NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK
ANOTHER WEEK OF POLITICAL CHURN AS JAPAN’S PM WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND CLOSER HOME THE MARAN BROTHERS GOT A HUGE RELIEF AS THEY WERE DISCHARGED IN THE TELECOM SCAM. AND IN PAKISTAN, MUMBAI TERROR MASTERMIND HAFIZ SAEED’S POLITICAL PARTY GOT THE COURT’S NOD.
DAYANIDHI MARAN
In a major relief to ex- Union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran and five others, a special CBI court on March 14 discharged them from the illegal telephone exchange scam. The verdict comes as a shot in the arm for Marans, who have already been discharged in the Aircel- Maxis case. After the verdict, Dayanidhi said that he was happy that justice has triumphed and he now stands vindicated.
IRRFAN KHAN
The 51- year- old actor on Friday, through his Twitter handle revealed that he has been diagnosed with ‘ neuroendocrine tumour’ which could metastasise into cancer. The actor also clarified in the post, “The journey of this is taking me out of the country, and I request everyone to continue sending their wishes. As for the rumours that were floated Neuro is not always about the brain and googling is the easiest way to do research.”
SHINZO ABE
In a revelation that could have dramatic implications for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration, the finance ministry has admitted to making deletions to 14 documents related to the 2016 sale of land to a close friend of the PM at a price said to be around one tenth of its normal value. The deleted sections include the names of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife. After the revelations, Mr Abe offered his apologies to the people.
HAFIZ SAEED
Milli Muslim League ( MML), JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s new political party, will launch its manifesto on March 23, following a Pakistani court’s decision upholding its registration as a political party ahead of polls this year. Saeed, had kept a low profile after the government had taken over all the movable and immovable assets of his Jamaat- udDawah and Falah- i- Insaniyat Fou- ndation ( FIF) and frozen their bank accounts.
PIERCE BROSNAN
Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan, who ran into rough weather with his appearance in an advertisement of a pan masala brand, has stated that he was “cheated” by the company which kept him in the dark about the “hazardous” nature of the product. In a written reply to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, the actor said, “that he got cheated by the company as they did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product,” additional director ( health) S. K. Arora said.