The US Embassy in Kenya issued a warning about boda bodas (motorcycles for hire) because of frequent serious accidents caused by badly maintained vehicles and unsafe driving habits on poor roads. Also, in November there were at least two serious late-night attacks on American citizens by boda boda operators.

The embassy reminds boda boda riders to wear helmets and avoid using the vehicles at night and, in general, to not go out alone, to avoid poorly lit areas and to beware when...

In the Albay region of Luzon island, northern Philippines, the Mt. Mayon volcano continues to erupt. Having gradually dropped to Alert Level 1 in 2006, it showed signs of activity in July 2009 and by December, again at Alert Level 4, was spewing ash clouds and 200-meter-high lava fountains.

The government extended the Permanent Danger Zone to an eight-kilometer radius south of the mountain and seven kilometers north. As of Dec. 22, about 45,000 people were evacuated from the region....

On Nov. 27, the Nevsky Express, a luxury train running between Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, was derailed by the explosion of a 15-pound bomb made of TNT. At least 26 people died and about 100 were injured, including six foreigners. The train is popular with businessmen, government personnel and tourists.

A smaller, second bomb targeting investigators of the wreck was detonated the next day, injuring one person.

Trains in Russia have been the targets of bombs in Russia...