10 things you need to know today: October 13, 2013

1. Senate assumes control of government shutdown talks

Senate leaders began negotiations Saturday aimed at reopening federal agencies and avoiding a government default after every other effort to end Congress' impasse crumbled in the previous 48 hours. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took over the fruitless talks. During the fiscal crises that have gripped Capitol Hill over the past five years, each resolution and compromise came after Senate leaders picked up the pieces of failed efforts between the White House and the House. [Washington Post]

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2. NYPD arrests man in "Baby Hope" killing

The little girl known only as "Baby Hope," whose abused and decomposed body was infamously found in an ice chest by the side of a New York roadway in 1991, is 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo, New York police announced Saturday. Police also announced the arrest of Conrado Juarez, the girl's cousin, whom they say killed Anjelica and dumped her body along the Henry Hudson Parkway. Juarez has been charged with murder. [CNN]

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3. Typhoon Nari devastates northern Philippines

Typhoon Nari finally exited the northern Philippines on Sunday after leaving 13 people dead, but officials remained on alert after another system was spotted in the Pacific. Chinese authorities said about 27,000 fishing boats had been called back to port on Sunday, and heavy rains associated with the storm were expected to hit parts of southern China on Monday. [ABC News]

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4. Kerry, Karzai clear path for U.S.-Afghan deal on troops

After more than a week of hard-line posturing, Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed on key elements of a deal that, if completed, would keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond next year. Making the announcement on Saturday evening, Kerry and Karzai said one major issue remained: legal jurisdiction, or immunity from prosecution under Afghan law, for American troops who remain in Afghanistan after 2014. [New York Times]

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5. Rand Paul: Sequester is the law of the land

Sen. Rand Paul said on CNN's State of the Union Sunday "the one thing" he could not accept as part of a deal to end the government shutdown is an increase in the sequestration caps. "It's funny," the Kentucky Republican said of Democrats. "They're all about Obamacare being the law of the land, but so's the sequester. If we exceed that, it's real big step in the wrong direction." The No. 1 concern for the country is its debt, he said. [Politico]

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6. Arizona and New York reopen tourist sites

Tourist sites including the Grand Canyon and Statue of Liberty are reopening after state officials reached deals with the federal government. Arizona and New York will fund the attractions from their own budgets, and are unlikely to be reimbursed. Other states are now weighing up whether they can justify the outlay of cash to keep their parks open. The tourist sites closed as a result of the government shutdown. [BBC News]

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7. Google announces new, user-driven ad strategy

Google alerted users Friday that, beginning Nov. 11, it may display their names, profile photos, ratings and reviews in ads as part of what it is calling "shared endorsements." The plan, which doesn't ask for permission, means that users age 18 or over could now see themselves pitching their favorite smartphone, for example, across Google's sites including in its search results. The company didn't specify whether user information would be included in ads Google places on third-party sites. [Wall Street Journal]

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8. Four missing New Mexico teens return home

Four of nine New Mexico teens missing from a ranch for troubled youth are now home with their parents. New Mexico State Police said Saturday that an AMBER Alert will remain in effect until authorities can confirm the five others are safe. New Mexico State Police executed a search warrant at the 30,000-acre Blanca High Country Youth Program ranch Friday. [USA TODAY]

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9. Detroit Tigers beat Boston Red Sox in game 1

The Boston Red Sox avoided disgrace on Saturday night when Daniel Nava broke up a no-hitter by the Detroit Tigers with one out in the ninth inning. The Tigers still won, 1-0, in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be Sunday night. [Boston.com]

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10. Fifty Shades of Grey star drops out of film

Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam, who was cast last month as Christian Grey in the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, has exited the project. "The filmmakers of Fifty Shades of Grey and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey," Universal Pictures and Focus Features said Saturday in a joint statement. [People]

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