Why Are the Tropics Hotter than The Equator?

The hottest parts of the world do not lie on the Equator (as our assumption would suggest) but rather around the tropics, i.e., the areas that lie above and below the Equator. Whats the reason behind this? The answer to this question lies in the difference between the heat of dry air and moist air. Sunlight falling on the Equator generates rising air currents that help in the formation of clouds over equatorial regions, which then cause rains and thunderstorms. This is why the areas lying on the Equator experience lower temperatures and are not the hottest on the planet (contrary to what you might assume about the equatorial regions).