Cheng Lei was detained by the Chinese Government back in 2020, accused of espionage and of leaking state secrets to foreign organisations.

The Australian journalist, born in China, spent years in detention with no trial, no access to her children and no lawyer - including over six months in solitary confinement.

Lei was eventually forced to plead guilty to trumped-up charges, but in late 2023 she was released with the help of the Australian Government.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lei shares the brutal conditions she was held under, why she still holds love for China and takes us inside her new memoir, Cheng Lei.

Weekend list with Helen Smith

• TO LISTEN: Good Hang with Amy Poehler
• TO READ: The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience by Plestia Alaqad
• TO EAT: Sweet potato halloumi fritters
• TO EAT: Kreenuts (Helen also taste tested and approved)

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Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023.

She’s pled not guilty to all charges.

In this special series of The Briefing, Helen Smith unpacks day twenty-eight of the trial in under two minutes.

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Afternoon Headlines: Jumping castle operator found not guilty over incident that left six children dead, Chris Dawson’s legal bid over a sexual abuse charge fails and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump in the G-7 summit next week

Deep Dive: Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s fight has just escalated to dangerous new levels with the tech billionaire letting loose on social media.

After leaving the White House, Musk has made some explosive allegations against the US President including claims he is on Jeffrey Epstein’s list.

In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by journalist Matt Bevan to unpack the implications this latest blow-up has for all of us.

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