Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall In Jamaica As One Of The Most Powerful Atlantic Hurricanes Ever
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica yesterday afternoon as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, making it the most powerful hurricane to hit the island since records began 174 years ago and one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded. The storm came ashore near New Hope on Jamaica's southwestern coast and weakened slightly to 165 mph winds after landfall, but remained a Category 5. A World Meteorological Organization expert called it the storm of the century for Jamaica, and the Red Cross said it could affect 1.5 million people on the island. Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness said no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and the question now is how fast recovery will be. While Holness told NBC News yesterday afternoon that it was too soon to start search and rescue at that point, the storm was already blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean before making landfall. Cuba has evacuated more than 600-thousand people from the eastern part of the country as Melissa was expected to move over southeastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane early today.
2 Israel Carries Out Airstrikes In Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered immediate powerful airstrikes on Gaza yesterday, threatening the fragile ceasefire that was agreed to just weeks ago. The order came after Hamas allegedly attacked Israeli soldiers in Rafah, though NBC News hasn't confirmed this attack. Airstrikes were reported in several parts of Gaza last night, and earlier, Netanyahu said that remains Hamas returned overnight were actually body parts of a different hostage recovered by Israeli troops nearly two years ago. Hamas said they found a hostage's body, but will delay returning it because of Israeli violations. The ceasefire deal from October 10th was supposed to end fighting that started after Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023.
3 Texas Sues Makers Of Tylenol For Allegedly Hiding Links To Autism
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the makers of Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue yesterday, claiming they deceptively marketed the pain reliever to pregnant women despite alleged links to autism and other disorders. This is the first lawsuit from a state government since President Trump claimed in September that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to autism, though major medical organizations say there's limited evidence of an association and no proof it causes autism. Kenvue pushed back hard, saying acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever for pregnant women and that the lawsuit perpetuates misinformation. The company said that without Tylenol, pregnant women would have to either suffer through fevers and pain that could harm both mother and baby or use riskier alternatives. Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate health committee and is a doctor, said the lawsuit should be thrown out because the evidence is weak. A similar lawsuit against Kenvue was already thrown out by a judge for lack of evidence.