10 things you need to know today: October 5, 2014

1. Hong Kong protesters agree to scale back demonstrations

Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday agreed to scale back their blockades ahead of the work week so schools and government offices could open. The government had warned protesters to pull back or face another crackdown, with a police spokesperson saying, "To restore order, we are determined and we are confident we have the capability to take any necessary action." The concession came as both sides said they were willing to begin negotiations over ending the week-old stalemate. Tens of thousands of people have flooded Hong Kong's streets since last weekend to protest restrictions China placed on the 2017 election to select the city's next leader.

The Associated Press BBC

2. Ex-Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier dies

Jean-Claude Duvalier, the former Haitian president whose 15-year rule was marked by allegations of rampant human rights abuses, died Saturday of a heart attack. He was 65 years old. Nicknamed "Baby Doc," Duvalier became "president for life" following the death of his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, in 1971. He was removed from power in 1986 and fled the country, though he returned from exile in 2011.

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The New York Times

3. Brazilians vote in tight presidential election

Brazilians head to the polls Sunday to vote in a presidential election that is likely to conclude in a runoff. President Dilma Rousseff is seeking a second term, but polls suggest she won't receive the 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff. The race has hinged on the nation's economy, which has sputtered in the last few years following a decade of booming growth.

Reuters The Guardian

4. Giants sink Nationals in record-setting 18-inning game

The San Francisco Giants snatched victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday night, downing the Washington Nationals in record-setting fashion. The Giants scratched out a run in the ninth to tie the score, and then went on to win in 18 innings on a home run from Brandon Belt. At six hours and 23 minutes, it was the longest playoff game in baseball history.

MLB.com

5. Biden apologizes to Turkish president Erdogan

Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday quickly apologized to Turkish President Recep Erdogan after triggering a diplomatic spat when he accused Turkey of enabling ISIS. Earlier Saturday, Biden claimed Erdogan conceded to him that Turkey "let too many people through" its border who may have gone on to aid ISIS. "The vice president apologized for any implication that Turkey or other allies and partners in the region had intentionally supplied or facilitated the growth of ISIL," the White House said in a statement.

The Washington Post The Associated Press

6. Redbox streaming service to shut down

Redbox Instant announced Saturday it would discontinue its streaming service on October 7, one year after it went live. The service, a partnership between Verizon and the company Outerwall, was envisioned as a potential competitor to Netflix in the digital streaming game. "The service had not been as successful as either partner hoped it would be," the companies said in a joint statement.

Reuters

7. Detainees allege sex abuse at Texas immigration facility

"Numerous" women being held at a Texas immigrant detainment center have accused guards and other workers of widespread sexual abuse. Lawyers for the detainees allege that guards at the Karnes County Residential Center removed women from their cells at night for sex, groped them, and swapped sex for promises of legal assistance. In a statement, the private contractor that runs the facility said the "center provides high quality care, and our company strongly denies any allegations to the contrary."

CNN

8. Dallas Ebola patient in critical condition

The first and only patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States regressed from serious to critical condition Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week confirmed a patient at a Dallas hospital, who had recently returned from Liberia, tested positive for the deadly virus. The CDC says it has not seen symptoms in any of the people who came into contact with the Dallas patient.

Reuters

9. Hunt resumes for missing Flight MH370

Seven months after the plane went missing, search crews on Sunday are to resume their hunt in the Indian Ocean for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Reconnaissance crews had taken a month-long break to map the search area, which lies about 1,800 miles off the coast of Australia. The plane went missing March 8, but months of search efforts turned up no sign of the wreckage.

The Wall Street Journal

10. Ralph Hall, oldest House member, injured in car crash

Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) was injured Saturday in a car accident. Hall hurt his hip and sustained minor cuts and bruises in the crash but is expected to make a full recovery. The 91-year-old lawmaker is the oldest sitting member of the House.

Politico ABC