Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

At least seven people have died after a powerful winter storm swept across large parts of the United States, bringing heavy snow and ice from the Gulf Coast to the north-east, knocking out power to more than one million people in the south and forcing widespread travel disruption. Louisiana’s department of health confirmed two storm-related deaths in Caddo Parish. The agency said two men, whose ages were not released, died from hypothermia. In New York City, mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people were found dead outdoors on Saturday, before snowfall began. “While we do not yet know their…

Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, seeking at least $5bn in damages over claims that the bank cut off his accounts for political reasons. The US president accused the country’s largest bank of “debanking” him in the aftermath of the Capitol riot on 6 January. Earlier this month, Trump said JPMorgan had “incorrectly and inappropriately” discriminated against him. The lawsuit was filed in Miami by Alejandro Brito, Trump’s personal lawyer, who has also represented him in legal actions against media organisations including ABC News and the BBC. JPMorgan said it would…

Donald Trump has said he is expanding his defamation lawsuit against the New York Times to include criticism of one of its opinion polls. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said the Times/Siena poll, which showed a decline in his approval rating, would be added to his existing legal action against the newspaper. He claimed the poll was “always tremendously negative” towards him and accused it of being deliberately skewed against Republicans. Trump said his lawyers had demanded access to records showing how the poll results were calculated. “They will be held fully responsible for…

Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation for Canada to join his proposed “board of peace”, an initiative he says is designed to resolve global conflicts. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, the US president said the invitation to Canada had been rescinded. The message was directed at the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney. Trump described the board as “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled” and said Canada would no longer be considered for membership. The “board of peace” was announced by Trump last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He claimed it…

TikTok has announced it has reached a deal to create a new US-based entity, allowing the company to avoid a nationwide ban and bringing to an end a prolonged legal and political dispute. Under the agreement, finalised by TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, the new venture will be majority owned by American investors. Oracle founder Larry Ellison, private equity firm Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based investment group MGX will together hold 80.1% of the business. ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake. The announcement comes five years after Donald Trump first threatened to ban TikTok during his first term as US…

Taylor Swift is set to become the second-youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a milestone that further cements her influence on contemporary music. The 36-year-old pop star will join an elite group of songwriters whose work has shaped generations of listeners. The organisation announced on Wednesday that Swift will be inducted later this year, placing her behind only Stevie Wonder, who was 33 when he received the honour in 1983. Swift will be inducted alongside fellow musicians Alanis Morissette and Kenny Loggins, as well as Kiss bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The ceremony is scheduled…

Just 32 fossil fuel companies were responsible for half of the global carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis in 2024, according to a new report. The figure is down from 36 companies a year earlier, highlighting a growing concentration of emissions among a small group of producers. Saudi Aramco emerged as the largest state-owned polluter, while ExxonMobil was the biggest investor-owned company on the list. Campaigners accused leading fossil fuel firms of obstructing climate action but said the data was increasingly being used to hold them to account. Read related news from New Daily Prime: Nigeria unveils blueprint for…

South Korea’s former prime minister, Han Duck-soo, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in an insurrection linked to former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed declaration of martial law. Judge Lee Jin-kwan ordered Han’s immediate detention following the verdict, delivered on Wednesday. Han has the right to appeal. The ruling marks the first judicial finding that the attempted imposition of martial law on 3 December 2024 amounted to an act of insurrection. The court found that Han had actively helped create the appearance of a legitimate cabinet meeting in order to approve an unconstitutional decree. Prosecutors…

Thousands of Australians are expected to perform acts of kindness on Thursday to commemorate the victims of last month’s Bondi terror attack, as the Jewish tradition of mitzvah is embraced across faiths and communities. A mitzvah, a core value in Judaism, is commonly understood as a charitable or good deed. Australians have been encouraged to carry out such acts as part of a national day of mourning. Carole Schlessinger, the chief executive and co-founder of the charity Kids Giving Back, will take part in the initiative. Since the attack, she has run a weekly One Mitzvah for Bondi programme, opening…

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has agreed to join a US-backed “board of peace” proposed by Donald Trump, despite earlier objections from his office over the body’s leadership structure. The initiative, chaired by the US president, was initially described as a small forum of world leaders tasked with overseeing a ceasefire in Gaza. In recent weeks, however, it has expanded significantly, with invitations sent to dozens of countries. Trump’s team has suggested the board could evolve into a broader platform for mediating conflicts beyond the Middle East, raising concerns among diplomats about its potential impact on existing international institutions. Some…