The US Department of State warns of the risk of traveling in Mexico due to security threats posed by organized criminal groups in the country. US citizens have been the targets of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking and robbery.

Nearly 70 kidnappings of US citizens were reported to the US Embassy and consulates in Mexico in the first six months of 2014. While kidnappings can occur anywhere, the states with the highest numbers of kidnappings in 2013 were Tamaulipas, Guerrero...

The Western African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone continue to struggle to contain the spread of the ebola virus, for which there is no proven cure or vaccine. It has killed more than 1,300 people since March 2014. 

The ebola virus is spread through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluid (including saliva); it has not been shown to be airborne. Ebola is transmittable only by people showing symptoms. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and internal and...

Torrential rains in Japan caused landslides in Hiroshima Prefecture on Aug. 20, killing at least 70 people, including a rescue worker who had saved five people before the hill collapsed again. As of press time, 18 people were still missing.

The area received a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours. Continued rain and the risk of more landslides led to nearly 100,000 people being evacuated from the area.