Venezuela holds military exercises as US extends 'national emergency' order

The exercises have involved more than 76,000 troops and half a million civilians. They have been held across the oil-rich state on land, sea and in the air. On Saturday, the drills included urban defense and protection of coastal oil refineries. The aim was to resist what the socialist government sees as a US-backed plot to overthrow it. State television showed images of soldiers camouflaged as bushes shouting "socialist fatherland," as their commanders held Russian-made military equipment. More…