LOCAL NEWS: In Bago, democrats find an eager audience; Parties set to finalise election candidates; Independent candidates prepare to register for polls; UDP patron U Shwe Ohn dies of lung cancer; Democratic Force opens Mandalay branch; Mon State party targets 50 constituencies; USDP fires first salvo in election race; USDP opens Mandalay office; Debate kicks off ?Year of Youth?; Hajj charter flight bookings open; Tourist arrivals soar in first half of 2010; Youth turn to astrology for answers on study, work; NGO provides free cleft lip operations; Environment focus at Youth Day event; Beach to get ?media centre?: hoteliers; Do more to encourage donor support, urges top UN official in Myanmar...BUSINESS & PROPERTY: Shrimp industry battles through external challenges; Asia Green to expand banking network; Battery prices edge upward; Wood plastic factory to start in October; Myanmar to exhibit products at Vietnam International Expo; CAEXPO Pavilion of Trade in Services ADVERTORIAL; Mekong region rail network a step closer: ADB; Briefs: - Home owners continue to shun insurance; - City Mart to open its 12th branch in December...TIMEOUT: Elderly Jazz performers still enter; For medical doctors, writing is the cure; New gallery set to open doors on August 28; Photographic society turns 60-years old...SOCIALITE...SPORT...INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: ?Straddling bus? offered as a traffic fix in Chinese town of Shenzhen; MCPA opens lab; Football virus fouls computer technicians...TRAVEL: Philippines to ask private sector to build terminals; Bangkok airport express train to open this week: official...CLASSIFIEDS...MEDIA ROUNDUP: Rice husks to power wards in Sittwe; Yangon gets second children?s hospital; Industry prepares for chemical laws...YOUR STARS...FLIGHT SCHEDULES......N.B. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS NO INDEX PAGE, NAVIGATE FROM "LOCAL NEWS" TO THE OTHER SECTIONS