In Ethiopia, the FCDO now advises against all travel within 20km of the Tigray-Afar border, as well as within 10km of the Eritrean border in Afar. It also reports that all civilian flights to and from Tigray were suspended on 22 September. The UN said on 21 September it is "deeply concerned" by the worsening security situation, including the formation of a new coalition of armed groups and reports of drone strikes. Our lead has the detail.
On the SIA's court record, the six cases for supplying unlicensed operatives concluded in the last 12 months were all heard at magistrates' courts and ended in costs orders, modest fines or a community order. Six of the seven pending cases are at Crown Court, all involving supplying unlicensed operatives, with hearings listed into 2028.
In Colombia, the FCDO updated its advice for Santa Marta on 23 September. It says the city remains under heightened security measures following "a major operation against armed groups", with damage to vehicles and businesses, disruption to transport, schools and many businesses closed, and a further police and military deployment expected. It also flags risks on Route 90, the Troncal del Caribe, which links Santa Marta with Tayrona National Park, Palomino and Riohacha.
In Cambodia, the Home Office Minister of State, Lord Hanson, is attending the International Conference on Combating Online Scams from 22 September to 24 September. The government says the UK and Cambodia will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding on tackling scam centres and protecting victims of trafficking, and that coordinated UK and US action against scam centre networks in Southeast Asia, including sanctions, has frozen more than £125 million in assets.
Both main pieces are in full on the site today.
