WorldApr 20, 2026
7.4-magnitude earthquake off northern Japan prompts tsunami alert
A powerful offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck near Japan’s northern coast on Monday afternoon, prompting a tsunami alert for parts of the region.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time off the Sanriku coast, at a depth of about 10 kilometres beneath the seabed. Authorities issued a tsunami alert shortly after the tremor, warning of potentially hazardous sea-level changes along affected coastal areas.
Public broadcaster NHK reported that waves of up to three metres could reach parts of the northeastern
CanadaApr 20, 2026
Canada inflation rises to 2.4% in March, driven by gasoline prices
Canada’s annual inflation rate increased to 2.4 per cent in March, up from 1.8 per cent in February, according to a report released Monday by Statistics Canada. The agency said this marks the highest level recorded since December of last year.
According to Statistics Canada, the increase was largely driven by a sharp rise in gasoline prices. The report links the surge to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, which have affected global oil markets.
Gasoline prices rose 21.2 per cent on a monthly basis in March, representing one of the largest increases on record, the agency
BCApr 17, 2026
How to build a successful business? Exclusive with Dragon's Den star Manjit Minhas
Canada's renowned business personality Manjit Minhas was in Surrey on Thursday. She attended the Surrey and White Rock Women in Business Awards. Meanwhile, in an exclusive conversation with Connect Media Network, she discussed business, investment, start-ups, Dragon's Den and some unique problems faced by women in business.Manjit Minhas in conversation with Connect Media Network News Director, Pervez Sandhu. (Photo - Connect FM)How to make start-ups successful?In an exclusive conversation with Connect FM, when Manjit Minhas was asked about making a start-up successful, she said that many peopl
AlbertaApr 17, 2026
Sexual assault charges against Edmonton-area spiritual leader, wife stayed by Crown
Sexual assault charges against an Edmonton-area spiritual leader and his wife have been stayed, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Friday.
Johannes “John” de Ruiter and Leigh Ann de Ruiter each faced six counts of sexual assault and were scheduled to stand trial in September. The charges, first laid in 2023, will not proceed after prosecutors determined there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction, according to a statement from the Crown.
Police previously alleged that John de Ruiter, described as the leader of a group known as the College of Integrated Philosophy, also ca
WorldApr 17, 2026
Students abducted after gunmen attack passenger bus in central Nigeria
Gunmen attacked a passenger bus in Nigeria’s Benue state on Thursday, abducting several students who were travelling to sit for university examinations, according to a statement from the state government.
Benue Gov. Hyacinth Alia said the attack occurred along the Otukpo–Makurdi highway. The number of people taken has not been officially confirmed. Local media reports indicate there were 14 passengers on board at the time of the напад.
“The targeting of innocent citizens, particularly students on their way to sit for examinations, is unacceptable and stands against every norm of hum
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