Now what could be common to Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Sigourney Weaver, Yanni, Michael Johnson and Hillary Clinton-that is, apart from fame? For those following the news, it's Riz Khan, the articulate and good-looking CNN man, who has just been swiped by BBC. In the specially-commissioned series of HardTalk, the charismatic news anchor will focus on the upheavals encountering Pakistan and interview 10 personalities in the vortex of news. The polyglot, who is reputed as the man who has interviewed more world leaders than any other member of his fraternity, has expressed the desire to play more music, do more writing and be more creative with some acting thrown in. But for now, he will probably be doing only more probing. Says Khan about his second stint with the Beeb, "I am very excited to have an opportunity on BBC World to focus on Pakistan at such a pivotal time in the country's future." The smooth talker seems to be tongue-tied this once. But you can be sure, it's only a one-time affair.

Money Man

Managing money, they say, comes naturally to Indians. N.P. "Narv" Narvekar is no exception. A former investment banker with J.P. Morgan, Narv has been appointed vice-president of investments in Columbia University. His job: to manage the $4.3 billion-endowment of the university. No mean task this, especially with the bourses scraping the bottom of the barrel at the moment. The Wharton School management graduate was predictable in his response: "I am very excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead."

Slice of History

Zarina Bhimji, a Uganda-born artist of Indian origin, has created a flutter at Documenta 11-the world's largest show of contemporary art. Bhimji's film-an art work-Out of Blue deals with the sensitive subject of immigrants coming to terms with the reign of terror under Uganda's feared dictator Idi Amin. The exhibition, which takes place every five years, is being held in the North-Hesse town of Kassel in Germany. Bhimji, who now lives and works in London and has studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, had held her solo exhibition in New York last year.

Fight to Finish

If life is a battle, Satpal Ram would qualify as an indefatigable warrior. A close shave with death-a meal in Birmingham's Sky Blue Restaurant turned violently ugly when six white racists repeatedly attacked the warehouse worker with shards of glass-and a long wrongful incarceration later, Ram finds himself continuing to battle, this time for a clean chit. An act of self-defence 15 years ago resulted in the death of an attacker. The jury's bias coupled with errors on the part of his lawyer, ensured Ram was convicted for life. It took almost 10 years to get an appeal which he lost as the judges only counted evidence from the group that attacked him. In spite of continued campaigning for his release by several groups, it was only recently that Ram finally walked out of the high-security prison gate of HMP Blantyre House, where he was subjected to solitary confinement, beatings and frequent transfers. His conviction, though, has not been quashed and he is out only on licence. Says his brother, Mohinder, "If we didn't have hope, we wouldn't have survived. We'll carry on the fight as long as we have to." Like they say, winners never quit.

-Bureau reports