In its latest update, the World Health Organization says there have now been 139 suspected deaths and 600 cases.

Six people, including a senior member of a group affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate's Kohei-ikka faction, have been arrested on suspicion of opening a gang office in a prohibited area near a nursery school in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward. (News On Japan)

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released an assessment of passive exposure to heated tobacco products, saying that while harmful substances in the air increase when such products are used indoors, the link with cancer risk cannot be determined at this stage. (News On Japan)

A safety alert is expected to be issued as early as May 21st over Tavneos, a drug used to treat vasculitis, after 20 patients who took the medication died from serious liver dysfunction, according to people familiar with the matter. (News On Japan)

The BBC's Frank Gardner explained how the incident highlighted tense relations between Russia and Nato.

Japan’s imports of crude oil from the Middle East plunged 67.2% in April from a year earlier, as the impact of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz began to ripple through the country’s trade and energy supply chains. (News On Japan)

Castro and five others are charged with conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft

Rescuers removed the vehicle from near the shoreline and police arrested the driver, who was attempting to use the vehicle's "wade mode".

The spy scandal has revived fears that Austria remains a hotbed of Russian espionage activity.

The spy scandal has revived fears that Austria remains a hotbed of Russian espionage activity.

As part of the ongoing investigation into the crash that killed 14 people, officials released footage showing the engine detaching during takeoff.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met on May 19th and agreed to strengthen cooperation in both economic and security fields, highlighting growing alignment between the two countries as instability spreads across the Middle East and uncertainty deepens over the future direction of U.S.-China relations. (News On Japan)

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen. (News On Japan)

A man who visited a police station in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the early hours of May 21st allegedly sprayed a transparent liquid inside the building, causing six police officers to complain of eye and throat pain and be taken to hospital with minor injuries. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei Stock Average surged by more than 2,100 points at one stage in trading on May 21st, with the benchmark index continuing to trade above the 61,000 level in the Tokyo stock market. (News On Japan)

Nine deportees arrive from the US as part of Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Nine deportees arrive from the US as part of Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Police said the vehicle was abandoned by the driver after it took on water near the shoreline of Grapevine Lake in north Texas.

Russia and China showed they were shoulder-to-shoulder on the world stage, but it became clear there are limits, says the BBC's Russia Editor.

Russia and China showed they were shoulder-to-shoulder on the world stage, but it became clear there are limits, says the BBC's Russia Editor.