"Sippaañ ca, to acquire skills in sciences; this is the way to auspiciousness"... DOMESTIC NEWS: 1. Agriculture being boosted on account of adequate supply of irrigation water; 2. Prime Minister hoists Shwehtidaw atop Shweyaungdaw Pagoda in ancient Beikthanoe City; 3. Prime Minister inspects all-round renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda; 4. Tatmadaw families donate cash and kind to monasteries, nunneries; 5. Myanmar, Belgian doctors jointly perform cardiac operations; 6. Paddy transplanting contest held in Kyaukse; 7. Mid-Year Gem Empo in Oct; 8. New library, school building opened; 9. Ambassador U Kyi Thein accredited to Iran; 10. Pakistani delegation arrives; 11. Rave Myanmar Snooker Junior Championship on 16-22 Aug; 12. Dinner hosted to Canadian volleyball team... "PERSPECTIVES": "Regional development through cooperation between service personnel and people" (Page 2)... FEATURES: "Endeavours for greening environments in arid zone of the nation" (Page 7); "Radio Free Asia—an objective observation" (Page 10).