Asia Daily Briefing: Singaporean Election Scheduled for May 3, Plus Additional Updates
Here are some stories from across Asia that you might have overlooked this week.
TroibNews 
Here are a few stories from around Asia that you may have missed this week.
Singapore Will Hold General Election on May 3
Singapore's election commission announced on Tuesday that the general election is scheduled for May 3. This election will serve as a significant electoral evaluation for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who succeeded long-time premier Lee Hsien Loong as leader of the People's Action Party in May 2024.
On Wednesday, Wong revealed that the PAP plans to introduce 32 new candidates in the upcoming election, marking the largest influx of newcomers in decades, as part of a broader initiative for national leadership renewal. Among these candidates, thirteen women will be making their electoral debuts, a rise from the 10 female candidates presented in the 2020 elections, representing a historic moment for the ruling party. The opposition Workers' Party is set to contest fewer than a third of the 97 parliamentary seats available.
Yoon Says He Acted to Protect Democracy
Former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared in Seoul Central District Court on Monday to present his defense against charges that his martial law declaration constituted an act of insurrection. Recently removed from office by the Constitutional Court, Yoon asserted that his martial law decree issued on December 3, 2024, served as a "message to the public," rather than an insurrection.
"This is different from martial law in the past, which was aimed at imposing military rule. It was made to protect freedom and democracy," he stated during his first criminal court appearance following the Constitutional Court ruling. The prosecution outlined their charges, arguing that Yoon's declaration disrupted the constitutional order.
Japan Saw Record Fall in Population During 2024
Recent official data revealed that Japan's population dropped by 550,000 to 120.3 million as of October 2024, representing a historic decline of 898,000 people from the previous year. This marks the largest population decrease since the government started compiling comparable statistics in 1950, and it is the 14th consecutive annual drop.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi indicated that the government is providing support to young families desiring to have children but feeling unable due to economic factors. "We understand that the declining birth rate is continuing because many people who wish to raise children are not able to fulfill their wishes," he noted during a media briefing on Monday.
Bhutan to Mine 'Green' Cryptocurrency
Bhutan is investigating opportunities to mine and utilize green cryptocurrencies, harnessing hydropower to stimulate its economy and create jobs aimed at curbing brain drain, according to the chief executive of its sovereign wealth fund. Green cryptocurrencies are defined as digital currencies mined using clean energy sources, such as wind, hydro, or solar power, instead of fossil fuels.
In recent years, Bhutan has generated millions by investing in popular global cryptocurrencies, using some of its earnings to fund government salaries for two years, according to two senior officials in the capital, Thimphu. "We are a nation that runs 100 percent on hydropower, and every digital coin we mine in Bhutan using hydropower offsets that coin which gets mined using fossil fuels," explained Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holding and Investments Ltd.
Severe Winds Wreak Havoc Across North China
A major windstorm struck northern China last weekend, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and resulting in the closure of hundreds of parks in the capital city. The Beijing Municipal Landscaping and Forestry Bureau reported that emergency crews were deployed to manage the aftermath, with 30,000 personnel and 4,394 vehicles working to remove 1,202 uprooted trees and over 5,000 large broken branches.
The storm reached its pinnacle on Saturday, setting records at nearly 500 national weather stations, with wind speeds in portions of Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Henan Province hitting hurricane-force levels of 13 or higher.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
Singapore Will Hold General Election on May 3
Singapore's election commission announced on Tuesday that the general election is scheduled for May 3. This election will serve as a significant electoral evaluation for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who succeeded long-time premier Lee Hsien Loong as leader of the People's Action Party in May 2024.
On Wednesday, Wong revealed that the PAP plans to introduce 32 new candidates in the upcoming election, marking the largest influx of newcomers in decades, as part of a broader initiative for national leadership renewal. Among these candidates, thirteen women will be making their electoral debuts, a rise from the 10 female candidates presented in the 2020 elections, representing a historic moment for the ruling party. The opposition Workers' Party is set to contest fewer than a third of the 97 parliamentary seats available.
Yoon Says He Acted to Protect Democracy
Former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared in Seoul Central District Court on Monday to present his defense against charges that his martial law declaration constituted an act of insurrection. Recently removed from office by the Constitutional Court, Yoon asserted that his martial law decree issued on December 3, 2024, served as a "message to the public," rather than an insurrection.
"This is different from martial law in the past, which was aimed at imposing military rule. It was made to protect freedom and democracy," he stated during his first criminal court appearance following the Constitutional Court ruling. The prosecution outlined their charges, arguing that Yoon's declaration disrupted the constitutional order.
Japan Saw Record Fall in Population During 2024
Recent official data revealed that Japan's population dropped by 550,000 to 120.3 million as of October 2024, representing a historic decline of 898,000 people from the previous year. This marks the largest population decrease since the government started compiling comparable statistics in 1950, and it is the 14th consecutive annual drop.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi indicated that the government is providing support to young families desiring to have children but feeling unable due to economic factors. "We understand that the declining birth rate is continuing because many people who wish to raise children are not able to fulfill their wishes," he noted during a media briefing on Monday.
Bhutan to Mine 'Green' Cryptocurrency
Bhutan is investigating opportunities to mine and utilize green cryptocurrencies, harnessing hydropower to stimulate its economy and create jobs aimed at curbing brain drain, according to the chief executive of its sovereign wealth fund. Green cryptocurrencies are defined as digital currencies mined using clean energy sources, such as wind, hydro, or solar power, instead of fossil fuels.
In recent years, Bhutan has generated millions by investing in popular global cryptocurrencies, using some of its earnings to fund government salaries for two years, according to two senior officials in the capital, Thimphu. "We are a nation that runs 100 percent on hydropower, and every digital coin we mine in Bhutan using hydropower offsets that coin which gets mined using fossil fuels," explained Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holding and Investments Ltd.
Severe Winds Wreak Havoc Across North China
A major windstorm struck northern China last weekend, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and resulting in the closure of hundreds of parks in the capital city. The Beijing Municipal Landscaping and Forestry Bureau reported that emergency crews were deployed to manage the aftermath, with 30,000 personnel and 4,394 vehicles working to remove 1,202 uprooted trees and over 5,000 large broken branches.
The storm reached its pinnacle on Saturday, setting records at nearly 500 national weather stations, with wind speeds in portions of Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Henan Province hitting hurricane-force levels of 13 or higher.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
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