NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

WHILE INDIA MOVED A STEP CLOSER TO ITS DREAM OF LAUNCHING A MANNED MISSION TO SPACE, A PERSON OF INDIAN ORIGIN HAS BEEN PICKED BY THE U.S. SPACE AGENCY NASA FOR ITS 12-MEMBER TEAM, WHICH WOULD TAKE PART IN ITS DEEP SPACE PROGRAMMES.

RAJA CHARI

Indian-American Raja Chari, a lieutenant colonel with the US Air Force, is among 12 new astronaut candidates selected by Nasa who will take part in future deep space missions. Chari, a 39-year-old lieutenant colonel of the US Air Force, hails from the US state of Iowa. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy with bachelor’s degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science.

PRANNOY ROY

The CBI carried out searches at the residence of NDTV founder Prannoy Roy on Monday for allegedly concealing a share transaction from the Sebi and causing a loss to a private bank. The CBI has registered a case against RRPR Holding, Pranoy Roy, his wife Radhika and unidentified officials of ICICI Bank. While the channel termed the move as a “witch-hunt” based on “same old” false accusations, Mr Roy said it was an act against “the entire free press of India”.

URJIT PATEL

After economists criticising RBI of losing its autonomy during the demonetisation drive, the RBI’s monetary policy committee appears to have asserted its autonomy by refusing to meet a finance ministry’s officials ahead of the policy review meeting. This is being seen as the start of a confrontation between the ministry and the central bank.

SAI PRANEETH

Shuttler B. Sai Praneeth won his maiden Grand Prix gold title by posting a come-frombehind victory over Indonesian Jonatan Christie in the men’s singles final of the $1,20,000 Thailand Open here on Sunday. The third seeded Indian prevailed 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 over the fourth seeded Indonesian in a contest that lasted an hour and 11 minutes. This is his second consecutive title win.

CHRISTOPHER WRAY

President Donald Trump on Wednesday ended a monthlong search for an FBI chief after firing James Comey by selecting Christopher Wray, who has prosecuted and defended white-collar crime cases. Mr Wray served from 2003 to 2005 at the justice department under Republican former President George W. Bush