10 things you need to know today: October 17, 2015

(Image credit: Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press)

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1. U.S. to announce drone registration plan
2. Fugitive drug lord 'El Chapo' injured in narrow escape from capture
3. CNBC limits next GOP debate to 2 hours after Trump threatens to sit out
4. FIFA to investigate Germany's alleged bribery in 2006 World Cup hosting bid
5. Hungary closes border with Croatia
6. John Kerry calls for global agreement on reducing carbon dioxide emissions
7. Turkey shoots down unidentified drone near Syrian border
8. Maine authorities find remains of missing Appalachian Trail hiker
9. Lamar Odom reportedly regains consciousness, talks
10. Royals shut out Blue Jays in ALCS opener

published 17 October 2015

1. U.S. to announce drone registration plan

The federal government will announce a plan Monday requiring anyone buying a drone to register it with the Department of Transportation, a spokeswoman said Friday. The measure would reportedly be the biggest step yet in regulating the growing industry. It would also allow the agency to monitor drones more similarly to piloted aircraft. Earlier in October, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $1.9 million fine against a Chicago company for allegedly flying drones in restricted airspace without authorization.

Fugitive drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán was believed to be injured recently as he evaded capture, the Mexican government said in a statement Friday. El Chapo has been on the run since he escaped from a maximum security prison in July. Authorities did not say exactly where or when the operation took place, or how El Chapo sustained injuries to his face and leg, only specifying that they were "not the result of a direct confrontation."

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CNBC, which will host the next Republican presidential debate, will hold the program to two hours including commercials, the Republican National Committee announced Friday. Frontrunner Donald Trump had threatened to sit out if the debate were to last longer, as originally planned by the business news channel. Ben Carson and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had also reportedly expressed frustration with the network, with Carson also threatening to sit out. The debate will be held Oct. 28 in Boulder, Colorado.

FIFA announced Friday it is investigating "very serious allegations" that Germany bribed its way into hosting the 2006 World Cup. German news magazine Der Spiegel has reported that the nation's bid committee bribed four of the 24 voters with a slush fund of about $6 million. The investigation comes as part of a larger corruption scandal facing soccer's international governing body, during which an independent FIFA ethics committee has suspended President Sepp Blatter and U.S. officials have indicted several of the organization's top officials.

At midnight Saturday, Hungary closed its border with Croatia, where it has built a 216-mile razor fence to control the influx of migrants hoping to reach Western Europe. The decision follows a meeting between Hungary and European Union leaders that failed to produce an agreement on the migrant crisis. In the last year, more than 383,000 migrants have passed through Hungary to reach Western Europe. In response to Hungary's closed border, Croatia began directing migrants to Slovenia.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on countries Saturday to form an international agreement on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. "We need every country on the same page, all pushing for an ambitious, durable and inclusive agreement that will finally put us on the path toward a global clean energy future," he said a speech at Italy's Milan Expo. In December, leaders from nearly 200 nations will convene in Paris to try and finalize an agreement.

Turkish fighter jets downed a drone near the Syrian border on Friday after it violated Turkish airspace, government officials announced. The aircraft, which was trespassing in what Turkey claims as its territory, was warned three times before the patrolling fighter jets opened fire. Russia denies that the drone was theirs, despite their recent and supposedly unintentional violations of Turkish airspace. American officials, however, believe the drone was Russian, according to an anonymous source who spoke with Reuters.

Maine authorities announced Friday they had found the remains of Geraldine Largay, an experienced hiker who went missing on the Appalachian Trail. Foul play is not suspected in the death of the 66-year-old woman, whose July 2013 disappearance had long stumped authorities conducting a massive search. Largay's body was found in a remote, wooded area about 3,000 feet off the trail. In an attempt to finish the entire 2,100-mile trail, Largay had continued on in western Maine alone after her hiking partner had to stop.

Basketball star Lamar Odom reportedly regained consciousness Friday, three days after being found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel. Still in critical condition, Odom took visitors Friday — his kids, his father, and his estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, according to anonymous ESPN sources. The former Los Angeles Lakers player has reportedly been able to speak briefly, but is still using a breathing mask and is thought to have sustained serious damage to his vital organs.

Edinson Volquez pitched six shutout innings Friday to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The best-of-seven contest continues 4:07 ET on Saturday on the Royals' turf, Kauffman Stadium, where Yordano Ventura will duke it out against the Jays' David Price. The NLCS' Game 1 is also Saturday, with an 8:07 start time in Queens for the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets.

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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.