Media Mates: MANAGEMENT COMPASS: Numero Uno

Rankings of countries, institutions, companies and individuals

McCartney rocks White House
Sir James Paul McCartney, the famous songwriter and composer of the Beetles fame, received Gershwin Prize - America’s highest award for popular music, from President Obama in the White House. McCartney, a talented writer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, poet, painter and animal right activist, has been involved in the writing of over 200 songs, which have dominated the charts for a period of 32 years. "Nearly half a century since four lads from Liverpool first landed on our shores and changed everything overnight," Obama said honouring the Beetles and emphasising the role of McCartney in revolutionising modern day music. McCartney also performed some of the famous songs from his list of chartbusters during the ceremony.

Dr. Kidwai honoured
Dr. A.R. Kidwai was honoured with the third IOC Lifetime Achievement Award. The Vice President of India, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari presented the award to him. Kidwai, a former Governor of Bihar, West Bengal and Haryana and a former Chairman of UPSC, was bestowed with the award at a ceremony held by the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS). He also was a professor of chemistry in Aligarh Muslim University. Acclaiming the immense contribution of Kidwai, Ansari said that he has fulfilled his constitutional responsibilities without being involved in any politics.

Thai Director dazzles Cannes
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, a director of Thai origin surprised everybody by winning the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival – the Palme d’Or for a dreamlike reincarnation tale, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall Past Lives. "This is like another world for me... this is surreal," Apichatpong exclaimed after receiving the prize from the head of the Jury, US film maker Tim Burton. This is only the sixth Asian film to win a top prize in Cannes in a period of almost seven decades.