Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the salary increase for teachers during his weekly television show. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced a 50 percent salary increase for public school teachers across the country. The Venezuelan leader said Tuesday that that the salary increase, which were proposed earlier this month, is part of a series of economic measures aimed to combat an “economic war" being carried out by right-wing sectors of society.

President Maduro said, “Whoever messes with Diosdado (Cabello), messes with all of us, messes with me.” Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro strongly refuted Tuesday charges leveled against Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly, and called on supporters of the Venezuelan revolution to join a campaign to refute the allegation that U.S. authorities are investigating Cabello, and other senior officials, for possible cocaine trafficking and money laundering. “I call on the social movements, the patriotic people, the youth, women, the working class, and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela to support this campaign,” said President Maduro, “Because whoever messes with Diosdado, messes with all of us, messes with me.”

A new program to promote agroecology is the most recent of many initiatives to strengthen Venezuelan agriculture and food security.

Venezuela's agricultural producers were given reason to celebrate as the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization recognized the country's advances in food security and food sovereignty. During the launch of an agroecological seed and vegetable production plan in the state of Lara, the FAO's representative in Venezuela, Marcelo Resende, congratulated small farmers and community organizations on the fruits of their labor.

Congressional Democrats have admitted U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have backfired. U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have “undermined” Washington's relationship with Latin America, members of the U.S. congress warned President Barack Obama Friday. In an open letter to Obama, 16 members of congress expressed concern that recent sanctions on Venezuela have backfired on the United States.

“We believe that it is in the best interests of the United states, Venezuela and the hemisphere that the (Obama) administration refrain from imposing further unilateral sanctions (on Venezuela),” the letter read. All 16 signatories were Democrats, who called on Obama to engage in “direct dialogue with the government of Venezuela.”

Qatar's head of state has arrived in Caracas for high profile talks with the Venezuelan government. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani touched down in Venezuela's Maiquetia airport Friday, ahead of talks with Venezuela's foreign ministry. Tamim was greeted by President Nicolas Maduro at Miraflores Palace. The emir is set to hold talks with Venezuela's foreign ministry, aimed at boosting bilateral relations. Both Venezuela and Qatar are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Venezuela says it shares “important strategic links” with the Gulf nation.

The military officials were involved in a thwarted coup plot that aimed to assassinate the president and instal a “transitional” government. Eight military officials were sentenced by a military tribunal Wednesday for their role in a plot by the far-right opposition to overthrow the democratically elected government, according to Venezuela’s defence chief.

New York, May 5, 2015 (MPPRE) .- In regards of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations, Rafael Ramirez, said that humanity has the moral and political responsibility to prevent that the damage caused by the reproduction of intolerant ideologies resurge today, such as fascism and hatred motivated by religious, ethnic or political reasons, and to repeat a new world war.

The Solemn Session, led by the President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, was the result of a resolution promoted by the Russian Federation in February, and included the participation of 34 countries.

Quito, May 5, 2015 (MPPRE) .- The Minister of People's Power for Foreign Affairs, Delcy Rodriguez, announced the conclusion of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC, which took place in the Quito in Ecuador.

This was reported by her Twitter account @DrodriguezVen, where she also noted that there was consensus on the need to agree on the regional 2020 agenda that covers essential issues for the people.