Highly anticipated, two-day talks between senior U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska began acrimoniously as participants traded criticisms (WSJ) in remarks that were open to the media. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined U.S. concerns about China, including its suppression of dissent in Hong Kong and cyberattacks. In a lengthy statement (Al Jazeera), top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi rebuked U.S. interference in China’s affairs and criticized it for racism, among other issues.

However, the subsequent, closed-door discussions were “substantive, serious, and direct” (SCMP), according to a senior U.S. official. The in-person meeting is the countries’ first since U.S. President Joe Biden took office and comes amid strains in the bilateral relationship. Earlier this week, the Biden administration sanctioned Chinese officials over the crackdown in Hong Kong; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the U.S. move as inhospitable.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the United States plans to send (NYT) a combined four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada and Mexico. Separately, President Biden said the United States is expected today to meet his goal (Politico) of administering one hundred million COVID-19 vaccine doses within his first hundred days in office.

North Korea ended diplomatic relations (Yonhap) with Malaysia after Malaysia’s top court ruled that it could extradite a North Korean man accused of money laundering to the United States. Pyongyang claimed Washington was behind the move and said it will “pay a due price,” while Kuala Lumpur gave North Korean embassy staff two days to leave (Nikkei) the country.

China, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States appealed to the Afghan government and Taliban to settle their conflict and said they will not back (TOLOnews) a return to an Islamic emirate, which the Taliban has called for. Representatives of the countries and the Taliban met yesterday in Moscow.

Myanmar: Security forces reportedly killed nine people today (Reuters), continuing their crackdown on opponents of the military junta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a meeting (Nikkei) of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the crisis.

A spokesperson for Iran’s atomic energy agency said the country will soon conduct a so-called cold test (Reuters) on its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor. Iran had agreed to only conduct civilian work at its Arak facility under the 2015 nuclear agreement, which it has increasingly violated since 2019.

This CFR Backgrounder explains the Iran nuclear agreement.

Yemen: The UN Security Council called on Houthi rebels to stop their offensive (Al-Monitor) in the northern region of Marib, the internationally recognized government’s last major stronghold.

Samia Suluhu was sworn in today (Guardian) as the sixth president of Tanzania. Suluhu was the vice president for President John Magufuli, whose death was announced on Wednesday. She is expected to serve until 2025, when Magufuli’s second term ends (Citizen).

Ethiopia: U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) will travel to Ethiopia (White House) on President Biden’s behalf to meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Coons will express concerns about the humanitarian crisis and rights abuses in the country’s Tigray region, for which the Biden administration announced an additional $52 million in aid.

CFR’s Michelle Gavin explains the conflict in Tigray.

The decision to resume use of the COVID-19 vaccine comes after the European Union’s top drug regulator called it “safe and effective” (WSJ). Several countries, including France and Germany, had suspended distribution of the vaccine over concerns it could be linked to blood clots.

Germany/Russia: U.S. Secretary of State Blinken warned companies to halt construction of the Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline between Germany and Russia, or risk U.S. sanctions (DW). Blinken called the project a “bad deal” for countries in the region.

The bank launched a sustainable development initiative (LAHT) for the Amazon region during a virtual conference hosted by Colombia. It also unveiled a new effort to help women entrepreneurs expand the reach of their businesses.

This CFR InfoGuide explores deforestation in the Amazon.

Mexico: Authorities said gunmen killed (Reuters) at least thirteen police officers in an ambush near Mexico City. Security forces are searching for the gunmen, who are suspected to be gang members.