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.
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.
"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.
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.
'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.
Astro Awani
Sun Aug 07 2016
Here's some stories picked by Astro AWANI editor for the week beginning August 1 to 7, 2016. - Filepic
'No one will win a trade war,' China says after Trump tariff threat
Donald Trump says he would impose the tariffs until China stops the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.
What has caused Pakistan's deadly clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan?
Topping the demands of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan, who has been jailed on a series of corruption charges since August 2023.
One woman or girl killed every 10 minutes by intimate partner or family member - UN
The report highlights that "60 per cent of all female homicides" are committed by "people closely related to them".
Sweden urges Chinese ship to return for undersea cable investigation
Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours.
[COLUMNIST] Building more highways won’t solve traffic congestion - reducing demand will
It is clear that adding more lanes and highways doesn't work, because we are still attempting the same approach to solve the issue.
Hyundai to invest RM2.16 bil in Malaysia through strategic partnership with INOKOM
This investment includes efforts to upgrade INOKOM's existing assembly capacity to meet Hyundai's automotive needs.
‘C4Cinta’ sets record as highest-grossing Malaysian Tamil film
'C4Cinta', directed by young filmmaker Karthik Shamalan, has set a new benchmark in Malaysian Tamil cinema.
Man charged with mother's murder, storing body in freezer
The court denied bail and scheduled case mention on Feb 7 for the submission of forensic, autopsy, and chemist reports.
Abolition of examination in schools to reduce pressure on pupils - Fadhlina
The classroom assessment approach offers a much more interesting learning ecosystem, says Fadhlina Sidek.
Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children
Google and Meta says the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead.
Judge tosses Trump 2020 election case after prosecutors' request
It represents a big legal victory for Donald Trump, who won the Nov. 5 US election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20.
DHL plane crash in Lithuania leaves authorities searching for answers
Rescue services said the plane hit the ground, split into pieces and slid over 100 metres (110 yards).
National squad to hold friendly matches for 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup
The warm-up matches will involve matches against better ranked teams in the world, namely Austria (first) and Belgium (third).
G7 seeks unity on ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu
The United States, part of the G7, has rejected the ICC decision, with President Joe Biden describing it as outrageous.
Francissca Peter remembers Tan Sri Ahmad Nawab: A tribute to a musical legend
A legend who has influenced our music for decades, was one of the highlights of my career, says Francissca Peter.
TikTok decision coming soon as Jan. 19 divestment deadline looms
Judges are reviewing TikTok's challenge to a law requiring ByteDance to sell its US assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
Lebanese sources: Biden, Macron set to announce Israel-Hezbollah truce
In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, "We're close" but "nothing is done until everything is done".
PM meets chaebol tycoon to attract more FDI to Malaysia
Chaebols are prominent figures from South Korea's family-owned conglomerates.
Govt won't allow non-citizen vehicles to enjoy RON95 subsidy - Economy Ministry
The implementation of the RON95 subsidy in 2025 is expected to provide savings of RM3.6 billion to government expenditure.
Ringgit opens lower as greenback gains ground
Dr Mohd Afzanizam says the market responded positively to news of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent heading the US Treasury Department.