Here's what's happening across the United States and around the world today.
Lawmakers to hear about air bag recall
DETROIT (AP) — A congressional panel will hear testimony today from automakers and officials of Takata Corp., makers of air bags that can explode and shoot out shrapnel when deployed.
The firm has refused to comply with a government demand for an expanded recall.
The government wants Takata and automakers to add millions of cars across the U.S. to recalls now limited to areas with high humidity.
UPDATE: House moves to extend tax breaks through December
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House today plans to pass a bill that would extend a $45 billion package of expired tax breaks through the end of the year.
It would then go to the Senate.
The bill would enable millions of businesses and individuals to claim the tax breaks on their 2014 returns, and the White House has signaled its support.
UPDATE: Diplomats worldwide target Islamic State militants
BRUSSELS (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says the global fight against Islamic State militants will likely take years to fully succeed, but nations are ready to engage "for as long as it takes" to defeat the bloody insurgency.
Diplomats from more than 60 counties and international organizations are in Brussels to plot a way forward against what has become one of the world's worst terror threats.
UPDATE: Iraq official: Arrested woman not IS leader's wife
BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi official says the woman being detained in Lebanon who's believed to be a wife of the Islamic State group leader, is not.
Iraq's Interior Ministry says the woman is actually the sister of a terror suspect who's being held in Iraq.
Lebanese officials have said that the woman is married to the reclusive IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and that a child with her is their son.
Assad: US-led airstrikes not serious or efficient
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's President Bashar Assad says U.S.-led airstrikes targeting Islamic State group militants in Syria are neither serious nor efficient.
He claims the two months of strikes have not produced any tangible results, and he's also accusing Turkey of continuing to provide direct support to the militants.
Assad spoke in an interview with Paris Match magazine, and excerpts have been published.
In the interview, Assad also says that Syrians "will never allow our country to become a toy in Western hands."
Bipartisan bill to widen federal help for disabled
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected today to pass a bill that would allow Americans with disabilities to open tax-sheltered bank accounts to pay for certain long-term expenses.
It's the broadest legislation to help the disabled in a quarter-century.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act has wide-ranging support. Introduced in 2006, the legislation now lists 85 percent of Congress as co-sponsors.
A Senate vote is expected next week.
3 Hong Kong protest leaders surrender to police
HONG KONG (AP) — Three pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong have surrendered to authorities after calling for an end to street demonstrations.
The two professors and a reverend have not been charged but authorities say protests that have blocked streets in the Asian financial center for more than two months are illegal.
The three were joined today by dozens of supporters who also are planning to turn themselves in.
Panel to review earthquake safety at nuke plants
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former California senator says Pacific Gas and Electric is downplaying the safety risks of nuclear power plants in earthquake prone areas.
And Republican Sam Blakeslee plans to testify today before a Senate committee that's holding a hearing on nuclear safety following Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster.
California's Diablo Canyon plant is located near several earthquake faults, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and PG&E defend its safety.
Attorneys: Condemned killer in Texas is delusional
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Attorneys for a Texas death row inmate say he's too delusional to execute and that his punishment would provide no retribution or deterrence.
Lawyers for 56-year-old Scott Panetti are trying to halt his lethal injection set for this evening for fatally shooting his in-laws at their Texas Hill Country home 22 years ago.
His attorneys want a new round of competency tests. They also want the U.S. Supreme Court to examine whether executing the mentally ill amounts to unconstitutionally cruel punishment.
The high court has ruled inmates may be executed if they have a factual and rational understanding of why they're being put to death.
State attorneys said records show no significant change since Panetti's last formal examination seven years ago when he again was found to be competent.
Indians mark 30th anniversary of Bhopal disaster
BHOPAL, India (AP) — India is marking the 30th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak that killed an estimated 15,000 people and affected at least 500,000 more.
On Dec. 3, 1984, a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide leaked about 40 tons of a deadly gas into the air, and the tragedy remains an open wound in India, where many consider Union Carbide's $470 million settlement with the government an insult.
Some Indians are protesting today, and are demanding harsher punishments for those responsible and more compensation.
US school teacher stabbed to death in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are searching for the person who stabbed to death an American school teacher in a mall restroom in Abu Dhabi.
Local police say the suspect was wearing the traditional black robe, full-face veil and gloves commonly worn by local women throughout the Arab Gulf region, but police aren't sure if the attacker was actually a woman.
They're withholding the name of the victim, but they say she was 37 years old and had 11-year-old twins, who are now in the custody of police until their father and the woman's ex-husband, arrives from abroad.
Police say a fight broke out between the victim and the attacker in the women's restroom just before she was stabbed with a sharp tool on Monday.
US couple cleared in daughter's death leaves Qatar
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — An American couple cleared of charges in their adopted daughter's death have passed through passport control and are set to leave Qatar (GUH'-tur).
Matthew and Grace Huang's departure today will close a nearly two-year saga that climaxed in a court ruling absolving them of any wrongdoing in the death of their 8-year-old daughter Gloria.
Their departure comes after the Gulf Arab nation lifted the travel ban against the couple.
The Huangs were arrested in January 2013 on murder charges following the death in Qatar of Gloria, who was born in Ghana.
The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it applauds the lifting of the travel ban, and is looking forward to seeing the Los Angeles couple reunited with their other children.
A Qatari appeals court overturned charges against them on Sunday.
About 100 brains missing from University of Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — It's another type of brain drain. The University of Texas at Austin is missing about 100 brain specimens that have been preserved in jars of formaldehyde.
Professor Tim Schallert, co-curator of the collection, tells the Austin American-Statesman, "We think somebody may have taken the brains, but we don't know at all for sure."
One brain is believed to have belonged to clock tower sniper Charles Whitman, who killed 16 people in a 1966 rampage at the University of Texas.
That's what's happening. Read more stories to jump start your day in our special Breakfast Buzz section.
