China’s benchmark stock index fell nearly 8 percent (FT) on Monday, its largest drop since 2015, after opening for the first time since January 23 amid a coronavirus outbreak.
 
Though the World Health Organization (WHO) warned countries not to restrict travel or trade (STAT) over the virus, Hong Kong announced the closure of ten of its thirteen border crossings with mainland China and Vietnam banned all flights (NYT) to and from China. Australia and the United States temporarily banned entry from all foreign nationals who recently traveled to China. Oxford Economics estimated that fallout from the virus could reduce global economic growth to its lowest level (NYT) since the 2008 financial crisis.

New Delhi announced a 2020-2021 budget (NYT) that includes modest infrastructure investments and tax cuts in an effort to lift the country out of its deepest economic slump in more than ten years.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Milan Vaishnav looks at India’s economic troubles.
 
Kazakhstan: During a visit to the country, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Kazakh officials (AP) that Chinese investment could threaten their country’s sovereignty, and praised Kazakhstan for repatriating almost six hundred fighters from Iraq and Syria thought to be linked to the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

Iraqi President Barham Salih appointed (Al Jazeera) Mohammed Allawi prime minister on Saturday. Allawi, a former communications minister, will have one month to form a government. Anti-government protesters demonstrated against his appointment, demanding a complete overhaul of the political establishment.
 
Saudi Arabia: The fifty-seven-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, at a summit in Jeddah, said it rejects (Al Jazeera) Washington’s recently announced Middle East peace plan and that member states should not cooperate with the plan’s implementation.

Malawi’s constitutional court is set to rule today (AFP) on whether alleged vote rigging warrants the annulment of May election results that led to the reelection of President Peter Mutharika.
 
Somalia: The country declared a national emergency (BBC) over locust swarms thought to be the country’s worst in twenty-five years. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization called for aid to Somalia and neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya.

France will send six hundred more troops (France 24) to Africa’s Sahel region to combat extremist militants, Defense Minister Florence Parly announced.
 
For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s John Campbell discusses France’s recommitment to the Sahel.
 
Turkey: The Turkish military struck dozens of Syrian government targets (Reuters) in retaliation for the deaths of five Turkish soldiers killed in Syria’s northwest, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
 
CFR’s Global Conflict Tracker looks at Turkey’s role in northwestern Syria.

Chilean protesters continued to demonstrate against the country’s political establishment, torching a supermarket and clashing with police in a new wave of unrest that has left four people dead (Al Jazeera).
 
El Salvador: A man who murdered his girlfriend was found guilty of femicide and sentenced to fifty years (Reuters) in prison. The case prompted the government to declare a national emergency against femicide.

Iowans will caucus tonight (NPR) to declare their preferences for presidential candidates in the first such contest of the 2020 primary season.