Commenting on Vietnam’s economic progress, PM Takaichi expressed admiration for the country’s rapid rise. Ten years ago, “Made in Vietnam” typically referred to clothing and textiles. Today, however, numerous global companies have established a presence in Vietnam, and many of the gadgets supporting youth culture are now manufactured here. Moreover, many of these electronic products incorporate cutting-edge Japanese technology in their core components.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in Hanoi on May 2, affirming that the Vietnamese legislature will continue playing an active supervisory role in stepping up bilateral commitments and cooperation agreements, particularly in economy, trade, and investment.

MALAYSIA: In a country that has embraced digitalisation, cashless transactions, and artificial intelligence, Malaysia’s night market (also known as pasar malam) and hawker culture might appear outdated at first glance. Yet in 2026, they remain deeply relevant not in spite of economic pressures, but because of them.

These informal markets continue to function as both an economic safety net and a social anchor for communities navigating rising living costs and uncertain employment conditions.

While national discourse often focuses on high-growth industries and macroeconomic performance, the lived reality for many Malaysians tells a more complex story. Even with moderate growth projections, cost-of-living pressures remain persistent.

In this environment, pasar malam and hawker stalls provide an essential form of everyday relief. Affordable meals such as nasi lemak and char kuey teow allow households to manage daily expenses without relying on higher-cost commercial dining. For students and lower-income groups, these are not lifestyle choices but necessities.

At the same time, these spaces play a critical economic role. For many in the B40 and lower M40 groups, hawking is not merely supplemental income but a primary livelihood.

Low entry barriers allow individuals to start small, test ideas, and gradually build income stability. In a labour market increasingly shaped by automation and structural change, this flexibility provides an important alternative to formal employment.

As noted by Bernama, more Malaysians are turning to small-scale food vending and informal trade as a response to economic strain and limited wage growth.

Public sentiment, however, reflects tension rather than consensus. Online discussions on Reddit frequently highlight rising prices, with users remarking that “RM10 is the new RM6” and describing pasar malam as “no longer what it used to, now it’s just expensive.”

Some question whether it is still worth visiting at all. Yet these criticisms are often followed by a different reality, many still return, albeit less frequently, saying they go “just to jalan-jalan” or out of nostalgia.

This contradiction is important; it shows that relevance has not disappeared, but shifted from affordability alone to experience, familiarity, and cultural attachment.

Insights from the Khazanah Research Institute reinforce this evolution, framing pasar malam as community ecosystems rather than purely transactional spaces. They sustain social interaction, preserve food heritage, and reflect everyday Malaysian life in ways that modern retail environments often cannot replicate.

Ultimately, pasar malam in 2026 persists because they adapt. They are no longer defined solely by low prices, but by their ability to meet both economic needs and emotional continuity. This raises an important question about whether municipal policies are doing enough to preserve and support these informal spaces, given their growing role in livelihood resilience and community life.

This article (Beyond the price tag: Why the pasar malam remains Malaysia’s greatest social anchor) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung hosted a state banquet for Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on May 2 evening as part of her official visit to Vietnam.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on May 2 received Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi Sanae during her official visit to Vietnam.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the robust and substantive development of the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, underscoring the importance of parliamentary cooperation. They agreed to further bolster political trust, high-level exchanges and interactions between two legislatures’ specialised committees, and cooperation among friendship parliamentary groups, young and female legislators.

One of Japan’s most prestigious honours, the Order of the Rising Sun recognises not only their individual contributions but also the Japanese Government's appreciation of the shared efforts that have driven bilateral relations forward.

SINGAPORE: Finally landing a job after months of sending applications felt incredibly rewarding for one Singaporean, who went online to share their experience and the lessons they picked up along the way.

In a post on the r/NUS subreddit on Tuesday (Mar 28), they wrote, “Honestly, I am just feeling super blessed and fortunate to secure something before grad. Just wanted to share this because I finally signed an offer today. For a while, it felt like it wasn’t going to happen at all, especially after hearing so many horror stories from friends about being unemployed for an indefinite amount of time.”

They shared that they began job hunting in December 2025 and initially felt “optimistic” because they had a referral and believed finding a role would be easier. However, the company eventually ghosted them. “There was no news at all.”

According to the Singaporean, the experience triggered a great deal of anxiety. “That kicked off a super anxious 5-month grind. If you have ever refreshed your email every day just to see nothing, or if you ever received an interview invitation but have not heard back since, you know the feeling. I am just really glad I managed to pull through.”

Things they learned from the process

Looking back, they said there were a few things that greatly helped them secure a job offer.

One was “being selective, but still consistent.” Instead of sending out applications everywhere, they focused on roles that actually matched their strengths and interests and kept at it steadily.

“I did not spam hundreds of applications. I tried to be quite selective with where I applied, and I made sure the job scope was something that aligned with my strengths and interests.”

They also tracked every application in an Excel sheet.

“I kept an Excel sheet for every single application. It helps so much with the mental clutter. Seeing it laid out helps you realise when a company has likely ghosted you, so you can mentally move on instead of waiting forever. Personal experience told me that there is no exception.”

Moreover, they learned not to be too complacent. This, they wrote, was “the biggest lesson” for them.

“Reaching Round 3 or Round 4 feels like you are almost there, but in this market, it does not mean anything until the contract is signed. I had two that went all the way to Round 3 and Round 4 and still ended up with no news. Keep searching and applying until that offer is concrete. Never stop just because a final interview went well.”

How they prepared for interviews

When it came to interviews, they kept their approach straightforward. Read the job description properly, think about how your past experience connects to the role, and be ready to talk about it in a clear, honest way.

“Figure out how to demonstrate your strengths via personal experience, like internships or schoolwork,” they said. “Do not overprepare the interview. You can align the job description with your strengths, but overpreparing will eat into your confidence.”

They also discouraged relying heavily on scripted responses or AI-generated answers. They said interviews are like “presentations,” and if you forget a memorised line, it can make you anxious and affect your performance.

They encouraged candidates to speak more naturally and just have at least one thoughtful question ready to ask during the interview. 

At the end of their post, they shared a message for job seekers:

“To those who already got your offers, huge congrats. But to those who are still in the trenches and seeking, please, please, please do not give up. I know it is soul-crushing when the No News pile keeps growing, but it really only takes one Yes to change the whole map. I am rooting for you all. Happy to answer any questions if you are curious about specific stages!”

Read also: Singaporeans share the ‘final straw’ that made them quit their job without a backup plan

This article (Singaporean lands job offer after 5 stressful months, shares ‘key takeaways’ for fellow jobseekers) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

WASHINGTON, May 2 — The war with Iran has boosted prices of globally traded natural gas by throttling exports from the Gulf. In West Texas, gas is so abundant that some producers must pay to have it taken away.

The war and Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy producers have halted 20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply. Qatari LNG facilities have been damaged and tankers have been unable to sail through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the Gulf’s entry because of Iranian threats to fire on them.

The crisis has exposed a major split in the global gas market: Import-dependent countries across Europe and Asia are scrambling for scarce supplies, but the US — the world’s largest gas producer, consumer and exporter — remains awash in fuel, with prices near 17-month lows. But US pipelines are full and LNG export plants are at capacity, so that cheap US gas cannot reach overseas buyers, creating a bifurcation much more stark than in the oil markets. Since the war with Iran began on February 28, gas futures at the US Henry Hub benchmark in Louisiana have dropped by as much as 12 per cent to a 17-month low of US$2.52 (RM10) per million British thermal units (mmBtu), while prices around the world have soared by as much as 84 per cent in Europe and 108 per cent in Asia, to around US$21 to US$22 per mmBtu.

By contrast, the international crude benchmark Brent is trading around US$111 a barrel, while the US benchmark is at US$104 a barrel, with both having risen more than 50 per cent as a result of the war.

‘Paying to take gas away’

The US has sufficient supply both to meet domestic demand and to fill the LNG export plants that chill gas to liquid form. However, those plants were already operating near maximum capacity before the war, so no matter how high global gas prices go, the US cannot turn much more gas into LNG for export.

US prices in the top shale field, the Permian Basin, are even lower than benchmark futures. Spot gas at the Waha Hub in West Texas has traded below zero almost every day this year, because gas pipelines out of the Permian are full, meaning there is no spare capacity to transport the fuel. Simply put, some producers have to pay others to take it away, as if it were a waste product. US gas production — already at a record 107.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2025 — is expected to keep rising to meet growing demand for power-hungry data centres and to supply new LNG export plants, according to a recent US Energy Department outlook.

Output is increasing also as oil producers increase output — and as their wells gradually produce more gas than they used to as oil reserves are depleted. Additional pipeline capacity is months away, at best.

“Meaningful transport relief doesn’t show up until late this year or early 2027, when larger pipeline projects are anticipated to start,” analysts at Bank of America said in a report.

Some parts of the country are more exposed to high international gas prices, including New England, which must import expensive LNG and burn oil to generate power during winter months because the region lacks enough connections to the national gas pipeline grid to meet heating demand.

‘Winners and losers’

Firms best able to take advantage of the global price dislocations from the Iran war, at least in the short term, have been those with excess LNG to sell. To replace gas deliveries cancelled by Qatar, energy firms around the world have purchased additional cargoes from US LNG producers such as Venture Global, the nation’s second-biggest LNG company behind Cheniere Energy.

“Venture Global is (relatively) new to the LNG game and had spot cargoes available to put out to the highest bidder,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. “Suddenly everybody needs LNG now that QatarEnergy is out of the picture.”

US LNG capacity will almost double over the next five years from around 18 bcfd in 2025 to around 35 bcfd in 2030, based on the plants currently under construction.

US gas producers who sell to LNG companies, however, have not fared as well because they sell much of their output at the domestic price, which in addition to near-record production, has been held down by weak spring demand and ample supply in storage. Low US prices have even prompted some energy firms, such as EQT, the second-biggest US gas producer behind Expand Energy, to cut output while they wait for demand and prices to rise later in the year.

“Our strategic curtailments act as a form of storage, keeping gas in the ground (during) seasonally low periods of demand,” EQT CFO Jeremy Knop told analysts last week after the company reported earnings. — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — It may look like harmless fun when children jump or play inside an elevator, but a lift industry expert warned that these everyday scenes in apartments and shopping complexes can quickly turn into emergency situations.

The Malaysian Lift and Escalator Association Secretary Wong Weng Sum said, such behaviour could disrupt normal lift operations, potentially causing it to stop abruptly, lock or break down.

“If the kids are moving around or jumping while the lift is in operation, it will cause abnormal movement and disrupt the normal operation of the lift.

“It may trigger entrapment and if that happens, the respective authorised technical personnel has to come and rescue you,” he told Bernama when met at the Karnival Hari Pekerja 2026 in Unifi Arena here.

He also advised that children under 12 should not be left alone inside a lift, as their height may not be sufficient to reach the buttons, especially the alarm bell, during emergency situations.

“If the kids, they cannot reach to press the alarm bell button, how to detect them? Nowadays, (there is) CCTV with audio-visual, so you can talk to them, you can hear what they say or whatever, then you can know. But what if some lift doesn’t have CCTV? Kids will be at risk,” he cautioned.

Meanwhile, Wong said lifts and escalators are now essential in urban living, with an estimated 106,000 to 110,000 units in operation nationwide, all under jurisdiction by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH).

He said all lifts used by the public must comply with safety regulations, undergo monthly maintenance, quarterly inspections and regular certification renewals to ensure safety systems remain functional.

“Whether it is in apartments, offices or shopping centres, if it is for public use, it must comply with safety regulations and be inspected regularly,” he said.

Despite strict regulations, Wong stressed that user behaviour remains a critical aspect of safety, as overcrowding, forcing doors and playful movements inside the cabin can also interfere with the safety features designed to prevent accidents.

He said in high-rise buildings, additional safety layers are built in, including fire lifts for emergency use by the fireman once activated under strict protocols by the Fire and Rescue Department.

Wong also pointed out that modern lifts are equipped with multiple safety features designed to prevent serious incidents.

As Malaysia continues to see growth in high-rise development, he said lift safety remains a shared responsibility among engineers, authorities, building owners and users, including children who may not fully understand the risks.

On career opportunities, Wong said those interested in lift maintenance engineering can start with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or vocational qualifications before progressing through competency certification levels in SKM and Lift Competent person course, depending on experience and qualification examinations. — Bernama

PARIS, May 2 — French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing yesterday, defying labour unions arguing that May 1 should remain a day of compulsory rest.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered several baguettes for lunch in front of the cameras in the village of Saint-Julien-Chapteuil in central France.

“Let’s have several... at least four,” he said, as he sought to promote a new bill to clearly exempt independent bread and flower shops from mandatory rest on Labour Day.

French bakeries opened with government backing on Labour Day, despite unions arguing May 1 should remain a compulsory rest day. — AFP pic

It is also a day for unions to organise marches and protests. Police said 158,000 had joined the activities across France and the interior ministry added that 15 people had been arrested. The main CGT union said 300,000 had taken part.

Under French law, “May 1 is a public holiday and a non-working day”. Essential services — such as hospitals and hotels — can remain open but must pay their staff double.

But there has been confusion about whether bakeries can make their employees work.

Labour inspectors on the public holiday in 2024 reported five bakers to the authorities for operating.

Although the bakers were all acquitted last year, their plight sparked debate across France.

The government earlier this week encouraged bakers to work on May 1, saying they were “indispensable to the continuity of social life”.

The debate over whether independent bakers, florists and other small traders should be allowed to employ staff on May 1 has taken on a national dimension in recent weeks, with the government indicating that bakers and florists may open with their staff as of this year, before a bill formalises the arrangement from next year. — AFP pic

It also said florists could employ staff to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.

On Wednesday, the cabinet put forward a bill — that has yet to go to a vote in parliament — to allow both bakeries and florists to open on the first day of May, provided staff volunteer to work in writing and are paid double wages.

The government decided not to back a previous proposal for more businesses including butchers and fishmongers to open on the public holiday.

‘Hands off May 1’

The country’s main unions argue that no employee is truly free to volunteer when they are seeking to keep a work contract.

They fear French workers will soon all be required to work on the holiday as exceptions gradually become the rule.

“Hands off May 1,” read the poster of a hard-left activist at a May Day protest in Paris.

CGT leader Sophie Binet criticised “employers who feel entitled to open all their businesses and make their staff work on May 1, even though it’s not allowed”.

Clients wait in line in a bakery in Quimper, western France, on May 1, 2026. — AFP pic

“The government must ensure that the law and the rule of law are upheld,” she said, leading the protest in the capital.

She added that the public holiday was not however her chief concern.

“It’s not the stealing of May 1 that should be on parliament’s agenda. It’s a major plan to raise wages,” she said.

Some came to protest in costume.

A man dressed as a late 18th-century revolutionary held a pike topped with a picture of the US president, billionaire Donald Trump.

A woman protester nearby was dressed as Marie-Antoinette, the queen executed by guillotine during the French revolution.

According to folklore, when she was told the poor were running out of bread, she responded: “Let them eat cake”. — AFP

Krabi – Authorities at Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park have issued a formal statement refuting viral claims that Phi Phi Island will soon host its own international airport. Authorities told the Phuket Express that the clarification comes after a post on Instagram dated April 1st, 2026, declared: “Phi Phi will have its […]

National Park Denies Rumors of “Phi Phi International Airport”
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