The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a new coronavirus first reported in Wuhan, China, an international public health emergency (STAT). The WHO has called for greater transparency around virus reporting, as well as increased efforts to develop a vaccine and support affected countries that have weak health systems.
 
The WHO said the virus did not necessitate the sweeping travel and trade bans (SCMP) some countries have instituted. Still, airlines continue to cancel flights to China, the U.S. State Department warned against all travel to the country, and officials in Mongolia and Singapore announced they will bar entry (NYT) from China. Researchers consulted by the New York Times estimated the new coronavirus is likely moderately infectious, similar to SARS, but its mortality rate is likely much lower.  

At midnight Brussels-time tonight, the United Kingdom will officially officially leave (BBC) the European Union. Though its representatives in the European Parliament will leave Brussels, much of its relationship with the EU will change more gradually over an eleven-month transition period, by the end of which Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to have negotiated a trade agreement with the bloc. 
 
The Council of Councils looks at the consequences of Brexit.
 
Ukraine: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in Kyiv for a meeting (NYT) with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the United States supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Zelensky said he hoped to visit the White House soon.
 
This CFR timeline looks at Ukraine’s post-independence struggles.

The Taliban and other insurgent groups in the country carried out 8,204 attacks (WSJ) in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to a new report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, marking the highest such total since the group began keeping records in 2010.
 
India: A man was arrested after firing shots at students protesting India’s controversial new citizenship law in New Delhi, wounding one of them (India Today). A lawmaker from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was recently censured for calling on a crowd (BBC) to “shoot the traitors,” referring to protesters.

A new Swiss-facilitated payment mechanism for humanitarian work in Iran began operations with an inaugural payment (BBC) to fund cancer drugs and medications required for organ transplants, Swiss authorities said. The channel was designed to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Iran.
 
Iraq: Joint U.S.-Iraq operations against the self-proclaimed Islamic State have resumed (WaPo) after a pause following the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Emma Sky looks at what Soleimani’s killing means for U.S.-Iraq relations.

Kenya approved the start of free trade talks (The Star) with the United States, Kenyan authorities said. The African Growth and Opportunity Act, which promotes trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, is set to expire (AllAfrica) in 2025.
 
Ethiopia: The country passed a new law to facilitate foreign investment (Reuters) in sectors other than banking and insurance.

Colombian President Ivan Duque rejected (Reuters) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s call for their countries to resume diplomatic relations, citing Venezuela’s “constant aggressions” against its detractors.
 
Nicaragua: Armed attackers killed six people (BBC) and kidnapped ten others from the Mayagna indigenous group in a protected nature reserve in Nicaragua’s north, rights groups said.

The Senate is set to vote today on whether to call for additional witnesses (WaPo) at President Donald J. Trump’s impeachment trial. If they vote against hearing from witnesses, a vote on whether to remove Trump from office could also occur today.