Showing 1 - 10 of 88
Cinema grande dame fades but will Scala go on?
Oped, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/07/2020
» This Sunday, the Scala cinema -- the grande dame of Thailand's movie theatres -- will close for good after 50 years.
City plots to beautify its many unsightly manholes
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 22/09/2019
» Bangkok's streets are known for their potholes, uneven pavements and, especially recently, unsightly manholes that are posing an increasing safety risk for pedestrians.
Group snubs hearing for dam in Laos
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 14/12/2018
» A public hearing for the Laos-based Pak Lay hydropower project scheduled for Friday is nothing but an attempt to "rubber stamp the dam to justify its construction," the Network of Thai People in Eight Mekong Provinces said Thursday, vowing to boycott the event.
Chanting prayers for the homeless
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 09/11/2018
» Over a year ago, I met the lone man of Lumpini Park for the first time. He was diligently reciting a Buddhist verse, and it was the time I learned the piece was the sacred Channabanchorn Gatha.
Making money from our resources
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 23/07/2018
» Since the military government came to power, new economic policies have been rolled out and economic catchphrases coined.
Normal folk must play role in graft battle
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 04/05/2018
» Nine, 67, 77 and 250 are numbers that gathered media attention and front-page leads in newspapers last week. No, I'm not talking about lottery number predictions. They are the numbers involved in the welfare funds corruption scandal as demonstrated in a report by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission released last week.
Is Bangkok savvy enough to become a 'smart city'?
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 24/03/2018
» The "smart city" has become a new buzzword for development policy in the Thailand 4.0 initiative, which would see big cities in the country like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and the Eastern Economic Corridor, transformed into technology hubs. The government has established the National Smart City Committee and invited various agencies and experts to join. Sarinee Achavanuntakul was one of the experts invited to sit on the committee, but she turned down the military-led invitation. A Harvard graduate economist, Ms Sarinee had worked in banking and investment before opening Sal Forest Co. Ltd, a research firm on corporate sustainability. She has also launched and operates the respected online investigative news Thai Publica website. Her latest research project is about the current capacity of cities in Thailand to handle increasing levels of tourism. Ms Sarinee spoke to City Talk about how unsustainable Bangkok is and how big data and modern technology can help.
Unseen killers are wildlife's worst enemies
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 16/02/2018
» Unquestionably, construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta is the man of the moment. His name is on everyone's lips, after he and three of his entourage were arrested and charged with poaching in Unesco's World Heritage Thungyai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary on Feb 4.
Government must get to grips with future of work
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/02/2018
» Against the backdrop of the increased role of robots and automation in the labour markets, our educators and policy-makers are trying to catch up with the future of work.
Can Thailand meet the challenges of 2018?
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 06/01/2018
» The military government ended 2017 by saying that this year -- supposedly its last in power -- it will wage war on poverty.