UN warns supersized El Niño will impact global economy as Nvidia buys Hugging Face for $12.9 bn

The United Nations has issued a warning that the upcoming El Niño event is shaping up to be a “supersized” phenomenon, with the potential to disrupt supply chains, agricultural output, and energy markets worldwide. Climate experts cited unusually warm sea‑surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which are expected to intensify weather extremes such as heatwaves, floods and droughts across multiple continents. The UN’s climate office highlighted that these conditions could reduce global GDP growth by up to 0.5 percent in 2024‑2025, stressing the need for coordinated mitigation measures and contingency planning by governments and businesses.

In the United Kingdom, cider makers are already feeling the strain of prolonged drought, reporting lower apple yields and increased production costs as water restrictions tighten. Meanwhile, in the technology sector, Nvidia announced the acquisition of artificial‑intelligence startup Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, a move aimed at bolstering its generative‑AI capabilities and expanding its software ecosystem. Both developments underscore how climate variability and rapid corporate consolidation are shaping distinct yet interlinked challenges for the global economy.