A 7.7 magnitude earthquake Monday off northern Japan sparked a short-lived tsunami alert and an advisory of a slightly higher risk of a possible megaquake. The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there was a 1% chance for a megaquake, compared to a 0.1% chance during normal times, in the next week or so following the quake near the Chishima and Japan trenches. Officials said the advisory was not a prediction but urged residents in northeastern coastal towns to raise their preparedness. Two people were injured and a small tsunami was measured in two ports.

Germans are preparing a rescue operation for a sick humpback whale stranded off the Baltic Sea coast. The whale, nicknamed Timmy, has barely moved for days, raising fears it may soon die. The animal's plight has drawn significant attention through livestreams and protests. State officials have approved a private initiative to transport the whale back to the North Sea and possibly the Atlantic Ocean. Rescuers plan to lift the whale onto a tarp using air cushions, secure it to pontoons and attach it to a tugboat Thursday. Previous rescue efforts temporarily freed Timmy but it became stranded again.