HLUTTAW SESSIONS:- Pyidaungsu Hluttaw: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approves foreign loans for development plans: "Nay Pyi Taw, 28 May — The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on Thursday approved loans from South Korea worth tens of millions of dollars and passed the mining legislation amendment bill. Seoul will loan the Ministry of Construction US $137.83 million from its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), with MPs voicing support for the move which they described as beneficial to rural development in Yangon and Ayeyawady regions. MPs also agreed on 25,888 million yen (US $21 million) in loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to be used for the Ministry of Electric Power and the Ministry of Transport. Daw Sanda Min of Zabuthiri constituency proposed that the Ministry of Finance disburse loans at an interest rate of less than 8.5 per cent, saying banks will receive reloans at an interest rate of 4 percent. The Ministry of Electric Power said the loans will enable it to distribute enough power to meet the needs of the growing population in Yangon."...Pyithu Hluttaw: Pyithu Hluttaw approves referendum amendment bill for constitutional change: "Nay Pyi Taw, 28 May — The Pyithu Hluttaw on Thursday approved the referendum amendment bill for the amendment to the 2008 Constitution. U Aung Sein, a representative from the Manaung constituency, tabled a motion demanding the local government pay the township?s development committee staff from its pocket. He said the staff from remote regions get paid double and that the local government should take charge of their regular pays as the local development committee is short of budgets. In response to the proposal, Deputy Minister for Finance Dr Lin Aung suggested inserting additional pays in the Union Funds. U Myint Oo of the Thanatpin constituency inquired about the possible suspension of farm loans due to disasters. U Ohn Than, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, responded that the Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank, when informed of agricultural disaster in time, reserves the right to suspend loans on the recommendation of local authorities. Daw Sanda Min of the Zabuthiri constituency asked the local government of possible legal action against mines breaking the laws and any knowledge of illegal mines along the Chindwin river. U Kyaw Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister at President Office, responded that legal action will be taken against violators after a joint inspection by related ministries and the local government."...Amyotha Hluttaw: S&T Ministry promotes ranks of personnel under rules and regulations: "Nay Pyi Taw, 28 May — If the region government sends remarks for upgrading Kyaukye Basic Education High School branch to full-fledge BEHS, the Ministry of Education will earmark it to be upgraded on the list by easing the policy, Deputy Minister for Education U Thant Shin told the Amyotha Hluttaw session Thursday. The deputy minister responded to the question of U Aung Nyein of Magway Region Constituency No 2 on upgrading the school. Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Dr Ba Shwe replied to the query raised by U Hla Swe of Magway Region Constituency No 12 that the Ministry of Science and Technology promotes the ranks of personnel under the rules and regulations and sends scholarship students abroad depending on qualification in line with the offers of the scholarship scrutiny committee. The Hluttaw invited MPs to discuss the second amendment bill on Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law, the second amendment bill on Amyotha Hluttaw Election Law and the second amendment bill on Region or State Hluttaw Election Law, and bill amending protection of ancient buildings."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: CENTRAL BANK OF MYANMAR: PRESS RELEASE...Ecotourism progress report underscores importance of developing sector...MYANMAR GAZETTE...UEC opens electoral knowledge course...Torrential rain submerges 24,000 acres of farmland in Mandalay...Government and company staff receive driving licences...Htugyi-Shwegyin laterite road under construction in Ingapu Tsp...Health workers combat diseases in rainy season...50 Department of Agriculture staff attend training...Stone plaque transferred to museum, sent for translation...Youths join monthly talks in Mandalay...Dental association seeks to improve oral care knowledge...Energy Ministry opens applications to build LPG terminal, supply chain business...Yangon to host international film heritage festival...TBS films documentary about Myanmar workers...KOICA-funded master plan for arterial road network development in Myanmar launched..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Myanmar, Vietnam to promote sectoral cooperation...Ecotourism progress report underscores importance of developing sector...MoU signed to implement combined cycle power plant project...Union information minister makes speech at Radio Asia 2015 Conference...BuildTech Yangon 2015 exhibits modern solutions for construction...Japan orange cultivated as poppy substitute in Shan, Kayah states...Myanmar, Belarus to promote cooperation between two parliaments...Yangon to host international film heritage festival...Air-conditioned train carriages arrive from Japan..... "PERSPECTIVES": "A solution to setting minimum wage" by Myint Win Thein..... ARTICLE: "China?s Maritime Silk Road project: What?s in it for Myanmar?" by U Khin Maung Lynn