Best Air looks its best as it goes international. The airline, the last of the three in Bangladesh, seems set to outperform the elderly two, Biman Bangladesh and GMG. Its pioneering customer services include Valet services at the airport, SMS alert for passengers and provision for meal choice. The most dynamic package, first of its kind, the airline claims, is "Fly now, Pay later', which enables budget tourists to travel Best Air on credit without having to pay any interest. In line with its policy to promote national interests, it is planning to offer a 'Destination Bangladesh' package to attract foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, with its flight to Thailand inaugurated successfully on 25 May 2008, Best Air has announced its plans to fly Kolkata, Chennai, KL and Dubai in near future.

The event in France may not be the like of an

Oscar extravaganza and the rhapsody that goes with it but Festival de Cannes remains relentless in its search for finesse in films. Got off the ground in 1946, the international film festival has more often than not relied on art in preference to edifice in making judgments.

This year's best film award, Palme d'Or, went to Entre les Murs (Between the Walls) directed by Laurent Cantet. The film is based on life in a contemporary society with individuals experiencing intensely emotional moments when faced with the realities of complex relationship.

Gone are the days when corporate leadership was the prerogative of the male. Now women in Bangladesh are competing with men on equal terms, proving their mettle in all spheres of life. Some of them have already reached the top tier of administration, management and marketing by virtue of their sheer talent and skill. Ferdousi Sultana, Senior Vice President and Head of Public Relations of Prime Bank Limited, is one such woman whose dynamic leadership is worth emulating. In recognition of her extraordinary performance she received Begum Rokeya Shining Personality Award- 2007 followed by Sher-e- Bangla Award as best PR.

Until recently Indonesia was the only country in Southeast Asia to export oil, but with production -- about 860,000 barrels of oil a day - being disproportionate to domestic needs, the country has now decided to pull out of Opec, the 13-nation cartel. The withdrawal is unlikely to have any immediate adverse impact on the oil market but it certainly will serve as a grim reminder of the dwindling reserves of the world's vital resource.