Here's what's happening across the United States and around the world today.
House nears passage of $585B defense bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is moving toward passage of a sweeping, $585 billion defense policy bill that gives President Barack Obama the authority to expand U.S. military operations against Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria.
Lawmakers are expected to vote later today to send the measure to the Senate.
Yemen's al-Qaida threatens to kill US hostage
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A U.S. terrorism monitoring group says it has a video by Yemen's al-Qaida offshoot, in which a kidnapped American says, "I'm certain that my life is in danger."
The man is identified as 33-year-old photojournalist Luke Somers, who was snatched off a street in Yemen's capital in September 2013.
The SITE Intelligence Group released the video today, in which a local al-Qaida figure gives the U.S. three days to meet its demands or Somers "will meet his inevitable fate."
He says Washington is "aware" of what those demands are.
IS attacks government airbase in eastern Syria
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists say Islamic State militants have launched an attack the last major Syrian military air base in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.
The Local Coordination Committees activist collective and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights both reported the fighting for the airfield, which is just outside of the city of Deir el-Zour. Almost all of the surrounding province is under IS control.
The Observatory says at least 19 government troops have been killed in the fighting, which began overnight with a suicide bombing on a Syrian military position near the air base. It said seven IS fighters have been killed.
The Local Coordination Committees and the Observatory both reported heavy clashes and government shelling on the villages surrounding the airfield.
Attack on checkpoint kills 4 Afghan policemen
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan official says an attack on a police checkpoint in the country's north has killed four local policemen.
A police spokesman in northern Jawzjan province says the attack took place in Darzab district in the early hours of Wednesday.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
He says a local police chief was among the casualties. The spokesman blames the Taliban for the attack and says an investigation is underway to determine if the insurgents had accomplices inside the police force.
The Taliban have stepped up their attacks targeting local police and Afghan security forces in the countdown to the departure of foreign combat troops by the end of the month.
House set to rebuke Obama on immigration
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are prepared to pass a bill declaring President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration "null and void."
But even supporters acknowledge that the bill by Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida is mostly meant to send a message. It stands little chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate and would face certain veto by Obama.
Instead, its passage today would set the stage for the real showdown over legislation to keep the government running past Dec. 11, when a current funding measure expires. Conservatives are demanding language in the spending bill to strip money to pay for Obama's move to defer deportations and grant work permits to more than 4 million immigrants here illegally.
House GOP leaders fear such language would court a government shutdown.
Toyota recalls cars in Japan, China for air bags
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is recalling 185,000 vehicles in Japan and 5,000 in China for a possibly defective air bag supplied by Takata, the Japanese manufacturer at the center of an unfolding safety scandal.
Toyota Motor Corp. says that passenger-side air bags in some Toyota vehicles had ruptured when intentionally deployed during scrapping, a routine procedure under Japanese law for scrapping vehicles.
Toyota says it's not aware of any fatalities or injuries related to the latest problem.
The recall includes a range of nameplates, produced from September 2002 through to December 2003, including Corolla models, Noah, Voxy, Mark II and Will.
Some 14 million vehicles, including Toyota cars, have been recalled worldwide over Takata air bags. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pressing for more recalls.
Protests after NYC grand jury declines to indict officer in chokehold case
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says federal authorities will conduct a civil rights investigation into the July 17 death of a black man who was put into a chokehold by a New York city police officer who was trying to arrest him.
The man was selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
On Wednesday, a grand jury cleared the officer in the death of Eric Garner, triggering protests in the streets by hundreds of New Yorkers.
Man faces trial in exchange student's death
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Prosecutors in Montana are expected to open their case this morning against a Missoula man who shot and killed a high school exchange student from Germany inside the man's garage.
Markus Kaarma is charged with deliberate homicide in the April death of the 17-year-old.
Kaarma's attorneys argue he was defending his home and feared for his safety. Prosecutors say Kaarma set a trap by leaving the garage door partially open, and leaving a purse inside, before firing without warning.
Government terrorism insurance program faces lapse
WASHINGTON (AP) — Time is running out on a federal program that provides a backstop to private-sector insurance against terrorist attacks.
The program was enacted after the 9/11 attacks and has been renewed twice. The market for insurance covering terrorist attacks — which is crucial for economic sectors such as real estate, hospitality and major sports leagues — dried up after the 2001 attacks.
The program, which protects insurance companies from catastrophic losses, is credited with reviving the private market for terrorism insurance.
The program expires Dec. 31 and business groups fear a lapse would put a damper on major construction projects, among other things.
A House committee chairman is demanding major changes to the program, setting up an impasse with the Senate.
Putin: confident of handling Grozy attack
GROZNY, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is confident that local Chechen forces will deal with the terrorist attack in Grozny.
At least three police officers and six gunmen were killed earlier in an early morning attack on Chechnya's capital, Grozny. The fighting punctured the patina of stability ensured by years of heavy-handed rule by a Kremlin-appointed leader.
Speaking in Moscow, Putin described the attackers as "rebels" — a reference to the 1990s separatists who fought federal forces who are receiving support from abroad. Putin said he is confident that local law enforcement is capable of handling it.
Putin defends Russia's foreign policy
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended the Kremlin's aggressive foreign policy, saying the actions are necessary for his country's survival.
Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in March and was later accused of supplying pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine with ammunition and manpower.
Putin said in his annual state-of-the-nation address today that national pride and sovereignty are "a necessary condition for survival" of Russia.
More than 4,300 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine in what the West and the Ukrainian government say is a conflict fueled by Russian money.
Approaching Philippine storm brings back nightmare
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Government forecasters say a powerful storm will likely slam into the same central Philippine region smothered by Typhoon Haiyan (HY'-ahn) last year, prompting villagers to flee from coastal homes and sparking panic-buying of food, water and gasoline.
Forecasters says Typhoon Hagupit, which was packing sustained winds of 122 mph and gusts of up to 230 kph, may hit Eastern Samar province on Saturday and barrel inland along the same route, where Haiyan leveled entire villages and left more than 7,300 dead and missing in November last year.
Haiyan survivor Emily Sagales says many of her neighbors in central Tacloban city have fled to a sports stadium, adding long lines have formed in grocery stores and gas stations as residents braced for the storm.
That's what's happening. Read more stories to jump start your day in our special Breakfast Buzz section.
