HLUTTAW SESSIONS:- Pyithu Hluttaw: Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry outlines bean cultivation trial: "Nay Pyi Taw, 21 Aug—Myanmar has planted over 200 acres of star bean on a trial basis and has plans to export the crop, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Than told the Pyithu Hluttaw on Friday. Responding to a question on cultivation of the crop, the deputy minister told the Lower House that farmers had permission to grow the crop, also known as the winged bean. In other matters, the deputy minister said the ministry was in the process of transferring a plot of land in Mandalay, including a construction site, to the government. Representatives discussed two bills during the session, passing the bill on roads and bridges."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: Narrowing the gap Official dollar exhange rate moves closer to market price...NGO seeks support for children of leprosy patients...Cinema reopens in Hlinethaya Tsp...Public Health Dept lends a hand to flood victims in Sagaing...UEC postpones scrutiny of candidature...Dredging targets dengue mosquitoes in Mandalay...President U Thein Sein inspects post-flood rehabilitation progress in Sagaing Region...Democracy cannot thrive without peace: Senior General...Teenagers attend talks on health, development...Social assoc. hosts disaster management talk...Construction begins on Mandalay Region Hluttaw...Tram, train carriages arrive at Thilawa terminal...Non-formal education programme starts in Zalun Tsp..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: EU, Myanmar sign agreement on deployment of EU mission to observe elections...Speaker and EU Ambassador discuss general election..... "PERSPECTIVES": "SME development can lift living standards" by Kyaw Thura..... ARTICLE: "Reforestation made easy" by Khin Maung Myint