Honduras closed 2019 with more than 115,000 cases of dengue and 177 deaths from the disease, the worst in Latin America.
The Philippines is still counting its death toll from a powerful typhoon that lashed over the country over Christmas. It has risen to 47, with another nine people still missing, authorities said at press time.
Canadian firefighters are in Australia to bolster Canadians already assisting the country in the battle against devastating wildfires.
The UK has the second lowest number of doctors in leading European nations relative to its population, according to research for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Venezuela looks like continuing with President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, despite the best efforts of the United States to oust him and replace him with Juan Guaidó.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has appointed the country's first prime minister in more than 40 years - the tourism minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz.
Honduras is dealing with a spate of prison riots that has left many dead and seriously injured.
The Philippines medical services are having to deal with deaths and serious illness after hundreds of people drank contaminated coconut wine.
Canadian police discussed shooting indigenous protesters who were trying to stop a natural gas pipeline from being built on their land.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it the most radical Queen’s Speech of a generation.