AUSTRALASIA

Australia (Security threat level – 2): As of 1830 local time (0900 UTC) on 11 January 2022, Tropical Cyclone Tiffany was located approximately 690 km (430 mi) west-northwest of the city of Cairns, and was moving west-southwest at 24 kph (15 mph), according to the U.S. Typhoon Warning Center. At that time, Tiffany was generating maximum sustained winds of 74 kph, with gusts of up to 92 kph. On its current forecast path, the storm is expected to make landfall near Limmen in the Northern Territories during the afternoon of 12 January. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, rainfall of approximately 200 mm (8 in) is possible across the Northern Territories as Tiffany moves inland.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Kenya (Security threat level – 4): At approximately 1045 local time (0745 UTC) on 11 January 2022, a nationwide power outage occurred following the collapse of several towers supporting a high-voltage transmission cable along the Kiambere-Embakasi power line, which connects the Kiambere hydroelectric dam to the capital Nairobi. At approximately 1415 local time, officials with state-owned Kenya Power and Lighting Company announced that the transmission cable had been repaired and electricity had been restored to the Nairobi, West Kenya, North and Central Rift and South Nyanza regions. Several hours later they announced power had resumed nationwide and efforts were underway to reconstruct the fallen towers. Authorities have not provided any details regarding the cause of the transmission towers’ collapse.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Brazil (Security threat level – 3): On 10 January 2022, the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued updated travel advice for Brazil, which reads in part as follows: “You should refer to official guidance in your location for details of what preventative measures are in place and how you can comply with them. It’s highly possible that public places likely to attract large crowds may be closed at short notice. For example, several cities have decided not to host the traditional street Carnival in 2022. These include Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Recife and Salvador, although controlled events are still expected to take place.”