DPM Fadillah on official visit to France for GWS 2025, energy cooperation
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the opening plenary session of the summit on May 13, themed Delivering the Economics of Water.
GWS serves as a platform to outline Malaysia's strategic direction for the water sector, aiming to position it as a catalyst for sustainable development and national economic competitiveness.
"This will further establish the water sector as an economic hub by 2040, in line with the Water Transformation Roadmap 2040 (AIR 2040),' his ministry said in a statement on Saturday (May 10).
Fadillah's keynote is titled "Transforming Mindsets, Transforming Approaches: Malaysia's Vision for Sustainable Water Management."
The ministry said that the invitation was extended in recognition of Malaysia's progress as a model country in water governance, particularly its efforts to promote water reuse as an alternative source for industrial use and its commitment to expanding sanitation services to low-income communities.
On May 12, Fadillah is also set to undertake a benchmarking visit to a nuclear power plant operated by Electricité de France (EDF), as part of the government's initiative to explore nuclear energy as a component of Malaysia's future energy mix to ensure long-term energy security.
In addition, on May 13, he is scheduled to participate in discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions with six key French ministries and agencies involved in nuclear development and governance.
These include the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, Electricite de France (EDF), National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA), French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR), International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN), and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
Fadillah is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on France's Minister for Energy and Industry, Marc Ferracci, to explore potential collaborations in energy transition and strengthen bilateral ties.
Potential cooperation areas include energy security, policy-making, regulatory frameworks, legislation, and identifying best practices to overcome shared challenges.
This official visit to France is part of Malaysia's broader effort to strengthen its global investment appeal and foster deeper bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.- Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Singaporean expats on truth about work-life balance in Europe
Published on: Sunday, August 17, 2025 Published on: Sun, Aug 17, 2025 By: CNA Text Size: From left: Magdalene Huang, Ruzaini Mazani and Atikah Amalina are Singaporeans who have relocated to Europe for work. (Pics: Magdalene Huang, Ruzaini Mazani, Atikah Amalina) WITH perks such as four-day work weeks and unlimited leave, Europe can seem like a promised land for those seeking work-life balance. However, for some millennial Singaporeans abroad, that freedom often comes with trade-offs. Fresh into his first office job in France in 2024, Ruzaini Mazani was all set to reply to a sales lead right away. However, his manager advised the opposite: play it cool and let the prospect wait. 'I really couldn't wrap my head around it, but the Asian in me didn't want to ask why because I didn't want to be rude,' the 37-year-old told CNA Today. 'With time, I realised that being the eager beaver really annoys the French people because they like to work at their own pace. That was the sort of culture shock I had for several months.' Such surprises come with the territory for Singaporeans navigating corporate life in Europe, even if they do not share these moments on their social media accounts alongside their picture-perfect studio apartments and the ski trips they take. CNA Today takes a look at the lives of Singaporean millennials who have moved to the region renowned for its work-life balance, and how they have adjusted to an unfamiliar work culture, grappled with loneliness and navigated safety concerns. Former television host Sharon Au, for instance, famously recounted her experience when she relocated in 2018 to the French capital of Paris, where she was ticked off twice by human resource personnel for sending work messages outside office hours and not leaving the office by 6pm. In an interview in 2019, the Singaporean also said that she had thought of dipping her toes into a cafe business but realised that the labour law in France was very strict about hiring and firing people and 'disadvantageous … especially if you were a foreigner'. In 2020, she had to cope with the trauma after burglars broke into her apartment, which she shared with her pet cat. For some of the Singaporeans who spoke to CNA today, just settling into a new job in Europe can be a headache at first. Magdalene Huang, for example, pursued her goal of working and living in Sweden after she spent a year in Stockholm as part of the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme. After graduation, she relentlessly applied for jobs there while working in Singapore. It was during her stint at a FAANG company – one of the major American technology giants such as Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix or Google – that her resume finally caught the attention of a financial services firm. Working for a globally recognised brand gave her the visibility she needed to break into the overseas market. 'Even though I spent four years pursuing this goal, I was undecided when I finally got the offer because the thought of leaving home was so painful. But if I didn't do it when I was 27, I would become even more afraid to do it in my 30s,' the 30-year-old recalled. After accepting the offer in October 2020, she spent the next four months preparing for the big move. As with most relocation packages, the firm hiring her sponsored her visa, moving expenses and one month's rent. How employers handle this varies: some offer a lump sum, others reimburse you after the move. If it is a reimbursement, you will need lots of savings. Luah Xiao Wen, a 30-year-old who has worked for a pharmaceutical firm in Copenhagen for two years now, said: 'It's the norm across Denmark to pay three to six months' worth of rent upfront. So if you rented a S$5,000 apartment, you may need to pay up to S$30,000 in one sitting.' Most employees are assigned an agent to help with house-hunting and typically choose a place near the office. For Atikah Amalina, a 34-year-old FAANG employee based in England, she had to weigh other factors as well. 'In Singapore, we don't really have a 'concept' of crime, but in London, it can get quite unsafe depending on the area where you live. Because I wear the hijab (headdress), that was a really important consideration for me,' she said. After checking with friends who live in London about the neighbourhood she was eyeing, Atikah signed the lease with peace of mind and moved there in 2022 with her two rescue cats, then aged one and two. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
European leaders endorse Putin-Trump-Zelensky peace summit
BRUSSELS: European leaders have voiced support for a three-way summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump. This comes after a recent US-Russia meeting failed to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jointly emphasised continued pressure on Russia. They stated that sanctions and economic measures would persist until a just and lasting peace is achieved. The leaders also rejected Moscow's influence over Ukraine's potential EU or NATO membership. 'We are ready to work towards a trilateral summit with European support,' the statement read. The recent Trump-Putin talks in Alaska concluded without Russia committing to end its invasion of Ukraine. European officials had expressed concerns over Trump engaging Putin without Zelensky's involvement. Starmer, however, acknowledged Trump's efforts, saying they brought the world closer to ending Russia's war. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised the summit, calling it a step toward global safety. Macron warned against trusting Russia's commitments and stressed the need for unbreakable security guarantees. The European leaders welcomed unspecified security assurances from Trump regarding Ukraine. A diplomatic source revealed that Trump proposed guarantees separate from NATO membership. Von der Leyen reiterated the necessity of strong protections for Ukraine and Europe's security interests- AFP
Borneo Post
14 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Trump seeks US-Russia-Ukraine summit after Putin meeting fails to secure ceasefire
Trump waves upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on August 15, 2025. – AFP photo WASHINGTON (Aug 16): US President Donald Trump failed to secure a Ukraine war ceasefire at a high-stakes summit with Russia's President Vladimir Putin but insisted on Saturday that he would now target a full peace agreement to end the conflict. Three hours of talks between the White House and Kremlin leaders at an Alaska air base produced no breakthrough but Trump and European leaders said they wanted a new summit that includes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said he will now go to Washington on Monday while European leaders said they were ready to instensify sanctions against Russia after Trump briefed them on the summit and they held their own protracted talks. Trump remained upbeat about meeting Putin in a post on his Truth Social platform. 'A great and very successful day in Alaska!,' he proclaimed, adding that European leaders backed his plan for a three-way meeting with Putin and Zelensky. 'It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up,' he added confirming his meeting with Zelensky on Monday. 'If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people's lives will be saved.' After the summit, Trump spoke first with Zelensky, the White House said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later joined the call, officials said. The European leaders, who had been wary of being left out of the Alaska meeting, held their own talks on Saturday and said they supported the proposed three-way summit. 'We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,' they said in a joint statement that added that pressure must be maintained on Russia. 'As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace,' they said. Russia could not have a 'veto' on Ukraine joining the European Union or NATO, they added. The war, that has killed tens of thousands and devastated much of Ukraine, went on despite the summit. Ukraine announced that Russia had launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night. Russia said it had taken two more villages in Ukraine. Zelensky said Trump had laid out the 'main points' of the summit and that he would go to the White House on Monday 'to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war'. Trump and Putin emerged from their talks at a Cold War era air base to offer warm words at a press briefing but took no questions from reporters. 'We're not there yet, but we've made progress. There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump said. He called the meeting 'extremely productive' with 'many points' agreed, but did not offer specifics. 'There are just a very few that are left, some are not that significant, one is probably the most significant,' Trump said without elaborating. 'Next time in Moscow' Putin also spoke in general terms of cooperation at the joint press appearance that lasted just 12 minutes. 'We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in Ukraine,' Putin said. As Trump mused about a second meeting, Putin smiled and said in English: 'Next time in Moscow'. The former KGB agent tried to flatter Trump, who has voiced admiration for the Russian leader in the past. Before the summit, Trump had warned of 'severe consequences' if Russia did not accept a ceasefire. But when asked about those consequences during a Fox News interview after the talks, Trump said that 'because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now'. Putin warns Western allies Trump, whose tone with Zelensky has changed since he berated the Ukrainian president at the White House in February, told Fox that 'Now it's really up to President Zelensky to get it done'. Trump could not get Russian agreement to get Zelensky into Friday's talks. But Zelensky, who has rejected suggestions that Ukraine give up territory, said Saturday that he supported the American efforts. 'It is important that America's strength has an impact on the development of the situation,' he said. Putin warned Ukraine and European countries to 'not create any obstacles' and not 'make attempts to disrupt this emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigues'. Battlefield gains Russia in recent days has made battlefield gains that could strengthen Putin's hand in any ceasefire negotiations. Although Ukraine announced as Putin was flying in that it had retaken several villages, Russia's army on Saturday claimed the capture of Kolodyazi in Ukraine's Donetsk region and Vorone in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. – AFP Donald Trump peace talks Putin Russia Ukraine
