KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — Spoken daily by millions in Malaysia, Bahasa Melayu is far more than a national language; it is a linguistic heritage shaped by centuries of history across the Nusantara.

Historical records trace its role as a lingua franca as far back as the seventh century during the Sriwijaya Empire, a status that strengthened further under the Melaka Sultanate in the 13th century. It functioned as the language of administration, trade, and diplomacy, connecting diverse communities across the region.

Today, despite perceptions that Bahasa Melayu remains confined to South-east Asia, the language is spoken by an estimated 290 million people worldwide.

In Malaysia, efforts to elevate Bahasa Melayu onto the global stage have gained renewed momentum in recent years. Yet, these efforts are not without criticism, some question its global relevance, while others continue to undervalue its use domestically.

A language that travels easily

According to Dr Rozaimah Rashidin, Deputy President of the Malaysian Linguistics Association, Bahasa Melayu has long transcended geographical boundaries.

Beyond South-east Asia, it is spoken in places such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island in Australia, as well as communities in South Africa and Sri Lanka. The Malay diaspora has further expanded its reach, with speakers found in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and even Los Angeles.

Globally, Bahasa Melayu, along with Bahasa Indonesia, ranks among the top 10 most spoken languages, with over 290 million speakers. It is also the fourth most widely used language on digital platforms and social media, underscoring its growing global presence.

Rozaimah notes that the language’s appeal lies partly in its accessibility. With a structured yet relatively simple grammatical system, it is considered easy to learn. In Malaysia, many foreign workers from countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Nepal achieve conversational fluency in a relatively short time.

The late Malay scholar Za’ba once described the language as “flexible and gentle,” a quality that continues to resonate today. In the age of social media, content creators, tourists, and influencers from abroad often pick up Bahasa Melayu quickly, using it confidently during their time in Malaysia.

However, Rozaimah emphasises that the future of any language depends heavily on what linguists call language attitude — the perceptions and emotional connection individuals have towards a language.

A desire to enjoy fresh durian as well as to see Malaysia’s beautiful beaches prompted Yang Zhi Jun, 21, from Chengdu, China to learn and master the Malay language. — Bernama pic

A positive attitude reflects pride, loyalty, and a commitment to using the language correctly. Conversely, a negative attitude emerges when a language is viewed as outdated or lacking economic value, or when foreign languages are excessively glorified at the expense of one’s own.

Interestingly, many foreigners demonstrate a strong appreciation for Bahasa Melayu, often inspiring a renewed sense of pride among Malaysians themselves.

A language of knowledge and influence

With approximately 7,168 active languages spoken worldwide today, Bahasa Melayu continues to carve its place as a language of knowledge and scholarship.

Its growing adoption by foreign learners, particularly in countries like China and the United Kingdom, has far-reaching implications, strengthening not only the language’s prestige but also Malaysia’s diplomatic and economic ties.

In China, universities such as Beijing Foreign Studies University and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies offer degree programmes in Bahasa Melayu. These initiatives have produced graduates who are not only fluent in the language but also deeply attuned to Malay cultural values, effectively serving as cultural ambassadors for Malaysia.

Meanwhile, institutions like the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, play a key role in sustaining Malay studies in Europe. Through research on classical manuscripts and modern sociolinguistics, Bahasa Melayu continues to gain recognition as an academic language of global relevance.

Translation efforts by international scholars have also brought Malay literary works to wider audiences, opening doors for global appreciation of its linguistic beauty and cultural depth.

While Bahasa Melayu has, in many ways, achieved international status, it remains in a phase of consolidation, still striving to rival dominant global languages such as English.

Director of the Centre for Malay Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), Prof Dr Su Ying Ying said the increasingly close Malaysia-China relations in recent years have driven interest among people in both countries to learn each other’s languages and understand each other’s cultures. — Bernama pic

Language as a reflection of culture

Language, Rozaimah explains, is often described as a mirror of culture. In the case of Bahasa Melayu, its elegance lies not only in its structure but also in the values it carries.

To learn the language is to step into the cultural world of the Nusantara, one shaped by courtesy, subtlety, and respect. Concepts such as budi bahasa (graciousness) and adab (proper conduct) are deeply embedded in the language, influencing not just communication but social behaviour as a whole.

For foreign learners, mastering Bahasa Melayu often becomes a gateway to understanding these cultural nuances. It helps bridge differences, reduces feelings of unfamiliarity, and fosters trust within communities.

Language, in this sense, is not merely a tool of communication; it is a bridge that connects people across cultures.

Echoing this sentiment, Prof Dr Su Ying Ying of Beijing Foreign Studies University highlights how the richness of Malay culture has contributed to the language’s growing appeal in China.

Currently, more than 500 students across 18 institutions in China are pursuing undergraduate studies in Bahasa Melayu. BFSU, which began offering the programme in 1961, remains a key centre for Malay language development in the country.

Su herself studied Bahasa Melayu at BFSU before continuing her postgraduate studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She notes that many students are drawn to Malaysia not only for academic reasons but also for its peaceful environment, vibrant culture, and diverse cuisine.

“Students want to feel closer to Malaysia,” she says. “When they come here, they not only learn the language faster, but also experience the culture firsthand.”

Many achieve fluency within just two years. a testament to the language’s accessibility and enduring appeal. — Bernama 

NAJAF (Iraq), May 6 — In Iraq’s holy city of Najaf, the majestic shrine of Imam Ali stands quiet, its vast courtyards no longer echoing with the multilingual whispers of pilgrims from before the Middle East war.

The absence of tourists leaves nearby shopkeepers and hotel owners with little to do, their days dragging on as they hope for the crowds to return and revive their businesses.

“Iranians used to keep us busy, whether the jeweller, the fabric merchant or the taxi driver. Now there are none,” said jewellery shop owner Abdel Rahim Harmoush.

“It used to be hard even to step into the market because of foreigners... Even street vendors drew huge crowds of visitors,” the 71-year-old added.

Millions of Shia Muslims from around the world typically flock to Najaf and fellow holy city Karbala every year.

But the regional war ignited in late February by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has stemmed the usual influx of pilgrims from the Islamic republic, Lebanon, the Gulf states, India, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Iraq was drawn into the conflict from the onset, with strikes targeting US interests and Tehran-backed armed groups in the country.

People in the holy cities “live on religious tourism”, said Harmoush, who for 38 years has worked in the old market near Najaf’s golden-domed mausoleum.

The shrine is the ornate burial place of Ali — the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law, the fourth Islamic caliph and the first Shia Imam.

Harmoush warned of economic ruin were the crisis to persist: shop owners unable to pay rent and taxes, cab drivers left without passengers and labourers struggling to find work.

A shop owner waits for customers in the Old City of Najaf on April 22, 2026. — AFP pic

Hotels closed 

Hotel owner Abu Ali, 52, was forced to lay off five employees, leaving just one to tend to nearly 70 empty rooms.

“How can I pay salaries if there is no work?” he said.

Saeb Abu Ghneim, head of the hotel association in Najaf, told AFP that 80 per cent of the city’s 250 hotels had closed, with more than 2,000 employees laid off or on unpaid leave.

He added that most of Najaf’s religious tourism relies on Iranians, followed by Lebanese visitors — also trapped at home by war — and other nationalities.

The sector, which already weathered the closure of mosques and shrines in the pandemic, is a rare type of tourism in a country reeling from decades of conflicts.

Religious tourism also constitutes a significant source of revenue for Iraq’s non-oil economy.

Before the war, 28-year-old Moustafa al-Haboubi could barely manage the crowds queuing to exchange foreign currency for Iraqi dinars.

He now spends the long hours idly scrolling through his phone or chatting with neighbours.

“We barely receive one or two customers,” he said. “There are no pilgrims now, Iranian or otherwise.”

Even after a fragile ceasefire took effect on April 8 and Iraq’s airspace reopened, little has changed.

Some pilgrims trickle through during the week, while on weekends the area grows somewhat livelier as Iraqis visit the sacred sites.

People stand outside a hotel in Najaf on April 22, 2026. — AFP pic

‘Catastrophe’ 

The situation is no different in Karbala, which is around 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Najaf and home to the shrines of the revered grandsons of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.

The main corridor linking the two golden shrines and the surrounding alleyways were once alive with the murmurs of tourists walking to prayers.

Today, the visitors are almost exclusively Iraqi.

“The situation is dangerous... a catastrophe,” said Israa al-Nasrawi, head of Karbala’s tourism committee.

She warned that the war had devastated the city’s economy, slashing tourist numbers by around 95 per cent and forcing hundreds of hotels to close.

The city’s many pilgrim tour companies sit idle.

Akram Radi, who has worked in the sector for 16 years, said his company once helped up to 1,000 visitors a month but is now operating at only 10 per cent of capacity.

“I might have to close and look for another job,” he said. — AFP 

A shopkeeper of a clothing store passes time by scrolling through his phone as he sits and waits for customers in the Old City of Najaf. — AFP pic

TUMPAT, May 6 — Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Berangan here is taking learning beyond the classroom by introducing stingless bee farming as a practical way to build students’ skills, discipline and interest in nature.

The initiative not only provides students with hands-on experience in managing stingless bee hives and understanding the honey production process, but has also had a positive impact on school attendance.

The school’s Geography teacher, Mohd Rosli Yaakub, said the project began in 2024 with just four hives involving Form Four students and produced two kilogrammes of honey in its first year.

“Encouraged by the promising results, the number of hives has now increased to 17 and is expected to yield eight kilogrammes of honey this year,” he told reporters at the SMK Berangan Stingless Bee Sustainable Garden today.

SMK Berangan students displaying stingless bee honey obtained after extracting it from the hive at the SMK Berangan Stingless Bee Sustainable Garden in Tumpat, Kelantan. With them is the school’s principal Kamarul Zaman. — Bernama pic

He said the project enables students to manage the hives themselves while gaining a better understanding of science and environmental sustainability through practical learning.

“Looking after stingless bees is relatively straightforward as they do not sting and only need flowering plants to produce good-quality honey,” he said.

Mohd Rosli, who has more than 10 years of experience in stingless bee farming, said the school currently rears five species, including Lepidotrigona terminata, Heterotrigona itama, Geniotrigona thoracica, and Tetragonula laeviceps.

Meanwhile, SMK Berangan principal Kamarul Zaman Hussin said the school has recorded a four per cent rise in student attendance since January.

“We have also distributed 250 grammes of stingless bee honey to each class, involving over 700 students and teachers, to allow them to enjoy the produce,” he said. — Bernama 

PORT SUDAN, May 6 — Sudanese 13-year-old Afrah wants to become a surgeon, and nothing will stop her, not even the war that has ravaged her country and forced millions of children out of school.

Quiet and determined, she kept learning on her own for months, uprooted by the now three-year conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“I would study my lessons again and again,” she told AFP at a displacement camp in Port Sudan, where she is again receiving an education thanks to Unicef and local organisation SCEFA.

Afrah is one of more than 25 million minors in Sudan, or half the total population, of whom eight million are currently out of school, according to the UN children’s agency.

At the Al-Hishan camp, tents arranged in a square function as an elementary school for more than 1,000 children — nearly a third of whom required an accelerated curriculum to make up for lost time.

Laughter fills the camp now, but most of the children arrived traumatised by horrors including starvation and rocket fire.

Their drawings, educators said, were at first dominated by war: depictions of the tanks, weapons and death they saw as their families fled.

“They come here scared, exhausted, isolated, but over time you see their drawings change,” Unicef spokesperson Mira Nasser told AFP.

“They start to adapt and process.”

In one tent, children repeated hand-washing instructions after a social worker, while in another, they recited a poem in choral unison.

Elsewhere, a teacher — herself displaced and living at the camp — explained chemical and physical reactions to her class, as her three-year-old son pulled at her skirt.

Displaced Sudanese students attend a class at an elementary school run by the Sudanese Coalition for Education in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), south of Port Sudan, on April 26, 2026. — AFP pic

“These children’s future is at stake, and education is itself a form of protection,” Nasser said.

“Here they can at least get a sense of normalcy, even in a displacement site. They can resume their education, they can play, they can make friends.”

DIY operation 

Awatef al-Ghaly, a 48-year-old Arabic teacher who was displaced from North Darfur, remembered her first days at the site, when thousands of families were left listless with their kids in tow.

“There were 60 teachers here. We just got to work,” she told AFP, at the same empty plot where they started, in the shadow of the Red Sea mountains.

They lined the students up by grade, threw together a schedule and started going through old lessons.

Soad Awadallah, 52, taught English for four decades in South Darfur before arriving in Port Sudan.

“It took a lot of patience, we had the kids all sat on the ground at first,” she said, gesturing towards the rows of desks that now fill the tents, a welcome addition even if students have to squeeze in four to a bench.

According to Nasser, because of the time that students lost, ranging from months to years, “some even forgot how to read and write”.

But their determination was indomitable, and the makeshift school recently graduated its first class from elementary to middle school, Ghaly said with pride.

“Even when things were difficult, in the heat of summer with bugs everywhere, the kids wanted to learn,” she said.

Before the final exam, “some of them would follow us teachers home begging for more review sessions”.

Sudanese students leave a school operated by the Sudanese Coalition for Education for All, in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), south of Port Sudan on April 26, 2026. — AFP pic

‘Want to help people’ 

Fatma, 16, wants to become a psychiatrist to help those hurt by the fighting in Sudan.

“This war has destroyed people emotionally... My father was in the main market in Khartoum when the RSF went through killing people. He ran away, and he still feels that pain,” she told AFP.

“When I sit with the social worker, I feel better. I want to help people like that.”

One little girl, who came up to an AFP journalist’s hip, was missing her right arm, amputated after she was wounded in the capital Khartoum.

She high-fived with her left hand.

Across Sudan, five million children are internally displaced, according to Unicef. Millions are going hungry, including over 825,000 children under five suffering severe acute malnutrition.

The use of child soldiers has been reported across the country, and rampant sexual violence against minors has prevented many from returning to school even in areas now safe from the fighting.

Many just want to go home.

“I miss my friends and my family, I miss my school in Khartoum — it was full of trees,” 14-year-old Ibrahim said.

But he has a goal. “I want to become a petroleum engineer,” he told AFP, as the sound of children playing outside filled the tent.

During recess, dozens of pupils dashed around their teachers, laughing, playing and making hearts at AFP’s cameras.

One boy named Rizeq, clad in a red Manchester United jersey, steeled himself and walked up to the adults.

His voice a little shaky but his chest puffed out, he said: “I want more English classes in the evening.” — AFP 

PUTRAJAYA, May 6 — Former Minister of Economy Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli claims that all matters concerning documentation and agreements related to the RM1.1 billion investment with Arm Holdings were handled in an orderly manner and fully complied with established procedures.

He said that all critical records — including meeting minutes, official documents, and relevant agreements — are in existence, adding that he is confident these proofs can be presented in court should the need arise.

Speaking to reporters outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters today, following nearly five hours of questioning, Rafizi said: “The minutes (meeting minutes), documents, and agreements are all there.

“That is why I am very confident that it was actually orderly and managed in terms of regulations and procedures, as I recall it having gone through the process back when I was in the government. So, if all this is brought to court, God willing, the evidence is indeed there. The documents are there, the minutes are there, the agreements are there.”

Earlier today, Rafizi arrived at the MACC headquarters at 1.50pm to continue the statement-recording process for the third day.

He is assisting in investigations regarding allegations of abuse of power and misconduct involving a strategic semiconductor industry cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Economy and the United Kingdom-based company. — Bernama 

GEORGE TOWN, May 6 — The Penang government will convene a meeting following criticism over the decision by the Penang State Sports Council (MSNPP) not to send the state men’s football team to the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026.

Penang State Executive Councillor for Health, Youth and Sports Daniel Gooi Zi said the meeting would be held with the MSNPP, FA Penang and Penang FC to obtain a clearer explanation on the circumstances that led to the team being left out of the country’s premier multi-sport event.

“I will first meet MSNPP, FA Penang and Penang FC before holding a press conference to explain the matter,” he told Bernama today.

The issue came to light after MSNPP confirmed that Penang would not field a men’s football team at the 2026 Selangor Sukma after failing to finalise the players’ list within the registration deadline set by organisers.

In a statement yesterday, MSNPP took full responsibility for the decision, saying the absence of a long list of players before the registration cut-off date made it impossible for the state to complete the participation process.

According to MSNPP, participation in Sukma required early preparation and strict compliance with selection procedures, including structured training programmes and player performance assessments.

The decision has triggered disappointment among football supporters who were concerned about the management of the state youth football development, calling for an internal investigation into the matter and urged the authorities to publicly disclose the findings.

They also demanded greater accountability from those responsible and called for a more systematic and professional youth football development framework to be implemented immediately. — Bernama

MAY 6 — If the first half of Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar’s journey was winning the elections, the second will be about governance and public trust. In politics, that is always the harder role to play.

For the actor-turned-politician who now steps into the role of Chief Minister, the second half is no longer scripted — and it may prove his most demanding role yet. It will not mark the triumphant finale of a cinematic ascent, but the beginning of a defining political chapter.

Once the swearing-in takes place at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium the greater challenge before Vijay is what a Vijay government would actually look like.

At 108 seats, governance cannot rest on charisma alone. It will demand alliances, compromise, and experienced hands capable of navigating the machinery of the state.

Questions once considered premature are now unavoidable: who will shape his cabinet, what balance he strikes between technocrats, loyalists, and political veterans, and what compromises coalition-building may require.

The scale of Vijay’s rise has already altered Tamil Nadu’s political landscape in ways few anticipated — why did so many not see it coming?

According to the author, the Vijay wave was far bigger than any celebrity. Vijay ignited anti-establishment anger, captured a generation impatient for change, and turned decades of cinematic influence, fan devotion, and emotional connection into a political force that reshaped Tamil Nadu. — Screengrab from social media

The chants of “Vijay, Vijay” that followed him across Tamil Nadu were not merely expressions of admiration. They carried immense emotional expectations. For younger voters, Vijay represented not just political change but personal aspiration.

The Vijay wave was far bigger than any celebrity. Vijay ignited anti-establishment anger, captured a generation impatient for change, and turned decades of cinematic influence, fan devotion, and emotional connection into a political force that reshaped Tamil Nadu.

Vijay operated as a carefully curated political figure, defined by limited access and disciplined messaging.

Not a single interview. No relentless media blitz.

In an age of constant visibility, Vijay understood the political value of restraint. The less he appeared, the greater the intrigue became.

That distance protected the mystique around Vijay while his grassroots network strengthened beyond the glare of constant exposure.

However, unlike conventional politicians, Vijay turned every public appearance into an event. Hundreds of thousands flocked to hear him, arriving early, waiting for hours, in scenes that resembled cinematic devotion as much as political mobilisation. What unfolded across Tamil Nadu was not merely a campaign, but the conversion of fan adulation into political momentum.

Tamil Nadu did not merely watch Vijay’s rise. It participated in it.

Long before the launch of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in 2024, Vijay had begun signalling political intent through the language of his films. From around 2009 onward, his cinema increasingly reflected themes of corruption, governance, inequality, and social justice—allowing audiences to gradually connect the actor with a larger political imagination.

Over time, Vijay’s screen persona spilled into public life as fan clubs evolved into welfare networks, giving him an organisational base long before the launch of TVK.

That transformation was reinforced by years of groundwork, welfare outreach, fan mobilisation, and carefully calibrated political positioning.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a party that did not exist three years ago, has disrupted a political order shaped over half a century by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) — two Dravidian giants with some of India’s deepest grassroots machinery.

By the time he formally entered politics, Tamil Nadu was already showing signs of fatigue with the DMK-AIADMK binary, especially among younger voters searching for a different political vocabulary.

TVK’s success was not powered by star appeal alone. Its 40-point manifesto struck a chord with key constituencies.

Youth sought jobs, skills, and a voice in governance. Women responded to promises of safety, welfare, and empowerment. Farmers heard assurances of income security and risk protection.

Perhaps the most decisive force behind the Vijay wave was generational.

With nearly 1.2 crore voters — about 21 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s electorate — belonging to the Gen Z and young voter category, their influence on the election became impossible to ignore. Gen Z voters became amplifiers of Vijay’s politics, carrying his message beyond rally grounds and into homes across Tamil Nadu, shaping family conversations and transforming fan culture into a political movement built on the belief that Vijay represented the making of a new political legacy.

Vijay’s rise is neither accidental nor purely cinematic. It is the product of long preparation converging with a moment of political possibility.

The easy explanation is star power. Tamil Nadu has seen this before in leaders like Tamil Nadu’s former chief ministers M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa. But that explanation is no longer sufficient.

Since then, many actors have flirted with power, some have launched parties, and a few have tasted electoral success. Most eventually discovered that popularity is not the same as political durability.

Perhaps his most understated strength lies in tone.

While Tamil Nadu politics has historically been sharp, rhetorical, and confrontational, Vijay’s messaging remained measured.

Yet governing Tamil Nadu is not the same as mobilising it.

Tamil Nadu already possesses relatively strong administrative systems, welfare delivery mechanisms, and a politically aware electorate with high expectations of governance.

The public expectation, therefore, is not merely transformation — but competent continuity with cleaner governance. And that may prove Vijay’s hardest test.

Corruption remains a central public grievance, and much of Vijay’s appeal was built on the belief that he represents moral distance from entrenched political culture.

But expectations rarely stop at symbolism. They eventually demand delivery.

Governance offers no such insulation. It demands constant negotiation — with bureaucracy, competing interests, crises, and public scrutiny.

Among the most closely watched promises will be welfare commitments, including financial assistance schemes for women such as the proposed monthly support of Rs2,500.

Translating campaign promises into fiscally sustainable policy will require more than electoral goodwill; it will demand administrative discipline, political negotiation, and economic realism.

The very voters who amplified his rise may also prove impatient for results. Electoral enthusiasm can be immediate. Governance rarely is measured not against applause but against governance.

Voters may admire a star. But they test a leader.

There are no scripts. No retakes. The second half begins now...

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

SHANGHAI, May 6 — The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released data this week indicating the ‌fuel supply to both engines of a China Eastern Airlines flight was switched off before the jet plunged into a hillside in southern China ‌in March 2022, killing all 132 people on board.

The data, which was released by NTSB in response to a freedom of information request and originated from the plane’s flight data recorder, showed the fuel switches for both engines moved simultaneously from the run position to the cutoff position before the jet descended.

“It was found that while cruising at 29,000 feet, the fuel switches on both engines moved from the run position to ‌the cutoff position. Engine speeds decreased after the fuel switch movement,” ⁠the NTSB report said.

Fuel switches ⁠on Boeing 737 aircraft are physical ⁠controls regulating fuel flow to the ⁠engines, and ⁠a pilot must pull the switch up before moving it from run to cutoff.

The crash of the Boeing 737-800, operated ⁠as China Eastern flight MU5735, was China’s deadliest air disaster in decades.

Chinese regulators have not released a full report detailing the findings of their investigation into the crash and have given no update into their investigation for more than two years.

The Civil Aviation ⁠Administration of China (CAAC) and China Eastern Airlines did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the report and a ⁠spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to answer a ⁠question about ⁠the US findings at a regular press briefing today.

The flight data recorder is one of the two black boxes recovered from the ‌wreckage. It was sent to the NTSB laboratory in Washington for analysis because Boeing is an American aircraft manufacturer. — Reuters

NEW DELHI, May 6 — India and Vietnam are looking to ramp up bilateral trade to US$25 billion (RM98 million) by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, following talks with President To Lam in New Delhi.

“Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam has doubled in the last decade and reached US$16 billion. Today, we have taken several important decisions to take it to US$25 billion by 2030,” Modi said in a speech.

“We will take our cooperation to new hights.”

Lam, on his first visit to India as president, said the two countries “will elevate defence and security cooperation” and contribute to “strengthening an environment of peace and stability”.

Both sides said the discussions focused on sectors like education, rare earth minerals and digital payment systems, reflecting “the enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Vietnam”, according to Modi.

Lam was earlier accorded a red-carpet welcome at the presidential palace, with Modi standing alongside him as troops marched past in an honour guard parade.

The Vietnamese president kicked off his India trip a day earlier, with a visit to the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Bodh Gaya — where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment — in the eastern state of Bihar.

Lam is accompanied by a large business delegation, and is also due to visit India’s financial hub Mumbai.

Vietnam has been seeking to enhance economic cooperation with India, with companies such as electric vehicle giant VinFast trying to make inroads into the world’s most populous nation.

Indian media had suggested today’s discussions might include a potential US$700 million deal for India’s long-range BrahMos cruise missiles, but no such announcement was made by either leader.

Lam met India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval yesterday to discuss “strengthening” the partnership between the countries, Delhi’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.

Tomorrow, Lam will leave for Sri Lanka for a two-day visit that will focus on trade, investment and tourism, Colombo said in a statement. — AFP

JOHANNESBURG, May 6 — Three people, two of them seriously ill, were evacuated today from a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde, the World Health Organisation said. The MV Hondius, which has nearly 150 people on board, is expected to head next ‌to Spain’s Canary Islands, ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said. Three people have so far died in the outbreak. South Africa confirmed that it had identified among the victims the Andean strain of the virus that can — in rare cases — spread among humans. Since the start of the outbreak, the WHO has said the risk to the wider public is low, and it stressed that this continued to be the case.

The Swiss government said a man who returned to Switzerland after being a passenger on the Hondius was infected with the hantavirus and was being treated in Zurich. It said there was no danger to the broader population.

Three evacuated 

“Three suspected #hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said those evacuated included a Dutch person, a German and a Briton. They will be transported to specialised hospitals in Europe, it added, without giving further details. Two of those evacuated presented acute symptoms, Oceanwide Expeditions said. The third person was closely linked to the German passenger who died on the ship on May 2. The Dutch ministry said that person ‌was possibly infected with the virus. A Dutch couple on the ship have also died, while a British national remains in intensive care in South Africa.

The Swiss case ⁠brings the hantavirus outbreak to a total of eight, three of them confirmed by laboratory ⁠testing, the WHO said, adding that it was helping countries with contact tracing to “ensure that those potentially exposed are monitored ⁠and that any further disease spread is limited”.

The cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been hit by an outbreak of the deadly hantavirus, is moored at an unknown location, in this still image obtained from a social media video released May 5, 2026. — Kasem Ibn Hattuta/social media pic via Reuters

‘Our days ⁠have been close to normal’

Passenger Kasem Hato ⁠told Reuters the ship’s captain was keeping passengers updated and that those on board had been advised to limit close contact with other passengers and use hand sanitiser regularly.

“People are taking the situation seriously but without any panic, trying to keep social distancing and wearing masks to be safe,” he said.

“Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities ⁠to find a solution, but morale on the ship is high and we’re keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks, and that kind of things.”

Cape Verde had been intended as the ship’s final destination, but the archipelago nation off West Africa has not allowed the passengers to come ashore because of the outbreak. Late yesterday, the Spanish Health Ministry said it had agreed, in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, to a request from the WHO and the European Union to allow the Hondius to dock in Spain. Citing health ministry sources, the broadcaster TVE said that this would be in Tenerife.

The Spanish archipelago’s leader Fernando Clavijo said he was opposed to ⁠the move and requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The decision ultimately belongs to the central government, not regional authorities.

Human-to-human transmission is rare

People are usually infected by hantavirus through contact with infected rodents or their urine, their droppings or their saliva. Human-to-human transmission is rare.

But a limited ⁠spread among close contacts has been observed in some previous outbreaks with the Andes strain, which has spread in South America, including Argentina, where the cruise trip started in March.

A presentation ⁠seen by Reuters said ⁠tests conducted by South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases showed that the Andes strain was the cause of infection in the Dutch woman who died in Johannesburg as well as in the British man who is still in hospital there.

“This is the only strain that is known to cause human-to-human transmission, but such transmission is very rare and as said earlier, it only happens due ‌to very close contact,” the presentation said.

South Africa’s health ministry has identified 62 contacts including flight crew and healthcare workers. None have been diagnosed with the hantavirus so far. — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — Padini Holdings Bhd has clarified that none of the individuals detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with investigations involving the company and its subsidiaries are its employees, officers or members of its management.

In a statement today, the fashion retailer said it was referring to news reports regarding the detention of eight individuals in the MACC probe involving Padini and its subsidiaries.

“Padini wishes to clarify that none of the individuals detained are its employees, officers, or members of its management.

“The company remains fully committed to cooperating with the MACC in relation to the ongoing investigations,” it said.

Earlier today, local media reported that the MACC had detained eight individuals to assist in investigations linked to the freezing of several bank accounts belonging to Padini and its subsidiaries. — Bernama 

BENGALURU, May 6 — The ‌Professional Tennis Players Association said the row over French Open prize money shows precisely why it is challenging the way tennis is run, warning that without reform the sport will be stuck in cycles of disputes and incremental change.

Leading players have sought a bigger share of the ‌pie from French Open organisers, whose prize purse of €61.7 million (RM283 million) lags well behind the other three Grand Slams despite a 9.5 per cent increase for 2026.

Aryna Sabalenka and other leading players expressed their “deep disappointment” to organisers in a statement this week and have said a boycott is possible if the gap is not closed to the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon.

“We commend and fully support the players for stepping up and fighting for what they deserve: a fair share of the revenues they help create,” the PTPA advocacy group said in a statement to Reuters.

“There are deep structural changes desperately needed in tennis.”

The Australian Open offered an improved prize pot of A$111.5 million (RM316 million) in January while the US Open paid out US$90 million (RM353 million) and Wimbledon £53.5 million (RM284 million) in 2025.

Reuters has sought comment from the organisers of the French Open, which ‌begins on May 24.

Help players

The tournament said last month that it had committed to supporting the qualifying tournament and early ⁠rounds of the main draw with bigger prize money increases to ⁠help those players who needed it the most to finance their season.

Grand Slams operate ⁠under different financial models from the ATP ⁠and WTA Tours, with prize ⁠money set independently rather than through a centralised framework.

Sabalenka said players undoubtedly put the spotlight on the sport’s biggest tournaments and deserved a greater share of the revenues, backing calls for a 22 per cent allocation in line with what the ATP and WTA offer ⁠at combined 1000-level events.

“I feel like the show is on us,” the four-times Grand Slam champion said in Rome ahead of this week’s Italian Open.

“I feel like without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. We definitely deserve to be paid more.”

Broader concerns

While the latest standoff has been driven by leading names, players in the lower rungs have long maintained that prize money structures affect their ability to cover travel, coaching and medical costs across a crowded calendar ⁠that lasts 11 months.

It has also brought the focus on other pressing concerns, with players saying this week that their welfare proposals had gone unanswered and there was no meaningful progress towards fair representation in Grand Slam ⁠decision-making.

The grievances mirror issues under legal scrutiny in a class-action lawsuit filed last year by the PTPA, co-founded in 2020 by Novak ⁠Djokovic and Vasek ⁠Pospisil with the intention of being the voice of the players and the catalyst for change.

“Tennis is falling behind other global sports on every meaningful metric because of its structure,” the PTPA added.

“Until that is addressed directly and comprehensively, progress will remain incremental, and players will remain ‌stuck in the same cycle, pushing for more prize money season after season.

“That is exactly what the PTPA and the lawsuit against the Grand Slams and the ATP and WTA Tours are designed to change.” — Reuters