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Venezuela’s Labor Ministry ruled this Tuesday that the labor leader Oscar Chirino was illegally fired from his job in the state owned oil company PDVSA and must be reinstated.

Tibisay Lucena, the president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, confirmed Sunday that voting equipment has been audited and delivered to all of the 34,662 voting centers across the country in preparation for this Sunday’s regional and local elections, which are the first elections in Venezuelan to be 100% automated.

As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez handed over credits to over a thousand communal banks, he highlighted the need for social networks of distribution and for the private banks to also contribute.

Venezuela's improvements in educational access and enrollment over the past ten years have put the country on track to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, according to the United Nations Science, Education, and Culture Organization (UNESCO).

In the last few months Venezuela has been affected by the global financial crisis but still was able to sustain its economic growth. Unemployment has fallen and its international reserves have increased, whilst its inflation has also increased and its price of oil decreased.

Venezuela removed its consul in Houston, Antonio Padrino Quintero, as part of an agreement with the United States government to resolve a recent spat over the unauthorized address change of its Houston consulate, President Hugo Chávez confirmed Monday.

While campaigning in support of candidates for governor and mayor from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has threatened to use military force in several states if opposition leaders attempt to sabotage the political process during or after the November 23rd elections.

Venezuela's Interior and Justice Minister Tarek El-Aissami confirmed Sunday that Venezuela plans to increase its military presence in five locations along the northern region of the Colombian border called the Sierra de Perijá.

Tibisay Lucena, the president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Saturday that her institution would be opening an administrative inquiry into the state TV channel, VTV (Venezuelan TV) for alleged disrespect of article 16 of the Regulation of Publicity and Propaganda.

The U.S. State Department has revoked the visas and diplomatic privileges of a dozen Venezuelan consular officials after a two-month dispute over the Venezuelan government's plans to relocate its Houston office. [The Foreign Ministry of Venezuela issued a statement on Sunday that contradicts the report.]