Venezuelan Police Block Wage and Pension Protests in Caracas

In Caracas, Venezuela, union leaders, retirees, and public sector workers marched toward the presidential palace to demand higher wages and dignified pensions. The demonstration was met with police blockades that prevented most protesters from reaching the Miraflores palace, halting them approximately two kilometers away. This unrest follows a recent address by acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who urged patience while promising a 'responsible' wage increase on May 1 to avoid inflationary spikes. Despite these assurances, demonstrators expressed frustration over years of stagnant incomes, with many public employees surviving on roughly $160 monthly against a backdrop of extreme poverty. While some barriers were breached, no immediate reports of injuries or arrests were confirmed. The protests highlight ongoing economic struggles in Venezuela, exacerbated by claims of US intervention and the abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro.