Global Weather Chaos and Tech Innovations

Heavy rainstorms have hit southern California, causing catastrophic flooding and mudslides over the Christmas period, resulting in at least three deaths. Although the rain is expected to taper off, forecasters warn that even modest additional rainfall could trigger further floods and mudslides in saturated areas. More than 50,000 people are still without power as efforts to restore service continue. The storms were caused by multiple atmospheric rivers bringing intense rainfall and snow. Emergency responders have performed several rescues, including people stuck in vehicles as flood waters rose. The situation is expected to improve by the evening, with lighter and briefer rain anticipated.

A severe winter storm is expected to hit the north-eastern United States during the peak holiday travel season, causing thousands of flight disruptions. As of Friday night, 1,600 flights were cancelled and 7,400 were delayed. The most affected airports are in the New York area, with up to 9in (23cm) of snow expected. Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut issued warnings, advising people to avoid unnecessary trips and plan ahead. Snow ploughs were deployed to clear streets, and passengers were stranded at airports.

Chinese engineers have developed the world's largest smart direct current (DC) transformer, a breakthrough that could mitigate the risks associated with integrating renewable energy into the national grid. The innovation comes just over a year after a near-total blackout in August last year, when low-frequency swings triggered by poorly integrated wind energy in Xinjiang threatened to destabilize the grid. The new transformer, developed by Changzhou Xidian Transformer, has a capacity of 750 million volt-amperes and is part of the national west-to-east electricity transmission project, which aims to send clean energy from the western regions to the power-hungry eastern provinces. The technology is expected to improve the safety, stability, and operational flexibility of the grid, enabling the transmission of over 36 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to Zhejiang province per year.

China has appointed its first female captain, Yu Yue, to fly the domestically produced C919 jet, marking a significant milestone in the country's aviation industry. Yu, a former Boeing 737 pilot with a 'zero-error' record, transitioned to the C919 after undergoing intensive training. The appointment is seen as an inspiration to women across the nation as China expands its talent pool and transitions elite pilots to operate the C919. The C919, manufactured by Comac, began domestic service in May 2023, with major carriers like China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern increasing flight frequencies. The development is part of China's efforts to promote its homegrown aviation industry and reduce reliance on foreign-made aircraft.

Heavy rains and flash floods have caused widespread damage in Southern California, particularly in the mountain resort town of Wrightwood, where several dozen homes were heavily damaged by mudslides. The storm, which began around Christmas Eve, brought up to 6 inches of rain to the Los Angeles basin and 12 inches or more to lower-elevation mountains. Authorities issued evacuation warnings and flood watches remained in effect as the region struggled to recover. Despite the severity of the damage, no deaths or serious injuries were reported in Wrightwood.

The article discusses US President Donald Trump's Christmas message, which focused on military action and grievance rather than peace. Trump announced air strikes against jihadists in Nigeria and insulted his enemies on social media. In contrast, the White House issued a traditional Christmas message signed by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, invoking God and scripture. The article highlights the growing Christian nationalist sentiment in the Trump administration, with Vice-President J.D. Vance pushing Christian doctrine into policy. Trump's version of Christian nationalism is described as personal and messianic, with him claiming God saved him for a purpose.