In case you missed it, here is a list of news handpicked by our editor for the week beginning August 1 to 7, 2016.

Among the top stories are: Mydin hypermarket chain founder died of old age, bomb threat in one of AirAsia's flight in klia2, online application for new passports and renewals in September and Pokemon GO finally hit Malaysia's shores.


Monday, Aug 1:

Mydin hypermarket chain founder dies at 88

Mydin hypermarket chain founder, Mydin Mohamed Ghulam Hussein died of old age at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

His son, who is also Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director, Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, 60, said his 88-year-old father had died at 5.06pm.

Born in Penang in 1928, Mydin Mohamed is survived by his wife Rowshan Bai, 80, and seven children.

Mydin hypermarket chain founder, Mydin Mohamed Ghulam Hussein died of old age at a private hospital in  Kuala Lumpur.


AG mulls sending reps to hold watching briefs in DOJ lawsuits

Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali is contemplating sending representatives to hold watching briefs at the hearing of the civil lawsuits filed by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on seizure of assets allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.


Tuesday, Aug 2, 2016:

Gawker founder in bankruptcy after losing Hulk Hogan case

Nick Denton has lost another round to Hulk Hogan.

The Gawker Media founder sought bankruptcy court protection Monday in New York, after a Florida judge refused to halt enforcement of a $140 million damages award in pro wrestler Hogan's invasion-of-privacy lawsuit.

Gawker itself filed for bankruptcy June 10, a move that temporarily put the brakes on Hogan's efforts to collect on the verdict he won after the online media company posted excerpts of a sex-tape featuring him.

Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016:

Bomb threat forces passengers to evacuate AirAsia flight

Passengers of an AirAsia flight at klia2 were evacuated today following a a bomb threat.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said it has been informed by the airline about the bomb threat.

The airline said all guests on board the aircraft have disembarked safely.

"As such, Malaysia Airports is working closely with the airline and all relevant authorities and the situation is being handled according to the standard operating procedures when dealing with such situation.

North Korea test fires ballistic missile

North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea's defence ministry said.

The missile was launched from near the western city of Unyul around 07:50 am Wednesday (22:50 GMT Tuesday), it added.


Emirates plane in accident on landing in Dubai

An Emirates plane with 275 people on board was involved in an accident on landing Wednesday at Dubai airport but all the passengers were evacuated safely, the government said.

Footage on social media showed smoke billowing from the aircraft.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear.

An Emirates plane with 275 people on board was involved in an accident on landing Wednesday at Dubai airport but all the passengers were evacuated safely.

Thursday, Aug 4, 2016:

Muhyiddin Yassin to register new party soon

Former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he will be applying to register a new political party with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) soon.

"Let us pray that the application will be approved," he wrote on his Facebook page today.

Malaysians can apply for passports online beginning September

The Immigration Department will introduce online application for new passports and renewals as early as September, Datuk Mustafar Ali said.

"We will introduce the system 100 per cent this September to make it easier for the people," he said in an exclusive interview with Astro AWANI.


Panic causes long queues for passports

The long queue to renew or apply for new passports is the result of the panic stirred when social media reported that the process will take as long as six months.

Newly-minted Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said this has resulted in a drastic increase in the number of new applications and renewals.


Friday, Aug 5, 2016:

Pokemon GO forbidden for Muslims

Muslims are forbidden to engage themselves in the virtual world of Pokemon characters and play the reality game of Pokemon GO due to the principles of maslahah (public interest) and harmful consequences.

Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri, in a statement today, said that the ruling was made at the Federal Territories Islamic Legal Consultative Committee meeting on Aug 1.


Saturday, Aug 6, 2016:

Pokemon GO is now available in Malaysia


The wait is over for Pokemon fans as Pokemon GO is available in Malaysia.

The popular augmented reality game is available for immediate download on both Play Store for iPhone users and Play Store for Android users.

The wait is over for Pokemon fans as Pokemon GO is available in Malaysia.

'Wearing a headscarf is a Muslim woman's right' - TMJ

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim believes that donning the headscarf is a Muslim woman’s right.

On the show Obviously Harith Iskander Saturday night, the Johor Crown Prince said women shouldn’t be judged by their decision to wear or not to wear a headscarf.



Sunday, Aug 7, 2016:

Remove the differential in the passenger service charge at KLIA, KLIA2


Removing the differential in passenger service charges at KLIA and KLIA2 will go a long way in reducing the cost of air travel, the International Air Travel Association (IATA), said.

"There is no justification for the difference since the facilities and services at the two terminals are comparable," said Vinoop Goel, Regional Director, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, Asia Pacific, IATA.