Latin America, which accounts for one-third of the total global COVID-19 deaths, is struggling to secure vaccines. The region's ambivalence toward a patent waiver for vaccines has left many perplexed.

The Pan American Health Organisation launched a new platform to try to manufacture vaccines in the region as opposed to importing them. Its director also called for more donations.

US President Joe Biden has dispatched his top diplomat to the region to shore up democracy and reverse gains made by autocrats under his predecessor Donald Trump.

Angela Merkel was praised as the "Eiffel Tower" of the European Union at her 107th, and likely final, leaders' summit. Even former US President Barack Obama sent a video message to Brussels for her.

European foreign ministers discuss the security situation in Mali ahead of this week's AU-EU summit. Also, one month after the re-opening of schools in Uganda, our correspondent takes a look at how children are faring after the world's longest Covid-related class closure. Students' access to education had been crippled for almost two years. Finally, we take a look at how climate change is devastating the land and livestock of Kenyan herders.

Two cases of monkeypox were confirmed by Argentina on Friday in individuals who had recently arrived from Spain.

Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia have criticized the slow progress on their EU membership bids. With Ukraine on the fast track, Western Balkan leaders are meeting with their EU counterparts — but hold out little hope.

Drug cartels in Latin America are now making more money from synthetic drugs like fentanyl than the illicit substances the continent is best known for, like cocaine and marijuana.

EU leaders gathering in Brussels for their last meeting of 2022 had busy agenda dealing with internal disagreements and a subsidy spat with the US. A corruption scandal was also overshadowing the event.

EU leaders gathering in Brussels for their last meeting of 2022 had busy agenda dealing with internal disagreements and a subsidy spat with the US. A corruption scandal was also overshadowing the event.

The second "surveillance balloon" announcement comes after the first sighting prompted the top US diplomat to postpone a trip to Beijing. China claims the balloons are used for scientific purposes.

China said the device deviated from its route, and "accidentally strayed over Latin America and the Caribbean." This comes even as the US is seaching for the remains of the suspected surveillence balloon it shot down.