US President Donald Trump said Monday he was “not confident” the Gaza ceasefire would last, despite claiming credit for brokering the agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“I’m not confident. It’s not our war, it’s their war,” he said from the Oval Office, when asked by a reporter whether the ceasefire would hold and last through three planned phases. “I looked at a picture of Gaza – Gaza is like a massive demolition site. That place is, it’s really, it’s got to be rebuilt in a different way.”

The American president’s pessimism is not unique. There is significant pressure to restart the Gaza war from extremist right-wing Israeli politicians, who believe the ceasefire was a capitulation to Hamas.

Itamar Ben-Gvir of Israel’s Jewish Power party this week resigned as national security minister, further narrowing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s slim parliamentary majority. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to do the same if Netanyahu does not break the ceasefire once an initial 42-day phase is complete.

“I demanded – and received – a commitment from Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel will return to the battlefield to eliminate Hamas and eradicate this threat once and for all,” Smotrich said in a statement on Monday.

Netanyahu, for his part, said on Sunday night that “both President Trump and President Biden gave full backing to Israel’s right to return to fighting, if Israel comes to the conclusion that negotiations on Phase B are futile. I really appreciate it.”

Israeli media has been rife with speculation this week that those commitments to potentially restart the war will doom negotiations on phase two of the deal, which are due to begin on February 4. Phase two, if it goes into effect, would see the complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza.

Trump’s pessimism about the ceasefire stood in contrast to the pledge made just hours earlier, during his inaugural address, that he would “measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end.”

Among the slew of executive orders he signed upon taking office was a decision to rescind sanctions that the Biden administration had against Israeli settlers allegedly responsible for deadly violence in the occupied West Bank.

Smotrich was quick to thank Trump on taking office, and said he looked forward to “continued fruitful cooperation to bolster our national security, expand settlement throughout all parts of the Land of Israel, and strengthen Israel’s standing in the world.”

The finance minister is among those who has argued strenuously for Israel to re-establish Jewish settlements in Gaza, which were abandoned under an Israeli order in 2005. Smotrich was briefly arrested – though never charged – in connection with protests he staged in opposition to that withdrawal at the time.

It is unclear what Trump makes of that effort. But when asked on Monday who should govern Gaza, Trump said “you certainly can’t have the people that were there,” apparently referring to Hamas. “Most of them are dead, by the way, right? Most of them are dead. But they didn’t exactly run it well. It was run viciously and badly. So you can’t have that.”

The American president, in response to a question, also said that he “might” be able to have a role in rebuilding the enclave, praising it as having a “phenomenal location, on the sea” and “the best weather.”

The comments echo remarks made by his son-in-law Jared Kushner in February 2024 when Kushner called the waterfront property in Gaza “very valuable” and suggested Israel should move Palestinians out of Gaza and “clean it up.”

World leaders congratulated President Donald Trump on his inauguration Monday, with many urging stronger alliances or continued cooperation between their countries and the United States, in carefully crafted social media posts and statements.

Trump’s return to the White House portends a seismic shakeup in international relations, with the new president immediately ordering the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, as world leaders brace for new tariffs on goods and the impact of Trump’s “America first” agenda.

Some populist leaders celebrated Trump’s return, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the US president a “dear friend,” and Hungary’s Victor Orbán who declared, “now it’s our turn to shine.”

But not all the messages were congratulatory.

Some leaders expressed their anger at remarks Trump made during his Inauguration Day speech, or with the controversial raft of executive actions he signed almost immediately after entering the Oval Office.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump’s promise that the US would be “taking back” the Panama Canal. The vital waterway in Central America was built by the US but is now controlled by Panama.

“The Canal is and will continue to be Panama’s,” Mulino reiterated in a statement. “There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration,” he added, apparently referring to Trump’s claim that China is “operating” the canal.

Other regional neighbors were also critical of Trump.

Cuba condemned Trump’s decision to put the Communist-run island back on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, with its president calling the move, “an act of arrogance and disregard for the truth.”

“This is not surprising. His goal is to continue strengthening the cruel economic war against Cuba for the purpose of domination,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also issued a scathing response to the decision, saying Trump was “drunk with arrogance.”

But outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau struck a more conciliatory tone, despite Trump’s recent jibes about making Canada the 51st US state and indication that he will impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico on February 1.

Trudeau congratulated Trump and said Canada looks forward to working with the new administration, “while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians.”

Wartime leaders

Trump repeatedly signaled his wish to end the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine during his campaign and major players in both conflicts have adjusted their positions accordingly in the months since his November election victory.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that “the best days of our alliance are yet to come.” He also thanked Trump for his assistance in brokering Israel’s ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.

“Your first term as President was filled with groundbreaking moments,” Netanyahu said. “I’m confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran’s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region.”

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to rebuilding relations with the new US administration, saying he welcomed statements from Trump and his team “expressing a desire to restore direct contact with Russia.”

Trump on Monday said he plans to meet Putin once talks are set up, a process he said was already underway.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been trying to win over Trump and convince him to continue US military assistance as Kyiv fends off Moscow’s invasion, said Trump’s inauguration was a day of “change” and “hope.”

He also praised Trump’s “peace through strength policy,” saying it provides an opportunity to achieve “a long-term and just peace.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, “With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defense spending and production.” Trump previously said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending guidelines and would not offer such a country US protection.

Allies’ hopes

Several Asian leaders also took to social media to congratulate Trump, expressing hopes for continued alliances. US security and military assistance to countries in the Asia-Pacific has been a cornerstone of previous administrations’ foreign policy, which has centered around countering an increasingly assertive China.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a post on X that he looks “forward to collaborating with you to reinforce the enduring Japan-US partnership and jointly pursue our shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te offered his “sincere congratulations” to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying “Taiwan looks forward to working with your administration to promote enduring freedom, peace and prosperity around the world.”

In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump on X, saying, “For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “the special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to flourish for years to come.”

Starmer recently criticized those “spreading lies and misinformation” about child sex grooming gangs in the UK, responding to Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and Trump adviser, who had accused the prime minister of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” over historic child sex abuse in parts of England.

European Union leaders also looked to strengthen the transatlantic partnership with the US.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “the EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges,” while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in an address to the legislature that the future “will not be without its challenges.”

Middle Eastern endorsement

Leaders and diplomats in the Middle East also expressed hope for closer relations with the US.

Syria’s de facto leader, the former rebel chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, said, “We are confident that (Trump) is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region.”

Al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, became the de facto head of Syria’s interim government after his Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December.

“We look forward to improving the relations between our two countries based on dialogue and understanding,” he said in a statement “on behalf of the New Administration of Syria.”

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US Reema Bandar Al-Saud posted photos from the inauguration in Washington on her X account, including of her meeting Trump.

“As our two nations celebrate 80 years of friendship, it was my honor to convey our leadership’s heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she wrote.

“The relationship between our two countries is historic and we look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of both our peoples, our region, and the world.”

For many of America’s 170 million TikTok users, US President Donald Trump’s move to delay a legal ban of the popular social media platform was cause for celebration.

But in China, where TikTok’s parent company is based, the reception has been less positive, largely because Trump has suggested he could require the company to give up a 50% stake to avert its shutdown.

The future of TikTok should be “decided by companies” in line with Chinese law, China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

The US should “earnestly listen to the voice of reason” and “provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment” for companies from all countries, spokesperson Mao Ning said when asked about the joint venture proposal.

Hours after his inauguration Monday, Trump issued an executive order delaying for 75 days the enforcement of a controversial law, which requires that TikTok be banned in the US unless it sells to a buyer from America or one of its allies.

The executive action followed a pledge from Trump on Sunday that he would delay enforcement. TikTok said that assurance allowed it to come back online after going dark for more than 12 hours over the weekend.

The delay will help the Trump administration “determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans,” the order said.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that he could be open to an American buyer purchasing half of the company and running it as a 50-50 joint venture with its current Chinese owner ByteDance.

A joint venture involving a US firm with a 50% stake in TikTok would soften the letter of the controversial law, though it’s unclear whether US lawmakers or TikTok, which denies that it poses a national security risk to Americans, would accept it.

Backlash in China

On Chinese social media, where TikTok’s fate has appeared as one among many efforts from the US to stymy Beijing’s technical prowess, Trump’s suggestions were met with distain.

Tens of millions of users on the social media platform Weibo flocked to hashtags related to the potential 50-50 ownership, with many decrying the US government’s “robbery.”

“Apple and Tesla should also give up 50% of their shares to Chinese companies then,” one comment with thousands of likes said.

“We need 50% control of Nvidia then!” said another commentator, referring to the US chipmaker.

“China will not let ByteDance kneel down,” another comment read, referring to TikTok’s parent company. “Robbery does not change its nature just because it changes from 100% to 50%,” the comment added.

Media giant ByteDance does not operate TikTok in China, but its sister app Douyin is popular domestically.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times on Tuesday looked at the handling of the US ban and concluded that “the trap some Americans set for TikTok has ensnared them instead.”

“The political manipulation of an overstretched concept of security against TikTok has not only caused fluctuations in the emotions of the American public, but has also led to ‘deep personal pain’ for some who rely on it for their livelihood,” the editorial read.

TikTok and tariffs

Despite the uncertainty around the fate of TikTok, both the US and China have appeared to show their interest in dialogue as the new administration gets underway.

In a phone call with Trump on Friday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a “new starting point” in US-China relations and stressed their “extensive common interests.” Trump noted that the call included discussion of TikTok.

Xi also dispatched Chinese Vice President Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration, the seniormost official Beijing has ever sent to an American presidential inauguration.

Trump’s executive order on TikTok stands as one of a range of signals from the newly sworn-in president that he is willing to negotiate with Beijing, despite campaigning on a hardline stance on the country, the US’s key geopolitical rival.

Trump on Monday also refrained from slapping tariffs on Chinese goods, something observers suggested could be on his day one agenda. While on the campaign trial, Trump threatened upwards of 60% tariffs on Chinese imports into the US, and Beijing has been braced for sharper economic competition with the US under his term.

When asked about those tariffs Monday, Trump said duties he imposed as president the first time around were still in place. He did not name any timeline within which when he might levy more duties, despite saying tariffs against Mexican and Canadian goods were likely to go into place February 1.

But Trump also suggested tariffs could be linked to TikTok’s fate – raising questions about the kind of hard bargaining the president may have in mind in the months ahead.

In remarks in the Oval Office Monday, Trump posited levying as much as 100% tariffs on China if Beijing didn’t approve a potential future agreement.

“If we wanted to make a deal with TikTok and it was a good deal and China wouldn’t approve it … I think ultimately, they’d approve it because we’d put tariffs on China, maybe,” he said, while suggesting this wasn’t the only approach he could take.

Beijing has previously suggested it has the legal authority to block any deal involving TikTok, because a sale or divestiture would involve “exporting technology” – an apparent reference to the potential sale of the app’s proprietary algorithm.

Trump ally and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also joined the fray discussing the future of TikTok by alluding to the “need for change” in comments Sunday on X, the social media platform he owns. According to Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials are discussing a possible option that involves selling at least a portion of the US version of the app to Musk’s X.

Musk pointed out how X is not available in China. Most major American-owned tech platforms are blocked in the country due to Beijing’s stringent controls on speech and information under the so-called Great Firewall.

“I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech,” Musk wrote. “That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but 𝕏 is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced. Something needs to change.”

A fire broke out at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 32, according to the country’s Interior Minister.

The fire, which broke out at a hotel in the Kartalkaya resort in Bolu province, was reported around 3:27 a.m. local time, Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X.

The resort is a popular destination for holiday-makers in the winter, especially during school holidays, which run from January until the first week of February.

There were around 234 guests staying at the hotel, Governor Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Two of the victims died after jumping out of the building “in a panic,” Aydin said.

According to Yerlikaya, authorities mobilized 267 emergency personnel to respond to the blaze.

A number of videos, some shared on social media and others broadcast by Turkish TV stations, showed flames coming out of the top floors of the hotel. Some people were seen using tied bed sheets to try to escape the blaze.

Turkey’s Interior, Tourism and Health ministers are en route to the Kartalkaya resort and are expected to hold a press conference later on Tuesday, the ministries said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Taipei, Taiwan (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of six struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey, leaving 15 people with minor injuries.

The quake hit at 12:17 a.m. local time, with its epicenter 12 kilometers (7 miles) north of Yujing at a preliminary depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), USGS said. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration recorded a magnitude of 6.4.

There were no immediate reports of deaths from the quake, though rescuers were still assessing damage.

Taiwan’s fire department said 15 people were sent to the hospital for minor injuries. Among them were six people, including one child, who were rescued from a collapsed house in Nanxi District, Tainan city. The Zhuwei bridge on a provincial highway was reported to be damaged.

Last April, a magnitude 7.4 quake hit the island’s mountainous eastern coast of Hualien, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 1,000 others. The strongest earthquake in 25 years was followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.