On this Christmas Eve, here’s a quick look at the key stories from Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
Suspect Faces Federal Firearms Charges in Killing of National Guard Soldier
Federal prosecutors charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, with firearms offenses tied to the November 26 shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House, an attack that killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and seriously wounded 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe.
The Justice Department alleges Lakanwal transported a stolen firearm across state lines from Washington state to Washington, D.C., and used it in an ambush outside a Metro station while the troops were deployed for a federal security surge ordered by US President Donald Trump.
The case moved from D.C. Superior Court to federal court, where prosecutors can consider the death penalty, which is not available under local law.
New Charges for Suspect in Shooting of 2 National Guardsmen in Washington DC.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who resided in Bellingham, Washington, was charged today in a complaint in U.S. District Court with federal counts in connection with the ambush-style… pic.twitter.com/yGom8thd7P
— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorTV) December 24, 2025
Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome and previously worked with US forces in Afghanistan, has pleaded not guilty to related local murder and assault charges.
Gaza Blast Injures Israeli Soldier, Straining Fragile Ceasefire
An explosive device detonated in southern Gaza on Wednesday, wounding an Israeli soldier and prompting Israel to accuse Hamas of violating a US-backed ceasefire that has largely held since October 10.
The blast occurred in Rafah as Israeli troops operated near militant infrastructure, according to the Israeli military, while Hamas said the explosion was caused by unexploded ordnance and had been reported to mediators.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a ceasefire breach and warned Israel would respond.
The Hamas terror organization continues to violate the ceasefire and President Trump’s 20 point plan.
Their ongoing and continuing public refusal to disarm is an ongoing flagrant violation and again today their violent intentions and violations were confirmed by their…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 24, 2025
The incident came as Hamas officials met Turkish leaders in Ankara to discuss the second phase of the truce, which aims to address governance, security, and troop withdrawals in Gaza.
The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over ceasefire compliance, aid access, and the fate of the last Israeli hostage whose remains are still held in Gaza.
EU Warns of Response After US Bars Europeans Over Online Speech Dispute
The European Union (EU) warned Wednesday that it could take action after the United States barred five European figures from entering the country, accusing them of pressuring US technology companies to censor American viewpoints.
The move, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targets former EU digital commissioner Thierry Breton and four non-governmental organization leaders under a new Trump administration visa policy aimed at countering foreign influence over online speech.
The European Commission and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the decision, calling it unjustified and an attack on Europe’s regulatory autonomy.
France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures.
These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 24, 2025
The dispute centers on who has authority to regulate digital platforms, with Washington arguing Europe has overreached and Brussels defending its tech rules as democratically adopted and non-discriminatory.
Zelenskyy Signals Readiness for Donbas Compromise in Push to End War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine could withdraw troops from parts of the eastern Donbas region as part of a peace plan, if Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized free economic zone monitored by international forces.
Zelenskyy outlined the proposal while describing a 20-point draft plan developed with US negotiators in recent talks in Florida, marking his clearest signal yet of possible territorial compromise to end Russia’s nearly four-year war.
The plan addresses disputed areas including Donbas and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, security guarantees resembling NATO-style commitments, economic reconstruction, and postwar elections in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy open to demilitarised zone if Russia pulls back https://t.co/zRUc43Vb6W
— Financial Times (@FT) December 24, 2025
Russia has not agreed to the proposal and continues to demand Ukrainian withdrawal from remaining Donbas territory, underscoring the central obstacle to negotiations.
South Korea Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Heavy Damages for ‘False’ News
South Korea’s National Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill that allows courts to impose steep punitive damages on news outlets and major online platforms for publishing false or fabricated information, despite warnings it could curb press freedom.
The liberal-led Democratic Party pushed the measure through by a 170–3 vote after a conservative boycott, arguing it is needed to counter disinformation that threatens democracy. The law authorizes fines, court-ordered damages, and regulatory penalties when false content is spread deliberately to cause harm or seek profit.
South Korean lawmakers pass bill targeting false information despite warnings on censorship https://t.co/nPm1fePPG1
— CTV National News (@CTVNationalNews) December 24, 2025
Journalists, civic groups, and opposition lawmakers urged South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to veto the bill, saying its vague definitions could enable censorship and discourage critical reporting.
The legislation now awaits Lee’s decision, with debate centered on balancing free expression and efforts to combat fake news.
Thailand, Cambodia Open Military Talks After Deadly Border Clashes
Military officials from Thailand and Cambodia began three days of talks on Wednesday at a border checkpoint, aiming to revive a ceasefire after more than two weeks of intense fighting along their shared frontier.
The discussions, led by senior generals from both countries, follow 16 days of clashes that have killed at least 86 people, displaced hundreds of thousands, and stretched across contested areas from near Laos to the Gulf of Thailand.
The talks come after failed mediation efforts by Malaysia, China, and the United States and a recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Kuala Lumpur seeking to salvage a truce first brokered by Malaysia and US President Donald Trump.
Thai and Cambodian forces resume talks after three weeks of fighting that left 86+ dead and 1M displaced. The goal: a verifiable ceasefire to replace the collapsed Dec 7 “paper peace,” despite deep mutual distrust. Defense ministers could sign a final deal Saturday if talks… pic.twitter.com/Y7LCCM2TbC
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 24, 2025
Both sides accuse each other of violating an October ceasefire and continuing attacks on civilian areas, underscoring the stakes as negotiators seek to halt the violence and lay the groundwork for higher-level defense talks later this month.
Sources: News Agencies
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