Are you feeling lonely? Know what prolonged isolation does to your brain and bodyAlways spacing out or feeling disconnected, even in a room full of people? Find out the ramifications loneliness can have on your health. Updated on: May 21, 2026 2:10 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link The
Who is Abhijeet Dipke, the Boston-educated founder of Cockroach Janata Party?Abhijeet Dipke is a 30-year-old Indian political communication strategist and founder of the Cockroach Janata Party. Updated on: May 21, 2026 12:26 PM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link There’s a new political outfit
Chip giant Nvidia on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) posted record quarterly revenue of $81.6 billion, blowing past Wall Street forecasts as insatiable demand for its artificial intelligence hardware powered another blockbuster quarter. The results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, ending April 26
Manifesting a BMW at 26 to buying it: Bengaluru techie's viral video captures parents' pure joyThe Bengaluru techie posted a video which captures what his parents thought about him buying a BMW. Updated on: May 21, 2026 12:16 PM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A heartwarming video of a
“Mexican authorities arrested the municipal president of Atlatlahucan and five other political figures in an investigation into corruption and organised crime in central Morelos state,” special prosecutor Ulises Lara said in a video message late on Wednesday
3 Indians among 274 to summit Mt Everest, set new recordThe group set a new record for the highest number of ascents recorded in a day Published on: May 21, 2026 1:36 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Three Indians were among 274 climbers who successfully summited Mount Everest from Nepal's side
Rajnath Singh, South Korean minister inaugurate Indian war memorial in SeoulMore than 2.5 million people were killed in the war between North and South Korea, backed by their respective allies. Published on: May 21, 2026 1:49 PM IST By Rahul Singh
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity as soon as Thursday (May 21, 2026), two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as pressure grows from parts of his political base to increase oversight of new AI models
Hurricane Melissa's death toll climbs to 44, storm churns north
Hurricane Melissa's confirmed death toll climbed to 44 on Thursday, according to official reports, after wreaking destruction across much of the northern Caribbean and picking up speed as it headed toward Bermuda.
Jamaica's information minister told Reuters at least 19 deaths had been confirmed, but authorities were continuing search and rescue efforts. The storm left hundreds of thousands without power, ripped roofs of buildings and scattered fields with rubble.
Jamaica's military has called on reserve personnel to report for duty to help with relief and rescue operations.
Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday as a powerful Category 5 hurricane, the Caribbean nation's strongest-ever storm to directly hit its shores, and the first major hurricane to do so since 1988.
Windspeeds were well above the minimum level for the strongest hurricane classification. Forecasters at AccuWeather said it tied in second place for strongest-ever Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of windspeed when in struck land.
The forecaster estimated $48 billion to $52 billion in damage and economic loss across the western Caribbean.
Authorities in Haiti, which was not directly hit but nevertheless suffered days of torrential rains from the slow-moving storm, reported at least 25 deaths, mostly in the southern town of Petit-Goave when a river burst its banks.
A river also caved in and carried off part of a national highway, local newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported. The road, which had been weakened by last year's Hurricane Beryl, connected to the nearby city of Jacmel.
Melissa also hit eastern Cuba, where some 735,000 evacuated, but as of Thursday, no deaths were reported there, despite extensive damage to homes and crops.
At 8 p.m. (0000 GMT), Melissa was a Category 1 storm 409 km (254 miles) south-west of the North Atlantic British island territory, where hurricane conditions were expected by nightfall even as Melissa's eye skirts north-west.
Melissa was packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 kph).
Residents in Bermuda however remained calm as the storm was expected to give the island a relatively wide berth. Authorities said they would close its causeway Thursday night and shut schools and ferries on Friday "out of an abundance of caution."
In the Bahamas, which Melissa cut through Wednesday night, authorities lifted storm warnings but did not give the "all clear". An official said authorities expected to decide by Saturday whether it was safe for the hundreds of people who evacuated off affected islands to return to their homes.
The front page of Thursday's Jamaica Observer newspaper read: "DEVASTATION."
Densely populated Kingston was spared the worst damage. Its main airport was set to reopen on Thursday, as was the capital's port. Relief flights and aid had begun to flow into Jamaica's airports, authorities said.
But across the country, more than 130 roads remained blocked by trees, debris and electric lines, authorities said, forcing the military to clear roadways on foot into isolated areas, with ambulances following close behind.
Satellite imagery showed swaths of trees and homes devastated in the hardest-hit areas of Jamaica, sparse remaining greenery defoliated and most structures destroyed.
In a neighbourhood of the island's Montego Bay, 77-year-old Alfred Hines waded barefoot through thick mud and debris as he described his narrow escape from the rising floodwaters.
"At one stage, I see the water at my waist and (after) about 10 minutes time, I see it around my neck here and I make my escape," he told Reuters on Wednesday.
I just want to forget it and things come back to normal.
In western parts of the island, people crowded by supermarkets and gas stations to fill up on supplies.
"Montego Bay hasn't got any petrol. Most of the petrol stations are down," British tourist Chevelle Fitzgerald told Reuters, adding it took her at least six hours to cross the 174 km (108 miles) to Jamaica's capital.
"The highway was closed. You had some blockage on the road and trees falling down," she said.
Over 70% of electrical customers in Jamaica remained without power as of Thursday morning, said Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, with power lines felled across the island's roadways.
Many schools remained without power or water, officials in the capital Kingston said.
Scientists say hurricanes are intensifying faster with greater frequency as a result of warming ocean waters caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Many Caribbean leaders have called on wealthy, heavy-polluting nations to provide reparations in the form of aid or debt relief.
Despite the U.N. setting up a fund for developing nations to quickly access reliable financing for more extreme weather events in 2023, donations have not met targets.
U.S. forecaster AccuWeather said Melissa was the third most-intense hurricane observed in the Caribbean, as well as its slowest-moving, compounding damages for affected areas.
U.S. search and rescue teams were headed for Jamaica on Thursday to assist in recovery efforts, Jamaican authorities said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was prepared to offer "immediate humanitarian aid" to the people of Cuba, a long-time U.S. foe.
Authorities in Cuba - which Melissa struck in the night as a Category 3 storm - said they were "awaiting clarification on how and in what way they are willing to assist."
At least 241 Cuban communities remained isolated and without communications on Wednesday following the storm's passage across Santiago province, according to preliminary media reports, affecting as many as 140,000 residents.
Residents of Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city, began returning to repair their homes. Authorities had evacuated 735,000 people to shelters outside the hurricane's cone and relocated tourists in northern cays to inland hotels.
(Reporting by Sarah Morland and Brendan O'Boyle in Mexico City, Zahra Burton in Kingston, Steven Aristil in Port-au-Prince, Herbert Villarraga in Les Cayes, Maria Alejandra Cardona in St. Elizabeth's Parish, Don Burgess in Hamilton and Dave Sherwood in Havana; Writing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Deepa Babington and David Gregorio)
Source: Hindustan Times
Related Posts: Death toll from Hurricane Melissa rises to 45 in Jamaica Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica as devastating Category-5 storm Hurricane Melissa could be strongest ever to hit Jamaica Hurricane Melissa track Hurricane Melissa a ‘beast’ among a string of monster Atlantic storms Hurricane Melissa Powerful Hurricane Melissa Could Intensify To A Category 5 Level Storm Powerful Hurricane Melissa strengthens as it heads for Jamaica Hurricane Melissa could be strongest to ever hit Jamaica Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica as the strongest storm in recorded history
Inside her kitchen in the Indian capital, Delhi, 55-year-old Nirmal Rao lays out a tray of boiled turmeric to dry in the afternoon sun. On the counter beside it, she slowly tips yesterday's dried batch into a mixer, grinding it into a fine golden powder.Inside her kitchen in the Indian capital
2 hours ago
If you are trying to get around Delhi-NCR on Thursday, brace yourself. A three-day strike by auto-rickshaw and taxi unions has taken traditional transport off the roads, and app-based cab services are staring at major disruption — meaning longer waits, fewer rides
2 hours ago
Arsenal supporters around the world erupted in celebration after the North London club secured their first Premier League title in 22 years, but fans in Botswana briefly believed they had received an extra reward — a public holiday in honour of the triumph
2 hours ago
Small-cap stock under ₹50: Take Solutions share price hits their 5% upper circuit at ₹27.98 on Thursday after the company reported a turnaround in profitability during the March quarter, aided by recovery in operations and continued focus on healthcare technology and AI-driven businesses
2 hours ago
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is now a dominant force in the commercial space industry, aiming for Mars colonization and Moon missions with its Starship rocket. The company is also developing Starlink and plans a massive IPO. Despite early failures
2 hours ago
Picking India’s likely 11 for the Afghanistan ODIs: will Rohit Sharma get in amid his fitness concerns? Who will open with Shubman Gill? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member ODI squad for the three-ODI series against Afghanistan on Tuesday
2 hours ago
Sara Tendulkar calls out post calling her ‘moti’: 'You are disgusting, leave us alone'Sara Tendulkar criticises a photojournalist for derogatory comments about her appearance – her strong response highlights today's intrusive paparazzi culture. Published on: May 21
2 hours ago
In a big development in the Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron dating scandal, it has now been reported that the South Korean prosecutors have sought an arrest warrant against the head of the controversial YouTube channel Garosero Institute over allegations of defamation and spreading false information
2 hours ago
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the global technology industry, major software companies that built multi-billion-dollar businesses around traditional software and IT services are beginning to face mounting disruption. Adding to concerns across the sector, Dario Amodei
2 hours ago
May 21, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 21, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 21, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 21
2 hours ago
Hardik Pandya, captain of Mumbai Indians, was fined 10 percent of his match fee and handed one demerit point following an on-field incident during the IPL 2026 clash against Kolkata Knight RidersatEden Gardens. Pandya was penalized for forcefully knocking the wicket bails during the match and later
2 hours ago
With two Congress legislators inducted into chief minister Vijay’s expanded Tamil Nadu cabinet, the Congress is now part of the ruling establishment across all four major southern political centres—Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu—marking a significant consolidation for a party
2 hours ago
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is set to announce its Q4FY26 results this week. It is a leading state-owned insurance firm headquartered in Mumbai. The company was founded on Sept. 1, 1956, through the merger of over 200 insurance companies
8 hours ago
Elderly woman killed, 16 injured after AC explosion triggers fire at Dehradun hospitalThe incident took place at Panacea Hospital near Rispana Bridge at around 9.35 am, and the deceased was identified as Veeravati Published on: May 21, 2026 7:38 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via Copy link A
8 hours ago
Two US men plead guilty to helping Indian call centres scam elderly AmericansThe FBI said the two Americans also advised Indian call centres on how to avoid detection in tech fraud. Published on: May 21, 2026 7:26 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Two American tech executives have
8 hours ago
‘Please gather any personal items and head home’: Meta tells laid-off employees. Read full text of layoff emailMeta carried out a fresh round of layoffs on Wednesday, informing thousands of employees that their roles were being eliminated Published on: May 21
8 hours ago
The EPFO has increased its emphasis on reducing litigation and expediting grievance redressal while also being ready to meet members on WhatsApp for continuous support. New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is planning to introduce WhatsApp-based chatbot services to enhance
8 hours ago
Parle stock's ‘melodious’ moment as price rises 5% after PM Modi gifts Melody to Meloni. But there is a twistAs PM Modi gifted a pack of Melody toffees to Italy's Meloni, the Parle stock rallied, but it was the wrong Parle. Updated on: May 20
8 hours ago
Love Horoscope Today for May 21, 2026: The love that emptied you may leave, and what fills you may stayLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: May 21, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love asks you to think bigger today
8 hours ago
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge fined X Corp. 650,000 Australian dollars ($465,000) on Thursday for failing to provide information to an online safety watchdog in 2023 about how it tackled child sexual exploitation content. Federal Court Justice Michael Wheelahan also ordered the
8 hours ago
India’s spam conundrum, and Amkette proves all mice matterBeyond the regular noise, a closer look at personal technology. 21 May 2026 Published on: May 21, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link Opening thoughts. WD, formerly Western Digital, has done something rather interesting
8 hours ago
Dy CM dismisses buzz around ministers’ meetSpeculation about Karnataka's leadership surfaced as CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar interacted amid discussions on governance and succession. Published on: May 21, 2026 7:22 AM IST By HT Correspondent
8 hours ago
Keywords: RBI approved personal loan apps, best loan app RBI registered, online loan app RBI registered, trusted loan app in India, personal loan app Transforming the entire borrowing experience, personal loan apps have come a long way. Users have switched from the traditional banking systems and
8 hours ago
Free scooty scheme: Yogi asks officials to fix eligibility criteria, come better prepared next timeUttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna announced the Rani Laxmi Bai scooty scheme in the state budget for 2025-26. A year later, in February 2026
8 hours ago
As AI adoption accelerates, organisations are increasingly turning to builders, developers, and innovation communities for breakthrough ideas. Hackathons are emerging as powerful ecosystems for discovering talent, testing new technologies, and shaping future-ready solutions collaboratively
8 hours ago
The rupee touches record low of 96.90 against the US dollar in early trade, marking a depreciation of 7.8% since the beginning of this year and 13.33% compared to May 20 last year. The Indian rupee has come under intense pressure in 2026, sliding to a fresh all-time low against the US dollar amid
8 hours ago
The BJP strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi over his remarks against the Prime Minister. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his foreign visits, this time attacking the viral “Melody” moment involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
8 hours ago
