JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — The Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) Convention, scheduled for June 14, may be brought forward, according to its secretary Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman.

He said the possibility arises from recent political developments in the state, particularly following the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

“We may change the date to an earlier one, before June 14,” he said briefly when contacted by Bernama.

Yesterday, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly after obtaining the consent of Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail, paving the way for a state election.

Previously, Onn Hafiz, who is also Johor BN chairman, was reported as saying that the convention would serve as a key platform to strengthen the coalition’s resolve and unity, as well as fine-tune the machinery’s preparations for the state election.

BN will contest all 56 state seats in the 16th Johor state election. — Bernama

One flavor still rules the nation.

For the last five years, Baskin-Robbins Japan (colloquially known as “31”) has been holding an annual Flavor Election that petitions fans of its ice cream to vote for their top flavors to discover the nation’s favorite.

Out of a possible 1,400 original flavors that could have been potentially chosen from across the 53 years it has been operating in Japan, Baskin-Robbins narrowed down the contenders to the top 100, based on their own data, for fans to vote on and determine the tops spots in popularity.

Starting with the overall top five, the tallies are:

• 5. Strawberry Cheesecake – 28,593 votes
• 4. Jamoca Almond Fudge – 30,190 votes
• 3. Burgundy Cherry – 31,163 votes
• 2. Cotton Candy – 31,509 votes
• 1. Love Potion 31 – 69,318 vote

With more than double the amount of votes as second place, this year’s runaway champion is Love Potion 31, a flavor poised to make you fall in love with it thanks to a delightful mix of raspberry and white chocolate ice cream with chocolate heart accents.

▼ Caramel Ribbon, Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies and Cream, Dainagon Azuki, Love Potion 31, Very Berry Strawberry

One of the charms of Baskin-Robbins is the rotating limited-edition menu, with new and exciting flavors available each season, necessitating regular visits for anyone with even a hint of a sweet tooth. The most popular among the limited-edition flavors are:

• 5. Daiquiri Ice – 15,520 votes
• 4. Magical Mint Night – 17,522 votes
• 3. 31 All Stars – 18,646 votes
• 2. Burgundy Cherry – 31,163 votes
• 1. Cotton Candy – 31,509 votes

While Cotton Candy was second in the limited-time category in last year’s poll, this year the sweet cotton candy ice cream rose to the top of this sub-section for the first time, with Baskin-Robbins’ cherry ice cream with rich cherry chunks a very close second.

▼ Burgundy Cherry, Cotton Candy, Tea Au Lait, Strawberry Royal Milk Tea, Mandarin Orange Cheesecake, White Tiramisu

Of course, with so many new flavors making appearances each year, there are naturally promising newcomers who are looking to build their fanbase. The flavors that have overtaken their fellow new counterparts in the poll this year are:

• 5. Berry Meets Pistachio – 3,648 votes
• 4. White Tiramisu – 4,931 votes
• 3. Mandarin Orange Cheesecake – 5,099 votes
• 2. Strawberry Royal Milk Tea – 5,772 votes
• 1. Melty Strawberry Chocolate – 7,926 votes

Melty Strawberry Chocolate is a mouthwatering addition to Baskin-Robbins’s offerings that’s a mix of a chocolate and strawberry ice creams, further blended with a ribbon of strawberry sauce and chocolate chunks to balance its sweet and slightly sour elements.

This time around, Baskin-Robbins has introduced a new category: Double. The option of choosing two flavors and enjoying double the deliciousness is a highly recommended way to experience the ice cream at Baskin-Robbins, so what better way to find out the next combination to try than learning other people’s pairing of choice.

The top picks for Doubles are:

• 5. Chocolate Mint and Popping Shower – 5,872 votes
• 4. Strawberry Cheesecake and Popping Shower – 7,052 votes
• 3. Caramel Ribbon and Popping Shower – 8,132 votes
• 2. Cotton Candy and Popping Shower – 12,590 votes
• 1. Love Potion 31 and Popping Shower – 35,202 votes

Considering how popular Love Potion 31 was found to be, it comes as no surprise that a combination featuring it has reached first place with close to three times the votes as second place.

However, the list also has what might seem like an anomaly: every choice in the top five includes the Popping Shower, a flavor of mint ice cream with popping candy pieces mixed in. In fact, it was in every combination in the Top 9. Seeing the mint and chocolate ice cream, mixed with popping candy, featured so often, it is a testament to how beloved the flavor is. In total, Popping Shower enters the top 50 list a total of 19 times, including seventeenth place where it is paired with itself, so its popularity is without question. The fact remains, though, that it does not show up at all in the 100 flavors in the single category. So, why is that?

▼ The legendary Popping Shower

Well, Popping Shower is simply too popular. After its inclusion in the first-ever poll, where it absolutely crushed the competition, it was determined that any future poll would similarly be dominated by Popping Shower, so it was ceremoniously retired into the Hall of Fame and removed from the candidate list from the second poll onwards, giving the other flavors a shot at the glory of being crowned champion. Popping Shower was allowed special entry into the Double category where it demonstrated that its dominance over other flavors has not diminished at all with time.

As a result of the poll, Baskin-Robbins Japan have pledged to turn the overall winner Love Potion 31 into an original keychain to be given to 31 winners selected by lottery from those who voted for it. They also promise to re-release the top three limited-edition flavors in 2027, so keep your eyes peeled for their return. In addition, there will also be gift cards, all-you-can-eat event vouchers, and variety box vouchers up for grabs in the lottery for those who participated in the poll. If you want to be in a chance for winning, keep checking for news of the poll next year.

With the frequently rotating menu, the best time to visit Baskin-Robbins is: always. However, if you don’t eat ice cream very often, but still want to see what all the fuss is about, you can’t go wrong with getting a Double with this year’s champion, Love Potion 31, and the eternal king Popping Shower.

Related: Baskin-Robbins Japan
Source: Baskin-Robbins Japan, PR Times via Golden Times
Images: PR Times
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After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstep

The full list of candidates for the Makerfield byelection:

KOTA TINGGI, June 2 — Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should consider fielding young and new faces as candidates in the upcoming Johor state election, particularly in constituencies with a high percentage of young voters, Umno Information Chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said.

The move would not only have a positive impact on BN but would also create opportunities for a new generation of leaders to emerge as the party’s future leadership through the state legislative assembly, she added.

“We have to accept the reality that many young people are now voters. Even in my constituency, about 40 per cent of the electorate are young voters. My hope is that this will be given emphasis,” she told a press conference after launching the Madani Adopted Village Programme in Kampung Tanjung Serindit here today.

She pointed out that the final decision on candidate selection rests entirely with the state BN leadership and political bureau.

At the same time, Azalina, who is also Pengerang MP, expressed hope that the two incumbent state assemblymen under her parliamentary constituency — Aznan Tamin (Tanjung Surat) and Fauziah Misri (Penawar) — would be retained as candidates for this election, and that the election would proceed in the spirit of democracy, free from violence or any untoward incidents.

On the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, Azalina said the state government under Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had the right to dissolve the assembly with the consent of the Johor Palace.

According to her, the decision was made following continued positive support from the people of Johor for the state government’s leadership under BN.

“Perhaps with what has happened, such as the Umno 80th Anniversary Celebration at Istana Besar Johor and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s 12th Super League title victory, I see a great deal of positive support from the people of Johor towards the state government’s leadership. Maybe these are among the factors,” she said.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly with effect from June 1 after receiving the consent of Johor Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. — Bernama

BOGOTÁ, May 31 — A right-wing millionaire lawyer who vows an iron fist on narco gangs and a leftist philosopher-turned-senator have made it through to a June 21 runoff to see who will be Colombia’s next president.

‘The Tiger’ 

Abelardo de la Espriella, 47, is a millionaire lawyer and businessman who said he entered politics to prevent Colombia from being “destroyed” by the left.

He holds US President Donald Trump, Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele in high esteem.

Sporting impeccable suits and, more recently, a bulletproof vest, his legal career saw him defend prominent Colombian figures including drug traffickers and soccer stars.

Before launching his presidential bid, De la Espriella lived in Florence, Italy, where he dabbled in opera, jetted around in private planes and promoted his rum and wine businesses.

To combat drug cartels in Colombia, the world’s biggest cocaine producer, De la Espriella proposes a military alliance with the United States and Israel and the construction of mega-prisons, while also defending the right to carry weapons.

“Any criminal who does not surrender will be taken down as the law allows,” he told AFP in an interview in February.

Branding himself “The Tiger,” the candidate has a penchant for swearing and is known for his hot temper.

He called for the Colombian left to be “gutted,” but later toned down his language.

He has also made remarks considered homophobic and sexist and frequently refers to his “balls.”

Survivor 

Ivan Cepeda first appeared in public in 1994, in his early 30s, next to the corpse of his father, a communist senator who was assassinated by paramilitaries.

Standing in front of a bullet-riddled truck, his call for justice was televised.

“Let this crime not go unpunished,” Cepeda told reporters in a measured tone, during a period of persecution that saw more than 5,700 leftist leaders killed.

The 63-year-old has previously lived in exile in the former Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Cuba and France.

Returning to Colombia, he advocated for armed conflict victims and played a key role in the historic 2016 peace accord, which led to the disarmament of the rebel army FARC—formerly the country’s largest armed group.

His adversaries accuse him of having ties to FARC and reproach him for having devised outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” plan.

“I have survived genocide, stigmatization and relentless persecution. And here I am, still standing,” he said during the campaign.

Typically wearing a traditional Caribbean shirt, Cepeda forgoes a tie, which he considers a symbol of oligarchy.

The senator led the investigation into former president Uribe’s ties with paramilitaries before it went to court, where Uribe became the first Colombian leader to be convicted of a crime last year.

Although a judge later overturned the ruling, the incident established Cepeda as the right-wing leader’s main political enemy and an icon of the left. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — An aide to former Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim has publicly questioned DAP’s decision to reportedly field her in the Tiram state seat for the upcoming Johor election, suggesting the move may have been made hastily due to seat allocation considerations.

According to The Star, Ong Huai Yi, who heads Marina’s service centre, challenged Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching’s explanation that Marina was selected because she had the strongest chance of winning in the Malay-majority constituency.

In a statement today, Ong questioned what preparations the party had undertaken in Tiram before considering Marina for the seat.

He asked whether DAP had built a local team, strengthened its grassroots presence and carried out long-term constituency work, or whether the decision was linked to seat-swapping arrangements.

Ong, who is also an Indahpura DAP branch committee member, further claimed Marina had twice been asked to withdraw from contests for positions in the state party committee to make way for former Johor executive councillor Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.

He said Marina had received grassroots nominations to contest and questioned why she was expected to step aside despite being a branch chief, party member and elected representative at the time.

Ong argued that DAP has long promoted democratic processes and asked why a qualified candidate would be denied the opportunity to contest party elections.

He also questioned how Marina could be described as the party’s strongest candidate for Tiram if she had previously been prevented from competing in internal elections.

Ong alleged Marina had repeatedly been placed in difficult political situations while choosing not to publicly criticise the party.

He also rejected suggestions that Marina was unwilling to contest outside her existing constituency, noting that she had served as coordinator for the Malay-majority Layang-Layang seat several months before the 2022 general election and had been prepared to stand there despite lacking electoral experience.

His remarks came after Marina announced on May 31 that she would not contest in the upcoming state election and would retire from active politics once the Johor state assembly is dissolved.

Ong also questioned DAP’s long-term efforts to expand its support in Malay-majority constituencies, claiming that little follow-up work had been carried out in areas such as Pontian and Mersing after the 2022 general election.

He said Marina was not seeking any position or constituency and had already decided to leave politics and resign from the party after the dissolution of the state assembly.

According to Ong, Marina is not awaiting any decision from the party and intends to return the Skudai seat to DAP.

Following her announcement, Teo said the party had intended to field Marina in another urban constituency as part of a broader strategy to expand beyond its traditional support base.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi dissolved the state assembly yesterday, paving the way for the state election.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Penang is unlikely to hold its state election simultaneously with the next general election as the gap between the two electoral cycles has become too wide, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

According to Harian Metro, Chow said the state still has about two-and-a-half years remaining in its current term, making it difficult and unfair to dissolve the state assembly prematurely simply to align the state polls with parliamentary elections.

“As an example, Penang still has about two and a half years left before the end of its term.

“It would not be fair to dissolve the state assembly early just to synchronise the state election with Parliament, especially when considering the mandate given by voters to the state government,” he told reporters after officiating the opening of the Sunway Medical Centre Orthopaedic Centre in Seberang Jaya.

He said the current election calendar had been disrupted by previous electoral cycles, making it increasingly challenging to coordinate state and federal polls.

Chow was responding to a question on whether Penang would consider holding its next state election together with the general election to reduce costs amid rising living expenses.

The DAP national vice-chairman said, however, that he would respect any decision by other states that chose to dissolve their legislative assemblies early in order to align with parliamentary elections.

“Whatever the case, we will wait for the party’s decision,” he said.

At the 15th General Election, Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu did not hold their state elections concurrently.

The six states subsequently held their elections on August 12, 2023, with the governments elected then having served less than three years so far.

In Penang, the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance won 29 of the 40 state seats contested, while Perikatan Nasional secured 11 seats.

Separately, Chow said Penang would assist in the upcoming Johor state election if required, adding that party workers could be mobilised as is customary during election campaigns.

He said the party was also monitoring whether other states might call snap elections before deciding on any deployment of resources.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said PAS is targeting all 36 Kedah state seats in the next state election, while also seeking to capture the state’s only parliamentary constituency not currently under the party’s control.

According to Harian Metro, the Kedah menteri besar said PAS would attempt to wrest the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat from Pakatan Harahan (PH), which would give the party all 15 parliamentary seats in the state after winning 14 in GE15.

He added that PAS was also aiming to take the Kota Darul Aman, Bakar Arang and Sidam state seats, which are currently held by PH.

“PAS will lead a 36-0 victory. Anyone who wants to join PAS is welcome, anyone who wants to be friends is welcome, and anyone who wants to oppose us can wait.

“We will take the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat, making all 15 parliamentary seats ours, while increasing our DUN seats to 36. 

“We need to have that level of confidence so that our election machinery will share the same belief,” he told reporters after the launch of PAS Kedah’s election machinery at the Kedah PAS Complex in Kota Sarang Semut, Yan, last night.

Muhammad Sanusi said the target was not impossible, citing PAS’ performance in Terengganu, where the party won all 32 state seats in the 2023 state election.

He said he had similarly set a target of winning 33 state seats in Kedah ahead of the last state election, a prediction that materialised when the opposition secured only three seats.

“I once said we would win 33 seats, and we did. Now I say we can win all 36 seats, God willing. No one knows what the future holds,” he said.

The Kedah state assembly’s term expires in August 2028, following the state’s most recent election held in August 2023.