Stefano Vecchia

The Tha Rae area is home to the largest baptised community and Christmas celebrations attract visitors from all over the region. This year there will also be a sacred play accompanied by boats on the lake. A statue of St Michael, modelled on the one in Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, has just arrived from Italy for the cathedral.

Backed by Prayut Chan-ocha, the mega-project includes a smart city with port facilities in a southern region that is home to 30,000 people, mostly farmers and fishermen. The protest in the Muslim-majority southern provinces is fuelled by what critics call Bangkok’s colonial policies towards the area.

A celebration of historic roots and stimulus for mission. Since the opening mass on December 13, a full calendar of events, attended despite the pandemic. Future objectives include renewed dynamism in the Catholic community and promotion of the values of faith.

An online petition has collected so far over 20,000 signatures. Critics slam extra-busy exam schedule as well as back-to-back papers in different subjects. The Education Ministry’s timetable might be driven by the government’s wish to capitalise on recent political success.

It was founded in 1861 by the Discalced Carmelites of Lisieux. Before dying, St. Therese of the Child Jesus said, "I will go there one day. Sister Benedicta: "For us, this is a promise that becomes concrete every day, when her example of holiness inspires many young Vietnamese to give their lives in the service of God and humanity."

While boasting about its interethnic harmony, the Singaporean of Indian origin and immigrants with an Indian background are refused housing by Chinese landlords because of their “smelly” cuisine. Members of Singapore’s ethnic minorities complain of hidden racism. Indo-Singaporeans represent 9 per cent of the country’s population.

In recent weeks, more than 22,000 Chin refugees have fled the violence by the Myanmar military joining Rohingya refugees already been present in the country. The Malaysian government has condemned the coup in Myanmar, but refugees from that country in Malaysia are more like hostages than welcomed and respected guests.

Before the pandemic, Thailand was home to millions of foreign migrants who played a crucial role in the local labour market. Today workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are trying to return, but Thai authorities fear they could cause the number of infections to rise again.

Built in the Neo-Renaissance style in the early 20th century, the station served the Eastern & Oriental Express. By the end of the year, it will be shuttered, replaced by new and larger Bang Sue station. Those who earned a living from small formal and informal activities under and near its vaulted iron roof are now worried.

Only Switzerland tops the city-state in the annual index by the INSEAD the Portulans Institute. The quality of its education and openness to technological innovation are among the determining factors. However, COVID-19 has revealed some limits to its model’s sustainability.

The Thai government wants to remove all limits on foreign and domestic travellers on 1 November. However, Thailand’s immunisation campaign is far from fully vaccinating 70 per cent of the population, indicated as a requirement by the scientific community. Only a few thousand tourists have travelled to “secure areas” in Phuket, bringing little relief to the local economy.

The city-state of Singapore currently has 90,000 surveillance cameras, but that number could more than double in a few years. Civil society groups view them as a tool of control, but since they were installed, some crimes have dropped by 70 per cent while they have proven useful in tracking missing people.