DAVOS, Switzerland : After years at the heart of the World Economic Forum, big business was pushed to one side of the annual meeting which wound up, overshadowed by star power and seemingly relentless pressure to help poor countries out of the rut.

US big screen stars Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone, or singers Bono and Lionel Ritchie vied for attention with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany, leaving chiefs of oil, pharmaceutical, computer, and industrial conglomerates to play supporting roles on the sidelines.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder succesively pledged to find ways of ploughing billions of dollars in aid, trade or debt relief into poor countries this year.

But Stone, an anti-poverty activist like other celebrities invited to the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, stole the limelight by making “an ass of myself” and extracting one million dollars from the largely corporate audience within minutes.

She stood up during a debate on poverty involving Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, pledging 10,000 dollars (7,660 euros) for anti-mosquito bednets to help prevent malaria in Tanzania and challenged her fellow onlookers to follow suit.

“A lot of them, let’s face it, are pretty square,” she later said of the business leaders at the debate. Thirty of them responded to her challenge.

Bono, who also heads a pressure group campaigning for Africa, cajoled and hounded the Davos heavyweights, appearing alongside Blair and Finance Minister Gordon Brown to warn that a whole generation in western countries wanted “to be remembered for something other than the war against terror”.

“We want to perhaps be the generation that’s remembered for ending extreme poverty,” he said, demanding action this year.

Brown admitted that the Group of Eight industrialised countries was feeling the pressure after a coalition of groups at the alternative World Social Forum (WSF) in Brazilian city of Porto Alegre called for a global mobilisation against poverty.

“I now sense in 2005 that hundreds, then thousands, then millions in every continent are coming together with such a set of insistent demands, that no government, no politician, no world leader can afford to ignore them,” Brown said.

The elite business, political, academic and civil society participants invited to the five day meeting appeared to have sensed the mood of the moment.

Asked by the forum organisers to choose six issues that urgently needed to be tackled in the world — and by the forum over the next year — 64 percent of them placed poverty at the top, followed by “equitable globalisation” and climate change.

Traditional Davos favourites, the global economy and trade, were left out altogether.

But former US vice president Al Gore rounded on the forum’s main conclusion on the “urgent” topic of climate change on Sunday.

“The very polite and gentle request that we consider new technology as we build new coal plants and that we ask the 20 largest emitters to talk to one another is not adequate,” he said.

In the unusual absence of heavyweight US administration officials, a bipartisan group of senators tried to argue Washington’s corner amid widespread concern about US deficits and their impact on the world economy.

But it was the growing economic weight of Asia and in particular China that set the largely business participants humming with anticipation.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates heaped praise on the communist state for creating “a brand-new form of capitalism”, while Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju sought to woo foreign investors with the prospect of 1.3 billion consumers so being a powerful engine for world economic growth.”

Some Davos traditions were maintained.

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yuschenko drew a standing ovation Friday as the forum managed to maintain its long-standing habit of granting an international stage to a fledgling east European democracy.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders also resumed on stage debates.

“The magic has returned to the mountain,” Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, alluding to a novel set in Davos by the writer Thomas Mann to describe the latest developments in the peace process.

– AFP

Channel News Asia

Kapil XI beats Aamir XI

MUMBAI,

JAN. 29.

Kapil Dev XI scored a five-wicket win over Aamir Khan XI in the day-night benefit cricket match, which saw film stars and cricketers coming together to raise funds for tsunami victims, at Wankhede stadium here.

Needing 247 for to win in 30 overs, Kapil’s XI took home the Airtel Cup with only one ball to spare. The event mobilised over Rs. 10 crores and Sahara Parivar committed Rs. 10 crores to rehabilitate over 400 families.

Brief scores:

Aamir Khan XI 246 in 29.2 overs (Mohd Kaif 108, Zaheer Khan 44) lost to Kapil Dev XI 247 in 29.5 overs (Virender Sehwag 84, J. Srinath 48 n.o, ).— UNI

Hindu On Net

Elite Zone appeals most

HYDERABAD,

JAN. 30.

Elite Zone, who is in great heart, appeals most in the Golconda Derby Stakes (2,400m), the star attraction of this afternoon’s meeting.

There will be no false rails.

1 12-30 Affable Plate (D.II)

1,100m, Cat. II, Md. 3/y/o only (Terms)

1*300Artist (Deshmukh) A. Joshi3 55.0

2*032Cannon Target (Raju) D. Singh5 55.0

3*00Greeku Veerudu (Vatsalya) Ritesh8 55.0

4— Muscat Ranger (Rafaat) M. Narredu4 55.0

5— Shikra (Netto) A. Imran Khan7 55.0

6*03Achernar (L. D’Silva) Christopher2 53.5

7*00Blazing Rhythm (Prasad) B. Shinde10 53.5

8*00Favourable Terms (Vatsalya) Harish9 53.5

9*32Freak Fantasy (Prasad) Rutherford6 53.5

10*0Pure And Simple (Satheesh) B. Prakash1 53.5

CANNON TARGET: Found Mirbat Battle too good over 1,100m in his last start; working well. MUSCAT RANGER: First run; sharpened up well. ACHERNAR: Comes into the reckoning on her third to Punjab Regiment (1,100m). FREAK FANTASY: As a favourite ran Albuquerque to 1-1/4 lengths over 1,100m; sporting blinkers now and should be given another chance.

1. Muscat Ranger, 2. Freak Fantasy, 3. Achernar

2 1-00 Affable Plate (D.I)

1,100m, Cat. II, Md. 3/y/o only (Terms)

1*04Adoring Star (Satheesh) B. Prakash7 55.0

2*000Australis (Vatsalya) N. Rawal3 55.0

3— Gallant Commander (Deshmukh) Aadesh9 55.0

4*000Money Care (Shamsuddin) A. Imran Khan2 55.0

5*000Royal Bond (Prasad) Rutherford10 55.0

6— Wind Breaker (Prasad) B. Shinde4 55.0

7— Fille La Belle (Netto) Sequeira5 53.5

8*00High Lands (Raju) D. Singh6 53.5

9*0Thrust Two (Rao) Jagdale1 53.5

10*0War Blue (Netto) Anil8 53.5

ADORING STAR: Has come to hand after his fourth to Albuquerque (1,100m); now running with tongue strap on. GALLANT COMMANDER: First run; looks fit enough. MONEY CARE: Unplaced in all the three starts; tracking well. ROYAL BOND: Runs with an upsetting chance.

1. Adoring Star, 2. Money Care,

3. Gallant Commander

3 1-30 Deccan Prince Cup (D. II)

1,400m, Cat. II, 4/y/o & over, rated up to 75

1*004Native Glory (Satheesh) Nishanth2 60.0

21*14Exclusive Run (Prasad) Rutherford5 59.0

3*002Red Key Point (Deshmukh) Srinath4 58.0

4*043Rock Breaker (Prasad) R.B. Shinde7 57.5

5*224Secret Champ (Shamsuddin) Harish1 55.0

6*030Manchester Babe (Vatsalya) M. Narredu8 52.5

71*00Rare Insight (Netto) A. Imran Khan3 51.5

8*044Shannon (L. D’Silva) Christopher6 50.0

EXCLUSIVE RUN: After winning a 1,200m, comfortably finished fourth to Camarero over 1,200m; in fine nick. RED KEY POINT: Warming up in the last 200m finished an impressive second to Classical Song over 1,400m; in fine fettle. MANCHESTER BABE: Ignore her last run. SHANNON: Finished fourth in her last two starts; at a tidy weight.

1. Shannon, 2. Red Key Point, 3. Manchester Babe

4 2-00 Deccan Prince Cup (D. I)

1,400m, Cat. II, 4/y/o & over, rated up to 75

1*200Miami Gold (L. D’Silva) Joseph4 60.0

2*002Bon Vivant (S. Abbas) Chauhan9 58.0

3*003Famous Tribute (Vatsalya) Aadesh5 57.0

4*030True Blue (Srinivas) B. V. Krishnan7 56.5

5*002Royal Shine (Faisal) Harish6 55.5

60*10Fashion For Ever (Netto) A. Imran Khan1 52.0

7*334Ashatamasha (Srinagesh) R.B. Shinde3 49.5

8*031Simply Fabulous (Habibullah) Sk. Sharookh2 49.5

9*000Cosmic Run (Prasad) N. Rawal8 48.0

FAMOUS TRIBUTE: Has come on after her third to Belper (1,400m). TRUE BLUE: Did not reach the frame in Awesome Win’s 1,400m; earlier finished a close third to Great Combination over 1,400m; in fine condition. ASHATAMASHA: A consistent runner; continues to shine in the trials. COSMIC RUN: Appeals on weights.

1. True Blue, 2. Cosmic Run, 2. Ashatamasha

5 2-30 Godolphin Barb Stakes

1,400m, 3/y/o only (Terms)

1*410Star Kid (Satheesh) Gallagher4 54.0

212Yes Es Yes Ses (Deshmukh) Srinath7 54.0

3*313Adams Madame (Srinagesh) Aadesh1 52.5

41Glorious Breaker (Darius) Harish5 52.5

5*1Muir Of Ord (Rafaat) M. Narredu3 52.5

6*21Trade Fair (L. D’Silva) Christopher6 52.5

7*42Citi Storm (Habibullah) D. Singh2 50.0

YES ES YES SES: An impressive second to Velvet Rope (second win) over 1,400m in his last start at Mumbai; in great heart. GLORIOUS BREAKER: A fluent winner over 1,100m at Bangalore; in fine trim. MUIR OF ORD: Justified the favouritism by winning a 1,200m in a facile manner; retains form. TRADE FAIR: Came out of the maiden ranks in a resolute manner over 1,200m; may score again.

1. Yes Es Yes Ses, 2. Muir Of Ord, 3. Trade Fair

6 3-00 Squanderer Cup

1,600m, Cat. II, 4/y/o & over, rated up to 75

111*0Irish Nip (Prasad) B. Shinde1 60.0

2*014Copenhagen (L. D’Silva) Joseph6 59.5

3*244King Challenger (Laxman S.) Ritesh9 59.5

4*112Running Fantasy (Habibullah) Abhinay5 57.5

5*403Brown Star (Satheesh) Ravinder2 54.5

64*30Suryarath (Prasad) Rutherford7 54.5

7*023Diesel (Vatsalya) Harish3 50.5

8*011Flying Knight (Netto) A. Imran Khan4 50.5

9*030Virennele (L. D’Silva) Laxmikanth10 49.5

10*003Lady At Peace (Silvester) Chary8 47.0

COPENHAGEN: A failed favourite in Cannon Reef’s 1,600m; should be given another chance. BROWN STAR: Has improved since his third to Wellhams (1,800m). FLYING KNIGHT: Poised for a hat-trick. VIRENNELE: A handicap possibility.

1. Brown Star, 2. Flying Knight, 3. Virennele

7 3-40 Aristocrat Cup (D. I)

1,600m, Cat. III, 5/y/o & over, rated up to 50

1*400First Crush (Netto) Joseph13 60.0

20*01Neo Opinion (Shamsuddin) Sk. Sharookh3 59.0

3*021Rare Gift (Habibullah) D. Singh9 58.5

4*000Divine Perfection (Prasad) Rutherford11 58.0

5*000Intonation (Rao) Chary10 57.0

6*000Intercity (Faisal) G. Sandeep6 56.0

7*300Ferrari (Rafaat) B. V. Krishnan4 55.0

8*002Starry Eyes (Satheesh) Gallagher1 52.5

9*013Bukhara (Srinivas) Christopher7 51.5

10*004Zulu Dance (Vatsalya) Aadesh5 50.5

11*400Gran Canaria (Sk. Kassam) Joshi2 49.5

1200*0Mahseer (Deshmukh) Harish12 49.5

13*000Secret Archives (Silvester) N. Rawal8 48.5

NEO OPINION: Won well over 1,600m in his last start; retains form. DIVINE PERFECTION: Working well; may spring a surprise. STARRY EYES: A good second to Neo Opinion; in fine nick. ZULU DANCE: Deserves following on his fourth to Sincerity (third win) over 2,200m.

1. Starry Eyes, 2. Zulu Dance, 3. Divine Perfection

8 4-10 R.W.I.T.C. Cup

1,200m, Cat. I, 4/y/o & over

14*33Picture Me (Netto) Joseph8 61.0

2*323Classic Ten (Raju) D. Singh1 55.5

3*211Master Prospect (Prasad) Rutherford4 54.5

4*000Raise The Prize (Prasad) G.B. Khade5 52.0

5*402Cool Deal (Satheesh) Gallagher10 51.5

6*040Blue Falcon (Shamsuddin) Ritesh2 51.0

7*042Bruno Magli (Faiyaz) B. Shinde7 50.5

8*000Treasure Gift (Rao) Aadesh6 50.5

9*140Fire Brigade (Sk. Kassam) Harish9 48.5

10*403Burjo Fire (Prasad) N. Rawal3 47.5

CLASSIC TEN: A consistent performer; should be persisted with. MASTER PROSPECT: Won his last two starts impressively in lower class; may make it three in a row. COOL DEAL: With a late run finished a game second to Shakira (first win) over 1,200m; well tuned. BRUNO MAGLI: A fair second to Onnu Onnu Onnu (second win) over 1,200m; moving attractively in the morning trials.

1. Cool Deal, 2. Master Prospect, 3. Classic Ten

9 4-40 Golconda Derby Stakes

2,400m, 4/y/o only (Terms)

10Ardmore (I.A. Sait) C. Alford3 57.0

2410Connaught Square (Darius) Badel1 57.0

313Elite Zone (Ganapathy) B. Prakash7 57.0

4*020Elusive Prince (Vatsalya) Rutherford2 57.0

5*241Friendly Fire (L. D’Silva) A. Imran Khan5 57.0

6244Smart N Noble (Ganapathy) Gallagher6 57.0

711Staranzano (Dhariwal) O’Donoghue10 57.0

8*133State City (Vatsalya) Harish9 57.0

90*12Aryanoush (Rafaat) M. Narredu4 55.5

10*400Luxury Cruise (Satheesh) Ravinder8 55.5

ELITE ZONE: Third To Full Speed in the Harvins Bangalore 2000 Guineas; in pink of condition. SMART N NOBLE: Fourth to Bollinger over 2,000m in his last start at Bangalore; well prepared. STARANZANO: Made every post a winning one over 1,600m in his last start at Bangalore; maintains form. ARYANOUSH: An eye-catching second to Yutai in the Colconda Oaks (2,400m); may trouble the best.

1. Elite Zone, 2. Smart N Noble, 3. Aryanoush

10 5-15 Aristocrat Cup (D. II)

1,600m, Cat. III, 5/y/o & over, rated up to 50

1*140Golden Waltz (Prasad) Rutherford12 60.0

23*04Prerna (Laxman S.) O’Donoghue6 58.5

3*000Royal Guest (Faisal) Ritesh5 58.5

4*013Sky Heights (Srinivas) B.V. Krishnan1 57.5

5*000Maid For Eachother (Deshmukh) Aadesh4 56.5

6*302Dancing Butterfly (S. Abbas) Ramana7 55.5

7*000Royal Hollo Way (Sk. Kassam) Christopher11 53.0

8*001Racing Is Fun (Shamsuddin) Harish2 52.5

910*1Noble Empress (Thompson) B. Shinde9 51.5

10*000Port Royal (Silvester) G. Sandeep10 49.5

11*000Royal Dream (Faiyaz) Sk. Sharookh3 49.0

12*030Fantasy Girl (Vatsalya) N. Rawal8 47.0

GOLDEN WALTZ: Her run in Cannon Hope’s 1,400m is best ignored; the extra 200m may suit her well. ROYAL GUEST: If she takes a level start may upset the calculations. SKY HEIGHTS: After winning a 1,400m, finished a close third to Chickluckchic over 1,400m; in fine fettle. RACING IS FUN: A gutsy winner over 1,600m; retains form.

1. Racing Is Fun, 2. Sky Heights, 3. Golden Waltz

Day’s best: Elite Zone

Double: Yes Es Yes Ses — Cool Deal

Jkt: 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10. Treble (i): 2, 3 & 4; (ii): 5, 6 & 7; (iii): 8, 9 & 10. Tanala: All races.

Hindu On Net

“Kisna — The Warrior Poet”

“Kisna — The Warrior Poet” … beautiful but untouched by true emotions and warmth.

MAGNIFICENT VISUALS, vast expanses of dramatic landscapes and a built-in sense of romance, gives “Kisna … ” a feel of the “Last Samurai,” “Cold Mountain” and “The Last Emperor” genre. When the conceptualisation and visualisation have been so good, what happened to the soul and depth of the film? For, “Kisna …” is just a beautiful picture — cold, untouched by true emotions and warmth. One could even say Subhash Ghai has a “Taal” hangover — but without an iota of the palpable romance that “Taal” had.

Lush Garhwal mountains, dancing springs and grassy slopes are a wonderful setting for a love story — innocent and young. Much of what he portrayed in “Taal.” But in “Kisna … ,” he is apparently so carried away by the grandeur of his concept, that its true sensitivity gets lost — a typical case of great style over substance.

Kisna (Vivek Oberoi) tells the tale of a young man — a poet, but who would not hesitate to kill to honour a promise or to guard an innocent woman, foreign though she may be and an enemy at that!

Set in the days just before Independence in the mountainous region of Pauri Garhwal, Kisna is the young help in an English household. A good, kind lady of the house, a cruel, bigoted English official, Peter Becket, who is the master and their adorable daughter Katherine, for whom Kisna is the best friend.

There is also another very sweet girl, Luxmi, who loves Kisna, but is upset when he chooses to spend more time with Katherine.

Life goes on placidly — till the master realises that the more he allows his daughter to spend time in India the more she will become a native. She is sent to England to her aunt who will oversee her education and make her more British.

Meanwhile, Luxmi (Isha) has grown up to be a dramatic dancer who spends her time either in front of the idol of Krishna or swinging and contorting her body with great aesthetic appeal against the magnificent backdrop of the Himalayan range, all aglow withsunset colours.

Kisna is now a young man playing the flute, writing poetry and learning to defend himself against the hostile British. Katherine (Anthonia Bernath) decides to return to India. She is delighted to be back and is eager to renew her friendship with Kisna. She gets back her special place in Kisna’s heart, and Luxmi makes sure that Kisna gets engaged to her.

This is also the time when the anger against the British is at its worst and soon turns ugly — the house in which Peter and his family live is burnt down and Peter is killed, while his wife and daughter are forced to flee.

In the process, mother and daughter get separated and Kisna becomes responsible for saving Katherine from a marauding crowd that includes his uncle (Amrish Puri) and brother.

Morally responsible for Katherine, Kisna has to find a way to get her to safety — to Delhi, escape the wrath of the police, his village people and other enemies along the long and tedious way. The tortuous path to safety is fraught with warring Hindu-Muslim spats and killings, a cruel but obsessed renegade Indian prince who is hell bent on having Katherine as his wife.

Set in the 1940s the film has a very historic feel (Camera – Ashok Mehta) to it. But that is really not enough to make an impact as there is very little you can empathise with. None of the characters really move you and while the canvas is extremely beautiful and poignant, their flight, the dangers don’t really make a huge impact. A small scene with Sushmita Sen looking stunning just brings back the era of the luxuries of the Mughal court, but does little else. The background score or songs are not particularly noteworthy as it has been made out in the promos — both Ismail and Rahman have done better music before.

The choreography (Saroj Khan) however is spectacular especially in the songs that have been picturised on the village and the Nawab’s court.

Vivek Oberoi looks very good but comes across as an insipid character. Isha Sharvani the new face is not much but her dance is eye-catching. And while on that, the dances are visually dramatic but do little for the story.

Anthonia Bernath has been showcased prominently before and after the release. While she is appealing, one can’t say she is brilliant. It could be that most often she is made to speak her dialogue in Hindi which may be a necessity, but breaks the mood, if any.

CHITRA MAHESH

Hindu On Net

Insan

WHY DO cops in Bollywood films chew gum all the time or incessantly smoke cigarettes? Or why do the smart, invincible ones walk around in mufti? And why do the good guys have to be so self-righteous and give speeches on secularism and patriotism? But never mind — these are things one will always wonder about the quintessential Bollywood film.

Some things just don’t change — the tone or the tenor. What has changed, however, is that these films are made with excellent production values and has some really good performers to carry off all the clich
s and sentiments.

K Subhaash’s “Insan” is corny, but well made. It has all the essential elements meant to earn the front benchers’s applause. Amjad (Akshaye Kumar) is an auto driver with a rough exterior and a heart of gold. While he gives courage to aspiring film aspirants he is not the perfect man for Heena (Esha Deol), whose mother nurses ambitious plans of marrying her off to one of those rich guys from the Middle East. Of course Heena loves her honest autorickshaw driver.

Ajit Rathore (Ajay Devgan) is this cool cop who strides around menacingly, chewing gum and blowing the rotten fruits in society to smithereens. He won’ t try reasoning with any criminal. Just shoots them and is completely nationalistic. Which is why he will not succumb to pressure to release Masud, a terrorist leader. Seeking to get him out of jail are his followers chiefly Azhar (Rahul Dev) a melancholy, ruthless man who walks around with a blade in hand. Comes handy when people cross his path! Azhar is out to get India. He also happens to be the simple Amjad’s brother, lost in the Gujarat riots and has not been in touch with the family who thinks he is probably dead. When they do meet, the film is half way through, having established the main characters and their motives.

There are several sub plots. Ajay Devgan, despite all the pitfalls in his characterisation, does a good job. Akshaye Kumar has a natural flair for comedy and like in “Khakee,” does a fantastic job as Amjad.

Esha Deol has an effervescent presence that makes her likable despite the silliness of the characterisation, while Lara Dutta never seems to get a role to prove that she can act.

Most of the music (Himesh Reshammiya), songs and background scores, don’t stay in memory except “Chunari Chunari” which is catchy in melody and in its picturisation. If you don’t look for a logical or plausible story line, “Insan” makes for good viewing.

CHITRA MAHESH

Hindu On Net