Ireland First In Europe To Ban Trade With Occupied Palestine
LONDON, June 24 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Ireland is set to formally ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), becoming the first European country in doing so, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
"This is an important measure, because we are speaking up and speaking out on behalf of the people of Ireland in relation to this genocidal activity," the country's Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris told reporters on Tuesday.
Harris said he hopes the "real benefit" of publishing this legislation will be that it may inspire other countries to do likewise.

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Rakyat Post
6 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
From Courtroom To Cork In Bangsar: The Lawyer Who Traded Briefs For Bordeaux
Subscribe to our FREE Lau Jia-Sen had it all figured out – law degree, CLP certification, four solid years building a legal practice. The 36-year-old from Old Klang Road was living the Malaysian dream: steady paycheck, predictable hours, respectable profession. Then, in April 2024, everything changed. 'If I'd discovered my passion earlier, I would never have studied law,' Lau told TRP, sipping a cup of artisanal coffee at Juno, his gastro wine bar tucked away in a quiet corner of Bangsar. Named after the Roman goddess of protection and marriage (Hera in Greek mythology), the venue seems fitting for someone who's found his true calling. It's the kind of confession that makes parents everywhere clutch their pearls, but for this former lawyer-turned-sommelier, it's pure liberation. The Great Career Plot Twist The transition wasn't exactly overnight. While building his legal career, Lau was moonlighting as a barista – perhaps the universe's way of dropping hints about his true calling. Fast forward to today, and he's running Juno, a spot that's part wine sanctuary, part culinary playground, where natural wines meet European-Asian fusion in the most unpretentious way possible. 'Wine can be intimidating for the uninitiated,' Lau explains, describing his approach to hospitality. We want customers to appreciate what we have without feeling like they need a PhD in viticulture. His 60-70 label collection focuses heavily on natural wines – think free-range chicken, but for grapes. Minimal intervention, no chemicals, just fruit doing what fruit does best in ideal natural environments. More Than Just Grape Expectations The beauty of Juno lies in its refusal to take itself too seriously. Sure, they've got your classic French three to four-course meals and sophisticated wine flights, but they've also paired char kuay teow and nasi lemak with wine because why not? It's this kind of 'let's-see-what-happens' energy that keeps things exciting. The menu reads like a greatest hits of comfort food with a twist – European-Asian fusion pasta, fresh oysters, quality steaks, and hot doughnuts for dessert. Lau's personal favourite is the pepetama pasta, a Japanese take on carbonara that's 'salty, cheesy, savoury, a bit spicy, very Asian.' It's the kind of dish that makes you question why anyone ever thought fusion was a dirty word. Double Life, Double Trouble But wait, there's more. Lau also runs The plan? Merge the two operations at Juno's location – café by day, wine bar by night. It's ambitious, slightly crazy, and exactly the kind of move you'd expect from someone who went from practising law to curating wine lists in the span of a year. 'I knew nothing about wine a year ago,' Lau confesses. I do a lot of reading, ask wine professionals, do tastings, write notes. It's the kind of crash course that would make most people's heads spin, but Lau seems to thrive on the chaos. (Pix: Instagram/@junobangsar) The New Normal These days, Lau wears more hats than a vintage shop – operations manager, front of house, sommelier, cook, HR department, event planner, business development guru, menu curator, and doughnut maker. It's exhausting just reading the list, but he wouldn't have it any other way. I miss the predictability of a lawyer's paycheck, but I relish wearing all sorts of hats now. With several full-time staff members helping out and partners covering when he's away, Juno has become more than just a business – it's a community. Wine O'Clock Wisdom The monthly steak and wine nights (RM88 for grass-fed Angus beef and a glass of wine) perfectly capture Juno's philosophy: wine shouldn't be reserved for special occasions. It should be woven into the fabric of daily life, paired with whatever makes you happy, whether that's a perfectly cooked steak or a late-night bowl of noodles. Open daily except Tuesdays (6 pm-12 am weekdays, until 1 am weekends), Juno operates in that competitive Bangsar landscape where every corner seems to house another trendy spot. However, Lau has found his niche among natural wine enthusiasts and regular customers who appreciate his unpretentious approach to a good life. The Pour Decision When he's not busy revolutionising Bangsar's wine scene, Lau unwinds with pickleball. His current wine obsession? Matassa—meaning 'forest' in Catalan—offers fruity, floral, and mineral notes that create a journey in your mouth, said Lau. Maybe fruit and floral chamomile on the first sip, then towards the end, some sensation in your mouth. That's the beauty of natural wine. It's the kind of passionate description that makes you understand why someone would abandon a stable legal career for the unpredictable world of hospitality. Sometimes, the most important thing is just having the courage to try. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

Barnama
7 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Promotes Higher Education In Jakarta Via MyEduTour 2025
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has embarked on a promotional effort in Jakarta aimed at attracting more Indonesian students to further their studies at institutions of higher learning in Malaysia – and in the process, forging stronger people-to-people relations in both countries. The MyEduTour: Discovery Malaysia 2025 programme, organised by Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI) — which is the official representative of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia — along with Tourism Malaysia Jakarta and the Malaysian Embassy, was held at the embassy ground. bootstrap slideshow The Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Mohamed Hasrin Tengku Hussin, said the initiative was part of the country's soft diplomacy effort featuring five public institutions of higher education, five private institutions of higher education, and a travel agency offering travel packages based around education. 'It is hoped that this programme may contribute to closer exchanges between Malaysians and Indonesians and forge stronger societal ties,' he said, adding that some 11,000 Indonesian students are currently enrolled in study programmes in Malaysia. The programme combines education and tourism for Indonesians and is in line with Malaysia's effort to become a regional hub for higher education. The embassy's Minister Counsellor (Education), Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri, said the platform enables universities in Malaysia to offer academic programmes through interaction sessions and educational visit packages. 'The seminar provided detailed information on the programmes on offer, and this helped educators and representatives of universities to make the best choices for their students,' he said. MyEduTour is an ongoing effort to strengthen cooperation in education and tourism based on long-standing cultural and historical relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, he added.


New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
BN reappoints Zambry as sec-gen, Johari as treasurer
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) today agreed to reappoint Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir as its secretary-general and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as its treasurer-general. Zambry, in a statement tonight, said the appointments, decided during the party's Annual General Meeting (AGM), were based on clauses 8.3 (D) and 8.3 (E) of the BN Constitution. "The 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) resolved with full commitment to strengthen the party as an inclusive political platform and reaffirm its determination to remain united under the Barisan Nasional umbrella. "BN also confirmed its full preparedness to face the upcoming Sabah state election, which is expected to be held in the near future. "Political stability in Sabah is key to strengthening security, economic progress, and the welfare of the people in the 'Land Below the Wind'," he said. - Bernama