Myanmar wins praise at ASEAN summit. Statement welcomes ‘positive developments?: MYANMAR?S plan for a transition to democracy was praised by the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at their summit on the Indonesian island of Bali last week.In a statement issued after the summit on October 7, the ASEAN leaders ?welcomed the recent positive developments in Myanmar and the Government?s pledge to bring about a transition to democracy through dialogue and reconciliation.”It said the road map for the transition to democracy, unveiled on August 30 by the Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt, was ?a pragmatic approach and deserves understanding and support.”... Government expresses thanks: THE government has thanked its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for supporting its road map to restore democracy and expressed its thanks during the grouping?s summit on the Indonesian island of Bali last week... India to host talks on international highway: THE foreign ministers of Myanmar, India and Thailand are due to meet in New Delhi in December to discuss plans to build a highway linking the three countries, an Indian newspaper reported last week... Airlines prepare for influx of tourists: INTERNATIONAL and domestic airlines have begun amending their schedules to cater for increased demand during the tourist high season from October 1 to April 30.The changes include the introduction by Thai International Airlines of a service that will fly four times a week between Yangon and Chiang Mai from November 30... A Shopper?s Paradise: OVER the last decade large shopping centres, often incorporating a supermarket as a drawcard, are attracting more and more shoppers away from the open bazaars... The genesis of a shopping centre: THERE are many different ways of laying out a shopping centre: some just build the centre, partition the spaces into different sizes for shops and rent them out; while the majority of the centres run their own shops and reallocate a portion of the space to famous brands... Grouping strengthens trade ties with China, India and Japan: BALI, Indonesia ? The Association of Southeast Asian Nations last Wednesday signed wide-ranging deals with China, Japan and India in an attempt to transform economic competitors into partners and to keep the regional peace... Interviews under way for agricultural census: INTERVIEWS have begun with more than four million farmers as part of the biggest and most comprehensive agricultural census since Myanmar gained independence in 1948... Minister highlights nation?s potential for rice production: MYANMAR was fortunate to have the potential to increase rice production to meet increasing demand in the region, the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Major-General Nyunt Tun, said earlier this month... Prime Minister outlines teachers? national role: THE Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt, has called on teachers to play a leading role in the emergence of Myanmar as a modern, democratic state. General Khin Nyunt made the call in an address to a ceremony at the Diamond Jubilee Hall on Pyay Road on October 5, World Teachers? Day... MICTDC?s initial public offering to raise K500m: MYANMAR Information and Communication Technology Development Corporation Limited, a Myanmar public company, will make its first public offering this month with the release of 500,000 shares for sale at K1000 a share... Candle sales boom as people celebrate festival of lights: SALES of candles boomed last week ahead of Thadingyut, the annual festival of lights, which was celebrated this year from October 9 to 11. Candles play an integral part of celebrations associated with the festival, one of the most important events on Myanmar?s Buddhist calendar... The challenge of accommodating 100,000 newcomers a year: YANGON?S construction sector is going to be under pressure to build more high-rise residential blocks to help accommodate a fast-growing urban population, according to a senior government official.