000 pay-off – double the terms of his contract – to ensure he went quickly and quietly, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten admitted yesterday. If he had been fired, he would have got the same amount. David Cameron has led a chorus of complaints that the pay-off was "hard to justify".

4. NAVY OFFICER ADMITS RUSSIAN 'SPY' CHARGE

A Royal Navy petty officer has admitted plotting to pass secret information to the Russian Secret Service. Edward Devenney, 29, tried to pass information about British code-breaking technology and the movements of nuclear submarines. He was trapped in an MI5 sting involving agents posing as Russian spies. He pleaded guilty to two charges at the Old Bailey.

5. MCAFEE FOUNDER IN HIDING AFTER MURDER

John McAfee, founder of the multi-billion-dollar cyber security company McAfee Inc, is in hiding from the police in Belize after his neighbour was found shot dead. McAfee, who has had various run-ins with the authorities in the Central American country, denies any involvement in the murder, but says he fears the police will kill him if they find him.

John McAfee hides from Belize police after neighbour's murder

6. BURGLAR 'ASSAULT' MAN HITS OUT

A businessman held by police for 18 hours after he tackled an intruder who had broken into his mother's house says "the law stinks". Vaughan Jones, 39, grappled with the intruder after his widowed mother, Eleanor, heard someone breaking into her home in Gwent, South Wales. He was shocked when police arrested him for allegedly assaulting the thief.

Law stinks says businessman held for tackling intruder

7. FRANKIE DETTORI IN 'POSITIVE TEST'

Jockey Frankie Dettori is under investigation by the French horse racing authorities after a 'positive test' at Longchamp racecourse in Paris in September. The popular Italian rider, who is based in Britain, had four rides on the day in question. The 41-year-old will now be questioned by France Galop.

8. TEXANS DEMAND SECESSION

Texans have petitioned the White House to allow their state to secede from the Union following President Obama's re-election victory, reaching the 25,000-signature threshold on the official 'We the People' website to qualify for a formal response. In all, 100,000 Americans from 20 states have demanded secession in a gesture illustrating a bitter national divide.

9. CATE BLANCHETT UP FOR THEATRE AWARD

Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett has been shortlisted for the Evening Standard Natasha Richardson award for best actress for her first stage performance in 13 years, Lotte in Botho Strauss' Big and Small at the Barbican. The winner will be announced on November 25 by 'One Man, Two Guvnors' star James Corden.

Surreal thing: Cate Blanchett wins best actress nomination

10. HOT TICKET: AFTER CARTIER-BRESSON

A new photography exhibition, 'Cartier-Bresson: A Question of Colour', has opened at Somerset House. The exhibition looks at the famous black and white street photographer's influence on contemporary colour photography and features 10 works by Henri Cartier-Bresson's alongside 75 works by celebrated international photographers. "Intriguing", says The Guardian.

Cartier-Bresson's heirs bring colour to Somerset House