Foreign-Invested Companies Hold Land the Size of Greater London. Now You Know Why the Crackdown Happened.

🌡️ Weather: 27-35°C (81-95°F). Rain will increase across Thailand from September 8-13, starting in the Northeast. Bangkok has a 60% chance of thunderstorms.

🌫️ Air Quality: 68-110 (Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Air quality can change during the day, so check the latest reading before spending long periods outside.

🗞️ TOP STORY

FOREIGN-INVESTED COMPANIES HOLD 1.06 MILLION RAI OF THAI LAND AND 76,840 CONDO UNITS. HERE'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING CLOSER.

Government data released this week shows that companies with foreign shareholders hold more than 1.06 million rai of land in Thailand. That's about 1,702 square kilometers, or 657 square miles. It's slightly larger than Greater London and close to the size of Houston. These companies also hold 76,840 condominium units. The data comes as the government increases checks on companies that may be using Thai shareholders or other structures to get around foreign ownership rules.

If you've been following the nominee crackdown, you've seen the government increase checks across the country. Officials have investigated 36,277 companies across 16 provinces, while other cases have involved raids, arrest warrants and checks on property leases. The new data helps explain why the government is paying closer attention, but it does not mean that all 1.06 million rai is held through illegal nominee structures. The Department of Business Development says some companies are legitimate Thai-foreign partnerships. The goal is to find cases where Thai people are holding shares for foreigners and take action against those arrangements.

Bottom line: 1.06 million rai. 76,840 condos. The numbers are huge, but they do not mean all foreign-linked property ownership is illegal. The government is using the data to find companies that may be breaking Thailand's foreign ownership rules. The big question now is how far the investigation will go.

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YOUR GRAB DRIVER NEEDS A PUBLIC DRIVING LICENSE BY SEPTEMBER 30. IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, THEY TECHNICALLY CAN'T DRIVE YOU.

The Department of Land Transport says drivers who provide passenger services through ride-hailing apps must have a valid public driving license by September 30. The rule covers app-based passenger services, including Grab, Bolt and inDrive. A normal private driving license is not enough. Drivers applying for the public license must complete online training, pass a physical fitness test and theory test, and have their criminal record checked.

The deadline is 22 days away. The big question for anyone who uses Grab regularly is what happens on October 1. The government says enforcement will become stricter after September 30, and apps will have to stop assigning rides to drivers who do not meet the legal requirements. That could mean fewer available drivers if a large number have not completed the process. The government is also working with the apps to check drivers and handle complaints.

Bottom line: September 30. Online training. Physical test. Theory test. Criminal background check. If your regular Grab driver disappears in October, this could be why. The new rules are meant to make ride-hailing safer, but the real test will be how strictly they are enforced.

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⚡ QUICK HITS

A family donated 90 rai of land in Bang Khun Thian worth more than ฿1 billion to build a new National Cancer Institute branch. Uraisri Kanungsukasem and her family donated the land for the new facility. A ceremony was held at the site on September 2. The new center is expected to increase cancer treatment capacity and support medical research and training.

A 43-year-old British-Nigerian man died in Bangkok after a cosmetic filler procedure. A UK post-mortem found material matching the filler in his lungs. Igho "Tiny" Ubiribo died on March 6 after receiving penile filler injections at an unnamed Bangkok clinic. A London coroner linked the procedure to a fatal pulmonary embolism. The case only became public after the recent UK inquest.

The NACC found more than ฿1 billion in financial transactions linked to a government exam-fraud investigation. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating alleged corruption in local-government recruitment exams. Investigators found a financial trail worth more than ฿1 billion and believe a connected group was involved. The investigation is still ongoing.

Riyadh Air has started direct flights between Bangkok and Saudi Arabia. The new Saudi airline launched its Riyadh-Bangkok route on September 3 with three flights per week. The airline plans to increase the service to daily flights in October.

🍽️ SPOT OF THE DAY

80/20 (CHAROEN KRUNG)

80/20 sits on Charoen Krung Soi 26 in Bang Rak. The name comes from its original idea of using 80% Thai ingredients and 20% imported ingredients. Today, the restaurant focuses on seasonal Thai ingredients and modern versions of Thai dishes. Chef Andrew Martin leads the kitchen, bringing his own take on Thai food to the tasting menu. The restaurant has held one Michelin star, and the Michelin Guide describes it as contemporary Thai cuisine with a seasonal tasting menu.

The restaurant is a good choice if you want something very different from a normal Thai dinner. The menu changes with the seasons and focuses heavily on local ingredients. The Charoen Krung location also makes the dinner feel like more of an evening out than simply going to a restaurant. If you like creative food and tasting menus, this is one of the more interesting options in the neighborhood.

→ See their menu and find them here ←

Insider tip: reserve through TableCheck. The tasting menu is the best way to experience the kitchen. Opens 6PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The neighborhood is worth exploring before dinner.

📍 1052-1054 Charoen Krung 26 Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
📞 099 118 2200
🕐 Opens 6PM Wednesday-Sunday. Closed Monday-Tuesday.
⭐ 4.5 stars (557 Google reviews) | Michelin 1 star | ฿2,000+
🌐 8020bkk.com

Always check opening times before heading out.

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