The Solomon Islands’ prime minister has accused Australia of interference over its offer to help fund an election he controversially wants to delay. Manasseh Sogavare is seeking to defer the vote – due in mid-2023 – by seven months, a move critics say represents a turn towards authoritarianism. Australia says there is nothing unusual about its offer of assistance. Relations between the two countries have soured recently as Mr Sogavare’s government grows closer with China. Australia regularly offers financial and logistical support to Pacific countries for elections, including in previous polls in the Solomon Islands. But Mr Sogavare says it is timed to influence how MPs will vote on a bill to change the constitution. If passed, the bill would allow the election to be deferred.(BBC)…[+]

Police in Tennessee say a body found on Monday is that of missing heiress Eliza Fletcher. The 34-year-old mother-of-two was a teacher in the area, and the granddaughter of a local billionaire. She was abducted while jogging early on Friday morning near the University of Memphis campus. Cleotha Abston – a 38-year-old man with a previous conviction for abduction – has been charged with kidnapping and murdering Ms Fletcher. Her family issued a statement after the discovery of her body, saying they were “heartbroken and devastated”. “Liza was a such a joy to so many – her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church congregation, and everyone who knew her,” they said. “Now it’s time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her.” Well-known in the community, Ms Fletcher was the granddaughter of the late Joseph Orgill III, a billionaire local hardware magnate and philanthropist. His company is now reportedly worth over $3bn (£2.6bn) and employs more than 5,000 people.(BBC)…[+]

Seven people in South Korea have died after they were trapped in an underground car park during floods caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor. They had gone down to move their cars but got caught by the incoming torrents. Crew said they rescued two people, who reportedly survived by clinging to ceiling pipes for more than 12 hours. Typhoon Hinnamnor, the strongest cyclonic storm this year so far, hit South Korea earlier this week.  Rescuers had to wade through metres of brown water to enter the almost completely submerged basement on Tuesday night. According to news site Yonhap, all nine people were residents of an apartment building who had earlier on Tuesday morning been told by the management office to move their cars from the car park.(BBC)…[+]