ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council to hold the summit in October

17 Sept 23:41 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold their historic first summit in Jakarta this October, marking a significant milestone after decades of established relations.
The summit signifies an upgrade in ties, which began in 1990 and advanced to ministerial level in 2009, aiming to broaden engagement between the two regions.
Under Indonesia's chairmanship, ASEAN has actively strengthened its outreach to the Middle East, fostering deeper cooperation.
Saudi Arabia is set to accede to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) next month, becoming the fifth Middle Eastern nation to join this regional peace framework.
This inaugural summit underscores the increasing importance of collaboration and diplomatic engagement between Southeast Asian and Gulf states.

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.