China’s industrial firms saw their profits drop by 13.1 per cent in November from last year, marking the steepest decline in over a year.

This fall came despite strong exports, putting focus on the country’s ongoing economic struggles and increasing pressure for more government support.

The National Bureau of Statistics released these figures on Saturday, as quoted by Reuters. The decline was worse than October’s 5.5 per cent.

This trend comes as China faces persistent factory-gate deflation and weak consumer spending.

For the first 11 months of the year, industrial profits barely grew, showing just a 0.1% increase compared to the previous year’s 1.9% growth.”

The profit numbers show a broader cooling.

The profit numbers show a broader cooling in economic activity in the fourth quarter, mainly due to the drag from soft domestic demand,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

However, Xu remained cautiously optimistic about future profits, suggesting companies might find more opportunities overseas. Despite this, there were some industries that managed to register gains.

The automobile industry posted a 7.5 per cent rise in profitability, while the high-tech industry posted a 10 per cent rise. A massive decline of 47.3 per cent in profitability was seen in the coal mine industry.

An estimate by the think tank Rhodium Group, quoted by Reuters, indicated a growth of 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent in the Chinese economy for the year, which is approximately half the officially hinted growth.

China policymakers are now promising more support.

At a recent meeting, they pledged to maintain “proactive” fiscal policies next year. The government has also committed to improving employment.

The government aims to boost consumption, stabilise prices, and assist the struggling property market. NBS Chief Statistician Yu Weining noted that industrial firms still need stronger support.

especially given the uncertain global environment and ongoing changes in growth drivers. The data covers companies earning at least 20 million yuan ($2.85 million) in annual revenue from their main operations.

IDLIB, Syria — A bomb exploded at a mosque during Friday prayers in the Syrian city of Homs, killing at least eight people and wounding 18 others.

officials said, as long-standing sectarian, ethnic and political fault lines are destabilising the country, even as large-scale fighting has subsided.

Pictures released by Syria’s state-run Arab News Agency showed blood on the mosque’s carpets, holes in the walls, broken windows; and fire damage.

The Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque is located in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighbourhood, an area dominated by the Alawite minority in Homs, Syria’s third-largest city.

SANA, citing a security source, reported that preliminary investigations revealed the presence of explosive devices within the mosque.

Authorities are searching for the perpetrators, who have not yet been identified, and have set up a security cordon around the building, Syria’s interior ministry said in a statement.

A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel.

The same group had previously claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in June, when a gunman opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church in Dweila, on the outskirts of Damascus, and then detonated an explosive, killing 25 people who were attending Sunday prayers.

The Syrian government blamed a cell of the Islamic State group for the church attack and said IS had also planned to target a Shia Muslim shrine.

IS has not claimed responsibility for the attack. The group follows an extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam and considers Shias to be infidels.

Syria has recently joined the global coalition against IS. And it has launched a crackdown on IS cells, especially after attacks on US forces earlier this month killed two service members and a civilian translator.

The country has experienced several waves of communal clashes since the fall of President Bashar Assad last year.

Assad, himself an Alawite, fled the country to Russia. Assad has taken action against members of his sect.

In March, days of violence followed an ambush against security forces by Assad’s supporters. Hundreds of people died. Most of them are Alawites.

In a statement, the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the Diaspora described the attack as “a continuation of organised extremist terrorism targeting exclusively the Alawite community and increasingly other Syrian groups”.

The council held the Syrian government “fully and directly responsible for these crimes” and said that “these criminal acts will not go unanswered.”

Local officials condemned Friday’s attack, saying it occurred “in the context of continued desperate efforts to undermine security and stability and create chaos among the Syrian people.”

“Syria reiterates its firm stance in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The remnants of the former regime, IS terrorists and allies have converged on the same goal: obstructing the path to a new state by undermining stability,

endangering civil peace and destroying the shared coexistence and common destiny of the Syrian people throughout history,” the Syrian information minister said in a post on Twitter.

The mosque’s deputy imam – a religious official who helps lead prayers – told Syria’s state broadcaster, Al-Ikhbariya television that worshipers were praying when they

“heard a loud explosion that knocked us to the ground. A corner of the mosque caught fire. Those of us without injuries rushed to assist in evacuating the injured. Within minutes, general security forces and the Red Crescent arrived.”

“The explosion was huge,” he said. “It broke the windows of the mosque and caused a fire that burnt copies of the Holy Quran.”

Neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon, also condemned the attack. In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed “Lebanon’s support for Syria in the fight against terrorism.”

On Monday, intermittent clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces

in mixed neighbourhoods of the northern city of Aleppo, forcing the temporary closure of schools and public institutions and forcing civilians to shelter indoors.

A ceasefire was announced by both sides late in the evening amid ongoing efforts to reduce tensions.

Nina Lin has been banned again as Twitch deals with repeated bans, shoplifting claims, and a backlash due to increasing online anger (Image via Getty).

Twitch is again facing criticism after it reinstated the account of controversial streamer Nina Lynn on December 25, 2025.

The move shocked many viewers, as his most recent ban was considered permanent.

The suspension came after a viral clip purportedly showed Nina Lynn shopping while livestreamed inside a Target store. When her account, NinaDaddyIsBack,

went live again on Christmas Day, anger quickly spread online.

Many users said that Twitch keeps condoning the same behaviour over and over again. On Reddit, people questioned why streamers continue to get chances on Twitch while many other streamers face harsher punishments.

The backlash quickly escalated, putting Twitch’s leadership in the spotlight and raising fresh concerns over how the platform handles repeat rule breakers.

Nina Lin reacts as Twitch CEO Dan Clancy faces renewed criticism

After the ban was lifted, Nina Lin responded on Instagram through her account @n.nina666.

Posting on Christmas Day, he mocked the reaction and suggested his comeback was always going to happen.

“We always support… Twitter’s fingers will go crazy now,” he wrote. He also shared a screenshot of a viral post by FearDbk, which claimed that he has been permanently banned.

Nina Lynn added the caption, “I had to frame this… I love it so much.” Later, he uploaded another post posing as the Grinch, wishing followers a Merry Christmas.

The reaction online was harsh. One Reddit user wrote, “I really don’t understand this. He’s broken the law multiple times, shown no remorse, and he’s already banned?”

Another said, “Twitch really wants to be shit like Kik.” Some anger was directed toward Twitch leadership. “This company needs a new CEO.”

One user said, pointing to Dan Clancy, the head of the Amazon-owned platform. Others questioned why Nina Lynn was being allowed on Twitch despite repeated controversies.

One comment read, “I really don’t know why she gets such a soft spot. She’s seen herself getting mugged several times.”

Nina Lin has been banned four times since the end of October 2025. His first suspension came after a viral video resurfaced that showed him and Zoe Spencer behaving inappropriately with FaZe Clan production team member Saeed during a live stream.

His latest ban came after the Target incident, which many believed would end his Twitch career. At this time,

Twitch has not released a detailed public statement explaining why the ban was lifted.

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Indonesian rescue workers searched for a Spanish soccer coach and his three children on Saturday after a tour boat carrying 11 people sank overnight off a popular destination. Komodo National Park officials said.

The boat carrying a family of six, four crew members, and a local guide sank on Friday evening after an engine failure while travelling from Komodo Island to Padre Island, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere search and rescue office.

A passing ship rescued three people, while search and rescue teams picked up four others. Survivors include a Spanish mother and a daughter. The father, two sons, and another daughter are missing, he said.

Spanish football club Valencia said its women’s reserve team coach Fernando Martín and his three children were among the victims.

In a statement on X, Valencia CF expressed condolences, saying his death had been confirmed by local authorities.

Real Madrid CF also expressed its condolences over the death of Martin, 44, and his three children.

“Real Madrid wishes to express its horror and express its condolences and deep affection to his wife, Andrea, and his daughter, Mar, at this incredibly difficult time.”

the club said this in a statement. “Similarly, we extend our condolences to all of his family members, loved ones, and the entire Valencia community.”

According to Real Madrid, the ages of the three children were 12, 10 and 9 years.

Rahman said the search was halted on Saturday evening due to severe weather and poor visibility and would be resumed on Sunday morning.

“Our teams are searching the northern waters of Padar Island until evening,” Rahman said. “We are committed to finding the victims.”

Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches, and the endangered Komodo dragon.

The park attracts thousands of tourists for diving, trekking and wildlife tourism.

The survivors were treated at the port office in Labuan Bajo city, Rahman said, after strong waves up to 8.2 feet high and darkness hampered emergency responders overnight.

The search involved several rescue units in inflatable boats, a navy ship with diving equipment, and a rescue ship, with assistance from local fishermen and residents.

It was concentrated within a 5 nautical mile radius of the sinking site, where rescuers found the boat’s debris, Rahman said.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common means of transportation.

Lax safety standards and overcrowding problems frequently lead to accidents.

The head of the UN refugee agency has made a sensational claim that the Channel migration crisis is not as bad as many are making it out to be.

Filippo Grandi said the arrival of around 40,000 small boats in the UK in 2024 was equivalent to daily arrivals in some countries around the world.

This comes after a French border chief expressed similar sentiments.

Some 41,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, leading to claims that efforts to stop small boats are failing.

Mr. Grandy claimed politicians were partly to blame for the public’s negative attitudes towards migrants.

He said, “There is nothing that creates a hostile environment [much like] a badly organised welcome, and unfortunately, we have seen that.”

In the UK, the arrival of small boats and the challenges associated with managing these individuals, along with certain decisions made by the government that it is now attempting to rectify, have contributed to a misconception that this situation results in chaos.

Mr Grandy said the 36,816 people who crossed the Channel last year were equivalent to the “daily arrival” of refugees in countries like Chad.

He said that immigration to Western countries needed to be “better managed,” and this included deporting people who did not qualify for asylum.

When this lack of action occurs, people claim there is no leadership amidst the chaos, deeming it dangerous and advocating for those who say, ‘Withdraw, build walls, don’t save people in the ocean.’

Xavier Delrieu, head of the office fighting migrant smuggling, said the number of small boats in Britain was “not very large.”

He said, “There were 636 successful crossings in 2025 compared to 633 last year. This is not massive. On the other hand, the number of migrants who managed to cross is 39,000, whereas in 2024 we were at 36,000 because there are many more migrants per boat, an average of 62 in 2025 against 53 last year.

Despite 200 days of favourable weather, police pressure on the beaches has prevented 58% of crossings to date.

“If one day we get to 80%, it will become much less profitable for these networks.”

Mr Delrieu also told local newspaper Lavoix du Nord: “The phenomenon of taxi boats spoils these good results a little, which is why we must block maximum traffic to prevent it from harming us. If we could, we would be more efficient.” Asked whether the England-France border was too weak, he said, “We can’t let all migrants go to England either.

“In 2018, small boats did not exist; it was the Iranians who created this practice.

“In 2020, the situation evolved due to the health crisis.” The networks could no longer go through the trucks and they came back to the small boat; they saw that it was profitable, with a success rate of up to 70% in the beginning.

“The Kurds took over this area because they were at the forefront of this crime; it gave them an opportunity to make a huge profit quickly and they kept at it.”

The death toll of Palestinians has risen to 411 amid almost daily Israeli violations in Gaza since the ceasefire began.

Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian man east of Gaza City as they continue ceasefire violations and widespread raids across the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian news service Wafa reported on Friday that Israeli forces fired on Uday al-Maqdama as he sat near the entrance of a school in Gaza. He was taken to the hospital in a critical condition and died from his injuries there.

Israel has been carrying out deadly attacks and imposing severe restrictions on aid in Gaza since the beginning of a ceasefire agreement in October, where at least 411 Palestinians have been killed and 1,112 injured.

Wafa reported earlier this week that two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the Shujaiya neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.

Israeli restrictions on vital humanitarian aid also continue in defiance of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, depriving displaced Palestinians of essential goods and temporary housing during periods of harsh winter storms.

The Gaza government media office said.

The Gaza government media office said earlier this week that an average of only 244 aid trucks were entering the strip per day, far below the daily rate of 600 mandated by the ceasefire agreement.

Attacks on Israeli residents and raids by Israeli soldiers have also intensified in the occupied West Bank.

Wafa reported that a Palestinian municipality worker was injured after being attacked by a group of settlers outside Nablus on Friday, while Palestinian farmers trying to work on their land were detained by Israeli forces east of Tubas.

Several Palestinians were also detained during Israeli raids targeting the communities of Yatta and Beit Omar near Hebron, including a woman, four children and an elderly man, whom Palestinian activists say was arrested after damaging the fence around his home.

Israeli officials almost never hold settlers responsible for acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

Two people were also killed in northern Israel, where police and emergency officials say a Palestinian man from the occupied West Bank drove his car into a crowd of people in the town of Beit She’an.

The attack came a day after footage emerged of an Israeli settler running over a Palestinian man praying on the roadside in the occupied West Bank.

In addition to the violence against Palestinians, Israel is also carrying out almost daily attacks in Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that they again came under “heavy machine gun fire” from Israeli positions in southern Lebanon.

UN forces said live ammunition and a grenade attacked a patrol inspecting a road blockade in the village of Bastara.

“UNIFIL informed [the Israeli military] that, following the normal practice of patrolling sensitive areas along the Blue Line, UN forces will be briefed in advance about activities in those areas,” the UN forces said in a statement.

Attacks on or near peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of Security Council resolution 1701. We reiterate our call.” [Israeli military]

“To prevent aggressive behaviour and attacks on or near peacekeepers working for peace and stability along the Blue Line.”

PA Media

The list of the top 10 most watched Christmas Day TV shows is as follows.