Protest continues in Venezuelan capital demanding release of Maduro

Massive protests continue across Venezuela, and tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Caracas on Thursday, condemning the United States' violation of their national sovereignty and demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

U.S. military forces carried out a series of attacks and bombings in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3 and forcibly taken Maduro and his wife away, putting them in custody in New York of the U.S.

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Protest continues in Venezuelan capital demanding release of Maduro

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Protest continues in Venezuelan capital demanding release of Maduro

Venezuelans have been demonstrating to protest against the U.S. infringement upon their sovereignty and to express resolute support for Maduro since the U.S. kidnapped their president, killing dozens of Venezuelans and damaging telecommunications, health, and residential infrastructure of the country.

Thursday's gathering was mostly attended by young people. They chanted slogans with many holding signs reading "Free the President of Venezuela."

"We are primarily protesting in defense of sovereignty. The sovereignty of our motherland was violated and trampled upon in the early morning of Jan 3. And undoubtedly, we also demand the immediate return of our President Maduro and National Assembly member Cilia Flores," said Sandra Oblitas, president of Bolivarian University of Venezuela.

"I don't know what other reasons they might fabricate to detain the president and his wife there, but we are sending strength and determination to our president and his wife from here," said Shirley Rincon, a protester.

A rare sight of a wolf pack traversing a mountain valley together was recorded after snowfall in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, signaling ecological recovery.

Two striking black wolves, a seldom-seen color variation, stand out distinctly in the pack at the Tomur Peak National Nature Reserve in the Tianshan Mountains.

Conservationists said that the stable presence of a wolf pack is no coincidence. In recent years, the reserve has strengthened ecological protection, improving habitats and allowing wildlife populations to recover. As apex predators, wolves return only when prey species and the broader ecosystem are thriving -- clear evidence that Tomur's conservation efforts are paying off.