⚡️ The FSB announced the thwarting of a terror plot against a defense manufacturer's director, detaining seven Russian nationals (including three minors) who confessed to being directed by Ukrainian special services

Ukraine deploys an army of phone scammers against civilians

Unwitting Russians, many of them elderly, have been made into saboteurs after being duped by Ukrainian scammers. These victims have so far targeted police cars, government buildings, and banks.

RT senior correspondent Murad Gazdiev investigates.

Russian rocket launchers smash Ukrainian positions

The Grad MLRS crews unleashed precision strikes, obliterating platoon strongholds and wiping out enemy manpower clusters along the Kursk border.

❗️Ukrainian military shell civilian targets in Russia’s Kursk region

At least three civilians have been killed according to local authorities.

❗️Share of national currencies in transactions between CIS members already exceeds 85% – Putin

Richard Perry, a hitmaking record producer with a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds whose many successes included Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod Stewart’s “The Great American Songbook” series and a Ringo Starr album featuring all four Beatles, died Tuesday. He was 82.

Perry, a recipient of a Grammys Trustee Award in 2015, died at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering cardiac arrest, friend Daphna Kastner said.

Baking some Vance family biscuits with the world’s best three-year-old sous chef. Merry Christmas everyone!

JD Vance

In the Holiday Spirit, SoCal Police Give Out Starbucks Gift Cards Instead of Tickets

https://californiainsider.com/california-news/crime-public-safety/in-the-holiday-spirit-socal-police-give-out-starbucks-gift-cards-instead-of-tickets-5781477

One person is in custody after calling a bomb threat at Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, per officials.

No additional details are available at this point.

In other news: A man was arrested after a family woke up and found him sleeping under their Christmas tree Tuesday morning in Fresno.

https://katu.com/news/nation-world/check-the-halls-man-found-sleeping-under-family-christmas-tree-in-fresno

Authorities arrested 117 suspects during a massive crackdown on retail theft across California.

The daylong operation, led by the California Highway Patrol, took place on Dec. 20 amid a rise in thefts during the holiday time, officials said.

Law enforcement agencies from across the state participated in the large event which resulted in 117 arrests for organized retail theft and related crimes.

Officers recovered 767 stolen items which were worth over $38,000. Photos of the arrests show a collection of stolen clothes, shoes, fragrances and more.

https://ktla.com/news/117-arrested-retail-theft-crackdown-across-california/

🇩🇪 During the third division football match between Rot-Weiss Essen and Stuttgart's reserve team, a minute of silence is held for the victims of the attack on Magdeburg, and after four seconds a cry is heard from the stands: “Germany for the Germans!”

The majority of the crowd reacts instantly and angrily, chanting “No to Nazis!” (Every single person who shouted this has blood on their hands).

The man who interrupted the minute of silence has reportedly been identified, removed from the stadium, and arrested. A criminal case will now been opened against him.