In case you missed it, here is a list of news handpicked by an Astro AWANI editor for the week beginning Nov 16 to Nov 22, 2015.

The most popular news this week include US president Barack Obama's second visit to Malaysia to attend the 27th ASEAN Summit and other related summits,


SUNDAY, Nov 22, 2015:

Obama ends his three-day visit to KL


US president BarackObama whowas here in Kuala Lumpur for the 27th ASEAN Summit and related summits left Malaysia at about 5.45pm today.

At the press conference before leaving, he urged global communities and world leaders to not succumb to fear if they wish to combat terrorism.



Vape banned in all public universities


E-cigarettes (vape) andsmoking are bannedin all 20 public universities in the country, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

He said a joint decision on the matter was reached by all the universities' vice-chancellors (VCs) at a meeting on Friday.

"Before we only banned smoking oftobacco butnow we are extending it tovapeas well," he said.


RM1.5 million CBT: Six individuals, including top ranking cop nabbed - Khalid

Six individuals, including a senior police officer were arrested last night and today for alleged criminal breach of trust involving RM1.5 million in connection with a contract to refurbish and repair the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said five individuals were arrested last night while another one detained early this morning was a high ranking police officer.



SATURDAY, Nov 21, 2015:

Seven dead as New Zealand helicopter crashes intoglacier

Six tourists and their pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed into a heavily crevassed glacier in New Zealand during bad weather on Saturday, police said.

The sightseeing helicopter plunged into the Fox Glacier, a popular tourist site on the west coast of the South Island, with weather conditions reported to be heavily overcast and raining at the time.

A paramedic and alpine rescue team who looked over the crash site confirmed there were no survivors.


Obama visits facility for underprivileged children in KL

Ditching protocol, US president Barack Obamastoopedto talk to the children at the Dignity for Children Foundation, a charity-based educational institution for refugee and urban poor children in Sentul here.

He interacted with the children, some of them from Myanmar, who were busy working on their art and science projects, asking them about theirfavouritesubjects and ambitions as he offered words of encouragement.

The Dignity for Children Foundation was set up more than 15 years ago by Rev Elisha Satvinder and his wife Petrina after they found many underprivileged families living in theSentularea.

The foundation aims to empower children from such families to break the cycle of poverty through quality education, positively transforming their lives and the lives of the community around them.


Four teenagers drown in Ara Damansara lake

Four teenagers - three boys and a girl - drowned while bathing in the Ara Damansara lake in Petaling Jaya Friday, according to the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department.

Its assistant director, Mohd Sani Harul, said the girl was identified as Norasyikin Jamil, 12, and theboys RajaIskandar Shah, 13, Mohd Fikry Mohamad Ady and Hafiz Hakimi, both 14.


TPAA represents more than just trade - Obama

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) represents more than just trade, it is a vision of a better future in the global economy, said US President Barack Obama.

"The TPP is not just a trade pact. It levels the playing field for everyone and integrate our markets," said Obama in his address at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2015 at the Shangri-La Hotel here today.

US president Barack Obama at the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


FRIDAY, Nov 20, 2015:

Obama's visit to Malaysia: Protest outside US embassy

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) today gathered outside the Menara Tabung Haji building here, before marching towards the US Embassy at Jalan Tun Razak.

The non-governmentalorganisation(NGO) was protesting against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in conjunction with US president Barack Obama's visit on Friday.


VK Lingam barred frompractisinglaw

Senior lawyer Datuk V.K.Lingam, who has appeared in a controversial video tape over the appointment of judges, is barred frompractisinglaw by the Advocates and Solicitors' Disciplinary Board (DB).

Bar Council chairman Steven Thiru confirmed that the DB hadstrikeoff Lingam from the roll of Advocates and Solicitors for professional misconduct, on Nov 6.



THURSDAY, Nov 19, 2015:

'Carimakan' remark: PAC won't holdanymorepress conferences

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not be holdinganymorepress conferences following the backlash it received over its chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin's cari makan remark.

Hasan said he was disappointed that his efforts to foster a friendly environment with the media were not appreciated by some.

He said he had strictly told reporters not to publish the remark, which he had meant as a joke.



WEDNESDAY, Nov 18, 2015:

Actor Rajinikanth makes time for ailing fan

Ailing 49-year-old Agnes Sandanam of Singapore was happy to have met herfavouriteIndian actor Rajinikanth.

Agnes, who suffers from end-stage heart failure, had an unfulfilled wish since she was 12 - and that was to meet Rajinikanth, 65.

"I have been a fanatic fan of the superstar since I was 12 years old, and now I have a critical health condition. My last wish was to meet him," she told Bernama after meeting Rajinikanth here recently.

Actor Rajinikanth - Filepix/Youtube

She said she requested Sri Shankar Ganesh, the founder and chairman of the Isai Empire group of companies, to help set up a meeting with the actor, and he did.


MACC probe over RM2.6 billion funds will take time - Razali

The probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the RM2.6 billion political fund received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will take some time as it involved foreign transactions and witnesses.

As such, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim called on all parties to not make any speculationonthe case.

He said further investigation was being conducted by the commission to determine if there was anoffencecommitted under the MACC Act 2009.

RM2.6 billion donation not related to 1MDB - PAC


The issue of RM2.6 billiondonationdeposited into prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's account is not related to investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), said Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin.

The PAC chairman stressed that the public must be clearly informed of the difference, he said.

All Blacks great Jonah Lomu dies aged 40

All Blacks great Jonah Lomu, rugby union's first global superstar, has died at the age of 40, New Zealand's TV3 reported on Wednesday.

Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew said Lomu, who had a kidney transplant in 2004, had died unexpectedly on Wednesday morning in Auckland.

PHOTO GALLERY: Great moments of Jonah Lomu

Lomu played 63 tests on the wing for New Zealand, scoring 37 international tries. - filepic



TUESDAY, Nov 17, 2015:

No confirmation yet on fate of Malaysian hostage - IGP

The fate of the sole Malaysian hostage who was held captive by a militant group based in the Philippine is still uncertain.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid AbuBakarin his Twitter account said that the police have yet to ascertain his condition pending confirmation from the authorities in the Southern Philippine.





MONDAY, Nov 16, 2015:

French police carried out 170 raids since Paris attacks

French police carried out nearly 170 searches and arrested 23 people in raids overnight Sunday in the wake of the attacksonParis and more than 100 people have been placed under house arrest, the interior minister said.

A total of 31 weaponswere seized, Bernard Cazeneuve added, with sources telling AFP they included a rocket launcher and a Kalashnikov rifle found near the southeast city of Lyon.

French police carried out 170 raids since Paris attacks


Turkey says warned France over Paris attacker


Turkey warned France almost a year ago over a suspected IS militant who blew himself up in the Parisattacks butthe French authorities did not respond, a senior Turkish official said on Monday.

Turkish police "notified their French counterparts twice - in December 2014 and June 2015" about Omar Ismail Mostefai, the official told AFP, asking not to be named.

"We did, however, not hear back from France on the matter," the official added.