Fullerton, California — Two people died and 19 were injured Thursday when a small plane crashed through the roof of a sprawling furniture manufacturing building in Southern California where at least 200 people were working, police said.
The people who died were believed to have been on the plane, while those injured were inside the building. The deceased victims will be identified after officials have contacted the next of kin, the Fullerton Police Department said in a statement.
Eleven people were taken to hospitals, while eight were treated and released at the scene, police said.
The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from the Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County, located just six miles from Disneyland, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
Security camera footage from Rucci Forged, a wheel manufacturer across the street, shows the plane was tilted on its side as it dove into the building, causing a fiery explosion and black plume of smoke.
Firefighters and police arrived on scene and battled the blaze and evacuated surrounding businesses, Wells said.
Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, came to the warehouse to see what had happened after receiving a phone call about a plane going down nearby.
He said the owner of the aircraft was a regular at the airport and has frequently taken off from there.
A hole in a commercial building in Fullerton, California, is seen from above after a small plane crashed through the rooftop on January 2. KABC-7/AP
“He has a hangar here and everything,” Villalobos said.
Villalobos said that after taking off, the pilot told air traffic control he was going to turn around to make an emergency landing, but it was unclear what the issue with the plane was.
The building struck by the plane was occupied by Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery manufacturer, according to a sign on a door. There appeared to be sewing machines and textile stock inside.
Ten people were taken to the hospital, while eight were treated and released at the scene, police said. There were two confirmed deaths, according to Wells.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident and identified the plane as a single-engine, four-seat Van’s RV-10. The National Transportation Safety Board said it also is investigating.
The airport in Fullerton has one runway and a heliport. Metrolink, a regional train line, is nearby and flanks a residential neighborhood and commercial warehouse buildings.
The Fullerton City Council posted a statement on social media calling the crash a “solemn tragedy.”
“The City of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” Mayor Fred Jung said in the statement. “We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis.”
Another four-seat plane crashed into a tree a half-mile from the airport last November while making an emergency landing right after takeoff, the Orange County Register reported. Both people on board suffered moderate injuries.
Fullerton is a city of about 140,000 people some 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Christians see a rise in persecution in more countries than any other religion
EXCLUSIVE REPORT — The world is witnessing a concerning escalation in the persecution of Christians, with reports highlighting a dramatic increase in targeted violence, legal discrimination, and societal exclusion across multiple regions. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations are raising urgent alarms about the growing threats faced by Christian communities worldwide.
Christians demanded justice during a protest in Islamabad condemning attacks on churches in Pakistan, on Aug. 20, 2023. (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
Organizations such as Open Doors and the International Christian Concern (ICC) report that countries like North Korea, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and parts of the Middle East remain hotspots for anti-Christian hostility. However, even in some democracies, subtle forms of discrimination are becoming increasingly prevalent, raising concerns about the erosion of fundamental freedoms.
In response, activists are urging international bodies such as the United Nations and regional organizations to take concrete steps to protect religious minorities. Calls for greater enforcement of human rights treaties and stronger diplomatic engagement with offending nations are growing louder.
Escalating Violence and Targeted Attacks
The attacks on Christians are becoming increasingly violent, with churches, Christian institutions, and believers facing relentless targeting. Open Doors’ World Watch List, released on January 17, highlights widespread digital surveillance and forced displacement, with tens of thousands of Christians uprooted globally.
Key findings from the reports include:
4,998 Christians murdered for their faith in 2023.
14,766 churches and Christian properties attacked.
295,120 Christians forcibly displaced due to violence and discrimination.
North Korea: The “Most Dangerous Place” for Christians
Both reports spotlight North Korea as the most perilous nation for Christians. The regime of Kim Jong Un has strengthened its borders with China, making it nearly impossible for Christians to flee or receive external aid.
“Being discovered as a follower of Jesus is effectively a death sentence,” the reports state. Christians in North Korea endure oppression in every facet of their lives, with the regime imposing maximum pressure to suppress religious expression.
Christmas Eve Attack in Bangladesh
The arson attack occurred while residents were away in a nearby village attending prayers and celebrating Christmas, according to the Daily Star. Locals reported that 17 of the 19 houses in the village were entirely gutted, leaving the community devastated.
“This is a tragedy for an already vulnerable group,” said Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Dhaka, who confirmed the attack. “It is true that at Lama area, Chattogram Hill Tracts, about 25 houses were burnt on December 25 morning while the Christians went to the other village for Christmas service.”
Men run past a shopping centre which was set on fire by protesters during a rally against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government. Photo : AP
The affected community had recently rebuilt their homes in a new district after being displaced several years ago, making the attack a harsh reminder of their precarious existence.
“We strongly condemn these heinous activities. It is against the vulnerable indigenous Christians,” the archbishop told Crux, calling for justice and accountability.
Catholics Request Security After Church Attacks in India
In central India, anti-Christian assaults by Hindu activists have prompted local Catholic leaders to call for heightened security measures. The attacks occurred on January 21, when Hindu radicals placed saffron flags—a symbol of Hindu identity—on the rooftops of four Protestant churches in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh.
Hindu activists place saffron flags atop a church on Jan. 21, 2024. (Credit: Image courtesy Fr. Rocky Shah.)
The assaults followed Sunday services and coincided with celebrations of a new temple consecration to Lord Ram in neighboring Uttar Pradesh, believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu deity. The incidents have raised concerns about the growing influence of right-wing Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, often described as the “saffronization” of India’s democracy.
Three of the targeted churches were Pentecostal prayer halls managed by Shalom Church, and the fourth belonged to the Church of South India, one of the largest Protestant denominations in the country.
“A crowd started their rally on motorcycles from a local market and ended with hoisting saffron flags. It all seemed pre-planned,” said Bishop Paul Muniya of Shalom Church. Videos of the attack show youths tying saffron flags depicting Lord Ram to crosses on church rooftops.
A boy sells objects of piety during a pilgrimage to Yagma on the outskirts of Ouagadougou, on Feb. 5, 2023. Thousands of pilgrims from several dioceses of Burkina Faso prayed for peace on February 5, 2023 at the national pilgrimage of Yagma, on the outskirts of Ouagadougou. The Marian shrine of Yagma has hosted the Christian pilgrimage every year at the beginning of the year for more than fifty years. The national pilgrimage takes place every three years. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images)
Africa: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia are witnessing the highest rates of persecution
Christian communities in Africa are facing unprecedented levels of persecution, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia emerging as the most affected countries. Reports from human rights organizations highlight the alarming scale of violence and discrimination in these regions.
DRC: Armed groups, particularly in the eastern provinces, have intensified attacks on Christian villages and places of worship. These assaults often result in mass casualties, displacement, and the destruction of religious institutions.
Somalia: Christians, especially converts from Islam, live under constant threat from extremist groups like Al-Shabaab, which have openly targeted religious minorities through executions and public intimidation.
Advocacy groups are calling on the international community to take swift action to address the growing crisis, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid, diplomatic pressure, and protective measures for vulnerable populations. The escalation of persecution underscores the urgent need for global solidarity in defending religious freedom and human rights.
Hope Amid Hostility
Despite the increasing challenges, Christian communities worldwide continue to show resilience and unwavering faith. Advocacy groups and faith leaders are determined to amplify the voices of the persecuted and demand accountability for these atrocities.
As the global crisis deepens, Diplomat Times remains steadfast in its commitment to reporting on these critical issues, ensuring that the plight of persecuted Christians is brought to light and that justice is pursued for those who suffer in silence.
Sao Paulo, Brazil — Brazil assumed the rotating presidency of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) on Wednesday, with an agenda focusing on strengthening Global South cooperation, the Brazilian government said in a statement.
It will also focus on reforming international governance, and creating mechanisms to facilitate trade among its members.
“The group is one of the key political and diplomatic forums for Global South countries, focusing on cooperation across various sectors,” said the statement.
Its key goals include developing payment systems to simplify trade and investment between members, promoting inclusive and responsible governance of artificial intelligence, and improving financing mechanisms to address climate change.
The agenda also emphasizes collaborative projects among Global South countries, particularly in public health, and strengthening the institutional structure of BRICS.
As the host nation until the end of this year, Brazil will also organize and oversee working group meetings, bringing together representatives from member countries to discuss and implement its priorities.
CETINJE, Montenegro — Shock and dismay prevailed in Montenegro on Thursday after a gunman fatally shot 12 people, including two children, in a western town before killing himself.
At least four others were wounded in the shooting rampage in Cetinje on Wednesday that followed a bar brawl, officials said. This was the second such incident in the town in the past three years.
The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, killed the owner of the bar, the bar owner’s children and his own family members, officials have said.
The attacker, who first fled after the rampage, was later located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said.
Residents of Cetinje were stunned and grief-stricken. Vanja Popović, whose relatives are among the victims, said that “we are all in shock.”
“How can I feel after this?” Popović said. “No one expected it. You can’t even ask anyone anything.”
Police had dispatched a special unit to search for the attacker in the town, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Podgorica, the capital. All roads in and out of the city were blocked for hours as police swarmed the streets.
Šaranović said that the shooter had died while being taken to a hospital in the capital and succumbed from the “severity of his injuries.”
Officials have said that the attacker was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted. He then went home, brought back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 p.m.
Prosecutor Andrijana Nastić said Thursday that the attacker went to six locations during the shooting rampage, including the last one, where he shot himself.
Four men were killed at the bar, Nastić said. The shooter then moved on to another location where he killed four more people, and then two children at a third site. He then went on to kill two more people at two other locations before eventually shooting himself, Nastić said.
“Further investigation will determine the exact circumstances of the events,” she added.
The government has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, and all planned New Year’s festivities have been canceled throughout the country.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that the government may try to impose a total ban on weapons “because we must ask ourselves after this who should be allowed to have guns in Montenegro.”
The small Adriatic Sea nation, which has a population of around 620,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons.
In August 2022 in Cetinje, which is Montenegro’s historic capital, an attacker killed 10 people, including two children, before he was shot and killed by a passerby.
Police have said that the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media have reported that he was known for erratic and violent behavior.
Speaking after his traditional New Years’ Day Angelus, he made an appeal to world leaders,
“God is the first to forgive debts, as we always ask in the ‘Our Father,’” Pope Francis said. “The Jubilee calls us to translate this forgiveness into social terms so that no individual, family, or people is crushed by debt. I encourage leaders of nations with Christian traditions to set an example by canceling or significantly reducing the debts of the poorest countries.”
St Peter’s Square during the Angelus. Photo : Vatican News
Also touching upon the ongoing wars and conflicts across the world, he said: “Let us pray for an end to all fighting and for a decisive focus on peace and reconciliation. My thoughts go to war-torn Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Myanmar, (North) Kivu, and so many other people in conflict.”
“Brothers and sisters, war destroys. It always destroys! War is always a defeat. Always. I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those striving for peace,” he added.
Honoring the Efforts of Peacemakers Around the World
The Pope went on to extend his heartfelt thanks to all those who, in conflict-ridden areas across the globe, are working diplomatically to promote justice and peace.
“I express my deep gratitude”, he said, “to everyone who, in the many regions plagued by conflict, work toward dialogue and negotiations. Let us pray for an end to all fighting and for a decisive focus on peace and reconciliation. My thoughts go to war-torn Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Myanmar, [North] Kivu, and so many other people in conflict.”
Greeting to Italian President
The Pope extended his best wishes to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, expressing hope for “every good thing in the new year” and assuring him of his prayers. In his New Year’s address to the nation the previous evening, Mattarella echoed the Pope’s message, noting the significance of the 58th World Day of Peace and its call to the conscience of all.
“All—Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, civil and religious authorities—are called to address the wounds of the world, the troubling social and economic fragmentation, and the growing threats to peaceful development among nations,” Mattarella said.
He affirmed that, on behalf of the Italian people, he takes up Pope Francis’s continuous appeals for urgent and courageous actions to secure peace and address challenges such as migration, environmental degradation, and the risks and opportunities posed by new technologies.
New Orleans, US (DT) – Ten people were killed and 35 injured after the driver of a pickup truck struck a crowd on historic Bourbon Street in New Orleans early Wednesday, officials said.
After driving at high speed into the crowd of pedestrians, the suspect was killed in a firefight with police, the FBI said on Facebook.
“The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the federal agency said.
The driver was killed in a firefight with police following the attack around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday along Bourbon Street in the city’s bustling French Quarter, the FBI said.
Investigators were combing the French Quarter for potential explosive devices, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Security personnel gather at the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Superintendent of Police for the New Orleans Police Department Anne Kirkpatrick makes a statement after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said officials were investigating at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.
At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.
New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.
The injured were taken to five hospitals, the city’s emergency preparedness department said.
The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed, and the Justice Department said Attorney General Merrick Garland was also briefed.
The attack is the latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon to carry out mass violence, a trend that has alarmed law enforcement officials and that can be difficult to protect against.
A 50-year-old Saudi doctor plowed into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers in the German city of Magdeburg last month, killing four women and a 9-year-old boy. A man who drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee in 2021 is serving a life sentence after a judge rejected arguments from him and his family that mental illness drove him to do it Six people were killed.
Washington, USA (DT) – The state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held on Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C, according to a presidential declaration by President Biden.
Mr. Biden also said that day will be a National Day of Mourning for Carter, who died Sunday, Dec. 29, at the age of 100.
“I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.”
Mr. Biden declared that all American flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, military posts and naval stations, as well as on all naval vessels. Most of the federal government will be closed on Jan. 9 in observance of the day of mourning, the president said in a proclamation on Monday.
The 39th US president, who was at home in hospice care, had been treated for an aggressive form of melanoma skin cancer, with tumors that had spread to his liver and brain.
In a brief televised address from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, where President Biden is vacationing with his family, the president praised his “dear friend” just hours after his death.
“Jimmy Carter is a model of what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose.”
“I see a man who is not only not of our time, but of all time,” he added. “We would all do well to be a little more like Jimmy Carter.”
Will Donald Trump Attend Jimmy Carter’s Funeral?
President-elect Donald Trump has not yet disclosed his plans regarding attendance. Notably, he did not attend Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in 2023, though his wife, Melania Trump, was present alongside all the former first ladies.
The most recent former president to pass away was George H.W. Bush in 2018, during Trump’s presidency. Trump, accompanied by Melania, attended the Washington service held in Bush’s honor.
On Sunday night, Trump released two statements about Carter, acknowledging, “We all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
The five-year gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired on Wednesday, with Kyiv declining to renew it due to the ongoing war
MOSCOW/KYIV (DT) – Russian gas exports through Ukraine’s Soviet-era pipelines officially ceased on New Year’s Day, ending Moscow’s decades-long dominance over Europe’s energy markets. The move marks a significant shift in geopolitical energy dynamics, with far-reaching implications for both Russia and the European Union.
The shutdown was confirmed at 0500 GMT, as Russia’s state energy company Gazprom stated that Ukraine had refused to renew a transit agreement that expired on Wednesday. “Due to the repeated and clearly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine from January 1, 2025,” the company said via Telegram.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko hailed the move as a historic milestone. “We stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event. Russia is losing its markets; it will suffer financial losses. Europe has already made the decision to abandon Russian gas,” Galushchenko declared in a statement.
Despite nearly three years of war, gas flows had continued uninterrupted until this decisive halt. Ukraine has been a critical transit hub, delivering Russian natural gas to several European countries, including Slovakia, Moldova, and Hungary. However, Kyiv had previously warned it would not renew the five-year transit agreement, citing the ongoing military conflict with Russia as a key factor in its decision.
Unlike the energy crisis of 2022, when reduced Russian gas supplies drove record-high prices, this anticipated stoppage is not expected to significantly impact European Union consumers. The bloc has largely diversified its energy supplies, reducing its dependence on Russian gas in response to the war in Ukraine.
This development marks the end of an era for Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and reinforces its commitment to alternative energy sources. For Russia, the loss of key European markets underscores the broader economic repercussions of its actions in Ukraine, potentially accelerating its financial struggles in the face of international sanctions.
New Delhi, India (DT) – Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra opens new tab said on Wednesday it clocked an 18% jump in sport utility vehicle sales to dealers in December due to strong demand. Mahindra, India’s second-biggest SUV maker by market share, has remained resilient amid a broader slowdown in car sales that pressed manufacturers and dealers into offering hefty discounts.
The company’s shares climbed 1.5% following the announcement. It was also the top-performing auto stock in 2024, with gains of around 74%.
Automobile sales in December are usually sluggish as customers often wait for the next year’s models, with carmakers scaling back production and augmenting discounts to clear unsold vehicles.
However, analysts attribute Mahindra’s December growth, as well as its industry-leading growth for fiscal 2025, to demand for newer SUV models such as the ‘Thar ROXX’ and the ‘XUV 3X0’ outpacing supply. Mahindra’s SUV sales to dealers grew 16% year-on-year in November.
Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes killed at least 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, officials said Wednesday, as the nearly 15-month war ground on into the new year with no end in sight.
One strike hit a home in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, the most isolated and heavily destroyed part of the territory, where Israel has been waging a major operation since early October. Gaza’s Health Ministry said seven people were killed, including a woman and four children, and at least a dozen other people were wounded.
Another strike overnight in the built-up Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza killed a woman and a child, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. The military ordered people to evacuate an area near Bureij overnight, saying it would strike there in response to recent rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
A third strike early Wednesday in the southern city of Khan Younis killed three people, according to the nearby Nasser Hospital and the European Hospital, which received the bodies.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 250. About 100 hostages are still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It says women and children make up more than half the fatalities but does not say how many of those killed were militants.
The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because its fighters operate in dense residential areas. The army says it has killed 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
The war has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, many of them multiple times.
Israel sees net departure of citizens for a second year
More than 82,000 Israelis moved abroad in 2024 and only 33,000 people immigrated to the country, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics said. Another 23,000 Israelis returned after long periods abroad.
It was the second year in a row of net departures, a rare occurrence in the history of the country, which was founded by immigrants from Europe and actively encourages Jewish immigration. Many Israelis, looking for a break from the war, have moved abroad, leading to concern about whether it will drive a “brain drain” in sectors like medicine and technology.
Last year, 15,000 fewer people immigrated to Israel than in 2023. The Bureau of Statistics changed its reporting methods in mid-2022 to better track the number of Israelis moving abroad.
