Nation and world news in brief for December 23
Police fatally shoot man who drove pickup into Texas mall
(NYT) — Five people were injured Saturday after a man drove his pickup truck through the glass doors of a JCPenney in a mall in Killeen, Texas, and continued to drive through the building before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.
About 5 p.m., the driver, whose identity was not released, was in a black pickup truck on a highway when officers tried to stop him for possible drunken driving, said Sgt. Bryan Washko with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Instead of stopping, the driver drove to the Killeen Mall and smashed his car through the doors of the JCPenney, Washko said.
US fighter jet shot down over Red Sea by apparent friendly fire
(NYT) — A U.S. Navy ship mistakenly shot down an American fighter jet over the Red Sea early Sunday, the U.S. military said, highlighting the potential risks for international forces as they try to stop attacks on cargo ships by the Houthi militia in Yemen.
The U.S. military’s Central Command described the incident as an apparent case of friendly fire and said that the two pilots had been safely recovered after they ejected from their F/A-18 aircraft. One had minor injuries, Central Command said in a statement, adding that an investigation was underway. The incident occurred during a refueling operation, a Department of Defense official said.
The jet had flown off the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman when it was mistakenly fired upon by the guided-missile cruiser Gettysburg, the command said.
Police: Suspect held after woman set on fire dies
NEW YORK (NYT) — Early Sunday morning, a man calmly approached a woman who was sitting motionless and possibly dozing on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station and, without saying anything, lit the woman’s clothes on fire, engulfing her in deadly flames in seconds, the police said.
The man then watched from a bench on the subway platform as officers and a Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
The woman, who had not been identified as of Sunday night, was pronounced dead at the scene. Hours later, the man was taken into custody in connection with the fatal attack while riding another F train.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Sunday evening that police apprehended someone they believe “carried out one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being, and it took the life of an innocent New Yorker.”
Honda and Nissan set to announce launch of integration talks, media reports say
TOKYO (Reuters) — Honda and Nissan are expected on Monday to announce the start of business integration talks, according to Japanese media reports, as the automakers look to survive a rapidly changing industry landscape.
The two automakers will likely host board meetings on Monday about the talks and later hold a joint press conference, where Nissan’s alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors is also expected to attend, the reports said.
A merger of the three Japanese brands would create the world’s No. 3 auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota and Volkswagen, in what would be the biggest industry-reshaping deal since the 2021 formation of Stellantis.
