Valerie Sanderson

The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Valerie Sanderson. Until next time. Bye bye.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and in the early hours of Saturday, the 1st of February, these are our main stories. The White House says the Trump administration will impose steep new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China from today.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson and in the early hours of Saturday, the 1st of February, these are our main stories. The White House says the Trump administration will impose steep new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China from today.

The United Nations says fighting between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed rebels for the city of Goma has killed at least 700 people in less than a week. German MPs have rejected tough immigration measures proposed by the Conservative opposition and backed by the far-right AFD. Also in this podcast, why does scratching an itch feel so good? A new study highlights the benefit of scratching.

The United Nations says fighting between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed rebels for the city of Goma has killed at least 700 people in less than a week. German MPs have rejected tough immigration measures proposed by the Conservative opposition and backed by the far-right AFD. Also in this podcast, why does scratching an itch feel so good? A new study highlights the benefit of scratching.

For decades, trade wars looked to be a thing of the past. The future instead seemed to belong to globalisation, to China and to the big regional trading blocs. No more. From today, Saturday, the United States says it's imposing tariffs on its three biggest trading partners.

For decades, trade wars looked to be a thing of the past. The future instead seemed to belong to globalisation, to China and to the big regional trading blocs. No more. From today, Saturday, the United States says it's imposing tariffs on its three biggest trading partners.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Trump said he would deliver on his campaign pledge to impose tough tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Trump said he would deliver on his campaign pledge to impose tough tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico.

As we record this podcast, it's still not clear if there'll be any exemptions. But the threat of high tariffs brought this response from the former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who's currently on the campaign trail to take over as leader of the Liberal Party and as Canadian Prime Minister from Justin Trudeau.

As we record this podcast, it's still not clear if there'll be any exemptions. But the threat of high tariffs brought this response from the former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who's currently on the campaign trail to take over as leader of the Liberal Party and as Canadian Prime Minister from Justin Trudeau.

I spoke to our North America business correspondent Ritika Gupta who's in New York just before the tariffs were due to come into effect.

I spoke to our North America business correspondent Ritika Gupta who's in New York just before the tariffs were due to come into effect.

Ritika Gupta. As the U.S. introduces further tariffs on Chinese-made goods, Beijing's foreign ministry has warned Donald Trump that a trade war has no winners. An additional 10% is still a long way from the 60% tariffs that Mr. Trump threatened on the campaign trail, and the U.S. president has boasted that he and China's President Xi have a good relationship.

Ritika Gupta. As the U.S. introduces further tariffs on Chinese-made goods, Beijing's foreign ministry has warned Donald Trump that a trade war has no winners. An additional 10% is still a long way from the 60% tariffs that Mr. Trump threatened on the campaign trail, and the U.S. president has boasted that he and China's President Xi have a good relationship.

It's prompted some to ask if Donald Trump has gone soft on China. But the country is still bracing itself. And in the last year, thousands of businesses have moved their production abroad to flee Trump's tariffs. As our China correspondent Laura Bicker reports.

It's prompted some to ask if Donald Trump has gone soft on China. But the country is still bracing itself. And in the last year, thousands of businesses have moved their production abroad to flee Trump's tariffs. As our China correspondent Laura Bicker reports.

Laura Bicker. In his first interview as America's top diplomat, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has outlined what President Trump's America first foreign policy actually means, especially for Ukraine.

Laura Bicker. In his first interview as America's top diplomat, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has outlined what President Trump's America first foreign policy actually means, especially for Ukraine.

Speaking to the news presenter, Megan Kelly, Mr. Rubio said the war must end through negotiation, stating that it would be dishonest to suggest that Ukraine could defeat and take back territory from Russia. President Trump's decision to freeze nearly all US foreign aid is causing major disruption in Ukraine. From Kiev, James Waterhouse.