Google is rolling out a significant update that allows users to change their primary @gmail.com email addresses without losing existing data or access to linked services. Once a user updates their email handle, the original address is automatically converted into an "alias". Authentication for Google services - including Maps, YouTube and Drive - will support logins using either the original or the newly created email address. Technical reports from 9to5Google suggest that accounts will be limited to a total of 4 names over their lifetime, consisting of the original address and up to three subsequent changes. The option is located under Personal Info > Email > Google Account Email, where a "Change Google Account Email" prompt will appear if the feature is active for that specific user (see pix below).

Former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains jailed, while her hugely popular party has been dissolved and was not taking part. The Southeast Asian nation of around 50 million is riven by civil war and there will be no voting in rebel-held areas. The run-up saw none of the feverish public rallies that Aung San Suu Kyi once commanded, and the junta has waged a withering pre-vote offensive to claw back territory. Aung San Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence for charges rights groups dismiss as politically motivated. Most parties from the 2020 vote, including Aung San Suu Kyi's, have since been dissolved.

Zelensky looks to close out Ukraine peace deal at Trump meetingListen to this articleUS President Donald Trump, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to meet at Trump's opulent residence Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday. afpPALM BEACH, United States - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will sit down on Sunday with US President Donald Trump and seek his stamp of approval for a new proposal to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia. Russia has accused Ukraine and its European backers of trying to "torpedo" a previous US-brokered plan to stop the fighting. Trump has made ending the Ukraine and Gaza wars the centerpiece of his self-proclaimed second term as a "president of peace." - Security guarantees -In Canada, Zelensky told reporters that security guarantees would be a key focus of the talks in Florida.

Military officers quizzed in Cambodia leaders caseListen to this articleNAKHON RATCHASIMA: Senior prosecutors have joined Police Region 3 to question military officers as witnesses in a criminal case alleging that senior Cambodian leaders ordered cross-border attacks that caused Thai civilian casualties. The meeting focused on synchronising witness examinations and evidence collection in what prosecutors have classified as an extraterritorial criminal offence. The case stems from allegations that former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen and current Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered armed incursions into Thai territory during border clashes between July 24 and 29. Attorney-General Itthiporn Kaewthip has formally accepted the criminal complaint submitted by the Police Region 3 provincial commander against the two Cambodian leaders. Pol Lt Gen Phrutipongse has been appointed lead investigator, operating under the supervision of the Office of Investigation.

Ceasefire accord offers fragile hopeListen to this articlelet's try again: Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand's Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit during a special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi yesterday. With the signing of a ceasefire accord by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, the borders were to be quiet as of noon yesterday. The immediate challenge now is how to sustain peace between the two neighbours that share an almost 800‑km‑long border. Representing Thailand at the 3rd General Border Committee meeting where the agreement was reached was Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, alongside his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Seiha. These include maintaining troop deployments without reinforcement, refraining from provocation, cooperating on landmine destruction under the Ottawa Convention and using the Asean Observation Team as well as bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Border Commission (JBC).

PP chief insists no Section 112 changes afootListen to this articleNatthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People's PartyNatthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, insists his party has no policy to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, accusing Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul of distorting the issue for political advantage ahead of the general election. He said the party's campaign policies, recently published on its website, have received positive feedback. Mr Natthaphong outlined the party's campaign pillars, beginning with eliminating "grey areas" in governance to strengthen the rule of law and ensure justice. Mr Natthaphong also labelled claims his party will seek to amend Section 112 as misleading rhetoric by Mr Anutin, adding the move is not on the agenda. These include barring "grey" figures from cabinet posts and allowing the prime minister to replace any minister found to have a questionable record.

Not even the penguins were sparedListen to this articleWell, we've just about slithered our way through the Year of the Snake. Hardly a day went by without being treated to words of wisdom from the gentleman in the White House. The wide-sweeping tariffs even affected a couple of uninhabited Australian territories populated only by penguins and seals. It prompted "even the penguins weren't spared" headlines that went around the world. Anyway here is a review of the more obscure happenings that you may have missed during the past year.

Listen to this articleThe Criminal Court has handed down a historic sentence against businessman Prasit Jeawkok, ordering 1,210 years in prison for defrauding the public through illegal loan schemes. The court found Prasit and the two companies guilty of multiple counts of fraud and illegal borrowing. Prasit was convicted on 242 counts, each carrying a five‑year sentence, totalling 1,210 years. The court also ordered the two companies and Prasit to jointly repay damages to 267 victims. In a previous ruling on July 3, 2023, Prasit was sentenced to 1,155 years in another fraud case, though the maximum sentence was capped at 20 years.

JKN Global chief handed 2 years in absentiaListen to this articleThe Bangkok South Kwaeng Court has sentenced Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip, founder of JKN Global Group, to two years' imprisonment without suspension after finding her guilty of fraud involving a 30‑million‑baht corporate bond investment. The verdict was handed down on Friday in a criminal case filed by Raveewat Maschamadol against JKN Global Group Plc and Jakkaphong for jointly committing fraud. They persuaded the plaintiff to invest in corporate bonds issued by JKN Global Group despite knowing the company was facing severe financial difficulties and would be unable to repay the investment on the agreed date. On the day of the verdict, a representative of JKN Global Group appeared in court. JKN Global Group was fined 40,000 baht, while Jakkaphong was sentenced to two years in jail.

Listen to this articleAnutin Charnvirakul, left, and Varawut Silpa-archa in Suphan Buri on Saturday. Bhumjaithai PartyPrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party, announced Varawut Silpa-archa has been nominated as the party's third-ranked candidate on the party-list ballot. Mr Anutin then confirmed that, in addition to the five constituency candidates, Mr Varawut would stand as the party's third-ranked party-list candidate, following the party leader and secretary-general. Mr Varawut responded with a respectful wai before embracing Mr Anutin. Mr Anutin added that Banharn had once summoned him and told him that, wherever he might go in the future, he should take Mr Varawut, Banharn's son, with him.

"These examples prove that the belief Bangkok voters choose based on policies and ideology simply isn't true," Mr Olarn said. Mr Olarn interprets this not as apathy, but as strategic waiting. "Bangkok voters are waiting to see which issue will become decisive," he said, identifying two potential triggers. Mr Olarn attributed this to the party's lacklustre performance in government and lingering scepticism toward the Shinawatra family. With over 40% of Bangkok voters undecided, he said the capital remains a volatile environment.

FreakOut Thailand: Redefining Digital Marketing with an AI Technology-Driven ApproachIn the fast-paced digital landscape of Southeast Asia, AI has become the defining factor for success. For FreakOut Thailand, a Bangkok-based subsidiary of the Japanese ad-tech pioneer FreakOut Holdings, Inc., winning consumer attention lies not just in creating ads, but in the proprietary technology that delivers them. By combining Japanese engineering precision with local market expertise, FreakOut Thailand is setting a new standard for how brands leverage technology to build awareness and drive performance. The company’s strategy in Thailand is clear: to leverage its advanced ad technology products to elevate performance media and creative solutions. In an environment where standard targeting often feels like "shouting into the void," alpaka provides the intelligence needed to make performance media truly effective.

Listen to this articleThe star denotes the epicentre of the earthquake that was felt in parts of northeastern Taiwan on Saturday night. (Map: US Geological Survey)TAIPEI - A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck about 32 ‌kilometres ​off the northeastern coastal city of Yilan on Saturday, the Taiwanese weather administration said, with no ‌immediate report of major damage. The quake with a depth of ‌73km, took place at 11pm local time and was felt across northern Taiwan and shook buildings in ⁠the capital Taipei, the agency added. More than 3,000 homes in Yilan briefly lost ‌power, ​Taiwan Power Company said. More than 100 people were ⁠killed in a quake ​in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more ​than 2,000 people in 1999.

US strikes targeted IS militants, Nigeria saysListen to this articleDestroyed structures are seen in Offa, in Kwara state, where Nigeria said buildings were hit by debris from expended munitions that fell from US strikes on unspecified militants linked to the Islamic State group. (Photo: AFP)ABUJA - US strikes in Nigeria this week targeted Islamic State militants from the Sahel who were in the country to work with the Lakurawa jihadist group and “bandit” gangs, a spokesman for the Nigerian president told AFP on Saturday. Washington and Abuja previously said they targeted IS-linked militants, without providing details on which of Nigeria’s myriad armed groups were attacked. “ISIS, Lakurawa and bandits were targeted,” Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, told AFP on Saturday. On Friday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the strikes hit “two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves” in Sokoto state’s Tangaza district.

Rayan Cherki the hero with a goal and an assistListen to this articleTijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring Manchester City’s first goal with Erling Haaland and Nico O'Reilly in their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground in Nottingham on Dec 27, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)NOTTINGHAM, England - Manchester ‍City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to move provisionally ‌to the ​top of the Premier League table after Rayan Cherki grabbed a goal and assist away at The City Ground ‌on Saturday. However, Cherki made it 2-1 with a half-volley from a City set-piece in the 83rd minute to give ⁠the visitors all three points. Erling Haaland’s 19 goals by Christmas have him tied for the most at this stage of the competition in the Premier League era, but the City striker was a non-factor for long periods of Saturday’s match. City have now won eight successive games in all competitions, including six in a row in the league.