Three months since protests began rocking Venezuela, the Maduro government continues to battle unrest as well as hardships angering the protesters. However, the government's latest actions are not enough to quell the ire of protesters and have instead incited further international discontent.

Earlier in the month, the Maduro government announced a new food card that would monitor food purchases. Now, according to Reuters, the food card has gone into effect and has received a mixed welcome. Dubbed the "Secure Food Supply" card, it limits purchases in an attempt to slow hoarders who resell food for profit on the black market.

Some Venezuelans support the new card, viewing it as a way of controlling food shortage, since food is mostly subsidized. According to the government, 380,000 people are already registered, and the rest have three months to apply.

Opponents see nothing more than another Cuba-like policy as well as the failure of its government. Opposing politicians and protesters decry the card and call it another sign that their country is becoming like Cuba, which uses a ration book to regulate food. Critics add that the card does not address the real issue behind the food shortage. The lack of hard currency to pay for imports, dysfunctional ports and severely low food prices extend the food shortage.

Regardless of what the critics say, President Nicolás Maduro continues to mend the nation's situation and has also announced another reform.

On Wednesday, Maduro announced an increase in the minimum wage; it took effect on May 1. The 30 percent raise also applied to pensions, BBC News reported. Still, the increase does not go above inflation, which according to official numbers was at 52 percent in 2013. With the new raise, the wages will go up to 4,252 bolivars from 3,370 or $675 from $520.

Earlier this year, the government increased the minimum wage by 10 percent, and now opposition leader Henrique Capriles is saying that the new increase is not enough. Capriles has said that the government needs to raise the minimum wage above the inflation rate for it to make an impact. Maduro offered no response, but in his statement said that the government will raise wages again later in the year as well as "re-asses wages."

Despite these attempts to improve the situation in the country, the Maduro administration continues to draw attention to itself. Reuters reported that the Maduro government has detained 58 foreigners who are suspected of inciting the anti-government protests. Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres announced that Colombians, a Spaniard, an American and an Arab were among the "mercenaries" arrested on Thursday.

"Up to now, there are 58 detainees of other nationalities, almost all implicated in the use of arms," he said, showing reporters numerous flow-charts and photos of alleged meetings, phone calls and plotting, according to Reuters.

The American is reported to be Todd Michael Leininger, who was arrested in Tachira state. He is accused of arms trafficking and attempted murder. The Venezuelan government has accused the U.S. and former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe as being behind a coup. Both parties as well as the opposition vehemently protest the accusations.

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