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Ramaswamy stated, “I plan to completely abstain from social media in 2026.” On New Year’s Eve, I deleted X and Instagram from my phone. Ramaswamy then said that his team would use social media platforms to campaign for him.
US governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
New Delhi: US gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said in an article in the Wall Street Journal that he will be quitting social media this year as part of his New Year's resolution. He stated, "I plan to completely abstain from social media in 2026." On New Year's Eve, I deleted X and Instagram from my phone. Ramaswamy then said that his team would use social media platforms to campaign for him.
35 Dead in Economic Protests in Iran
Violence has escalated in the ongoing protests in Iran against inflation, unemployment, and poor economic conditions. According to human rights activists, at least 35 people have died so far and more than 1,200 have been detained.
These protests have been going on for more than a week. A US-based human rights activist news agency reported that those killed include 29 protesters, four children, and two security personnel.
The organization says it receives information from activists inside Iran and its reporting has been reliable in the past.
Meanwhile, according to Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, 250 police officers and 45 members of the Basij force were injured in these protests. The Basij force is considered to be affiliated with Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The government has blamed foreign forces for the unrest, while human rights organizations are criticizing the use of force. The situation remains tense.
Ukraine War: Drone Attacks in Russian Border Regions, Two Dead
Amidst the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, reports of drone attacks in Russian border regions have emerged. According to local authorities, two people have died in Ukrainian drone attacks.
These attacks come at a time when peace talks are scheduled to take place in Paris to end the war. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, reported that a drone targeted a car, killing one person and injuring two others, including a child.
Separately, another person was killed in a drone attack in the Kursk region. Meanwhile, three people were injured in Russian attacks in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. The death toll from Friday's Russian missile attack has risen to five.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that negotiations on security guarantees have intensified. Important meetings with European and American representatives are planned in Paris.
Curfew extended in Birgunj
The curfew imposed in parts of Birgunj, Nepal, bordering India, has been extended following increased communal tensions. Violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities were reported in several areas of Birgunj.
The administration has extended the curfew until January 6th. According to an order issued by the Parsa District Administration Office, the curfew in Birgunj has been extended until 1 PM today, January 6th, due to the tense situation.
Israeli airstrike in Gaza: Two killed, including a five-year-old girl
A five-year-old girl and her uncle were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The attack targeted a tent housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Hospital officials said two other children were injured in the attack.
According to Gaza's Nasser Hospital, family members wept uncontrollably when the bodies were brought to the hospital. More than 400 people have died since the ceasefire in October.
The Israeli army said on social media that it targeted a Hamas fighter who was preparing to attack Israeli soldiers. The army claimed the attack was carried out under ceasefire rules and that efforts were made to minimize civilian casualties.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in this conflict so far, while over 170,000 have been injured. The situation remains extremely critical.
Major changes to children's vaccination rules in the US
The US has made a major and controversial decision regarding childhood vaccinations. The government has reduced the number of vaccines considered mandatory for every child.
Now, some vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, have been left to the discretion of families, and no clear guidelines have been provided for them. This decision was made after a review by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Officials say that this change will not affect any child's access to vaccines or insurance coverage.
However, doctors and health experts have strongly criticized this decision. They say that it could lead to a decrease in vaccination rates and an increased risk of diseases.
This step was taken after President Donald Trump ordered in December that US vaccination rules be compared to those of other countries and changes be made if necessary.
Experts believe that clear and strong government guidance on vaccines is crucial to protect children from serious diseases.
IED blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one killed
One person was killed and eight others were injured in an IED blast targeting a vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Police said the blast occurred on Monday near the Nawara Khel area on Begukhel Road in the restive Lakki Marwat district. The targeted vehicle was carrying employees of a cement factory. Two of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss passes away
Eva Schloss, a survivor of the German concentration camp Auschwitz and a chronicler of the horrors of the Holocaust, has passed away. She was 96 years old. The UK-based Anne Frank Trust announced that Eva died at her home in London on Saturday. She was the honorary president of the trust.
Eva was born in Vienna in 1929. After Nazi Germany occupied Austria, Eva and her family moved to Amsterdam. There, she became friends with Anne Frank, whose diary is one of the most famous accounts of the Holocaust.
India launches e-business visa for Chinese nationals
India has launched an e-business visa to facilitate travel for Chinese businesspeople. Also known as the e-Production Investment Business Visa or e-B-4 visa, it allows Chinese businesspeople to apply to travel to India for specific business activities, including equipment installation and commissioning.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing advised that applications for the visa can be submitted online. Senior management and officers involved in installation and commissioning, quality checks, maintenance, production, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, plant design, and operations can apply for the visa.
Chatbot accused of creating obscene images; UK demands answers from X
The British government and media regulator Ofcom have taken a strong stance against Elon Musk's social media platform X. It is alleged that X's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok is being used to create offensive and child-related obscene images.
Britain has demanded an explanation from the company regarding this serious security lapse. The British regulator has clarified that creating or sharing such images through AI is a legal offense.
According to an Ofcom spokesperson, the company has been asked how it is fulfilling its legal obligations to protect users. Earlier, French ministers had also called for legal action against X, explicitly stating that this service was illegal.
Meanwhile, as the controversy escalated, Grok acknowledged that the images were created due to flaws in its security system, which are now being rapidly addressed.
China displaying military power around Taiwan
China's military pressure on Taiwan has become commonplace. In 2025, the PLA conducted 5,317 flights around Taiwan, averaging nearly 15 per day. Of these, Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait 3,867 times and entered Taiwan's self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In fact, the number of PLA aircraft entering Taiwan's defense zone saw a 22.4% annual increase last year. The number of such provocative flights increased from 972 in 2021 to a staggering 287% in just four years. This is all part of Xi Jinping's strategy to intimidate Taiwan and normalize the threat of force.
