Xi tells Trump they shouldn't 'mess up' relationship

Summary

Global News Podcast – Xi tells Trump they shouldn't 'mess up' relationship
BBC World Service | May 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on a pivotal day in international diplomacy as US President Donald Trump visits Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The host, Celia Hatton, and correspondents around the world break down the implications of the US–China relationship, shifting global politics, and notable crises elsewhere—as Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine, the UK Labour Party faces political turmoil, Cuba sees rare protests, and the story of a British schoolboy's years-long disappearance is told. The episode also touches on Eurovision's fraught politics amid protests and interviews the Israeli contestant.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Xi–Trump Beijing Summit: High-Level Diplomacy

(Starting at 00:53)

• The episode opens with the first full day of the US–China 'superpower summit' in Beijing, highlighting the ceremonial grandeur—including a banquet at the Great Hall of the People (02:25).
• Both leaders affirmed the historic importance of their relationship. However, concrete results and solutions to pressing issues—especially trade and Taiwan—remained elusive.

Notable Quotes:

• Xi Jinping (via interpreter):
  “We must make it [the US–China relationship] work and never mess it up.” (03:29)
• President Trump:
  “The relationship between the American and Chinese people goes all the way back to America's founding... that first connection has grown into one of the most consequential relationships in world history.” (03:38–04:07)

Issues on the Agenda

(04:27–05:24)

• Trade Cooperation:
  China pushes to end the trade war for mutual economic benefit—especially regarding American chips and Chinese rare earths.

  • Stephen McDonnell, BBC Beijing:
    “The Chinese side is rather forcefully saying, come on, can we get on with this now?... we need to cooperate with one another.”

• Strategic Stability Agreement:
  An agreement on ‘strategic stability’ was announced, though details were vague.

  • “What is being described as a constructive strategic stability relationship... Now, I should warn you, this is going to sound very vague to the point of being meaningless...” (04:40)

• Taiwan Tensions:
  Xi Jinping labeled Taiwan the most critical and “redline” issue with the US, warning of possible conflict.

  • President Trump avoided direct comment on Taiwan when asked by reporters during a walk at the Temple of Heaven (05:50–06:44).

• People-to-People Exchange:
  China expressed concern over the treatment of Chinese scholars and businesspeople in the US, with increased reports of harassment and visa restrictions.

  • “Something I didn't expect Xi Jinping to raise… the extent to which Chinese students and professors… have been hassled in the US.” (07:08)

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2. Global Crisis Updates

Russia’s Renewed Attacks on Ukraine

(08:26–10:13)

• Over 1,500 drones and missiles launched by Russia in 36 hours, mostly targeting Kyiv—at least five killed, with dozens more feared buried.
• Ongoing challenges for first responders, who risk becoming targets of “double tap” strikes.
• Ukraine’s reliance on US Patriot systems, which are in short supply.

Notable Moment:

• Scene-setting from reporter Abdul Jalil Abdyrsilov:
  “The entire section of the building collapsed… first responders trying to clear the debris… hope is they can still find anyone who managed to survive.” (08:26)

UK Labour Party Leadership Crisis

(10:13–13:20)

• Health Minister Wes Streeting resigned, triggering calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down after poor local election results.
• Deep divisions within ruling Labour Party and concerns of a coming “civil war” over party leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• Rob Watson, BBC Politics:
  “‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift...’ [Streeting’s resignation] is a profound political crisis.” (10:38–12:16)

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3. Human Stories on Health and Adversity

The Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

(13:55–16:54)

• Jake Rosmarin, an American photographer, shares his emotional journey during his ongoing quarantine after an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.
• Describes the monotony of isolation, daily medical checks, emotional stress, and the challenge of staying positive.

Memorable Quotes:

• “The scariest period was being on that ship… after we found out there was hantavirus… a really tough time for me. A lot of crying in my cabin.” (15:29)
• “It was a turning point… I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... So I can try to look at the bright side and positive side.” (16:32)

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4. Rare Protests in Cuba Amid Blackouts and Scarcity

(17:54–20:38)

• Unprecedented protests in Havana, as hundreds take to the streets over severe fuel shortages and prolonged blackouts attributed to a US blockade.
• Residents face extreme scarcity, with many surviving only on bread and adapting by, for example, waking at odd hours to utilize rare electricity.

Reporter Insights:

• Mimi Swaby, BBC Cuba:
  “It’s not very often you see people going against the Communist government... That really marks again a deterioration in public sentiment.” (18:08)
• “People are surviving mainly off bread… I’ve heard of people waking up in the middle of the night… to do basic tasks like washing clothes and cooking for the next day.” (20:00)

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5. In-Depth: The Disappearance and Return of Alex Batty

(20:38–25:36)

• Alex Batty, a British schoolboy, was missing for six years after being taken by his mother and grandfather in 2017.
• A new BBC documentary recounts his experience living under false names, coping with paranoia, deprivation, and eventual escape.
• Alex describes the hardships—being forced to live outside during winters, longing for normalcy, and ultimately deciding to reach out for help.

Notable Quotes:

• "First few weeks, we'd always wear hats and glasses... It was all just paranoia at the time." (22:15)
• On feeling isolated: "I was super lonely." (23:23)
• On returning to the UK and his future: “Hopefully one day I’ll be able to get to the point where maybe I can go and see them [his family] and have an enjoyable time, rather than have my mom push things down my throat like she used to.” (25:09)

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6. Eurovision, Protest, and Israeli Contestant’s Resilience

(25:36–28:29)

• The Israeli performer Noam Betten reflects on performing amid political chants and boycott by multiple national broadcasters in reaction to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
• Despite security and social media hate, Betten felt welcomed by other contestants and focused on spreading positivity and unity on stage.

Notable Quotes:

• “You can't ever really prepare for this [the booing]... you can't bring 13,000 people to a rehearsal room and to yell ‘boo’..." (26:59)
• “In person, there’s nothing. I feel we’re connected… Like, I’m not even feeling that I’m in a competition.” (27:56)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |---------------------------------------------|--------------| | Headlines & Intro | 00:53–01:49 | | US–China Summit & Analysis | 01:49–07:52 | | Russia attacks Ukraine | 08:26–10:13 | | UK Labour leadership crisis | 10:13–13:20 | | Cruise ship hantavirus quarantine | 13:55–16:54 | | Rare Cuba protests | 17:54–20:38 | | The story of Alex Batty | 20:38–25:36 | | Eurovision controversy & interview | 25:36–28:29 |

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Memorable Moments & Direct Quotes

• Xi Jinping:
  “We must make it work and never mess it up.” (03:29)
• Stephen McDonnell (on the summit):
  “The trade war thing, it didn't work. We need to cooperate...”
• Rob Watson (on Labour's crisis):
  “‘Where we need vision, we have a vacuum...’ this is a profound political crisis.” (10:38–12:16)
• Jake Rosmarin:
  “Getting off that ship was a turning point, and it was a glimmer of hope and almost a new chapter...” (16:32)
• Mimi Swaby (on Cuba):
  “People are getting incredibly frustrated with the lack of basic goods and especially fuel shortages.” (18:08)
• Noam Betten:
  “I see a lot of hate outside… but in person there’s nothing. I feel we’re connected.” (27:56)

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Conclusion

This episode provides a fast-moving yet nuanced look at diplomacy at the highest level, political instability across continents, crises born of war and policy, and the resilience of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. With expert analysis, human stories, and vivid first-hand accounts, the Global News Podcast delivers a wide-angle snapshot of a world in flux.

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Transcript

[Stephen McDonnell]

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[Celia Hatton]

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[Alex Batty]

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[Celia Hatton]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Celia Hatton and at 15 hours GMT on Thursday the 4th, 14th of May, these are our main stories. A day of complex diplomacy in Beijing. Donald Trump is welcomed to China by Xi Jinping. Though thorny issues remain, Ukraine has come under heavy attack by Russia just days after a ceasefire officially ended. We've seen rare protests in Cuba as people in Havana react to the continued US Blockade. Also in this podcast, the British schoolboy who was kidnapped by his mother and then disappeared for more than five years.

[Mimi Swaby]

Hi Grandma. I want to live with my mummy and granddad. It is one million times better. Please do not get anybody to look for us.

[Celia Hatton]

We start with Beijing and the first full day of the superpower summit, a meeting between the leaders of US And China that both sides have described as historic. It's a critical relationship. The two countries have the world's largest economies and the most powerful militaries. But as we'll hear, it's not yet clear whether efforts to improve Sino U s ties have produced results. The long day of diplomacy ended with China's leader Xi Jinping hosting a banquet for President Trump in the Golden Room at the Great hall of the People. Here's some commentary from my colleague Steve Lai as the two main guests arrived.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

We're just getting some movement now. And the Great hall of the People where we can see the US President Donald Trump arriving with his entourage around him as well. The music ramping up on his arrival as we can see the President of the United States there, Donald Trump, making his way into the banquet hall of the Great hall of the People, accompanied by Xi Jinping. As they walk in side by side, just soak in this atmosphere.

[Celia Hatton]

And when that music stopped, Xi Jinping gave a speech in which he commented on the importance of ties between China and the United States.

[Abdul Jalil Abdyrsilov]

Today, President Trump and I had in depth exchanges on China, US Relations and the international and regional dynamics. We both believe that the China US

[Alex Batty]

Relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world.

[Abdul Jalil Abdyrsilov]

We must make it work and never mess it up.

[Celia Hatton]

It was a theme that was continued by President Trump when he got to his feet to speak.

[Stephen McDonnell]

The relationship between the American and Chinese people goes all the way back to America's founding. The first American Consul to China, Samuel Shaw, arrived on the first American trading

[Celia Hatton]

ship to reach these shores in 1784.

[Stephen McDonnell]

The Chinese merchants had a name for the Americans.

[Celia Hatton]

They called their visions the New People.

[Stephen McDonnell]

Two and a half centuries later, that first connection has grown into one of

[Celia Hatton]

the most consequential relationships in world history. All that came after a ceremonial greeting for President Trump right in the heart of Beijing in Tiananmen Square, after which the two leaders and their delegations sat down for a two hour meeting. Our correspondent in Beijing, Stephen McDonnell, told me about some of the issues on the agenda.

[Stephen McDonnell]

The Chinese side is rather forcefully saying, come on, can we get on with this? Now? The whole trade war thing, it didn't work. We need to cooperate with one another. And partly it's because China wants to get access to computer chips from the US and just like the US wants to get access to rare earths from here. Another thing that's interesting, we just had this announcement from the Chinese side that there's some sort of an agreement that has been reached. Now, I should warn you, this is going to sound very vague to the point of being meaningless, but what is being described as a constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the US has been agreed upon to provide strategic guidance for bilateral ties over the next three years. Now, I've got no idea what that really means, except that I suppose people would at least welcome their commitment to be trying to get on with one another rather than being at loggerheads.

[Celia Hatton]

Sounds like they're really trying to coordinate some things, especially on trade. But what about the issue of Taiwan, Stephen? Mr. Xi said China could come into conflict with the US over the Taiwan issue. Those seem like really strong words to come from the Chinese leader right at the start of what is supposed to be quite a friendly summit aimed at resetting relations.

[Stephen McDonnell]

Yeah, well, again, from this readout, apparently Xi Jinping said that this was the most important issue between China and the U.S. now, interestingly, when the two leaders were walking around the Temple of Heaven, this is the UNESCO World Heritage Site that the Chinese government has taken Donald Trump to go and see, one of the reporters like the pool reporters who was following them round asked Donald Trump three times what he said to Xi Jinping about Taiwan. And Donald Trump just dodged it. In response to one of those questions, did you say anything about Taiwan? He said, oh, this is a great place. It's unbelievable. China is beautiful. And he just didn't answer it at all. Now, perhaps he didn't want to embarrass Xi Jinping because he was standing nearby, but at the moment he said nothing about it. So we don't quite know what the response of Donald Trump has been to these sort of forceful remarks from Xi Jinping on Taiwan.

[Alex Batty]

Hmm.

[Celia Hatton]

Stephen, the Chinese side has made it clear many times that Taiwan is their top issue. It is their redline issue that they really care about. But if they don't seem to get any leeway from the Americans on that, even behind closed doors, what do you think is their number two issue? What do you think they could get from the Americans in return for perhaps promising to buy a lot of American goods?

[Stephen McDonnell]

One thing they want is for interaction to be opened up between both sides. I mean, something I didn't expect Xi Jinping to raise, which apparently did, was the extent to which Chinese students and professors and business people have been hassled in the US like harassed by officials, in some cases questioned, kicked out of the country and this type of thing. And there's been a lot of this in the Chinese press, on social media here. And you would think that with the war in the Middle east and whatever happening, this wouldn't be the number one issue raised by the Chinese side. But obviously it's something that really bothers the Chinese government, and it is something that would be pretty easy for Donald Trump to give them.

[Celia Hatton]

Stephen McDonnell in Beijing. And we have more on China's complex relationship with the United States. Go to our YouTube channel. Search for BBC News on YouTube and you'll find the global news podcast. In the podcast section, Ukraine's air force says Russia fired more than 1500 drones in the space of 36 hours. The missile and drone attack was mostly focused on Kyiv, where the number of dead now stands at 5. But at least 10 more are feared to be buried under the rubble of buildings. Abdul Jalil Abdyrsilov is in Kyiv.

[Abdul Jalil Abdyrsilov]

I'm at the site where the nine story building was badly damaged during the attack that took place overnight. I can't get too close to the debris because the area is fenced off by the police. It's not just Ukrainian first responders who are working here, but also forensic experts. They're carrying out their investigation as well and therefore they are not allowing media to get any closer. And it appears that it was a direct hit because the entire section of the building collapsed. And right now I can see the first responders wearing helmets and their special uniform trying to clear the debris. They're pulling out all this concrete wreckage that was left following the attack and there are two cranes working at the site. And the hope is that they can still find anyone who managed to survive the attack. They already pulled more than two dozen people, people who were stuck and trapped under the debris. The thing is, these kind of operations that first responders carry out, it often gets delayed because Russia sometimes uses a so called tactic of double tap when they strike the same target twice within a short period of time. Because of that, the emergency workers themselves become a target. And we know that according to Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles that are very hard to intercept. And Ukraine has only one weapon to stop these missiles and that's American made Patriot systems. The problem is that there's a massive shortages of these interceptors and systems as well.

[Celia Hatton]

Abdul Jalil Abdyasilov in Kyiv. Here in Britain, a development in the deepening crisis affecting the governing Labour Party. A senior government minister, Wes Streeting, has resigned. He said he'd lost confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Calls for the PM to step down have been growing louder since Labour's dismal local elections results last week. Our political correspondent Rob Watson told me more.

[Rob Watson]

It looks as though Labour is perhaps about to tip into a civil war over who should lead the party because Wes Streeting, who's the, or who I should say was the Health Secretary, has resigned and has called for a leadership debate. In other words, he's saying that Keir Starmer needs to be replaced. It's a really stinging, stinging letter of resignation. He says, where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. And he says it is now clear you will not lead the Labour Party until the next. And therefore Labour MPs want the debate about what comes next. So there we have it. He has, if you like, fired the starting gun, it would seem to me, on the battle to who succeeds Keir Starmer, if indeed Keir Starmer is to go. And I note from the letter that he doesn't seem to have actually officially declared himself as a candidate. But it would seem to be hugely significant, Celia, the firing shot, the opening shot in yet another, my goodness, yet another competition for who should be Prime Minister of Britain.

[Celia Hatton]

Fascinating. I mean, you say this is the, the opening shot, but we've actually been waiting to see what West Reading might do for, for a couple of days now. I should also say it comes just a few hours after we heard the chancellor, the UK's finance minister, Rachel Reeves, telling the BBC that a leadership contest for the Labour Party would plunge the country into chaos.

[Rob Watson]

That is why, Celia, that this is a profound political crisis, not just for the Labour Party, but for the country more broadly. A profound political crisis because absolutely, the governing Labour Party, and we should focus on them, is split over what on earth it should do. It's split over who should lead the country, who should lead the party and be Prime Minister. Therefore, whether you should have a contest now and if there is a contest, who should succeed Keir Starmer. Should it be West Streeting or should it be somewhere else? And what you hear, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is if you like, the Prime Minister's argument and that of his supporters, which is, look, it would look nuts, it would look nuts to Britain and to the outside world if we were to have a leadership contest and a seventh prime minister in 10 years. So that is the rearguard action that the Prime Minister is fighting now. Whether it's going to work or not, whether Mr. Streeting will challenge him, I mean, actually officially mount a challenge with enough supporters amongst Labour MPs to do it, we don't know. But I mean, certainly you can sort of sense that a process is underway with this resignation.

[Celia Hatton]

Our political correspondent, Rob Watson. What began as the trip of a lifetime across the South Atlantic has turned into weeks of medical isolation for dozens of passengers who've been aboard the cruise ship the MV Hondius. That's after a deadly hantavirus outbreak on board. Among those passengers now isolating the 30 year old American photographer and content creator, Jake Rosmarin. He expects to spend more than six weeks at a quarantine center in Nebraska. Jake spoke to Sumi Somaskanda about how he was doing.

[Jake Rosmarin]

I'm feeling good, I'm feeling good. I'm staying positive. I actually got more packages today. I was able to make up my bed with a mattress pad, new pillows, new sheets. So I'm really just trying to make myself comfortable here as it's going to be my home now for the next 39 days after today.

[Celia Hatton]

Yeah. What has your quarantine in general, been like. And I think that's a stationary bike behind you. So getting some. Some movement as well.

[Jake Rosmarin]

Yes. So I haven't started using the stationary bike yet, but it is definitely my plan to do so. In general, the days are pretty relaxed. There's not too much that we have to do. A general day like today was this morning. I got my temperature check in the morning, and then I had a call with a doctor, I think midday. And then I had a town hall meeting in the afternoon, and that's really it for today. And then we get delivered our meals and I get to talk with family and friends, and I kind of just get to relax in the room.

[Celia Hatton]

Can I ask a bit about what the doctors are saying at this moment? I mean, are they giving you certain signs that you should be looking out for? What have they been sharing with you?

[Jake Rosmarin]

I think we all know the general initial symptoms that we should be looking out for. Like I said, we have our daily temperature checks, and I think we're also going to have the nightly one. So yesterday at a morning and nightly temperature check. So I think that's the first major sign that we should be looking out for in terms of symptoms. I actually got a PCR test yesterday, done. And mine came back today negative. So that was really exciting news for me.

[Celia Hatton]

How worrying is this entire experience for you? Help us, kind of give us a picture, if you can, of what this has been like for you.

[Jake Rosmarin]

So I think it's been a bunch of different emotions that I felt. I think the scariest period was being on that ship on the hondius for those extra seven days after we found out that there was hantavirus and there was exposure potentially to all of us. For me, that was a really scary time. And after I made my video, I got a bit of hate online, and that was hate that wasn't really backed by anything factual. So I also had so much love and support from all of my family and friends and people that I hadn't heard from in years. And that love and support felt straight from the heart. And that's really what got me through those seven days, because I don't know what I would have done without that love and support, since it was a really tough time for me. A lot of crying in my cabin. But getting off that ship was a turning point, and it was a glimmer of hope and almost a new chapter in a way that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm in a place now where I'm under great care. I know that I have access to all of the medical needs that I may need to have if something happens. So I'm just trying to stay positive at the end of the day. I know I'm here for the next 39 days now. So it's either I can sulk and just lay in my bed and be sad, or I can try to look at the bright side and the positive side of things and try to stay positive, because that's the best that I can do for myself right now.

[Celia Hatton]

Jake Rosmarin still to come in this

[Noam Betten]

podcast, in the moment I got here, like in Austria, they welcomed me with open arms and like with a lot of love. And I feel really welcomed.

[Celia Hatton]

After protesters disrupt one of the Eurovision Song Contest semifinals, the Israeli contestant gives his reaction to the BBC. I'm Kai Wright.

[Jake Rosmarin]

I'm Carter Sherman. Welcome to Stateside with Kai and Carter. We're a new show from the Guardian.

[Celia Hatton]

We're talking to big thinkers and the best journalists just trying to understand the world through smart conversation and honest reporting.

[Jake Rosmarin]

We don't have billionaires telling us what to say.

[Celia Hatton]

Stateside with Kyan Carter will come out three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting May 13.

[Jake Rosmarin]

Subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Celia Hatton]

This is the global News podcast. Rare protests have broken out in the Cuban capital Havana as the island experiences its worst power blackouts in decades, triggered by a US blockade. Our reporter Mimi Swaby told us more.

[Mimi Swaby]

These protests mark the single biggest night of demonstrations in Havana since the energy crisis took hold in January. They are very rare. It's not very often you see people going against the communist government and going into the street in such numbers. It's thought about hundreds, well, hundreds across several areas of Havana, the capital, mainly the outerlying neighborhoods, took to the streets denouncing the fuel shortages and the long, extended periods of blackouts. They were blocking roads with burning big piles of rubbish and banging pots and shouting anti government slogans. But this really marks again a deterioration in public sentiment. People are getting incredibly frustrated with the lack of basic goods and especially fuel shortages.

[Celia Hatton]

Now, it's a tense situation. This comes as the United States is putting serious pressure on the Cuban authorities. Can you tell us more about what's been happening there?

[Mimi Swaby]

So the US has imposed an oil blockade or a fuel blockade on the island since January, and the island before that had a very poorly maintained power grid. So fuel and energy was already not in a great situation. But since then, the island has been absolutely crippled by no fuel. Essentially, it has had one delivery from a Russian tanker, which was allowed through the blockade in March. Now, according to the Energy minister, Vicente de la Olivi, that donation has run out. So no other countries are allowed to sell oil to Cuba. They are threatened with tariffs in the us, but Cuba has now officially run out of diesel and oil, according to the energy Minister. He added that gas was in a very limited supply and it was in a critical situation. The power grid was reaching a critical situation. So very tense. And he said the situation is going to get more tense as it gets hotter with the summer months and people need more energy to survive.

[Celia Hatton]

How are people coping from day to day?

[Mimi Swaby]

People are really living basically in a shoestring. Food is incredibly scarce. People are saying they're mainly surviving of bread. Many people I've spoken to said the only thing they can get hold of is bread. I've also heard of people waking up in the middle of the night when there is a rare scarce moment of electricity, two or three in the morning, sometimes to do basic tasks like washing clothes and cooking for the next day. People are trying to be resourceful as well. We've heard of people trying to use solar panel, which is expensive, to set up as a source of alternate electricity and energy. But it's really difficult. People are struggling and that is getting increasingly harder as there is generally no fuel on the island.

[Celia Hatton]

Mimi swaby. In 2017, an 11 year old British schoolboy, Alex Batty, vanished when he was on holiday in France with his mother and grandfather. It sparked an international missing person investigation. But years passed without a trace of him. That is until 2023 when he suddenly turn on a country road in southern France after leaving the commune where he'd been living. Now he's been telling his story in a new BBC documentary called Kidnap by My Mum. Rowan Bridge has this report.

[Mimi Swaby]

Hi Grandma. I want to live with my mummy and granddad. It is 1 million times better. Please do not get anybody to look for us.

[Alex Batty]

This is the voice of Alex batty speaking in 2017. It's a video message directed to his grandmother and legal guardian Susan. He'd been taken on holiday by his mum, Melanie Batty, and grandfather David Batty. Susan was sent the video and then the three of them vanished. In the wake of it, police launched a missing person investigation, but there was no sign of him. He disappeared off the face of the Earth until 2023.

[Stephen McDonnell]

Relief.

[Alex Batty]

But more questions than answers after an Oldham teenager turns up in France after going missing six years ago. Now we hear what happened in those missing years as they traveled Between Spain and France. Alex says his mum and grandfather disappeared into conspiracy theories.

[Mimi Swaby]

Turn off your TVs, have a look into what's really going on in the world. Throw all your newspapers in the bin, get on the Internet and start researching some truths, because you really are living in a bubble.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

First few weeks, we'd always wear hats and glasses. I grew out my hair. We changed our names just to put people off a little bit. My mum was Rose and then I chose Zach. Even in private, we'd call each other that. We'd see someone and we think that they were looking at us for a long time and then we'd turn around and they'd stop looking. You know, it. It was all just paranoia at the time. I never thought I'd be back here.

[Alex Batty]

Now he's revisiting what happened and reliving some painful memories.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

We had Mum's camper van here and then we had my tent there.

[Alex Batty]

At 15, Alex started rowing with his mum over her beliefs. He said she kicked him out of her camper van and made him spend a winter sleeping outside the campsite. Staff called French social services.

[Celia Hatton]

I thought it was a bit of abuse, so I called social services. Except they told me that because you were a foreigner and that I did

[Mimi Swaby]

not have your true identity, they could not do anything.

[Alex Batty]

We contacted the French authorities who say they can't comment on individual cases as everything is confidential.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

I was super lonely.

[Alex Batty]

As the years ground on, Alex became increasingly fed up with the life he had.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

We used to sit at a cafe quite often. I'd hear the school bell ring. The kids had come out of school. It really made me miss it. It made me want it.

[Alex Batty]

Eventually, he tried to enrol in a local college and told staff who he really was. Marie works there.

[Mimi Swaby]

So he told me, I have to tell you something.

[Celia Hatton]

Zach Edwards isn't my real name.

[Mimi Swaby]

My real name is Alex Bhatti.

[Alex Batty]

An Internet search quickly revealed his backstory. The college contacted the police who visited where Alex was living. But Greater Manchester police weren't tipped off. The BBC's Followed up with the French authorities were yet to get a response.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

When I came outside, it was six

[Alex Batty]

years after being abducted. Alex decided he'd finally had enough. He wrote a note and left.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

I decided to hitchhike and I got in this guy's van. After about 5, 10 minutes, he asked me what I was doing on the road and that's kind of where I just came out with it all.

[Alex Batty]

It was the start of a journey which saw him land back in the UK and Into the media's glare tonight,

[Celia Hatton]

the British teenager who was missing for six years has arrived back in the uk.

[Rob Watson]

Out of nowhere, a missing boy stepped

[Celia Hatton]

back into the world.

[Alex Batty]

Despite everything, Alex was clear he didn't want his mum prosecuted. The police closed their child abduction investigation and Melanie Batty has never been charged in relation to Alex's disappearance. She declined to comment to the BBC. We've not heard from David Batty.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

Hey, Mom. I know how much you care about me.

[Alex Batty]

Alex has decided now to get back in touch with his mum, though their relationship is complicated.

[Alex Batty (voice)]

So I messaged my mom yesterday just to start something, but hopefully one day I'll be able to get to the point where maybe I can go and see them and have an enjoyable time, rather than have my mom push things down my throat like she used to to do.

[Alex Batty]

Since returning home, Alex has passed GCSEs and is looking for work. And his stories come full circle. In January, the boy who was abducted by his mum became a parent himself.

[Celia Hatton]

Rowan Bridge reporting. Eurovision, the international song competition that says one of its main aims is to strengthen ties between nations. There have been tensions, though. During the first semi final, several audience members were removed from the arena in Vienna on Tuesday night after chants of Stop the genocide were heard while the contestant from Israel was performing. The singer Noam Betten has told the BBC he was surprised by the protests that disrupted his performance of Michelle. The public broadcasters of five countries are boycotting this year's Eurovision in protest at Israel's offensive in Gaza. Let's hear what Noam Betten said to the BBC's Nomi Iqbal.

[Noam Betten]

This whole Eurovision, it's. It's one of the most fun experience I had in my life in the moment I got here, like in Austria, they welcomed me so with open arms and with a lot of love, and I feel really welcomed here. I heard those booing and everything and there was a moment of like a wow effect, you know, like a little bit. A little shock. And I looked for the flags, you know, of the people who love me and wants me to do my best. And that really carried me on stage.

[Mimi Swaby]

I know that you have said before that you had prepared for the booing in your rehearsal. Just give me a sense of, like, how much you prepared for that part of it, the booing.

[Noam Betten]

You can't ever, like, really prepare for this. You can't bring 13,000 people to a rehearsal room and to yell boo, you know? So, yeah, I have a few of my people in my crew to trying to make it hard for me. You know, to practice this moment, but you can't really prepare for this. But I felt eventually really strong on stage.

[Mimi Swaby]

I'm really curious about your experience here because I've been here a couple of days and, you know, met other contestants and other artists and I think their experience, from what I've seen, my point of view is very different because, of course you have huge security here. So I wonder to what experience, extent that affects you and how much you are able to fully enjoy the competition.

[Noam Betten]

I enjoy, like I never enjoyed in my life. This experience is the most fun thing I did in my life. Also, I met a lot of the other artists, you know, from all the countries.

[Mimi Swaby]

Have they reached out to you?

[Alex Batty (voice)]

Yeah.

[Noam Betten]

I see a lot of hate outside. Okay. On social media and everything, but in person, in person, there's nothing. I feel we're connected. Like, I'm not even feeling that I'm in a competition. Like, we're saying good stuff to each other. We try to give good vibes, you know, I want to say also, like, I really, I really hope that next year and all countries could sing and could give love. I was never a person that is connected to those kind of stuff. I just, I'm just here for the first time in the Eurovision trying to do my best, trying to spread my love.

[Celia Hatton]

The Israeli singer Noam Betten speaking to Nomia Iqbal. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can can email [e-mail] you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. 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 Holly Smith and the producer was Vanessa Heaney. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Celia Hatch. Until next time. Goodbye. I'm Kai Wright.

[Jake Rosmarin]

I'm Carter Sherman. Welcome to Stateside with Kai and Carter. We're a new show from the Guardian.

[Celia Hatton]

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[Jake Rosmarin]

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[Celia Hatton]

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[Jake Rosmarin]

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