The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting today (AFP) to discuss Ethiopia’s announcement that it will expel seven top UN officials (NYT) for “meddling” in the country’s affairs. Earlier this week, the UN aid chief warned that Ethiopian restrictions on humanitarian aid to the country’s war-torn Tigray region are contributing to famine conditions for an estimated four hundred thousand people.
 
Washington threatened to sanction Ethiopia over the announcement. Last week, the Associated Press reported the first starvation deaths in Tigray since June, when the government imposed what the United Nations called a “de facto humanitarian aid blockade.”

The country has maintained a strict cap on international arrivals and required that people quarantine outside their homes for much of the pandemic. Beginning in November, home quarantine will be permitted (CNN) for fully vaccinated Australians and permanent residents.
 
Australia/Brussels: The European Union postponed talks (SMH) about a potential free trade agreement with Australia until November in the wake of the controversy over the country’s submarine deal with the United States and the United Kingdom.
 
CFR’s Charles A. Kupchan looks at European responses to the deal.

Bangladeshi authorities arrested a suspect (Dhaka Tribune) in the Wednesday killing of Mohib Ullah, a teacher and community leader. Local and international human rights groups condemned the killing (Al Jazeera) and called for justice.
 
Myanmar: Amid a dramatic slump in the value of the country’s currency, licensed money traders have closed and currency trading groups have proliferated on Facebook (Reuters).

The move comes amid Iranian concerns about Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel and tensions that arose when Azerbaijan imposed a tax (Al Jazeera) on Iranian trucks transiting part of the country’s south.
 
Qatar: The country will hold the first legislative elections (National) in its history tomorrow. Citizens will choose two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council, which will gain legislative powers after the elections.
 
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discusses the elections at this virtual meeting.

David Malpass became the first World Bank president to visit South Sudan in decades. The bank says it will commit around $2 billion (Al Jazeera) in economic-development grants to the country next year.

The countries’ envoys met in Geneva and agreed to establish working groups (RFE/RL) that will seek potential agreements on nuclear weapons and other global threats.
 
France: The government announced that it will block energy price hikes (FT) until April amid soaring costs and the threat of social unrest.

The country is debuting a new currency (AP) that features six fewer zeros in an effort to curb hyperinflation.
 
For Foreign Affairs, Moises Naim and Francisco Toro examine Venezuela’s endless crisis.
 
Haiti: Authorities from the Bahamas and Cuba said they intercepted (Reuters) hundreds of U.S.-bound Haitian migrants at sea.

Congress approved and President Joe Biden signed legislation to fund the government (NYT) through December 3, but an anticipated vote on a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan was not held. Negotiations resume today.