A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast on April 20, triggering tsunami alerts, evacuations and renewed fears of something far bigger, a potential megaquake. Initially, tsunami alerts warned of waves as high as three metres, but those fears were later scaled down as actual surges measured around 80 centimetres. The quake, recorded at a depth of 20 kilometres beneath the Pacific Ocean by the Japan Meteorological Agency, registered an upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, strong enough to disrupt movement and damage weaker structures. While there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major destruction, the psychological impact is unmistakable. WATCH

An early morning fire broke out at the iconic Rio Olympic Velodrome, sending flames racing across the arena’s fabric roof and triggering a massive emergency response. Fire crews rushed to the scene at approximately 4:17 AM, deploying over 80 firefighters and multiple vehicles to contain the blaze before it could spread further. The fire, which originated within the roof structure, was swiftly brought under control by the Rio de Janeiro State Military Fire Department, preventing what could have escalated into a major disaster. WATCH