U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, spoke for the first time since Biden’s November election in a bid to start reworking (SCMP) their countries’ rocky relationship. The conversation covered an array of issues, with both sides adopting strong stances while still suggesting cooperation is possible (Straits Times). The White House said Biden expressed concerns about China’s predatory economic activities, human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, and approaches to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Xi cautioned Biden against interfering in issues of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, Biden also noted shared challenges, such as the pandemic, and Xi urged cooperation instead of confrontation.

The U.S.-China relationship grew increasingly strained under President Donald J. Trump, who adopted a hard-line approach to China. Earlier this week, Biden promised to reexamine (FT) U.S. policy but warned of “extreme competition” between the two world powers. Xi was among the last heads of state to congratulate Biden on winning the presidency, though the two men cultivated a friendly rapport during the Barack Obama administration.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will resign as head of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympic Games after making widely criticized sexist comments, unnamed sources told Kyodo News. Former soccer player Saburo Kawabuchi will reportedly replace him.

Chinese and Indian troops began disengaging (Indian Express) from around the Pangong lake in the Himalayas, where they have been locked in a standoff over their contested border since May. The move, which China said was agreed to last month, does not settle the dispute; military forces remain in other regions.

CFR’s Alyssa Ayres explains the China-India border dispute.

Myanmar: President Biden announced that the United States will sanction (CNN) the leaders of Myanmar’s military coup, apply export controls, and freeze U.S. assets that benefit the country’s government. Meanwhile, mass protests and arrests of former government officials continue. 

This CFR Backgrounder looks at Myanmar’s history of coups and military rule.

The United Nations’ atomic agency told member states (RFE/RL) that Iran produced uranium metal that could be used for a nuclear weapon, the country’s latest violation of the 2015 nuclear deal. Moscow urged Tehran to “show restraint,” Russian state news reported.

Saudi Arabia: The family of women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul said she has been released (NPR) after nearly three years in prison. Al-Hathloul, who likely faces continued restrictions, was convicted under a far-reaching counterterrorism law.

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society said tens of thousands of people will starve to death (Al Jazeera) within two months in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, 80 percent of which is currently unreachable by aid groups. Conflict between the regional and federal governments has devastated Tigray since November.

CFR’s Michelle Gavin explains the conflict in Tigray.

Nigeria: A judge ordered the country’s central bank to allow access (AFP) to twenty accounts belonging to people who participated in deadly protests against police brutality last year. The accounts, frozen since November, were unblocked after a legal case was dropped.

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said Austria will replace its security service (FT), among other reforms, after an inquiry identified the agency’s failures in preventing a deadly November terrorist attack in Vienna.

Brussels/UK: European Commission Vice President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maros Sefcovic will meet with British Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove in London today to discuss issues related to Northern Ireland and Brexit. Sefcovic told the United Kingdom that it must comply (Guardian) with the agreed-on Northern Ireland protocol before changes to it can be considered.

Hundreds of people protested in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, urging President Jovenel Moise to resign for ruling without a mandate (LAHT). They also criticized the United States and the Organization of American States, which support Moise’s claim to the presidency until 2022. Police used tear gas against protesters and journalists.

Ecuador: President Lenin Moreno called on the national electoral body to swiftly provide accurate results (Al Jazeera) for last weekend’s presidential election, which will head to an April runoff between economist Andres Arauz and a second, still-disputed candidate.

Attorneys for the Department of Justice said in court filings that the Biden administration is reviewing (FT) whether the Chinese-owned video application TikTok is a threat to national security, a concern that led Trump to attempt to ban TikTok in the United States.