Rallies held in multiple major US cities to protest against military operation in Venezuela

Rallies were held on Saturday in multiple major U.S. cities to protest against the country's military operation in Venezuela.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post that the United States has "successfully" carried out a large-scale airstrike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, have been taken and flown out of the country.

Venezuela on Saturday denounced the "military aggression" by the United States, after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day.

The Venezuelan government said that the military strike targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states of the country, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

The U.S. military intervention has drawn widespread criticism and sparked protests at home.

Hundreds of protesters gathered on Saturday outside the White House, holding banners with slogans such as "Hands off Venezuela" and "Stop bombing Venezuela now."

"I believe that military interventions are inherently dangerous. And Trump lies and the State Department lies. They lie in their reports on Venezuela. And I think to impose our will like this is cowardly, and it's disrespectful, and it's dangerous," said Mark, a protester.

Others argued that the true aim of the U.S. strike is to seize Venezuela's oil resources and divert public attention from critical domestic issues such as the economy and healthcare.

"I stand against U.S. imperialism altogether. U.S. imperialism, they want oil like the U.S. wants oil. They want to help the corporate billionaires. Bombing is just their means to building power like that, of taking control. So again, I'm against it," said Niven, a protester.

"This invasion of Venezuela has everything to do with trying to distract us from him being in the Epstein file and the crappy state of our economy and the rising health care costs," said William, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

In New York City's Times Square, hundreds of people also gathered on Saturday to voice their opposition to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

"I'm out here because the kidnapping of Maduro and the bombing, and the U.S. takeover of Venezuela is illegitimate," said Emma, a protester.

"I'm totally horrified that the United States has committed a coup, that we're violating international rights. First, we started bombing boats and killing people, and then we brought in ships and we just went in and took a president out. We have no right to do that," said Sartre, another protester.

Rallies held in multiple major US cities to protest against military operation in Venezuela

Rallies held in multiple major US cities to protest against military operation in Venezuela

During the New Year holiday running from Jan 1 to 3, major commercial districts across China all saw a surge in both consumer traffic and sales in consumption, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The latest big data released by the Ministry of Commerce indicate that the average daily customer traffic at 78 key pedestrian streets and commercial districts nationwide rose by 5.9 percent compared with the New Year holiday season in 2025, while total sales increased by 4.9 percent.

In Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, the city's first park-style super commercial complex was bustling with visitors during the three-day holiday season.

On New Year's Day alone, the customer traffic at the complex exceeded 120,000 visits.

The newly opened business district features a wide range of immersive experiencing activities, including live band performances and interactive activities with small animals, while emphasizing friendly services.

These include facilities designed for families with infants, pet-friendly spaces, and dedicated cycling-friendly areas inside shops where cyclists can inflate tires and lubricate their bicycles.

In Beijing's Wukesong commercial district, a combination of trendy cross-industry collaboration and technology-driven innovation created fresh experiences for consumers during the holiday.

New Year countdown concerts and robot performances inside shopping malls added excitement for consumers.

Meanwhile, the Chunxi Road commercial district, Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, panda-themed events attracted large crowds of shoppers.

Both residents and tourists flocked to the commercial district to take photos and purchase Sichuan-style specialty gifts.

"During the New Year holiday at our Chunxi Road store, foot traffic reached about one to two times the usual level. Around 1,500 visitors came to our store every day, and our turnover increased by about 60 percent. The other two stores we operate in the Chunxi Road commercial district also saw remarkble growth in both customer traffic and sales," said Ye Mingqian, manager of the Chunxi Road store of Panda Pastry Co.

In Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, the Pink Street commercial complex officially opened during the New Year holiday.

The new street brings together nearly 40 first stores and flagship stores, featuring intangible cultural heritage experiencing activities, creative dining, and avant-garde lifestyle brands.

"Our brand offers very distinctive cultural and creative products from Peru. By opening our store here in the Shenzhen Bay area, we hope to bring local residents more products that are fresh and more interesting," said a store owner named Ma Yuxia.

Key business districts see growth in customer traffic, sales during New Year holiday