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

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today that political cooperation is now essential rather than optional, but stressed that it must be grounded in clear and firm principles.

Speaking at the party’s 80th anniversary celebration, Zahid said that any form of cooperation must remain anchored on clear principles, with Islam as the core while respecting other religions.

“The interests of the Malays must be prioritised, while acknowledging the rights of other communities. The Federal Constitution must remain the foundation, and the social contract must continue to bind us.

“We must approach politics with wisdom and maturity,” he said.

Zahid also called for a shift in political culture, urging leaders to move from confrontation to collaboration in politics, as part of a broader effort to stabilise the country’s political landscape.

He said that it is the responsibility of today’s leaders to ensure that Umno is built upon clear and enduring principles so that future generations can continue to serve the nation.

Having gone through 80 years of struggle, from crisis to victory and from one transformation to another, we must now look ahead, not just for the next five years or the next election, but for the next 20 years, towards Umno’s centenary.

“Leadership will change, but the foundation must remain strong,” he added.

Zahid said the party must strengthen its internal structure and unity, emphasising that its role goes beyond electoral success to shaping future generations with strong identity, values and purpose.

Looking ahead, he outlined his vision of a Malay community that is firmly grounded in Islamic identity, strong in character, progressive in thinking, and united in purpose.

He said the next two decades must focus on strengthening faith, restoring political stability, developing talent, mastering future technologies, and cultivating a culture of knowledge.

“That is my dream. And I hope the younger generation will turn that dream into reality,” he said.

Zahid added that he hopes to see a society capable of governing effectively, leading the nation, competing globally, and shaping economic and cultural progress while remaining in control of its own destiny.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Khairy Jamaluddin today said Umno must acknowledge its past mistakes as a party before it can begin rebuilding trust with voters who have turned away from it.

He said the party’s image had improved only “to some extent”.

“I think that we still have an uphill task in trying to recover public support,” he told reporters when met at the Umno 80th anniversary convention here today.

Khairy said Umno must recognise its past failings collectively, while also noting what he described as the party’s wider contributions to the country.

“As a party, we should acknowledge that we've made mistakes in the past, but at the same time, we've done more good, extremely good stuff for the country compared to the mistakes that we've made,” he said.

However, he said acknowledging those mistakes should not be treated as an immediate reset with voters, as public trust could only be rebuilt through further work.

On the current Negeri Sembilan political turmoil, Khairy said it was his view that the most acceptable way to determine whether Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun still commanded majority support was through a confidence or no-confidence vote in the state legislative assembly.

Khairy said that only after such a vote should the next step be decided, whether BN is given the opportunity to form the state government or the state assembly is dissolved.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Khairy Jamaluddin today said he does not currently hold any official position in Umno.

He added that it was still too early to disclose details of any responsibilities he may take on.

“I have been asked to look into one or two specific matters, but it is still too early to share details as I have not formally begun,” he told reporters when met at the Umno 80th anniversary convention here today.

MORE TO COME

SANDAKAN, May 2 — Sabah recorded 357 monkey malaria cases and one death in the first four months of this year, with Ranau, Kudat and Tawau as the main hotspots, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“This is quite serious. Early detection and immediate treatment are key. All health clinics and hospitals are capable of detecting these monkey malaria cases,” he told reporters after launching the Wellness Hub in Sandakan today.

Dzulkefly added that close cooperation with the Wildlife Department and the Forestry Department is crucial in tackling this life-threatening disease.

Monkey malaria, also known as zoonotic malaria or simian malaria, is transmitted from monkeys to humans via mosquito bites and is typically caused by the parasite Plasmodium knowlesi.

Meanwhile, regarding the Wellness Hub, Dzulkefly said the initiative is an important catalyst in strengthening the country’s healthcare ecosystem towards a more comprehensive, proactive approach.

This programme helps communities embrace a healthy lifestyle by shifting the focus from seeking treatment to preventing sickness before it occurs.

He noted that this approach is increasingly urgent, given that the government’s annual cost of managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has reached RM64.3 billion, surpassing the entire Ministry of Health budget of RM46.52 billion.

“The burden of NCDs in Sabah is no less worrying. Looking at the data, the rates of obesity (50.4 per cent), high cholesterol (32.1 per cent), smoking prevalence (24.9 per cent), and sedentary behaviour(sitting or lying down for long periods) are very high at 57.7 per cent,” he said.

“There are 38 Wellness Hubs nationwide, with five in Sabah: Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kudat, Keningau and Putatan. My ambition is to have at least one Wellness Hub per parliamentary constituency. We want to take a ‘prevent before sickness’ approach,” he said.

He added that the Wellness Hub also serves as a strategic platform to address stunting and malnutrition among children. — Bernama    

TIRANA, May 3 — US rapper Kanye West will perform in the Albanian capital Tirana in July, Culture Minister Blendi Gonxhe told AFP yesterday, exulting that the country was on its way to becoming a destination for top cultural events.

The US rapper, also known as Ye, is known for glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and for antisemitic and hate-filled rants which he blames on having bipolar disorder.

Due to his controversial comments and songs, West’s appearances in London and in Poland have been cancelled.

Britain said it has blocked West from entering the country, leading to the cancellation of a London music festival where he had been scheduled to perform over three nights in July.

The Polish stadium where West was due to perform on June 19 has also cancelled the event.

“The widely discussed actions of Kanye West, linked to his promotion of Nazism, are in manifest contradiction with Poland’s values,” Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska had said earlier.

The 48-year-old musician has lost fans and several sponsorships in recent years following inflammatory comments and actions.

Gonxhe said the July 11 concert “marks a new step in making Albania a destination for major cultural events.”

A special structure is being built for the concert to accomodate 60,000 people. — AFP

SHAH ALAM, May 2 — A 25-year-old e-hailing passenger jumped from a moving car near Taman Eng Ann, Klang, yesterday morning after becoming fearful and anxious during the journey when she believed the driver was watching her.

Klang Utara District Police Chief ACP S. Vijaya Rao said in the incident, the local woman claimed the driver had been watching her through the rear-view mirror without any clear reason, before she opened the door on the right side and leapt out.

“The car was driven by a 47-year-old local man, a full-time e-hailing driver, who at the time was carrying two local female passengers. The driver stopped the vehicle and found that the woman sustained minor injuries.

“Following the incident, the complainant cancelled the e-hailing booking and, with the assistance of a motorcyclist at the scene, was sent to a nearby clinic for treatment,” he said in a statement today.

He said a police report was lodged by the e-hailing driver as a covering report for self-protection against any possible future implications, and the case is being investigated under Section 336 of the Penal Code.

Earlier, a one-minute dashcam recording went viral on social media, showing a woman dressed in white jumping out of a moving car in the Klang area. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — National shot putter Jonah Chang Rigan broke his own national record at the 2026 Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, South Korea, today.

The Sarawak-born athlete recorded a throw of 18.81 metres (m), surpassing his previous mark of 18.78m, which he achieved last year when winning the gold medal at the Thailand SEA Games.

“I should have recorded 19m. But it’s okay; I will do it at the next competition, the Taiwan Open.

“Now I can see that distance and I feel capable of hitting 19m,” said Jonah in a video shared by Malaysian Athletics on its Facebook page today.

Despite breaking the national record, Jonah’s throw was only good enough to secure him fifth place in the event.

The gold and silver medals were won by China’s Chen Hongfei and Chen Chengyu, with throws of 20.18m and 19.64m respectively, while the bronze went to Kazakhstan’s Ivan Ivanov with a throw of 19.41m. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani today said the party is in a rebuilding phase and must accept its current political reality, including holding only 26 parliamentary seats and no longer being the ruling party.

He said Umno’s long history of political dominance and success must now be followed by honest reflection as the party works to regain its strength.

“Umno has experienced a long era of glory. It has also felt the pain of decline from that period of success,” he said in his speech at Umno’s 80th anniversary here today.

Johari said any political recovery must begin with awareness of the party’s current position, warning that no organisation can move forward without first acknowledging reality.

“Before a party can rise, it must first have awareness. No one can wake up without being conscious. In the same way, the party must be aware of the current reality.

“Among the realities is that Umno now holds only 26 parliamentary seats. It must also acknowledge that it is no longer the ruling party and that voters today have many choices and diverse political preferences,” he added.

Johari said Umno had previously failed to give sufficient attention to younger voters, many of whom were not politically engaged with the party at the time.

However, he said the rise in youth participation in politics now made it essential for the party to adapt as part of its rebuilding efforts.  

He said rebuilding after losing power is always difficult, and that historical success alone could no longer be used to appeal to future voters.

Johari said Umno’s reduced parliamentary presence was due to several factors, including a more competitive political environment.

“Since Umno is no longer the dominant governing party, Malaysia now has a more dynamic political landscape with a stronger opposition and emerging parties that grow stronger with each election,” Johari said.

“Second, voters today are more critical and better informed, especially due to technology and digital exposure. Social media has made citizens more analytical and demanding in their political expectations,” he added said.

He said internal conflict had also contributed to divisions within Umno, as differences of opinion that were previously managed internally were now being exposed publicly through social media, weakening party unity.

This, he said, had allowed other parties to draw support away from Umno, particularly among Malay voters.

Johari also cited shifting societal attitudes, saying voters now prioritise transparency, accountability and integrity.

“Most now live in urban areas, and their thinking is more urban, rational, and economy-driven.

“Their focus is on cost of living, employment, and personal opportunities, rather than political loyalty as in the past,” he said.

He said these changes had significantly influenced voting behaviour, including how political narratives are received and judged.

ROME, May 3 — Alex Zanardi, the Italian Formula One driver who became a Paralympic cycling champion after losing both legs in an accident, has died aged 59, his family announced today. 

Zanardi, one of his country’s most loved and respected sportsmen, who was credited with helping transform the perception of disability in Italy, died yesterday evening. 

In a statement issued through the charity he founded, Obiettivo3, his family said he died “suddenly”, but also “peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends”.

It comes six years after the four-time Paralympic gold medal winner suffered a second horror crash in June 2020, when his handbike crashed into an oncoming truck during a race in Tuscany.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed Zanardi as “a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every trial of life into a lesson in courage, strength and dignity”.

Cordiano Dagnoni, head of the Italian Cycling Federation, said he “transformed the culture of our country, bringing joy and happiness to those fortunate enough to know him, and hope to so many in Italy and around the world”.

He said there would be a minute’s silence observed at this weekend’s races in tribute to the athlete.

Zanardi raced for Jordan, Minardi and Lotus in F1 in the early 1990s before switching to the CART championship in the United States where he was series champion in 1997 and 1998.

He returned to F1 with Williams in 1999 before heading back to CART.

Zanardi almost died in a horrific accident in 2001 at the Lausitzring track in Germany, after which he had both legs amputated.

His car had stalled in the middle of the track after a spin and was struck by another car at a speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph).

Yet he went on to become one of the best-known figures in Paralympic sports, winning two gold medals at the 2012 London Games and two more in Rio de Janeiro, four years later.

In June 2020, he was involved in another terrible accident, this time in Tuscany. He suffered serious head injuries and only returned home 18 months later.

Zanardi, born in Bologna on October 23, 1966, leaves his wife Daniela and son Niccolo. — AFP