HLUTTAW SESSIONS:-Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) Roundup: "Nay Pyi Taw, 26 Aug— The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on Wednesday approved a proposal to take out two loans from international development lenders. The Asian Development Bank?s ASEAN Infrastructure Fund will provide US$260 million while the French Development Agency will provide 40 million euros. Officials have said that the loans will be provided to the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Electric Power and the Mandalay Region Government and used to speed up several development projects. U Mahn Kan Nyunt of Kayin State constituency argued in favour of the loans, saying that upgrading the Asian Highway from Eindu to Kawkareik will benefit surrounding regions, including Kayin State and the Greater Mekong Sub-region. He stressed the need for fair compensation to be paid to those who lose farmland located within the project site area. Daw Nan Say Ewa of Hpaan constituency also supported the road improvement project, saying that it will boost trade volumes between Myanmar and India and create jobs. The session also saw MPs express wide support for adopting an optional protocol governing the involvement of children in armed conflicts as per the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC). According to Deputy Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, 159 countries have already signed up to the protocol, including eight out of 10 ASEAN members. ?The signing of the protocol will serve as convincing evidence of Myanmar?s commitment to protect the rights of its children,” he added. Parliament also approved the broadcasting bill.".....Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) Roundup: "Nay Pyi Taw, 26 Aug—The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development is using special funds on top of the existing budgetary allocation to prevent water being contaminated by arsenic in 200 villages, said Deputy Minister U Tin Ngwe during the Pyithu Hluttaw session on Wednesday. The deputy minister said that efforts were stepped up to lay deeper tube wells for drinking water after a survey detected arsenic in tube wells less than 400 feet deep. He added that the ministry has allocated K 1.22 billion to laying 123 deep tubewells in 115 villages during 2015-16 financial year. During the same session, parliament approved the blood and blood material bill as well as the organ donation bill. Meanwhile Deputy Minister Dr Daw Thein Thein Htay spoke about the ministry?s determination to address the needs of the most vulnerable, including infants, children and pregnant women. She said that all efforts are geared towards meeting the United Nations? development goals and that the government has increased health spending year on year since it entered office."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: Fisheries eye recovery: Govt gives fingerlings to flood-hit fish farmers...Motorcade tourism on the rise: H&T Ministry...Yedaguntaung Golf Course to be upgraded...Students receive free dental care...Free cattle feed and medicines distributed...Myoma Band to celebrate 90th anniversary...Youth take part in military training and first-aid course...Shopkeepers encouraged to sell iodized salt..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: PSC signed for Mottama M-7 offshore-block...ADB to provide US$3m for flood relief...Japan?s Kirin Co. to put 55% investment in production of Myanmar Brewery Ltd...Australian Gov?t donates technological equipment to Myanmar Police Force...Vice-Senior General Soe Win tours Thailand, discusses military affairs...Union Home Affairs Minister meets UN reps...Myanmar strengthens economic ties at 29th AME meeting...Thai companies donate aid to Myanmar?s flood victims...Aid from China reaches out flood-hit Monyo..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Replanting after the floods" by Myint Win Thein..... ARTICLE: "Keep Our Mind Pure Be Good to Others" by Htun Tin Htun