Super El Niño could cause 451,000 deaths, scientists warn

A new report by the Climate Impact Lab at the University of Chicago has warned that the super El Niño could cause an estimated 451,000 excess heat-related deaths by February 2027.

The Apocalyptic phenomenon has already propelled sea surface temperatures to 3.07°C, tying the record set by the 2015–16 El Niño, with scientists projecting it could become the hottest event in 1,000 years.

The researchers used climate models to predict the impact the devastating climate event could have.

The heat deaths have been estimated at the regional level, and the researchers said the projections therefore identified where measures to protect people could be put in place and save lives. Such actions could include better heat forecasts, cooling centres where people can shelter, increased staffing for medical facilities at the hottest times and protections for outdoor workers.

The heaviest toll is expected in poorer countries, already struggling with food insecurity and high energy costs, partly due to climate change and the fallout of the war in Iran.

Reference Sources

1. newyorkpost - Hottest El Niño on record could kill up to 451,000 people in six months: scientists
2. dailymail - Super El Niño could cause 451,000 deaths, scientists warn
3. theguardian - Huge El Nio projected to cause 450,000 deaths in next six months
4. standard - 'Godzilla' El Niño predicted to cause 451,000 more heat deaths: Which countries will suffer most?
5. asiaone - This year's El Nino-driven heat could cause nearly half a million more deaths, group says, World News - AsiaOne

US, China Extend Trade Truce as Xi Arrives for Trump Summit

The US and China have agreed to extend their trade truce by two months, setting a new January 10 deadline for negotiations, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The announcement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for his first US state visit in 11 years.

President Donald Trump personally greeted Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, an unusual diplomatic gesture ahead of Thursday’s White House meetings. The truce extension and ceremonial welcome set a conciliatory tone, although Bessent said it remains uncertain whether the two sides can reach a broader trade agreement.

Xi’s visit is expected to emphasize the US-China relationship at the presidential level. His arrival without the Chinese business delegation Beijing had reportedly sought to bring also contrasts with the expected presence of US corporate leaders around the summit.

Xi’s state visit will feature extensive ceremonial events, including a White House military ceremony with jet flyovers, a visit to the National Archives, and a state dinner expected to include prominent tech executives such as Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Despite persistent US-China disagreements, both governments are using the summit to project stability between the world’s largest manufacturing economy and its biggest consumer market. The meetings are expected to be tightly choreographed, with no joint press conference or statement; instead, Washington and Beijing are likely to issue separate announcements tailored to their respective domestic audiences.

Reference Sources

1. Bloomberg - US-China Truce Extended as Xi Gets Rare Tarmac Welcome By Trump
2. Reuters - Trump plans grand spectacle for Xi as US says trade truce extended

LinkedIn adds new tools to fight fake profiles and bogus work histories

LinkedIn is rolling out new tools to help users figure out what is real and avoid handing over money or their Résumés to scammers.

The new levers, which the company plans to release this month, focus on verification, a system through which users can submit government identification and their professional email addresses. In turn, their profiles display a check mark, giving it a sign of authenticity.

The new features arrive at a time when impersonation has become an Internet-Wide problem, not one limited to LinkedIn.

However, on a network where your professional persona includes your work experience, past job titles, Certifications, University degrees, and more, being able to verify you are who you say you are is even more critical. Such claims can lead to career opportunities and advancement, prospects that those fudging or lying on their resumes haven’t earned. “The backdrop for all this is that Faking credibility has never been cheaper or easier than it is today; and conversely, Showcasing credibility has never mattered more, ” LinkedIn VP of Product, Oscar Rodriguez, told TechCrunch in an interview. To date, LinkedIn’s existing verification tools have been used to verify 115 million users and over 700,000 companies on the platform. “We’ve been invested in [verification] because we believe that authenticity will be the single most valuable currency on the Internet, ” Rodriguez added.

Reference Sources

1. wsj - LinkedIn Tightens Verification Rules to Fight Fake Recruiters
2. techcrunch - LinkedIn adds new tools to fight fake profiles and bogus work histories

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools.  

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