Tropical Storm Carlotta nears hurricane strength June 15, 2012 -- Updated 0644 GMT (1444 HKT) Carlotta could produce risky flash floods, the National Hurricane Center says (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Carlotta neared hurricane strength as it churned in the Pacific Ocean early Friday, heading toward Mexico's southwestern coast, forecasters said. "Carlotta is forecast to become a hurricane by Friday afternoon," the National Hurricane Center said. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The storm was about 220 miles (355 kilometers) southeast of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and 440 miles from the resort town of Acapulco early Friday, according to forecasters. The storm, with sustained winds near 70 mph (110 kph), was moving toward the northwest at 10 mph, the center said. A storm becomes a hurrricane when it produces sustained winds of 74 mph. A hurricane warning is in effect for parts of the Pacific coast of Mexico, from the seaport city of Salina Cruz to Punta Maldonado. The World Bank has found a sharp decline in child mortality in African countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana. Here in numbers, we show the gains and pains of the young. June 14, 2012 -- Updated 2146 GMT (0546 HKT) June 13, 2012 -- Updated 2007 GMT (0407 HKT) One of the most popular internet domains is .tk. It stands for a country you've probably never heard of: Tokelau. In Afghanistan, the fight to curb poppy crops seems to be a losing battle. But one province is showing progress by growing the world's most expensive spice: saffron.