at 18:30 (JST), November 15

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20231115183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : taiwan collected opinion poll
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231115_03/

Hon Hai Precision Industry founder Terry Gou has collected enough valid signatures to qualify to officially run in Taiwan's presidential election in January next year.

The founder of the world's largest contract electronic devices manufacturer, also known as Foxconn, expressed his intention to run as an independent candidate.

Gou garnered more than 1.03 million signatures from eligible voters.

On Tuesday, the Central Election Commission announced that more than 900,000 of the signatures meet the requirements, far exceeding about 290,000 required to secure his candidacy.

Gou thanked his backers in his social media post and said 1 million people entrusted him with the historic responsibility of restructuring Taiwan.

Election officials will accept applications from presidential candidates between November 20 and 24. Attention is focused on whether Gou, who ranks fourth in opinion polls, will actually file his candidacy.

The largest opposition Kuomintang party has picked the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yu-ih, as its candidate.

The Taiwan People's Party, the third-largest force in the legislature, has decided to field former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

While the two parties are effectively running their own campaigns, they are also holding talks on whether to field a unified candidate.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has named Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te to run in the presidential race.

Some analysts say a larger number of candidates could offer an advantage for Lai.

Key words : north solid-fuel second-stage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231115_08/

North Korea says it successfully conducted its first ground tests of new-type high-thrust solid-fuel engines for intermediate ballistic missiles.

The country's state media reported on Wednesday that the tests of the first-stage engine and the second-stage engine were carried out on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.

Pyongyang has repeated test launches of liquid fuel-type intermediate ballistic missiles, flying some of them over Japan. Countries concerned are on the alert ahead of Saturday when North Korea is expected to celebrate its newly designated "missile industry day."

Key words : tiktok ban nepal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231114_32/

Nepal's government has announced it will ban Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, saying it's threatening social harmony and disrupting family ties.

This comes at a time when its neighbor, China, has been trying to expand its influence in the Himalayan nation.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Monday. Police say that more than 1,600 TikTok-related offenses have been reported in Nepal over the last four years.

But opposition parties have criticized the government's move. They say some regulations on the app should be implemented, but that shutting down a particular social media platform is not fair.

Political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta says that the main reason behind the government's decision is to limit the influence of new political parties that make widespread use of social media to gain voter support.

India, also neighboring Nepal, banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps in 2020, amid growing tensions sparked by a deadly border clash with China.

Key words : 35 years ago complex operation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20231016202729094/

Once-conjoined Vietnamese twin helps others

35 years ago, a team of Japanese and Vietnamese doctors separated Nguyen Duc from his conjoined twin brother. Now he is dedicated to promoting ties with Japan and supporting people in need.