Donald Trump lands in China for high-stakes talks

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary

Episode: Donald Trump lands in China for high-stakes talks
Host: Celia Hatton, BBC World Service
Date: May 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping—a meeting widely viewed as a crucial moment in US-China relations. The podcast also covers major global headlines, including UK political turmoil, the fallout of a Trump-branded skyscraper in Australia, police corruption scandals in South Africa, and the resilience of Gaza’s youth innovators.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump’s Beijing Visit: High-Stakes Diplomacy

Segment: 01:08–08:03

• Arrival and Atmosphere:
  Trump is welcomed with state-visit protocol, signaling hopes for improved US-China relations, though "significant tensions remain between the two countries and there are a number of complex issues" (Celia Hatton, 02:48).
• Topics on the Agenda:
  • Iran (Tehran):
    The ongoing conflict in Iran overshadows the summit. The US hopes China "can perhaps nudge its friend and ally, Tehran towards the negotiating table" (Laura Bicker, 03:35).
  • Trade:
    Trump aims to increase Chinese purchases of American goods (soybeans, beef, planes) and boost investment. "That's what he wants to take away from it: increased investment from China in America... and also agreeing to buy more American goods" (Sarah Smith, 05:06).
  • Technology Rivalry:
    Both nations vie for dominance in strategic sectors like AI.
  • Taiwan:
    China wants the US to halt arms sales. "For China, this is the main issue. They will want to pressure the United States to stop selling arms to Taiwan" (Laura Bicker, 04:43). Trump may be pressed to soften US statements on Taiwanese independence but is unlikely to give a firm commitment.
• Geopolitical Stakes:
  Trump delayed this summit by six weeks, hoping for a stronger position after Iran, but "he's the one who looks as though he's been unable to finish this conflict" (Sarah Smith, 07:34).

Notable Quote:

“Even if this visit seems friendly, with Donald Trump predicting several times that Xi Jinping will be giving him a big hug, there's a lot at stake here.”
— Celia Hatton (02:48)

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2. The Case of Jimmy Lai: Pressing for Human Rights

Segment: 08:03–10:32

• Background:
  Jimmy Lai, outspoken Hong Kong media mogul and founder of Apple Daily, sentenced to 20 years under Hong Kong's National Security Law.
• Trump’s Position:
  He's pledged to raise Lai’s case with President Xi.
• Personal Appeal:
  Lai’s son pleads for urgent action:

  “My hope is that my father's case is mentioned... This is about saving my father's life at this point. He's been in solitary confinement for the last five years. His health is rapidly failing.”
  — Jimmy Lai’s son (09:26)

• Symbolism:
  Beijing sees Lai as a criminal; his supporters see him as a symbol of eroded freedoms.

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3. UK Politics: State Opening of Parliament Amid Leadership Crisis

Segment: 10:32–13:56

• Royal Ceremony:
  King Charles delivers the government's agenda amid rain and pageantry.

  “An increasingly dangerous and volatile world threatens the United Kingdom. Every element of the nation's energy, defense and economic security will be tested.”
  — King Charles (11:06)

• Political Uncertainty:
  PM Keir Starmer faces challenges to his leadership following poor local election results.

  “Labour... Not sure who should be leading them and in what direction.”
  — Rob Watson (12:58)

• Potential Challenger:
  Health Minister Wes Streeting may mount a leadership bid imminently.

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4. Trump Tower in Australia: Canceled Amid Brand Toxicity

Segment: 15:27–18:24

• Project Overview:
  Plans for a 91-story Trump Tower in Australia's Gold Coast, announced in February by Eric Trump, are now scrapped.
• Developer Split:
  • David Young blames "the toxic Trump brand and the Iran war."
  • The Trump Organization claims Altus Property Group failed to meet financial obligations.
• Public Reaction:
  The project divided the community—over 120,000 signatures opposed, 3,500 supported.

Notable Quote:

“It really has divided the city... Some people say a Trump Tower would have been good for the area... others say they don't want Trump's name anywhere near the Gold Coast.”
— Charmaine Allison (17:44)

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5. South Africa’s Police Corruption Scandal

Segment: 18:24–21:06

• Case Overview:
  National police chief General Fanny Massamola faces court over a $21 million tender scandal involving wellness services; accusations of bribery and criminal syndicate ties.
• Wider Corruption Problem:
  The Matlanga Commission exposes systemic corruption, with evidence of officers pressured not to investigate criminal gangs.

Notable Quote:

“It's been shocking for people to hear that this might be because of criminal corruption behind the scenes.”
— Pumza Fulani (20:51)

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6. Gaza’s Young Inventors: Turning Rubble into Hope

Segment: 21:06–24:59

• Prize-winning Sisters:
  Tala (17) and Farah Musa (15) win the Earth Prize for developing building bricks from war debris.
• Project Vision:
  Bricks “are a way to turn destruction into something useful and helpful again” (Tala Musa, 21:46); their approach offers both practical and psychological rebuilding for the community.
• Resilience Amid Loss:
  Despite being displaced and losing prototypes, they vow to keep innovating.

  “We transferred something negative into something positive by refusing to see rubble only as a symbol of destruction and loss... we tried to see it as the beginning of something new.”
  — Farah Musa (23:10)

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7. Beyonce Unreleased Music Theft

Segment: 24:59–28:20

• Incident:
  Calvin Evans sentenced to two years for stealing hard drives containing unreleased Beyonce music during her Cowboy Carter tour (Atlanta, 2025).
• Beyonce’s Security Measures:
  She is notably secretive, going to great lengths to prevent leaks, including not letting collaborators or dancers hear full tracks.

Notable Quote:

“If you are a collaborator with Beyonce... she often doesn't tell you if she's ever going to use that music... dancers in her videos... don’t get to hear the music, it’s just a beat or metronome.”
— Pete Ross (27:40)

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Trump–Xi Dynamics:
  “Even if this visit seems friendly... there's a lot at stake here.” — Celia Hatton (02:48)
• Jimmy Lai’s Human Rights Appeal:
  “This is about saving my father's life at this point.” — Jimmy Lai’s son (09:26)
• UK’s Political Contradiction:
  "The glitz, the pageantry, you know, the stolidity... and then all the uncertainty of... the governing Labour Party." — Rob Watson (12:45)
• Gaza Sisters’ Resilience:
  “We transferred something negative into something positive... refused to see rubble only as a symbol of destruction and loss.” — Farah Musa (23:10)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump arrives in Beijing: 01:08–04:52
• US–China trade, Iran, Taiwan agenda: 04:52–08:03
• Jimmy Lai case: 08:03–10:32
• UK Parliament opening, Labour leadership crisis: 10:32–13:56
• Trump Tower Australia canceled: 15:27–18:24
• South African police corruption: 18:24–21:06
• Gaza youth environmental prize: 21:06–24:59
• Beyonce music theft: 24:59–28:20

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Conclusion

This episode provides essential updates on high-level geopolitics, human rights, political instability, public corruption, community activism, and cultural news. With reporter insights and personal stories, it draws a vivid snapshot of a shifting global landscape in 2026.

Transcript

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[Celia Hatton]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Celia Hatton and at 1500 GMT on Wednesday, May 13th, these are our main stories. President Trump has arrived in Beijing for a meeting with China's leader Xi Jinping. There were warm words ahead of the visit, but the two men will have to navigate many areas of disagreement. And in Beijing, the king has formally opened a new session of Parliament, laying out the government's agenda for the next year, all as the prime minister Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure to step down. Also in this podcast, Altus Property Group

[Charmaine Allison]

founder David Young said the Trump Organization organization had pulled out of the deal. He said in a statement that the Trump brand was increasingly toxic.

[Celia Hatton]

In Australia, plans for a Trump mega tower are canceled in Australia. We start with the superpower summit in China. The US President Donald Trump has landed in Beijing, where he'll meet the Chinese leader Xi Jinping for intensive talks. My colleague in Beijing, Steve Lai, described the Moments immediately after Mr. Trump's plane touched down.

[Steve Lai]

We can see Air Force One just landed and taxiing to its stopping position. You can see first in military fatigues, they're standing alone in solitary in the center of that screen or just to the left as we go past it. The plane will, we imagine, be turning around. We saw a ladder as well getting ready to be placed in position for the president and his delegation to walk down. And you can see another military figure standing as well.

[Celia Hatton]

China said Mr. Trump's visit could be the start of a new chapter in relations between the superpowers and a turbulent world. Mr. Trump is being treated to a state visit. But significant tensions remain between the two countries and there are a number of complex issues. The US And Chinese delegations will need to navigate battles over trade and the fight to dominate. Strategically important technologies like AI mean the two sides will have some very difficult conversations ahead of them. So even if this visit seems friendly, with Donald Trump predicting several times that Xi Jinping will be giving him a big hug, there's a lot at stake here. For an idea of what's on the agenda, here's our China correspondent, Laura Bicker.

[Laura Bicker]

I'm calling it the forties. Let's start with the big one, Tehran. So obviously the war in Iran is now overshadowing these talks. And when it comes to the United States, they may be hoping that China can perhaps nudge its friend and ally, Tehran towards the negotiating table. Now remember, China is Iran's biggest buyer of oil, biggest trade partner and a longtime friend and ally. So it may well be using that economic and political leverage. The US Will hope that China can give them a hand here. However, it will be interesting to see how willing Beijing is to do that. They have been working behind the scenes. They have also been working with Pakistan on that peace proposal. However, China does not want to kind of wade too far into the Middle east conflict. Then we have trade and technology when it comes to trade. The US really wants China to buy more American goods and we think that will happen. More American soybeans, more American beef and more American planes. Donald Trump is hoping that China will open its market to the United States and there's the final T, and that is Taiwan. And this is the difficult issue because for China, this is the main issue. They will want to pressure the United States to stop selling arms to Taiwan, the self governing island that Beijing claims as its own.

[Celia Hatton]

Laura Bicker so that's the view from China, but what about the United States? What does Donald Trump want from this trip to Beijing? Sarah Smith, the BBC's North America editor, spoke to Justin Webb about the president's agenda.

[Sarah Smith]

Donald Trump is concentrating on the economics of this trip and that's what he wants to take away from it. Increased investment from China in America, building factories there and putting money into the country and also agreeing buy more American goods, principally Boeing planes, American beef and American soybeans. The agricultural products were hit quite hard when Donald Trump first imposed tariffs on China last year. They started sourcing soybeans from other countries in South America and that really hit American farmers hard and that could hurt Donald Trump. So he needs to get those sales back on track and he'll come back and say that he has scored some major economic investment. I mean, it's quite telling that on the plane with him on the way to China, he has almost 20 of America's biggest CEOs, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook of Apple, Jensen Huang from Nvidia, they're all on the plane with him to go and make economic deals here. Rather than, say, talking about national security or military geopolitical issues, which you might more normally expect a US President and a Chinese leader to talk about.

[Commercial Advertiser]

In return for that economic progress, what do we understand he is willing to give? What does America have to bring to the table?

[Sarah Smith]

Well, there's been some discussion about Taiwan and whether or not Donald Trump would change America's position on that. Could he be persuaded to say out loud that he doesn't think Taiwan should be an independent country? Maybe not. But, you know, the fact that it's on the table at all may mean that he'll hint in that direction. And China would very much like Donald Trump to delay or ideally cancel a lot of weapons sales to Taiwan that are scheduled from America. And as he was leaving the White House, Donald Trump said that he knew President Xi would very much like the US not to supply those weapons to Taiwan. And I'll have that discussion, he said. So there is definitely something on the table there that they can talk about. And inevitably the Iran war will come up because this is going to overshadow the whole of this trip. It's causing problems for both America and China, for both Trump and Xi. Donald Trump could do with President Xi's help in trying to persuade Iran to come to the table and do a deal. He said as he was leaving America he didn't need help with Iran, but he probably does. He delayed this summit by six weeks because of the Iran war, thinking that by now he would be able to go to Beijing looking like the victor, having conquered Iran, having got it to give up its nuclear weapons. But that's absolutely not the situation he's in. And instead, China is suffering a bit from the high price of oil and the fact that many of it, the oil and gas exports from Iran that go to China, have been prevented. So that's going to cast a pall over everything. And it does make it significantly more difficult for Donald Trump, I think, to get what he wants because he's the one who looks as though he's been unable to finish this conflict in Iran.

[Celia Hatton]

Sarah Smith, Apart from discussions on trade, Iran and Taiwan, one of the other issues President Trump is expected to discuss with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping is the case of the imprisoned Hong Kong media mog, Jimmy Lai. Our reporter Danny Vincent has more.

[Danny Vincent]

For decades, Jimmy Lai was known as one of Hong Kong's most outspoken critics of Beijing. In February, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating the National Security Law. He's the founder of the now defunct pro democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, once Hong Kong's most read paper. In 2020, the paper was raided. Lai was arrested and paraded around the newsroom. Beijing says he was the mastermind of the pro democracy protests which rocked the city in 2019. Ahead of President Trump's trip to Beijing, he said he would raise Jimmy Lai's case with President Xi Jinping.

[Commercial Advertiser]

But Jimmy Lai, he caused lots of turmoil for China.

[James Kopnell]

He tried to do the right thing.

[Commercial Advertiser]

He wasn't successful, went to jail and people would like him out. And I'd like to see him get out too.

[Danny Vincent]

Last week, more than 100 members of the U.S. congress wrote to the U.S. president urging him to press for Lai's release. His son fears the 78 year old is running out of time.

[Jimmy Lai's Son]

My hope is that my father's case is mentioned, that the President tells President Xi how important my father's case is, how important his freedom is and how damaging it will be if he passes away in jail. Look, this is about saving my father's life at this point. He's been in solitary confinement for the last five years. His health is rapidly failing. I honestly don't know how much longer he has. I don't know how many more opportunities there is to raise this case because this is a 70 year old man who could die at any time.

[Danny Vincent]

I spoke with Jimmy Lai just hours before his detention in 2020.

[Rob Watson]

Fear

[James Kopnell]

is the most inexpensive and convenient way of ruling people and controlling people. You know, if they can induce fear in you.

[Danny Vincent]

Talks between President Trump and Xi are likely to be dominated by trade, security and the Iran war. Beijing sees Lai as a criminal. His supporters say he's a symbol of eroded freedoms the city was once promised.

[Celia Hatton]

Danny Vincent. Now to central London, where ceremonies have been taking place for the formal opening of a new session of Britain's Parliament. Charles traveled by horse drawn carriage from Buckingham palace to the Houses of Parliament to lay out the government's agenda for the coming year. HORSES hooves There. And it's London. The gentle sound of rain. And let's hear a little of what the King had to say when he spoke from inside the House of Lords.

[James Kopnell]

An increasingly dangerous and volatile world threatens the United Kingdom. Every element of the nation's energy, defense and economic security will be tested. My government will respond to this world with strength and aim to create a country that is fair for all.

[Celia Hatton]

All this took place at a critical period in UK politics. The speech was written by the government of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. He was watching on as his future hangs in the balance. It was only on Tuesday, a day ago, that many thought Mr. Star would be forced to stand down by members of his own ruling Labour Party. And there are still questions about how long he'll remain in charge. Our political correspondent is Rob Watson.

[Rob Watson]

Quite an extraordinary spectacle in British politics because you have the juxtaposition of the extraordinary and rather familiar and I suppose to some people, reassuring pageantry of the state opening of Parliament, where you have the King coming in a gilded carriage to Parliament to read out the speech, saying what the government will do with all of the sort of pageantry that we. That we all know. So that sort of stability, contrasting that with the astonishing shenanigans going on within the governing Labour Party, because it is now looking more likely than less, because we've heard from allies of Wes Streeting, who's the health minister, that he will indeed challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party, possibly as early as tomorrow. So what a contrast. The glitz, the pageantry, you know, the stolidity, if you like, Celia, and then all the uncertainty of. Of the governing Labour Party.

[Celia Hatton]

Yeah, the shenanigans, as you say, Rob. I mean, tell us more about this senior minister who could be mounting a challenge. Why is all of this coming to a hedge for Keir Starmer right now?

[Rob Watson]

So it's coming to a head for Keir Starmer because of the disastrous results that Labour suffered in local elections and elections in Scotland and Wales last week. But, I mean, it's been brewing ever since Labour's astonishing landslide in 2024. But since then, everything has gone wrong. I mean, public have very much turned against Keir Starmer personally. There's genuine animus towards him, extraordinary animus. And they feel that the change that they were promised after 14 years of conservative government simply hasn't happened. And so that has therefore led everyone in the Labour Party to say, what on earth do we do now? There are, of course, some who back Keir Starmer's argument that it would just look nuts to the world and to the country if Britain had a seventh prime minister in 10 years. But there are those like, like Wes street. And you think, no, no, no, we must act. But there are others too, who will also perhaps challenge the Prime Minister. But I mean, that's the nature of the crisis. Labour. Not sure who should be leading them and in what direction.

[Celia Hatton]

Rob Watson still to come in this

[Farah Musa]

podcast we transferred something negative into something positive by refusing to see Rapel only as a symbol of destruction and loss.

[Celia Hatton]

We'll hear from teenage sisters in Gaza who are turning the rubble of war into something that can be used to rebuild.

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[Celia Hatton]

This is the Global News Podcast. There was a time when having a Trump Tower in your city was something that many would see as a sign of wealth and prosperity. And developers were planning to bring one of those branded buildings to Australia. At 91 stories high, it would have been the country's tallest tower. But now plans for the $1 billion project in Queensland have been scrapped. Developer David Young blamed what he called the toxic Trump brand and the Iran war for the building's demise. Charmaine Allison is a journalist with Australia's ABC News. She's been covering the story from the Gold coast and she spoke to me from there.

[Charmaine Allison]

So in late February this year, Eric Trump, the second son of the US President Donald Trump, announced plans on social media for a $1.5 billion Trump Tower at Surfers paradise on the Gold coast here in Australia. Now, this 91 story 6 star hotel apartment complex was going to be Australia's first Trump branded building and it was pitched as the tallest tower in the country. So it was big news for this area. Australian developers Altus Property Group confirmed they'd be spearheading the luxury res build. But despite lots of community controversy and media coverage around this, a development application for this project was never actually submitted to the local council. And now, just three months after this deal was made, it's been scrapped.

[Celia Hatton]

Why has it been abandoned?

[Charmaine Allison]

Well, it depends on who you ask. Altus Property Group founder David Young, who the ABC revealed has twice declared bankruptcy, said the Trump Organization had pulled out of the deal. He said in a statement that the Trump brand was increasingly toxic in Australia, citing the Iran war as one example of this. He added that some time ago, his company had decided it was time to part company from the Trump brand. However, the Trump Organization has hit back today. They've offered quite a different perspective. A spokesperson said that they'd been excited to bring the project to the Gold coast, but that after months of negotiations and empty promises, alters had been unable to meet the most basic financial obligations.

[Celia Hatton]

So what's been the reaction in the community to the project, but also to its cancellation?

[Charmaine Allison]

It really has divided the city. There were numerous petitions against the Trump Tower, which attracted more than 120,000 signatures. There was a small protest at the local council chambers earlier this month against the project, even though a formal development application hadn't even been given at that stage. But there was also a petition in support of the build. It gained about 3,500 signatures. So some people say a Trump Tower would have been good for the area, that it would have attracted much needed investment. Others say they don't want Trump's name anywhere near the Gold Coast. But most people were just sad that a development wouldn't go ahead at this site, which has been long vacant in the area.

[Celia Hatton]

Charmaine Allison. To South Africa, where the country's top police chief is appearing in court charged with violating public finance law. General Fanny Massamola is accused of wrongdoing in connection with a controversial $21 million health. He's not the first South African police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. Pumza Fulani's been following the case.

[Pumza Fulani]

This is actually one of the most serious cases happening in South Africa at the moment, and it's playing out in the country's courts with with the citizens able to follow via live streaming. At the heart of it are allegations that General Fanima Sumula, who is the country's most senior officer, along with 11 other police officers, were involved in the awarding a tender that was supposed to provide wellness services within the country's police force. It's alleged that despite numerous indications that the businessman who had bid, who had put in the bid for this tender, did not have the capacity to provide it and also had been flagged under other incidents for not completing work, he went ahead and awarded the tender. So the suggestions by the prosecution that that he along with these other officers benefited either through bribery or promises of some kind and this is what led to them awarding this very lucrative tender. It really sits at the heart for a lot of people of these. The allegations sit at the heart of what? The level of alleged rot within the country's police services. Allegations that businessmen were able to flout laws, but also that in some extreme cases they were able to persuade the police police to not investigate serious criminal syndicates here.

[Celia Hatton]

Pumza, you mentioned the alleged rot within the police services. How big an issue is police corruption in South Africa?

[Pumza Fulani]

Well, it's one of the key talking points for a lot of people and this is because of an ongoing inquiry here known as the Matlanga Commission of Inquiry, which has been hearing evidence since last September of wide scale corruption within police services. This was was first unearthed by a national police commissioner who came out and said that they were being put under pressure by businessmen, by criminal gangs to not investigate cases and that senior officers within the police were in cahoots with them and doing that. And for a lot of people this has been greatly concerning because South Africa has not only a crime problem but a violent crime problem. So it's been shocking for people to hear that this might be because of criminal corruption behind the scenes.

[Celia Hatton]

Pumza Fulani in Johannesburg. In the last edition of our podcast, we heard about two teenage sisters from Gaza who've been awarded an environmental prize, the Earth Prize for the Middle East Region, for a construction idea they've developed, building blocks made out of rubble. Since we broadcast that story, the two sisters, Tala and Farah Musa, who are 17 and 15 years old, have been speaking to the BBC about their prize winning idea which they had after their house in Gaza was bombed. They're now living in a tent. They've been speaking to James Kopnell. Farah answers the first question. You'll hear her older sister occasionally helping her out with her English.

[Tala Musa]

Our bricks are made from recycled building rubble mixed with symbol locally materials such as clay, ash and natural fibers like straw. They are designed for non load, designed for non load bearing use such as pavement and partitions and garden beds. What makes them special is that they are low cost, lightweight. These bricks are more than construction material. They are a way to turn destruction into something useful and helpful again.

[Q]

And Kalle, tell us about how you got the idea for these bricks. I assume there was a lot of need to rebuild A lot of rubble and destruction all around you. Is that part of where the idea came from?

[Farah Musa]

Honestly, after our entire city turned into rubble, like everything around us, push us to think about a solution. Even the view from our tent window become the main motivation. When everything around you is depressed, you start searching for a way to turn this crisis into an opportunity. That's how we began thinking about using Repl for rebuilding Talo.

[Q]

How did you find the strength, the courage to do that in what must be very difficult circumstances?

[Farah Musa]

So we transferred something negative into something positive by refusing to see Repel only as a symbol of destruction and loss. Instead of saying it as the end, we tried to see it as the beginning of something new. Like everything around us was destroyed as I told you. So we asked ourselves, if this rub pill came from where, why not turn it into something that helps people around us rebuild it again? That is why we started recycling it and reusable blocks.

[Q]

Farah, can I ask you please, what do you hope to do to achieve with these blocks?

[Tala Musa]

We hope the project help community see rubble not only as a symbol of loss, but also as a resource that can support rebuilding. The project focus on training, training young people and spreading practical knowledge so community can participant in reconstruction themselves instead of waiting only for outside help.

[Q]

Talaq, is it true that you have been displaced and you're no longer with the prototypes for your bricks?

[Farah Musa]

Yeah, we have displaced like five times and the last one we've got lost like the, the final prototype because we made a lot of prototypes, but the final one which was the best version and when we like use it for our prototype, it was lost.

[Q]

How did that feel?

[Farah Musa]

It was like a sad thing because we had like a big passion about it and we bought a big passion and dreams on this blocks, but it was like disappeared. But we, we are trying to make another one and another prototype these days and we will.

[Celia Hatton]

Tala and Farah Musa, teenage sisters speaking to James Copnel from inside Gaza. And you can find more about the sisters and their invention on the BBC news website. And last Crazy in Love or Single Ladies? Just a couple of Beyonce songs you might recognize, but a story now about some of Beyonce's music that's never been heard by most of her fans. A man in the US has been sentenced to two years in prison for breaking into a car and stealing hard drives containing unreleased music by the global star Calvin Evans pleaded guilty to charges including entering an automobile and criminal trespass last year in Atlanta, Georgia. The thefts, which happened during Beyonce's Cowboy Carter World tour will have come as a blow to the singer who hasn't released any new music since 2024. The Newsroom's Pete Ross is here to tell us more.

[Podcast Advertiser]

It seems that this is a case of opportunism. Calvin Evans did not set out to specifically steal the music of Beyonce. It wasn't targeted. Apparently at random, he broke into a car that had been rented by a choreographer and a dancer that were part of Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour, which was taking place around the world. Famously last year, they were doing four nights in Atlanta, the choreographer and the dancer, they went off, they came back to find that the back window of the car had been smashed, that all the things inside the car had been taken, which included a suitcase. Inside that suitcase, there was a couple of hard drives, as you said, and on those hard drives were music that nobody or very few people have heard of. Beyonce. Now fans, of course, will be most interested to know what's on that hard drive or on those hard drives. But around the time investigators said that they hadn't recovered uncovered anything that had been stolen. And Beyonce herself has been very tight lipped about the whole affair.

[Celia Hatton]

And what about Kelvin Evans? Was he aware of what he'd taken? What's he been saying?

[Podcast Advertiser]

He struck a plea deal today ahead of trial later this week and he's now been sentenced. And again, he didn't set out to steal this music, which of course, Beyonce is not the first star to have their music deliberately taken so that someone can release it online, either for the kudos of doing it, going, look, here, I've got this music that nobody else has heard, or perhaps to make some money from it through engagement or what have you. But I think what's particularly ironic about this is Beyonce is someone who has worked particularly hard to avoid leaks after her early albums Dangerously in Love and Number four found their way online illegally, well before the anticipated release dates. She pioneered something that was called the surprise drop, which in 2013, her fifth album, eponymously titled it apparently just came out of nowhere. There was no hype, no ramp up, up to it arrived. It worked for her. It became at the time the fastest selling album ever released, sold almost a million copies in something like three days. So it's a trick that she's continued to repeat over the years and she's going to increasingly long lengths to keep her music secret. You know, if you are a collaborator with Beyonce, as she often doesn't tell you if she's ever going to use that music or where it's going to be used and there are even reports that dancers in her videos, you'd expect to hear the music if you were dancing along. They don't get to hear the music either. It's just a beat or a metronome. So, you know, increasingly longer lengths to keep that music secret.

[Celia Hatton]

Pete Ross and that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail]. you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag Global Newspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Robin Schroeder and the producer was Stephanie Tillotson. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Celia Hatton. Until next time.

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