The Rise of an Anti-Western Icon: Traore's Impact on Burkina Faso

US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping agreed to launch a new round of high-level trade talks, the European Central Bank cut interest rates by a quarter point and Europe is being flooded with steel diverted from the US because of high tariffs. Plus, the FT’s Aanu Adeoye explains how a Russia-backed junta leader in Burkina Faso became an icon across Africa. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agree to launch new round of trade talks

Christine Lagarde signals ECB rate-cutting ‘nearly concluded’

‘The cult of Saint Traoré’: how a Russia-backed junta leader became an icon

EU hit by surge in steel imports as US tariffs divert shipments

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Henry Larson, Fiona Symon, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Sam Giovinco, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our intern is Michaela Seah. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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