USA - "By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO."

USA - Donald Trump has wasted no time in dismantling the legacy of the Biden administration, promising to “identify and remove” more than a thousand of his successor’s appointees. The 47th US president announced on his social media platform Truth Social at 12.38 am (5.38 am GMT) that four officials “not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again” had already been dismissed. “You’re fired!” Mr Trump wrote, referencing his catch phrase from the reality TV show The Apprentice.

USA - Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders and directives as he seeks to put his stamp on his new administration on issues ranging from immigration, gender and energy, to criminal pardons. The President signed some orders from the US Capitol, where his swearing-in ceremony took place, and more later at the White House. Executive orders allow presidents to enact some policies without the consent of Congress and can take effect immediately. Some could later be challenged in court.

USA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is now open to dialogue with the US: “I want to emphasise that its goal should not be a brief truce... but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people.”

NATO chief Mark Rutte says Mr Trump’s return to office “will turbo-charge defence spending and production” at the alliance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes “working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights.”

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is ready to work with Mr Trump “to achieve peace during your term, based on a two-state solution.”

USA - China said it is “concerned” by Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement for a second time. “Climate change is a common challenge faced by all of humanity, and no country can remain unaffected or solve the problem on its own,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. In 2006, China overtook the US to become the world’s largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases and by 2019 the nation was emitting more greenhouse gases than the entire developed world combined, according to research by the Rhodium Group. “I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris Climate Accord rip-off,” Mr Trump said to cheering supporters during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”

MIDDLE EAST - The war in Gaza must and will resume. It’s just a question of when. The newly brave terrorists of Hamas have not yet had their full dose of medicine. Until yesterday the survivors of Hamas’s terror army were skulking inside what’s left of their tunnel network, hiding in civilian houses, mosques, schools and hospitals or embedding themselves into humanitarian areas on the coast. They disguised themselves as civilians, sometimes dressed as women and journalists and never daring to openly carry weapons above ground. Today they are out on the streets of Gaza proudly wearing their green bandanas and combat uniforms while flaunting assault rifles and rocket launchers.

USA - Donald Trump said earlier that he is “not confident” the Gaza ceasefire deal will be upheld. Responding to questions while signing executive orders in the Oval Office earlier, the president said: “That’s not our war, it’s their war. But I’m not confident.” Mr Trump, however, said he believed Hamas had been “weakened”. The real estate mogul added that Gaza, which now looked like “a massive demolition site”, could see a “fantastic” reconstruction. “Gaza is interesting. It’s a phenomenal location on the sea - the best weather. You know, everything’s good. Some beautiful things could be done with it,” he said.

USA - Donald Trump has vowed to sign “close to 100” executive orders within hours of taking office later today. The directives are set to include actions to curb immigration, increase import tariffs, halt US government diversity policies and deregulate sectors including energy and cryptocurrencies. The role of the Department of Government Efficiency - to be led by Elon Musk - will also be outlined, US media reported. “Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed of strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” Mr Trump told supporters during a triumphant rally in Washington on Sunday.

USA - Donald Trump is planning a revolution. Never mind FDR’s “100 days”; the new boss proposes 100 executive orders on day one, cutting the state, disarming woke and expelling illegal immigrants (all of them, he hopes).Trump has TR’s vigour and Cal Coolidge’s agenda. Expect a fiery speech followed by a dizzying round of executive orders to repeal the Biden years and deconstruct the administrative state. Close the border, revive travel bans, suspend refugee admissions, expel illegals, end birthright citizenship, pardon January 6 rioters, scrap climate subsidies, cease promoting electric cars, “drill, baby, drill”, audit regulations, ban transgender women from sports, shut down the federal diversity drive, and cut funding to schools that promote critical race theory. Oh, and bring peace to Ukraine within 24 hours.

USA - US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said her department will take “extraordinary measures” to prevent the US from hitting the national debt limit on Tuesday, one day after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. In a letter to Congress on Friday, Yellen explained that the US will hit its roughly $36 trillion debt limit between January 14 and January 23, potentially leading to a default.