After a week of spectacular self-sabotage, the Victorian Liberal party’s pain is only just beginning

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As John Pesutto scrambles to raise funds to pay $2.3m owed to Moira Deeming, the saga threatens to ‘engulf the entire party’, including its new leader

It was meant to be the Victorian Liberals’ week. Instead, the party – now almost synonymous with political self-sabotage – has imploded once again.

And it’s likely only going to get worse from here as the countdown officially begins for former leader John Pesutto to pay the $2.3m in legal fees he owes Moira Deeming or face bankruptcy after he was found in December to have defamed her.

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This article was amended on 31 May 2025. Jess Wilson challenged for Victorian Liberal leadership, not deputy leadership as stated in an earlier version.

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Macron to China: Keep North Korea out of Ukraine war or risk NATO coming to Asia – politico.eu

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  1. Macron to China: Keep North Korea out of Ukraine war or risk NATO coming to Asia  politico.eu
  2. Macron warns the West could lose credibility over Ukraine and Gaza wars  BBC
  3. Column | The Trump administration pivots to a wary Asia  The Washington Post
  4. Shangri-La Dialogue: Macron seeks new EU-Asia alliance  DW
  5. France's Macron calls for Asian coalitions as he warns of US-China divisions  Reuters
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Paul Doyle, 53, Appears in Court Over Liverpool FC Parade Crash – The New York Times

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  1. Paul Doyle, 53, Appears in Court Over Liverpool FC Parade Crash  The New York Times
  2. Man charged after Liverpool crash is father-of-three, businessman, and former Royal Marine  BBC
  3. Ex-Marine Used Car 'as Weapon' to 'Deliberately' Plow into Soccer Fans Celebrating at Parade, Court Hears: Reports  People.com
  4. Ex-Royal Marine remanded in custody over Liverpool parade collision  The Guardian
  5. Driver charged with Liverpool soccer parade tragedy appears in court  ABC News
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Hong Kong pro-democracy and gay rights activist Jimmy Sham released after 4 years in prison – AP News

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  1. Hong Kong pro-democracy and gay rights activist Jimmy Sham released after 4 years in prison  AP News
  2. Hong Kong releases second group of democrats jailed for four years in national security trial  The Guardian
  3. Second group of Hong Kong democrats freed after 4 years in jail  Reuters
  4. Freed HK democracy activist says needs to figure out 'red lines'  The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
  5. Hong Kong activist Jimmy Sham to navigate ‘red lines’ after serving 4 years in jail over nat. security offence  Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
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After Sanaa airport strike, Houthis say they’ll start targeting Israeli civilian planes – The Times of Israel

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  1. After Sanaa airport strike, Houthis say they’ll start targeting Israeli civilian planes  The Times of Israel
  2. Israeli airstrikes target Yemen airport as Netanyahu warns Houthis, Iran  ABC News
  3. Israel says it has hit Houthi targets including last plane at Sanaa airport  Reuters
  4. Israeli Jets Strike Yemen’s Main Airport Again After Houthi Attacks  The New York Times
  5. Houthi missile fire on Tel Aviv during soccer cup finals, rock concert | Watch  Ynetnews
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Mother of jailed British-Egyptian activist hospitalised after 242 days on hunger strike

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Laila Soueif continues protest against detention of Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Cairo

The mother of the imprisoned British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been admitted to hospital after spending more than 240 days on hunger strike.

Laila Soueif’s family said she had been admitted to St Thomas’ hospital in London on Thursday night with dangerously low blood sugar levels, but continues to refuse medical intervention that would provide her with calories.

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Volkswagen to make ‘massive’ investment in US in bid to avoid tariffs

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CEO of Europe’s largest industrial group says he has been in direct talks with Donald Trump’s administration

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest industrial group, has said it will make a “massive” investment in the US. The group, which includes Porsche, revealed it has been in direct talks with Donald Trump’s administration as it faces damaging tariffs.

Oliver Blume, who heads the group, said the talks were “constructive” and “fair”, in an interview that suggests the company, whose market capital is £44bn, is not willing to leave tariff negotiations to Brussels alone.

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