China has reported a sharp surge in its trade surplus, reaching a record nearly $1.2 trillion, even as exports to the United States declined under President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs. Official data shows Chinese exports rose 5.5 percent last year to $3.77 trillion, while imports remained largely flat. The result pushed China’s trade surplus well beyond previous records, highlighting how exporters shifted away from the US market.

A major diplomatic storm is unfolding after Israel’s formal declaration recognizing Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has triggered swift, sharp and united condemnation across Africa, the Horn region, and beyond. In this video, we break down the global reaction, what it means for regional stability, and why world powers are calling this a dangerous geopolitical precedent. Somalia and the African Union responded within hours, denouncing the recognition as a direct threat to Somalia’s territorial integrity and a challenge to long-standing international norms. Foreign ministers across the continent described Israel’s move as a violation of sovereignty, warning that selective or unilateral recognition could destabilize fragile borders across Africa and ignite wider tensions. WATCH