Weeklong annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank kick off in Washington today (Reuters), with a scandal siphoning attention away from the global economic recovery from the pandemic and COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The IMF’s executive board is expected to decide whether Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will step down after allegations that she pressured World Bank staff to boost China’s ranking in a 2018 report when she was the bank’s CEO.

Georgieva says she “fundamentally” disagrees (IMF) with the allegations, laid out in a World Bank–commissioned audit. The Financial Times reported that the IMF’s executive board is split over the issue, with Japan and the United States seeking Georgieva’s removal while China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom support her.

Leader Kim Jong-un told officials to improve (AP) the food and living conditions in North Korea during a speech on the anniversary of the ruling party’s founding. North Korea has stepped up its missile testing in recent weeks, but Kim did not mention Washington or Seoul. 

Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan (SCMP) needed to “resist annexation or encroachment” after Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the reunification of Taiwan and China in a speech. China flew a record number of warplanes near Taiwan earlier this month.

In Foreign Affairs, Yan Xuetong discusses Xi’s approach to Taiwan.

A fresh round of talks between China and India about potential troop withdrawals from their disputed border ended without yielding results (Mint). Troops from both countries will remain deployed (AP) in the area for a second consecutive winter. 

This video explains what to know about the border conflict between China and India.

Afghanistan:  The United States agreed to provide humanitarian aid (AP) to the country but not to politically recognize the Taliban, the group said following the first direct U.S.-Taliban talks since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

President Kais Saied approved a government (Al Jazeera) selected by Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane. The move comes eleven weeks after Saied consolidated power in July, which his opponents denounced as a coup.
 
CFR’s Steven A. Cook writes that it is a mistake to describe the democratization of Tunisia as a straightforward success.
 
Iraq: Forty-one percent of voters participated in parliamentary elections (AP) that were held months early due to mass protests, a record-low turnout in the post–Saddam Hussein era.

The trial of fourteen men accused of killing President Thomas Sankara in 1987 begins today (AFP).
 
Nigeria: Oil tanker truck drivers called off plans (Reuters) for a national strike over poor road quality and will instead attempt negotiations with the government.

The party of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis lost a parliamentary election (France 24) after Babis’s financial dealings appeared in the Pandora Papers investigations. Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stepped down (BBC) amid allegations that he used state money to buy positive coverage in a newspaper.
 
Poland: Tens of thousands of people across the country protested against Poland’s possible exit (BBC) from the European Union (EU). A court ruling on Thursday rejected EU law’s primacy over national legislation.

Chile’s public prosecutor’s office opened a probe (AFP) into the sale of a mining company by President Sebastian Pinera’s family in 2010, during Pinera’s first term as president.
 
Argentina/Brazil: Top economic officials from both countries held a meeting (MercoPress) to deepen trade ties after several months of tensions between the two neighbors.