• Associated Press

    Solomon Islands prime minister says his visits to Australia and China focus on creating jobs

    The new prime minister of the Solomon Islands said Wednesday that his visits to Australia and China are focussed on creating jobs in the developing South Pacific island nation. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele met his counterpart Anthony Albanese in the Australian capital of Canberra, during his first overseas trip since being elected last month. Manele will next visit China, and then Japan.

  • Reuters

    UK's AO World profit beats forecasts, sees further growth

    AO World's annual profit beat forecasts on Wednesday as the British online consumer electrical retailer's plan to focus on efficiency kicked in, and it said it expected it to grow by at least 6% this year despite the tough economy. AO, which sells washing machines, fridge freezers, cookers, TVs, laptops and mobile phones across the UK, posted adjusted pretax profit of 34 million pounds ($43 million) for the 12 months to the end of March, compared to guidance for it to come in at the top end of a 28-33 million pound range. The company, which has a 15% market share of the domestic appliance market in the UK, exited the German market in 2022 and has over the last year cut costs, removed lower value products from its range and introduced delivery charges as part of a plan to improve profitability.

  • The Telegraph

    Judge wishes Julian Assange ‘happy birthday’ before freeing him after 12 years

    Julian Assange is officially a free man on his way home to Australia, after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing United States military secrets.