This comes amid Islamabad's effort to engage more Asian nations and diversify trade partnerships beyond China.

Jobs held by women are nearly twice as exposed to automation, while youth employment is declining in high-AI-exposure roles, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

Images of logs swept out into flood-hit areas have circulated online, and experts have said deforestation and environmental degradation contributed to the floods and landslides, which have killed over 600 people in the country.

Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor has appointed BN’s Jafry Ariffin, who is the Sabah UMNO Secretary, as the new state tourism, culture and environment minister.