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Miss Iceland Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir was crowned the surprise winner of the Miss World 2005 in a lavish ceremony watched live by millions across the globe.
   The 21-year-old Reykjavik student, daughter of Miss Iceland 1983, expressed her delight and astonishment at beating out a field of 102 young women from around the world.
   The green-eyed brunette will serve as a goodwill ambassador and charity fund-raiser for children's causes throughout next year and is likely to profit from a host of modelling and acting contracts.
   ‘It was wonderful, so wonderful. It has been an amazing night,’ the 1.73 metre (five foot eight inch) Vilhjalmsdottir told AFP.
   ‘I did not think that I would win, it was a big surprise.
   Runner-up was Miss Mexico Dafne Molina Lona, representing the Americas, while the third place title went to Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos, representing the Caribbean zone.
   Miss Philippines Carlene Aguillar had been the bookmakers' favourite.
   Organisers said the pageant's 55th edition would reach an estimated audience of two billion.
   Vilhjalmsdottir is a student from Reykjavik who has interned as a policewoman during her summer holidays while studying courses in anthropology and aspiring towards a career in law.
   Winning the coveted title is likely to change her life, as she embarks on a rigorous year of charity appearances and advocating humanitarian causes.
   ‘In the coming year I want to do just as much as I can to help. I would love to do what I can do for charity and for the children of the world,’ she said.
   ‘I want to thank all the other girls. Thank you for the wonderful five weeks here in Sanya, China, it has just been so wonderful. I made a lot of friends here who will stay my friends forever.’
   Vilhjalmsdottir beat finalists from six zones, including Miss Italy Sofia Bruscoli, awarded the title of Miss South Europe, Miss Tanzania Nancy Abraham Sumary, who was named Miss Africa and Miss Korea Eun-Young Oh, who was crowned Miss Asia Pacific.
   The cherished title ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ also went to Miss Korea, an award commemorating her humanitarian fund raising and charity work.
   Miss Russia Yulia Ivanova won the bathing suit section, while Miss America Virgin Islands Kmisha-Victoria Counts won the talent contest with her sweet soul singing.
   This year was the first time that all nine judges were former Miss World title holders, including Miss World 1953 Denise Perrier Lanfranchi of France.
   ‘All of them are just beautiful,’ said judge Ann Sidney, Miss World 1964 from England. ‘It was a question of who was shining the most tonight, who had the forces of destiny with her.’
   Vilhjalmsdottir is also chairwoman of her college social club and teaches dance. She enjoys acting, singing, dancing, snow-boarding, hiking, camping, horsemanship and has a special talent for choreography and playing the piano.
   If her dreams of becoming a lawyer do not pan out, doors will likely open for her in a wide variety of other fields, including acting and modelling.
   She takes over from Miss World 2004 Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, who ends her reign after a year of globetrotting that has taken her to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Russia, Tibet and to the mountains of her native Peru where she has worked to improve education for children.

A large number of people came to see Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Raktakarabi’, presented by Nagarik Natya Sampradaya, as part of the drama festival in the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on December 10. Many left disappointed as there were no tickets available; and many others, who had tickets, were even more disappointed at the second-rate production of Tagore’s famous play.
   The play presents the oppressive nature of a king, whose chief asset is a gold mine. He pays paltry wages to his employees, and severely punishes those who try to escape. At last, the workers revolt against the king’s oppression. With the victory of the common people over the oppressors, the play ends.
   In its 65th show, the entrance of Shamim Shahed as Kishore at the beginning of the play brought bad luck. His conversation with Api Karim as Nandini seemed very unrehearsed. Nasimul Haque Ripon, who played the Professor, was no better. But as a plus point, Api seemed a lot livelier on the night than in previous shows. While Khaled Khan as Bishu, who was the star of the show on previous nights, seemed increasingly detached. Unlike the Raja (Ataur Rahman) who exclaimed the words, Khan was the one who seemed ‘tired’ and ‘exhausted’. And the king uttered them with such a shrill and passionless voice, it was in no way realistic.
   In the dialogue between the king and Nandini, the king seemed jatra-like although the Raja in ‘Raktakarabi’ is very powerful and regal. Director Ataur Rahman, who is expected to know Tagore’s work better, was utterly careless while directing the play and performing in the role of the king.
   Shirin Bakul played the role of Chandra. In the poverty-ridden area of the gold mine known as the ‘jakshapuri’, Shirin came on-stage wearing a new sari, with matching ornaments; a ridiculous contrast to the other characters’ costumes; particularly that of Chandra’s husband Fagu Lal (Lutfar Rahman), who was in dirty clothes.
   The sardars (Gazi Rakayet, Mostafiz Shahin and Rawnak Hasan) in the play also seemed younger than their characters called for, and Fakruzzaman as Gosain was constantly over acting. However, Khaled Anwar’s performance as Morol-2, and Abdur Rashid’s as Gojju Pahloan, were lively and delightful.
   The chorus of Poush toder dak diyechhe ayre chole ayy could have been better performed if it was presented live instead of playing a recording. Another song Praner manush ache prane could also have been better if Ranjan sang it live.
   Both the lighting by Nasirul Haque Khokon and set design by Saiful Islam were successful in creating the ambience of the dingy mine. The light and shade created both a mysterious and dreamy mood.

The birth of Bangladesh took place in 1971 after nine months of brutal killings and war crimes committed on the populace. Those heinous incidents still remain unaccounted for by the United Nations, High Commission for Human Rights or any other relevant international organisation. The absence of justice for the people of Bangladesh was stressed in speeches during the inaugural function of Bijoy Utsab, at the Liberation War Museum on December 10.
    Dr MA Hassan, convenor of the War Crimes Fact Findings Committee mentioned the sensitive subject in his speech of, '1971: Manabatar Biruddhe Aparadh' in the inaugural function.
   In his written speech he said that, during the period of March 26 to December 16 in 1971, neither the United Nations nor International Red Cross played any role to save our innocent people from genocide.
   'Brutal killing, mass rape, looting, kidnapping and arson, along with a series of other crimes, were perpetrated by the Pakistan-led occupation forces. To explain our war of independence in their own way, they termed it as merely a rebellion of Bengalis against Pakistan' he added.
   With reference to the research papers of the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee and other books, Hassan also spoke on many war scenes and mentioned the names of the soldiers and officers involved in all the atrocities committed.
   Before his speech Ziauddin Tariq Ali, trustee of Muktijuddha Jadughar gave the welcome address. After the discussion, the Tree Foundation presented 'Gahi Sammer Gaan'. The event was organised by the Liberation War Museum.

‘Hyenas’ and ‘Zulu Love Letter’ will be screened today as part of the Tri-Continental Film Festival at the Star Cineplex in Bashundhara City
   Hyenas
   12:00pm, 4:30pm
   Synopsis
   A tiny Senegalese village is eroded by rampant materialism after a woman exiled for adultery returns home thirty years later, willing to exchange the fortune she amassed for the life of her accuser. Tempted by newfangled Western conveniences, the villagers assent, with pointedly comic results. Adapted from Friedrich Durrenmatt's stage play "The Visit."
   Festival/Awards
   Cannes, Locarno, New York, Carthage (Opening film)
   Zulu Love Letter
   2:30pm, 7:00pm
   Synopsis
   Thandeka is a black woman journalist. Her alcohol problems undermine her work and her relationship with her deaf-and-dumb daughter. Her life changes when an old woman turns up to her office to ask Thandeka to testify before the ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ commission so that the remains of her assassinated daughter can be found and buried according to Zulu tradition.
   Festivals/Awards
   Venice, Toronto, Carthage (Silver Tanit), Mons (Grand Prize)

Great Scots! It’s that nosy Great Dane on the prowl again! Clumsy crime-fighting mutt Scooby Doo and his human counterparts, Fred (Freddie Prinze, Jr., I Know What You Did Last Summer), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Cruel Intentions), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Shaggy (Matthew Lillard, Scream) are going on a blind date — with each other. Seems the recently disbanded Mystery Inc. has been reunited to solve a big crime case on Spooky Island, owned by Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson, Johnny English). Guess breaking up is hard to do. Seems spring break on the island has taken a turn for the paranormal for a hoard of college kids. Zoinks! With larger than life characters and a spooky misadventure waiting to happen, Scooby’s all ready for his big screen debut.
   Scooby-Doo
   HBO
   9:30pm
   Starring
   Freddie Prinze, Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Rowan Atkinson