
More than 100 Police Special Forces violently evicted Rapa Nui indigenous groups from the Government Plaza in the center of Hanga Roa over the holidays, causing injuries to at least nine people, three of them serious.

Venezuelan government devalued its bolivar currency for the second time in 12 months on Thursday, abolishing the lowest exchange rate as the Opec member fights to revive its economy. Intended to spur local production in the largely import-dependent nation, the announcement followed a central bank estimate that the economy contracted 1.9 percent during 2010 - Venezuela's second straight year of recession.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a record number of 170 projects in 2010 totaling an estimated 12.9 billion USD, as the IDB continues to boost its efforts to help Latin American and Caribbean combat poverty and inequality, and promote sustainable growth.

Secret US document newly released by Wikileaks underscores the critical importance of Spain as a strategic logistics hub for the US military. The document details the importance of bases such as Rota, just a short drive from Gibraltar.

Overseas visits by foreign residents to Britain are likely to increase by 300,000 next year, UK's tourist chiefs have predicted. Numbers will be around 30 million - a 1% rise on the 2010 figure, the VisitBritain organization said.

Spain will not discuss any issue that affects Gibraltar’ sovereignty within the context of the Trilateral Forum, Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said in an interview over the Christmas break and some its extracts collected in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Latin America was the most dangerous region for the press in 2010, with 35 of the 105 murders of journalists that occurred worldwide, according to the Swiss-based Press Emblem Campaign.

A record number of immigrants were deported from the United States in 2010 boosted in part by the expansion of the Secure Communities program of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which identifies imprisoned undocumented foreigners.

In her inauguration speech Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff promised greater consistence for Mercosur and Unasur so that the region can become an essential component of the “coming multipolar world”. She also anticiapted closer relations with all countries from Latinamerica, the Caribbean and Africa and the peoples of Middle East and a greater role for Brazil in world political and financial affairs.

All of us at MercoPress.com wish our subscribers and readers the very best Happy New Year!.