Malaysian royals elect new king after surprise abdication

13 Sept 19:51 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysian royals elected Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah of Pahang as the new king, following the unexpected abdication of the previous monarch.
Sultan Abdullah will formally assume the throne on January 31 for a five-year term, continuing Malaysia's unique rotational monarchy system.
The previous king, Sultan Muhammad V, made history by abdicating after only two years, marking the first time a monarch stepped down before completing their tenure, with no official reason given for his decision.
The Malaysian king holds a largely ceremonial role, acting as custodian of Islam and providing assent for key appointments like the prime minister.

Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt

Today 03:08 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's detained Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, received a package from Britain's King Charles III, which included two gardening books, a sealed envelope, and diplomatic communication.
The event marked the first release of images of Suu Kyi in two months and saw Myanmar authorities describe her as a "special female prisoner" for the first time.
Suu Kyi, who was deposed in a 2021 military coup that triggered an ongoing civil war, remains under house arrest on charges that rights groups contend are politically motivated.