• LIFE

  Crowdfunders serve as architect's artistic influence

  Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 01/08/2016

  » Architect Yanyong Boon-Long is a unique voice in the Thai design community through his creative use of space and innovation aiming at improving or even solving social problems. He has been involved in a project that installs solar roofs for a low-income canal community. His research funded by Rockefeller Foundation also inspired the authorities to connect Bangkok's canals with Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) transit stations.

• BUSINESS

  Great expectations

  Asia focus, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/10/2017

  » Joanne Kua, the young chief executive officer of KSK Group Berhad, is typical of the next generation of family business leaders. After pursuing a successful career beyond her native Malaysia, she has returned home determined to leave her mark, yet is aware of the need to prove herself.

• LIFE

  New books worth reading

  Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 29/12/2016

  » From Dust To Dust: A Journalist's Memoir

• THAILAND

  Bold bid to seamlessly turn Bangkok into a 'smart city'

  News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 07/10/2018

  » 'Seamless travelling" is becoming a new buzz word in Thailand. The term has been around for a while but got a new lease on life on Friday during Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's meet-and-greet trip in Bangkok.

• OPINION

  Bangkok faces its very own 'airpocalypse'

  News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/02/2019

  » City schools have been closed. Soldiers have been deployed to check and shut down factories that pollute the air we breathe (but we never find out which factories have been closed!) And our prime minister is acting tough in a desperate bid to combat the PM2.5 haze-causing particles.

• OPINION

  No silver lining on smog clouds, yet

  News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 18/01/2019

  » As a Bangkok resident, I have also been badly affected this week by the hazardous smog. As such, the first thing I do each morning now is check the Air4Thai app on my phone.

• THAILAND

  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.

• OPINION

  Public enemy No.1: Extreme poverty

  News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 29/12/2017

  » When I look back through 2017, "Thailand 4.0" seems to be the most frequently used buzzword of the government this year. We have repeatedly heard and seen authorities' attempts to "digitalise" the economy and various services.

• BUSINESS

  Fresh optimism in KL

  Asia focus, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 11/09/2017

  » Anyone who visits Kuala Lumpur these days will feel the vibe of optimism, in the form of construction that is humming along across the capital city. The Malaysian government is injecting massive sums to develop transport infrastructure -- an element the country lacks in comparison with close neighbours Singapore or even Thailand.

• OPINION

  PM workout won't change Thai habits

  News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 28/11/2016

  » Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's dictatorial style has attracted criticism from activists and pro-democracy citizens around the world. And his Santa Claus-style cash handout worth 12.8 billion baht for low-income earners has prompted debate among economists and denigration.

1 2 Next Last