NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN INDIA HAS MANAGED TO KEEP A TIGHT LID ON SEXUAL ABUSE, UNLIKE IN THE WEST WHERE NUNS CAME FORWARD ALLEGING ABUSE BY CLERGYMEN. THE TIME HAS COME WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. JUSTICE IS THE HALLMARK TEACHING OF CHRIST. IT IS TIME THE CHURCH PUT INTO PRACTISE WHAT IT PREACHES .
FRANCO MULAKKAL
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, was arrested on Friday night by the Kerala police after intense interrogation over the last three days. The 54- year- old clergyman has been alleged of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a nun. The development came a day after the Vatican relieved him “temporarily” of all pastoral responsibilities as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation to which the victim also belongs.
CHRISTIAN MICHEL
A UAE court has ordered the extradition of UK national UK national Christian Michel a key figure in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam. AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter case has remained a mystery to Indian investigators as to who were the beneficiaries in the multicrore scam. References to ‘ AP’, ‘ FAM’, ‘ Pol’, ‘ Bur’ and ‘ AF’ in the diary of Christian Michel have remained unexplained. His extradition is likely to solve this puzzle.
NAJIB RAZAK
Malaysia’s toppled leader Najib Razak was arrested on Wednesday and will be charged over allegations that $ 628 million linked to the state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal bank accounts. Since losing power, Najib has already been arrested and hit with seven charges related to claims he pocketed some $ 10 million from a former unit of 1MDB.
YUSAKU MAEZAWA
Japanese billionaire and online fashion tycoon, Yusaku Maezawa, will be the first man to fly on a monster SpaceX rocket around the Moon as early as 2023. Maezawa, 42, will be the first lunar traveller since the last US Apollo mission in 1972. He paid an unspecified amount of money for the privilege. “Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the Moon,” Maezawa said at SpaceX headquarters. “This is my lifelong dream.” He added, “I choose to go to the Moon... with artists!” Maezawa is the 18th richest person in Japan with a fortune of $ 3 billion.
NAWAZ SHARIF
A Pakistani court on Wednesday suspended jail sentences of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son- in- law Mohammed Safdar in Avenfield reference. During the hearing, National Accountability Bureau prosecutor said that no evidence regarding transfer of 12 million dirham was found while the agreement of selling 25 per cent shares of Gulf Steel Mills was also fake. UAE authorities have also not verified the transfer of the money.