Society

Environment Minister warns of fire ant risk

Oct 25 (NHK) - Japan's Environment Minister is telling children not to touch any unusual ants if they see one. The warning comes after at least 50 queens of a poisonous species of fire ant were found in a Tokyo port facility.

The queen ants were discovered in September and this month in nests at Aomi Pier in Tokyo's Koto Ward. The venomous ants are native to South America. A fire ant sting can cause severe pain.

Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited a community center for children near the pier on Thursday, and explained the dangers of fire ants.

Koizumi showed the children photos and specimens of fire ants, and said they can be found living in cracks in asphalt roads.

Koizumi told the children that if they come across an unusual ant, they should avoid any contact with it and call the environment ministry immediately.

Ishiba Shigeru elected LDP leader

Ishiba Shigeru has been elected leader of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The former LDP Secretary-General is now virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister. (NHK)

Hakamada Case Ends With Acquittal After 58 Years

The Hakamada case, a decades-long legal struggle, ended with an acquittal for Iwao Hakamada (88), who, along with his sister Hideko, fought for 58 years. Hakamada was suspected of the 1966 murder of a miso company executive’s family.

Japan launches information-gathering satellite on H2A rocket

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New Red Lights for Japan's Police Cars

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Over 300 New Geoglyphs Discovered by Yamagata University in Nazca

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