Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 24 Apr 2013

1. QATADA: NEW TREATY WITH JORDAN

Home Secretary Theresa May has told MPs that the government has signed a new treaty with Jordan that guarantees fair trials and will ensure that radical cleric Abu Qatada can be extradited. So far the courts have blocked efforts to have the preacher extradited on terrorism-related charges because of fears he will face an unfair trial in Jordan.

May hopes Jordan treaty will 'allow' UK to deport Abu Qatada

2. OBAMA RICIN LETTER: POLICE DROP CHARGES

US authorities have dropped charges against a man accused of sending letters containing the poison ricin to Barack Obama, Mississippi senator Roger Wicker and a local judge. Paul Curtis, a reflexologist and Elvis impersonator, was freed after no evidence could be found to suggest he was behind the letters.

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Paul Curtis cleared of sending deadly ricin letter to Obama

3. NHS HOSPITALS ‘LOSE THEIR PATIENTS’

Struggling NHS hospitals are literally losing patients as they move them from ward to ward, according to the Royal College of Nursing, which is holding its annual conference. The RCN says the situation has got so bad that consultants now carry out ‘safari rounds’ - searching the hospital for misplaced patients.

4. APPLE: FIRST FALL IN PROFITS FOR A DECADE

Tech giant Apple has announced its first quarterly fall in profits for ten years - but the company will pay shareholders an increased dividend. Net profits for January to March were $9.5bn (£6.2bn), down from $11.6bn in the same period last year. Strong iPhone and iPad sales earned the company $43.6bn in revenue overall.

Apple's profits fall for first time in a decade: has it lost its bite?

5. UK IS ‘BECOMING MORE PEACEFUL PLACE’

A new study says rates of murder and violent crime have fallen more rapidly over the past decade in the UK than anywhere else in Western Europe. The UK Peace Index, by the Institute for Economics and Peace, found that UK homicides per 100,000 people fell from 1.99 to 1 between 2003 and 2012.

6. SUN ROYAL EDITOR CHARGED BY POLICE

The Sun's royal editor, Duncan Larcombe, has been charged under Operation Elveden, the police investigation into illegal payments to public officials. He is accused of paying £23,000 to a royal sergeant at Sandhurst and his wife for stories about Royals and the military academy between 2006 and 2008. A pharmacy assistant at Sandhurst medical centre also faces misconduct charges.

7. LLOYDS CO-OP DEAL FALLS THROUGH

The sale of more than 600 Lloyds branches to the Co-Operative Group has fallen through. The Co-op blamed tough economic conditions for the collapse of the deal, known as Project Verde. Lloyds said they were “disappointed” and would seek to sell the 632 branches as a stand-alone bank through the stock market.

Lloyds Co-op deal falls through in 'blow to both sides'

8. LUIS SUAREZ GETS TEN GAME BAN

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for ten games by the FA after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during last week's match between the two sides. The Uruguayan apologised after the game and accepted a charge of violent conduct, but his club said they were "shocked and disappointed" by the length of the ban. They have until noon on Friday to appeal.

9. ENGLAND: HOTTEST DAY OF YEAR SO FAR

Today is predicted to be the hottest day of 2013 so far for southern and eastern England. Temperatures could reach 21C (69.8F) or 22C (71.6F) during sunny spells. However, colder weather is expected to return from Thursday, with temperatures back in single figures and rain across much of the country.

Spring finally arrives in the UK - in pictures

10. HOT TICKET: NORDIC NOIR ON WEST END

‘Wallander’ star Krister Henriksson is making his West End debut in ‘Doktor Glas’ at Wyndham’s Theatre. Henriksson stars as a 19th century doctor drawn into a moral quandary when he falls for the wife of a clergyman. In Swedish with English surtitles. “Riveting,” says The Guardian. Until 11 May.

Wallander star's West End debut Doktor Glass is 'riveting'