Worsening El Niño threatens Asia with drought, potentially raising food prices globally

BANTEN, Indonesia (AP) — All signs are pointing toward a record-breaking El Nino this year, which experts say may cause severe drought in Asia and other extreme weather across the world, threatening food security for millions of people.

El Niño is part of a natural climate cycle of warming ocean temperatures, but this year’s is expected to reach new extremes of drought, heat waves, flooding and other climate-related disruptions in South America, Africa and Asia.

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. It’s already beset by an energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran.