They're Handing Out RiflesNow

Hi Global Recap readers,

When I first saw the headlines saying that Venezuela is now arming its civilians to protect against a "foreign invasion," I immediately thought:

Unless, of course, it’s all a show.

What do you think? 👇🏼

🇻🇪 VENEZUELA
China & Russia
Backs Venezuela

Venezuela just got public backing from Russia and China as Venezuela is now reportedly handing out rifles to civilians to fight against a possible “foreign invasion.”

• China: China’s foreign ministry condemned the recent U.S. interception of a China-bound tanker off Venezuela on Saturday, calling it a violation of international law and rejecting “unilateral and illegal” sanctions.

  • The White House described the ship as part of Venezuela’s “shadow fleet,” and Panama’s Foreign Minister said the tanker Centuries, flagged to Panama when intercepted, had altered its name and switched off its transponder while carrying oil out of Venezuela.

  • China is described as the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, accounting for roughly 4% of its oil imports, and Beijing framed Venezuela’s overseas ties as “legitimate.”

• Russia: Moscow, meanwhile, said Foreign Minister Lavrov and Venezuela’s Gil shared “deep concern” about escalation in the Caribbean that could threaten international shipping, while reaffirming support for Venezuela.

Handing Out Rifles

Meanwhile, reports say the Venezuelan military has begun distributing rifles to civilians in working-class neighborhoods, portraying the effort as “neighborhood-level readiness” against a potential foreign invasion.

But coverage of civilian training dates back to September—something Trump mocked on Truth Social at the time.

🇷🇺 RUSSIA
Moscow Car Bomb
Kills General (Again)

Moscow started Monday with an assassination of its officer that investigators say began with an explosive device planted under his vehicle. The blast hit early Monday, December 22, 2025, and Russia is openly floating a Ukraine intelligence link.

• Victim: Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, described by Russia’s Investigative Committee as the head of the Russian General Staff’s army operational training directorate, was killed in the explosion.

• Scene: The bomb detonated in southern Moscow in a residential area, with investigators releasing images showing multiple damaged cars and police sealing off the street.

• Inquiry: Russia opened a criminal investigation and said it was examining whether Ukrainian intelligence services orchestrated the attack. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) offered no immediate comment.

• Pattern: The killing fits a recent trend of targeted attacks on senior Russian military figures inside Russia. Investigators and Russian media have repeatedly framed these as covert Ukrainian operations.

• Precedent: Notable earlier cases involve

  • Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, killed by a car bomb in April 2025.

  • Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, killed in December 2024 by an explosive device planted in a scooter near a residential building.

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA
"Anti-Protest Law"

New South Wales is rushing through anti-protest changes, and activist groups say they will hit back with a constitutional restriction.

• Bill: The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was drafted after the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14, and it bundles gun-licensing and hate-speech measures with new limits on protests.

• Freeze: If police issue a “public assembly restriction declaration” in response to a terrorism incident, police may refuse to authorize (or revoke authorization for) public assemblies in the area covered by the declaration while it is in force. The declaration lasts up to 14 days at a time, can be extended in further increments, and cannot run for more than 90 days total.

• Pushback: Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation say they will file a constitutional challenge, with Palestine Action Group’s Josh Lees calling the laws “undemocratic” and aimed at sweeping up far more than the government admits.

• Flashpoint: A third applicant, the First Nations-led Blak Caucus, says the rules could kneecap ”Invasion Day rallies” planned for January 26.

  • ”Invasion Day” is what many Aboriginal people call 26 January, the date marked as Australia Day. It refers to the arrival of the British in 1788, when Arthur Phillip raised the flag at Sydney Cove.

• Politics: The bill passed the lower house overnight with few amendments and reportedly has the numbers to pass both houses, but it faces upper-house resistance from the Greens, NSW Nationals, and the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party.

Multi-Culturalism

Now, this clip of NSW Premier Minns is gaining traction online:

🇨🇳 CHINA
Beijing Imposes
Heavy Dairy Duties

China just announced provisional levies of up to 42.7% on selected EU dairy imports after an anti-subsidy finding.

• Ruling: China’s Ministry of Commerce says E.U. dairy products benefited from subsidies that harmed China’s domestic industry, so it will begin collecting provisional countervailing duties as deposits starting December 23, 2025.

• Targets: Duties vary by exporter. The top rate (42.7%) applies to some named exporters and also to “other E.U. companies” not individually listed.

• Companies: France’s Fromarsac is listed at about 30%, while entities under Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina are hit at the top end, 42.7%.

• Blowback: The E.U. is calling the case thin, with Commission spokesperson Olof Gill describing the move as based on "questionable allegations" and saying the measures are "unjustified and unwarranted."

• Escalation: China’s dairy move is widely read in Europe as retaliation after the EU imposed tariffs of up to about 45% on China-made electrical vehicles—now spreading into politically sensitive farm and food exports.