New Delhi, June 11 -- Las Vegas, monikered 'sin city' for its casinos and strip clubs, launched an iconic ad campaign in 2003 to boost tourist inflows. The city assured visitors it knew how to keep a secret: "What happens here, stays here." That tagline underwent a tweak later: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Some weeks ago, a climate scientist referred to this phrase while explaining a natural phenomenon, albeit with more dread than wonder: El Niño. The Spanish term literally means 'The Little Boy'. Peruvian fishermen coined the term centuries ago in deference to Christ Jesus. For, during the Christmas of some years the ocean waters would turn unusually warm and their catch would reduce. Fishermen would take this time off ...