India received just 90.7 mm (3.6 inches) in the first 17 days of August, nearly 40% lower than the normal. The month's normal average is 254.9 mm (10 inches).
As Sumatra and Java face the brunt of the dry spell, experts predict that the intensity of El Niño will heighten in the later part of 2023 and early 2024.
The price of Indian rice exports has jumped 9% to a five-year high, following a hike of 7% last month in the price the government pays farmers for new-season common rice.
Average global temperature reached 17.01°C, surpassing August 2016 record of 16.92°C. Scientists said climate change, combined with an emerging El Nino pattern, were to blame.
The global body confirmed that the temperature soared after the emergence of the El Nino weather pattern in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years.
The WHO chief also warned that climate change is fueling the breeding of mosquitoes, and incidence of dengue has already risen sharply in recent decades, particularly in the Americas.
While they had initially suspected bird flu, the country's agriculture and environment ministries jointly concluded the most likely reason was warmer oceans resulting from El Niño.
Sidekicks are quintessential in Bollywood, and every few years, when a star or lead shines, a filmmaker reminds us that the person next to the hero is a key ingredient in the recipe.
SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.
While the IAF remains committed to the Tejas programme and has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mk1A, the force is eagerly waiting for the Tejas Mk 2 version.
Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.
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