NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK
TIMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN POLITICS. CURRENTLY, WHEN THE ENTIRE NATION IS GRIPPED WITH VITAL ISSUES LIKE FARMERS AGITATION AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, RAHUL GANDHI’S ABSENCE FROM THE SCENE CERTAINLY DOES NOT SEND A CORRECT MESSAGE.
DAVID GROSSMAN
Israeli author David Grossman has won the Man Booker International Prize for his novel A Horse Walks Into a Bar. The award was announced on Wednesday in London. Grossman beat out five other finalists, including fellow Israeli author Amos Oz for the counterpart to Britain’s prestigious Booker Prize. Grossman’s novel is about a failing standup comic and his final performance.
DONALD TRUMP
US President Donald Trump is being investigated for possible obstruction of justice by the special counsel appointed to probe alleged Russian meddling in the presidential polls. The probe by special counsel Robert Mueller, “marks a major turning point in the FBI investigation”, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
RAHUL GANDHI
At a time when the Congress is trying to extract maximum mileage out of the spiralling farmers’ agitation in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to go on a vacation, this time to meet his maternal grandmother in Italy. Tweeting his plans on Tuesday, he said, “I will be travelling to meet my grandmother and family for a few days.”
RAFAEL NADAL
Rafael Nadal coasted to a record 10th French Open title, demolishing Stan Wawrinka in a one-sided final which also earned the Spaniard a 15th Grand Slam crown. Nadal, 31, triumphed 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first man in history to win the same major 10 times. Playing in his 22nd Grand Slam final, Nadal triumphed in Paris without dropping a set for a third time.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Spanish prosecutors on Tuesday accused Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo of evading 14.7 million euros in tax through offshore companies, the latest footballer to fall foul of fiscal authorities. The 32-year-old follows in the steps of FC Barcelona forward and Argentina star Lionel Messi, who was found guilty of the same offence last year although the sums involved were allegedly smaller.