Hundreds of Venezuelan civilians with no prior military experience are mobilizing into militia units, responding to mounting U.S. pressure and a nationwide call to defend the country.
On Monday, President Nicolas Maduro announced a program to train civilians and establish a Communal Militia Combat Unit to strengthen the country’s defenses against what he called "maximum pressure" from the United States.
The announcement quickly translated into action. Located about 30 minutes from the capital Caracas, a militia training camp hosted over 300 young people on Friday.
Surrounded by mountains and isolated from the city, the camp was a hive of activity as recruits engaged in tactical drills and water-based combat training.
For many of the young recruits, the training is not just about defense, it’s about defending a way of life.
"We want to tell those 'pitiyanquis' that they will not succeed here. The youth are at the forefront of socialism and revolution," said Gerardo Freytez, a militiaman.
"I represent the working class of the country, and we are used to being at the forefront. I also represent the country's combatant groups and we are ready," said Gonzalo Gonzalez, another militiaman.
Venezuelan civilians mobilize as Maduro launches nationwide militia training
China's transportation system is expecting to handle a significant surge in travel as the May Day holiday, a five-day holiday season that starts on Friday, is just around the corner.
The railway sector handled the first round of travel peak on Thursday, with a total of 19.95 million passenger trips to be carried out, marking a year-on-year increase of 8.9 percent, according to China Railway.
Throughout the holiday, the railway authorities will add night high-speed trains on major lines, including those from capital Beijing to other large cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Harbin.
On average, about 700 night high-speed train trips will be additionally scheduled per day.
According to a report released by the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday, throughout the five-day holiday, China's expressway network is set to see an average daily traffic volume of about 64 million vehicles.
The departing traffic peak is expected to fall on the first day of the holiday, with the volume projected to hit a high of 70 million vehicle trips, the highest single-day travel volume compared with the May Day holidays in other years.
Travel during the May Day holiday is mainly for holiday making, with travelers heading towards diverse destinations. They may embark on inter-city short trips or travel to rural areas, the report said.
According to the civil aviation authorities, throughout the May Day holiday, the civil aviation sector is expected to handle a total of 11 million passenger trips, with a daily average of 2.2 million.
The travel peak is projected to fall at the beginning and the end of the holiday season, the authorities said.
China's transportation system expects to handle travel surge as May Day holiday approaches
