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The regulations, published in the Royal Gazette on Oct 22, require NACC Office officials to refrain from using social media for non-work-related purposes during office hours if such activities affect efficiency or create the impression they are neglecting their duties.

Issued under Section 144(2) of the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption, the guidelines aim to uphold ethical standards, protect official confidentiality and safeguard the agency’s image.

Officials are prohibited from posting inappropriate comments or information affecting the nation, religion or monarchy, as well as disclosing confidential government information or material that could compromise sensitive operations.

The rules also ban photo or videos featuring officials wearing uniforms or clothing bearing NACC insignia if they could damage the agency’s reputation.

The no-confidence debate targeting 18 Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) ministers is expected to test not only the government’s performance but also the political future of several key figures, with Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob emerging as a central target.

Public attention will focus on the opposition’s allegations and whether it can produce credible, clear evidence to support them.

Several issues could put the government under pressure, including alleged Senate collusion, a controversy involving the husband of a BJT MP, irregularities in local administrative recruitment exams and the Thai-AI Passport scheme.

Beyond the debate itself, the relationship between the government and the Klatham Party is another issue to watch, with questions about where it will position itself and whether it could join the government after the censure debate.

DES minister a chief target

Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said the DES Ministry would be a major focus because of the controversy involving BJT MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap and her husband, Zhang Taiyang.

Unlike the allegations of Senate election collusion, the issue is relatively new, and it is not finalised. It could directly affect Mr Chaichanok, making him a key target of the debate, Mr Stithorn said.

He said the political stakes are high because Mr Chaichanok, the party secretary-general and the son of BJT influential figure Newin Chidchob, is being groomed as a party leader.

If he suffers serious political damage during the debate, his rise to other important posts, such as interior minister or prime ministerial candidate, could be slowed, said the analyst.

The debate will test both the DES minister’s ability to defend himself and the BJT’s political succession plan, Mr Stithorn said.

Economic management, the cost of living and corruption are also expected to feature, but the opposition will need fresh information to make an impact, he said.

If the opposition produces new information and the government fails to respond convincingly, its popularity could fall.

“However, a decline in support would not necessarily threaten the government’s survival unless large-scale protests put it under pressure to make a major political decision,” he said.

Price for support

Mr Stithorn said that the Klatham Party is another important factor, as it has made its interest in joining the government increasingly clear.

The censure debate would allow the party to demonstrate its value by supporting the ministers under attack. But the question is what Klatham would receive in return, he said.

The party could seek cabinet positions, potentially asking for two ministerial seats, including the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. Such demands would have to be negotiated with Pheu Thai, which could be reluctant to surrender its own cabinet quota.

Klatham might wait for some time after the debate before joining the government, easing criticism that its entry is a reward for supporting the government during the censure vote, he said.

The earliest likely window for a cabinet reshuffle would be early next year, although it could be delayed until the middle of the year because of major commitments in December, Mr Stithorn said.

Although the opposition has not included Pheu Thai ministers in the censure motion, the coalition partner would still need to show support for the prime minister and the government as a whole.

Pheu Thai has kept a relatively low profile, but former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is seeking an amnesty, remains a factor. The party still needs support from coalition partners on the amnesty issue, he suggested.

Mr Stithorn said he believes all 18 ministers, all from the BJT, will survive the no-confidence vote, but their individual vote counts would differ.

Ministers who receive unusually low scores, combined with weak explanations during the debate, could later face pressure from the party to leave their posts in a cabinet reshuffle, he said.

Senate issue remains central

Suvicha Pouaree, director of the Nida Poll Centre, said the Senate collusion allegations would be the biggest issue in the no-confidence debate, with some ministers facing questions about the Senate case rather than their performance in the ministries they supervise.

The controversy involving Ms Suchada, alleged irregularities in local administrative recruitment examinations and economic management would add to the pressure on the government and its response would determine how much damage the opposition could inflict, he said.

Mr Suvicha said the TH-AI Passport project might not attract much public interest in itself during the grilling.

“The target is not so much the scheme as the DES minister. If he wasn’t from the Chidchob family, he could be spared. The opposition apparently wants to attack his father through him,” he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin is also a target, not necessarily because of his performance in the ministry but because of unresolved political issues, he said.

If the opposition produces clear and substantial evidence that leaves little room for doubt, some ministers could face consequences, Mr Suvicha said.

Cabinet reshuffle could follow

The political impact of the debate would not necessarily be limited to ministers who sustain the most damage, he said.

A cabinet reshuffle is likely after the parliamentary session ends in November, when Klatham could move closer to joining the government, he said.

During the debate, Klatham would simply watch how BJT and Pheu Thai respond, unless the allegations directly affect the party. If BJT needs additional support, Klatham could vote with the government to signal its willingness to cooperate.

Such support would amount to a “down payment” on a future role in the coalition, Mr Suvicha said.

Bringing Klatham into the government would, however, complicate the allocation of cabinet seats between BJT and Pheu Thai.

The redistribution of ministries could resemble the formation of a new government and create political turbulence over the following six to eight months, potentially leading to a second reshuffle.

Mr Suvicha said the government’s popularity would depend on two competing factors. The welfare card scheme, which is undergoing a review of eligibility and the restoration of benefits to some people, appears to be helping the government regain support among lower-income voters.

At the same time, allegations raised during the censure debate, including Senate collusion, irregularities in local recruitment examinations and other legal cases, could put pressure on its popularity.

“If the opposition fails to deliver a knockout blow, the government would retain the advantage,” he said.

Pheu Thai, which is not directly targeted by the censure motion, would probably observe the proceedings while continuing to support its coalition partners.

Klatham keeps its options open

Despite speculation about a possible deal, a source from Klatham said the party has not decided how it would vote.

The meeting between Klatham heavyweight Capt Thamanat Prompow and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is nothing out of the ordinary for politicians who know each other well, the source said, adding it should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of a political agreement.

The source said the opposition did not consult the party when preparing the censure motion. Having been excluded from that process, the party would continue to operate according to parliamentary rules and its own position.

Klatham would assess the information presented during the debate before making a decision, the source said. Whether to vote in support of the ministers, abstain or vote against them would be determined at the last minute.

“Also, the government has been in office for only about five to six months, which is too short a period to judge the performance of individual ministers,” the source said. The source dismissed reports of a merger involving parties, saying the charter does not allow such a merger during a parliamentary term.

Pheu Thai weighs the risks

A source from Pheu Thai said the likelihood of Klatham joining the coalition is high, and the question is no longer whether it would happen, but when.

The government needs to strengthen its numbers and stability, the source said, but any cabinet reshuffle would have to avoid undermining existing coalition partners.

“A reshuffle aims to strengthen the administration. So they should avoid friction, whether through changes to ministerial portfolios or cabinet quotas,” the source said.

The source also noted that joining the government does not necessarily make Klatham stronger in the long run and its performance in office would be the deciding factor.

If the party made mistakes or failed to deliver clear results, its position could end up being weaker than before, said the source. The timing of a reshuffle would depend partly on the political temperature after the censure debate.

“If the government emerges without major problems, it might wait before making changes. If ministers sustain serious damage, the debate could accelerate the reshuffle,” said the source.

Flooding persisted in parts of Bangkok and in 17 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains, but water levels were declining, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday.

The flood death toll since mid-September remained at 83.

As of Sunday morning 336,668 families still faced difficulties due to floods, with about 1.02 million people affected in total, according to the department announcement.

The flood situation in provinces in the North, East, Central Plains and South:

North

Phitsanulok – Floods still affected 45 families in five villages of Bang Rakam district.

Nakhon Sawan – Flooding troubled 248 families in two districts, Chumsaeng and Tha Tako.

East

Nakhon Nayok – Flooding in Ban Na and Ongkharak districts affecting 23,835 families.

Prachin Buri – Floods in Sri Maha Phot, Ban Sang and Sri Mahosot districts affecting 9,805 families.

Chachoengsao – Floods remained in Bang Nam Prieo, Muang and Bang Khla districts affecting 9,148 families.

Chon Buri – Floods persisted in Phanat Nikhom district affecting 428 families.

Central Plains

Uthai Thani – Floodwater remained in Muang and Sawang Arom districts, affecting 240 families.

Lop Buri – 118 families affected in Muang district.

Suphan Buri – Floods in Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong, Don Chedi, Sri Prachan, Muang, Sam Chuk, U Thong and Doembang Nangbuat districts affecting 23,298 families.

Kanchanaburi – Floods continued in Dan Makhamtia, Muang, Sangkhla Buri, Tha Muang, Sri Sawat and Bo Phloi districts, affecting 295 families.

Ang Thong – Floods remained in Pa Mok, Muang and Wiset Chai Chan districts, affecting 168 families.

Ayutthaya – Floods covered Sena, Bang Ban, Phak Hai, Bang Sai, Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in, Bang Pahan, Lat Bua Luang, Uthai, Ban Phraek and Bang Sa-ai districts with 57,449 families affected.

Samut Prakan – Flooding remained in Bang Sao Thong and Bang Bo districts, affecting 1,100 families.

Nakhon Pathom – Three districts were inundated namely Bang Len, Sam Phran and Nakhon Chaisi, affecting 19,153 families.

Ratchaburi – Flooding was reported in Photharam, Muang, Damnoen Saduak and Pak Tho districts affecting 7,254 families.

Samut Songkhram – Flooding continued in Muang, Amphawa and Bang Khonthi districts, affecting 15,870 families.

South

Trang – Floods in Palian district affecting 11 families.

Bangkok – Floods still troubling 168,203 families in Lat Krabang and Nong Chok districts.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said that from Sept 16 flooding had taken the lives of 83 people – 26 in Prachin Buri; nine in Samut Prakan; eight in Chachoengsao; six each in Sa Kaeo and Nakhon Nayok; five in Suphan Buri; four in Bangkok; two each in Sing Buri, Kanchanaburi, Saraburi, Chanthaburi, Samut Songkhram and Pathum Thani; and one each in Chiang Mai, Tak, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Phetchaburi, Trang and Ratchaburi.

The department said that as of Sunday morning it had paid out 8.95 billion baht in total compensation to 1.16 million flood-affected families in 54 provinces.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has ordered an investigation into a company’s application for plant variety protection covering four holy basil varieties, amid concerns the move could affect farmers’ rights and traditional cultivation practices.

Mr Suriya said on Saturday the Department of Agriculture had been given seven days to review the application by CPRAM Co Ltd and determine whether the registration process complied with the law.

He said the ministry recognised public concerns, particularly as holy basil is widely used in Thai cooking and closely linked to the country’s food culture and way of life.

The ministry must ensure that intellectual property protection granted to companies does not undermine farmers’ rights or restrict access to indigenous plant varieties, he said.

Mr Suriya said officials had been instructed to compare the four varieties with existing indigenous holy basil varieties and government research records to determine whether they shared similar characteristics.

The review would also assess whether granting protection could affect farmers’ ability to cultivate and sell traditional varieties.

Agriculture permanent secretary Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs said the department would conduct a detailed examination of the applications, including the conditions and scope of protection sought by the company.

He said the ministry supported research and the development of new plant varieties to strengthen agricultural competitiveness, but such efforts must comply with the law and respect the rights of farmers and independent plant breeders.

“Every step must be carried out correctly and transparently under the law,” he said, stressing that innovation must not come at the expense of farmers’ legitimate rights.

Mr Rapibhat sought to reassure farmers that they remained free to grow, propagate and sell indigenous holy basil varieties, including more than 300 traditional holy basil varieties commonly cultivated in Thailand, without restrictions arising from the applications.

He said vendors, food operators and consumers could also continue buying, selling and using holy basil leaves in food preparation without violating plant variety protection rights.

The department is preparing to clarify the registration details and explain the findings to the public.

The government is intensifying its crackdown on online scams with a new “No ID, No Ads” policy taking effect on Nov 1.

Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is working with social media networks to implement these rules across all platforms hosting paid advertisements up and down Thailand. Enhancing consumer safety from the growing number of online scams is the aim.

The identity verification requirement applies to both the financial sponsor and the individual or agency presenting the ad, including third-party creators hired to boost posts. To support potential fraud investigations, platforms must retain all advertiser verification data for at least 90 days after an ad campaign ends, the rule says.

Ms Lalida said ID verification does not equal a government endorsement of any product or service.

She warned consumers to remain vigilant against scams, particularly ads promising unusually high returns or demanding urgent money transfers.

She also urged online businesses, merchants and agencies to prepare their verification documents according to DES and Electronic Transactions Development Agency guidelines to avoid service disruptions.

A wildlife photographer has reported seeing two black and three spotted leopards together on a road in Kaeng Krachan National Park, highlighting the ecological richness of the Unesco World Heritage forest.

Park chief Mongkol Chaipakdee said on Sunday they received a report of the five leopards being sighted between 9am and 10am on Sunday

They were seen around the kilometre 3 marker on the Ban Krang Camp road, near the park’s Khao Sam Yot protection unit, known as KJ 2.

Independent wildlife photographer Natnalee Suraplanan managed to photograph and film a female black leopard and a male spotted leopard. The other three, one black and two spotted, quickly disappeared into the roadside bushes.

The sighting is a rare occurrence in Thailand’s protected areas.

Mr Mongkol said a preliminary assessment of the animals’ physical characteristics and behaviour suggested all five were juveniles, aged two to three years, and likely siblings born to the same parents and raised in the same litter.

He said the survival of these apex predators was an important indicator of abundant prey populations and a healthy, secure ecosystem in the World Heritage forest.

The park thanked Ms Natnalee for donating all the photographs and video footage to the authorities for scientific and research purposes.

The photos were considered valuable ecological data for assessing biodiversity and the movement of protected wildlife through the forest’s outer connecting areas.

The sighting was only about 5km from a proposed dolomite mine.

Kaeng Krachan National Park will add the photographs and footage to its camera-trap and wildlife-sighting database, to help monitor leopard behaviour and population distribution.

Officials will also strengthen patrols under the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool system in nearby high-risk areas, to minimise any disturbance to wildlife and protect their habitats over the long term.

Interior permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat has ordered provincial governors to collect royal fireboxes at Government House on Nov 20 for public sandalwood-flower offerings honouring the late Queen Mother.

Mr Unsit, on the royal cremation committee for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, said the Prime Minister’s Office has prepared flame lamps and fireboxes for the Bangkok governor and all provincial governors to light ceremonial fires for sandalwood flowers at 878 venues nationwide.

The handover is at 9.39am at the Santi Maitri Building, with Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presiding.

The Fine Arts Department said the preparations were more than 90% complete, with final detailing expected by the end of this month. Royal cremation ceremonies run Dec 15-19, the cremation on Dec 16.

Thailand and the European Union could conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, says Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

He was speaking as he concluded his official visits to Italy, Spain and Portugal from Oct 18-23.

In Portugal, Mr Sihasak met Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel and signed an agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports to facilitate travel and strengthen bilateral relations.

Mr Sihasak said Portuguese officials were impressed by the capabilities of Thai companies, which have established a global presence in industries including food and energy.

Portugal has strong capabilities in clean energy, an area of growing importance for Thailand as it develops new industries, including data centres.

Mr Sihasak also said the purpose of his European tour was to highlight the importance of Thailand’s role in Asean, an organisation that promotes regional peace and economic integration.

The discussion went beyond bilateral ties, focusing on forging new opportunities with Europe, he said.

He said Thailand and several European countries shared common views on changes to the global order and ways to strengthen economic connectivity between the EU and Asean, with Thailand specifically seeking support among EU nations to push for the FTA negotiations which are nearing conclusions.

With “political momentum”, a deal can be reached before the end of the year.

Sarun Charoensuwan, vice minister for foreign affairs, said Thailand is working with the EU to finalise the Thailand-EU FTA and that facilitation of Schengen visas for Thai passport holders would help boost trade and tourism.

He was speaking during the recent Hungarian National Day Reception in Bangkok.

Szilvia Szalóki, the Hungarian ambassador to Thailand, said Thailand and Hungary shared ties that can be traced back to 1956, the year of the Hungarian Revolution in which Thailand expressed diplomatic and humanitarian support at the UN.

“For us Hungarians, this is not simply a historical fact; it is a memory we carry with gratitude.

“Imagine what it means to stand alone in a difficult moment and then discover that someone far beyond your own borders has heard your voice and believes that your freedom matters. This is what solidarity means, and this is what friendship means,” she said.

Microsoft has warned users who have disabled Windows Update or neglected system maintenance that they may be blocked from downloading future patches and security updates through official channels starting in 2027.

The coming disruption is caused by the expiration of digital certificates used to authenticate Windows Update servers, which are set to lapse on May 17 and June 19, 2027. Devices that fail to install updated certificates prior to these cut-off dates will lose the ability to establish secure connections with Microsoft’s update infrastructure.

Digital certificates function as virtual identity cards, allowing Windows to verify that it is connecting to genuine Microsoft servers rather than fraudulent entities. Microsoft said that while expired certificates will not prevent PCs from booting or affect running software, affected devices will be unable to pull automated updates.

Users of Windows 11 who perform regular maintenance will experience no issues, as Microsoft has already begun distributing updated certificates. The required credentials are standard in Windows 11 version 25H2 and later, while version 24H2 requires patches issued from September 2025 onward. Meanwhile, supported editions of Windows 10 and Windows Server require updates released from July 2026.

Systems facing the highest risk include legacy platforms and devices where update features have been permanently switched off. Devices running Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016 face an earlier deadline of May 17, 2027-roughly a month ahead of other editions.

Users who miss the deadline will not need to reinstall their operating system. Required patches can be manually retrieved from the Microsoft Update Catalogue to install the new certificates and restore automated update services, provided the OS edition remains within its official support lifecycle.

Microsoft said these expiring digital certificates are separate from the Secure Boot certificates that drew media attention previously. Secure Boot handles system validation during startup, whereas the certificates in question strictly govern connections to Windows Update servers.

To ensure uninterrupted service, users simply need to navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and complete all pending installations. The issue primarily impacts users who deliberately block updates and organisations running unpatched legacy systems.

For Windows 10 users, Microsoft advised checking whether devices remain within active support periods or are covered under Extended Security Updates (ESU), stressing that installing new digital certificates will not extend support for end-of-life systems.

The para fencing team clinched their third gold medal of the fifth Asian Para Games on the last day of competition as the Thai contingent ended their Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign with 19 gold, 40 silver and 66 bronze medals and were seventh in the overall medal standings.

Thai athletes were unable to meet their pre-tournament target of at least matching their 2022 Hangzhou Games tally when they won 27 gold, 26 silver and 55 bronze medals three years ago — the nation’s best-ever haul in the Asian Para Games — but remained the No.1 para team in Southeast Asia.

The sabre mixed team, featuring Saysunee Jana (women’s category B), Thitirat Pengprasittipong (A), Boonsiri Sanitmuanwai (men’s category A) and Chitiphat Charoenta (B), defeated South Korea 20-15 to secure the gold medal — Thailand’s 19th of the Games — at Nagoya City Inae Sports Center on Saturday.

For Saysunee it was her second gold medal of the tournament. The 52-year-old earned her breakthrough in Nagoya by winning the women’s sabre category B title on Friday.

Saysunee took home nine medals — two gold, three silver and four bronze — winning medals in every event she participated in at Nagoya.

The men’s and women’s sabre teams also added two bronze medals to the Thai tally on Saturday after they defeated Hong Kong 30-10 and Uzbekistan 30-12 in the bronze medal contests respectively.

There was another boccia silver from the mixed team BC1/BC2 event as Thailand’s Worawut Saengampa, Piyarat Chanyadi and Phakphun Linchum lost to Indonesia 11-3 in the gold medal match on Saturday.

Pornchok Larpyen and Nuanchan Phonsila then took a bronze medal in the mixed pairs BC4 event as they defeated Malaysia 4-2.

The para athletics team were the most successful team in Aichi-Nagoya as they won six gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals; the para fencing team took three gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals, while the boccia team produced four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Naiyanobh Bhirombhakdi, president of the Paralympic Committee of Thailand, commended the team’s performance in Japan, highlighting the success of rising stars as a positive indicator as they look ahead to the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

“I am proud of the performance of our athletes, coaches, and the entire support team for their total dedication. The progress shown by our athletes — reflected in improved competitive statistics — is particularly noteworthy. The emergence of several rising stars who delivered outstanding performances is a very positive sign for the continued development of Thailand’s para athletes,” he said.

Among the standout rising talents are swimmer Nithikorn Jeampiriyakul, who won two gold medals, two silver and one bronze in his Asian Para Games debut, and the 20-year-old wheelchair racer Fasai Yapakham, who earned two silver medals after training for less than six months.

China were crowned the overall medal champions again, topping the podium with 207 gold, 117 silver and 111 bronze medals for a total of 435 medals. Hosts Japan were in second place with 64-60-62, Uzbekistan finished third with 45-49-51, India fourth with 30-35-49 and South Korea rounded out the top five with 29-38-33.

The 2030 Asian Para Games will take place in Doha, Qatar.