HLUTTAW SESSIONS: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Roundup: "Nay Pyi Taw, 25 Aug — Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives approved a US$400 million loan from the World Bank on Tuesday. The loan will be split between the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development and the Ministry of Electric Power. U Maung Toe of Minhla constituency supported the loan and said that although parliament has already approved over US$ 1.4 billion in foreign loans, low interest rates on the loans make further ones vi-able. Daw Tin Nwe Oo MP disagreed. She said that any spending on unnecessary projects should be cut and stressed that taking another loan while the US dollar prices is rising against the kyat is unwise. The loan was approved by the majority of members during a vote that followed discussions. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Union Minister for Defence Lt-Gen Sein Win and Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe gave an oath before the Hluttaw speaker. Representatives also passed a bill amending the constitutional law as well as the Myanmar Red Cross Society Bill." ...Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) Roundup: "Nay Pyi Taw, 25 Aug — Myanmar?s financial rules do not allow state-run economic organisations to deposit money in private banks, said the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar U Set Aung on Tuesday. The deputy governor was responding to a question raised by U Ohn Ngwe, MP for Myaung. He said that the government?s economic organisations may only open bank accounts at Myanma Economic Banks and added that state-owned banks are permitted to take part in the treasury bill auction and deposit auction as a means of raising revenue to cover expenses. He noted that the Central Bank of Myanmar considers Myanma Economic Bank as a non-competitive bidder in deposit auctions, which is in line with the country?s monetary policies. Meanwhile, U Than Oo of Myawady constituency asked about whether there are plans to reduce toll gate fees for vehicles owned outside Yangon Region. Deputy Minister at the President Office U Kyaw Kyaw Win responded by saying that Yangon City Development Committee currently gives exemptions of toll gate fees to buses, departmental vehicles, government vehicles and cargo trucks. He did not state whether reduced fees for general traffic from outside Yangon is on the cards. The Hluttaw session also approved a bill which amended a 2012 Pyithu Hluttaw Law as well as the Vehicle bill. Secretary of Pyithu Hluttaw Investment and Industrial Development Committee U Kyi Tha read out the industrial bill to members prior to voting."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS:Two chief ministers to retire...Six elephants being shooed back to Bago forest...50 bills left with a week to go...Chaungshay villagers call for lake to be dredged - Than Tin Aung...Seed program aims to revive paddy cultivation...Students given textbooks and stationery after floods...Flood-hit bridge to be repaired by the end of the month..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: US, Canada back minimum wage - North America keen to see minimum wage adopted with ?no exemptions? in Myanmar - By Aye Min Soe...Meeting held to discuss USD-kyat exchange rates...New batch of ministry tour guides begin training...Vice-Senior General Soe Win visits Thailand after Japan visit...ICRC calls on Commander-in-Chief...Myanmar hands over 125 boat people to Bangladesh...Thai clubs eye striker Aung Thu...Yadanarbon FC to go head-to-head with Ayeyawady United in grand final..... "PERSPECTIVES": "What don?t journalists and historians have in common?" - By Myint Win Thein.....ARTICLE: "Keep Our Mind Pure Be Good to Others" - By Htun Tin Htun.....POEM: "Success of the Peace Process"- Lokethar