HLUTTAW SESSIONS: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw suspends discussion on recall bill: "Nay Pyi Taw, 20 Aug— The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on Thursday decided to suspend discussion on the recall bill, with members of parliament voting 264 in favour and 235 against the bill. Defence services representative Brig-Gen Tint Hsan called for rapid enactment of the bill, saying the Constitution provided all citizens with the right to recall their representatives considered as dishonest. He also stressed that legislative bodies were responsible for protecting the fundamental rights of the citizens. U Aung Kyi Nyunt of the Magway Region constituency suggested a broader discussion of the differences between the Amyotha Hluttaw and the Pyithu Hluttaw in line with the remarks proposed by the Joint Bill Committee, warning that prompt approval of the bill would affect national reconciliation. U Nay Win Tun of the Shan State constituency and Daw Khin San Hlaing of Pale constituency argued in favour of further discussion. During the session, the parliament put on record the monogamy bill and the religious conversion bill, with Deputy Minister Daw Lei Lei Thein expounding the possibility of Myanmar signing the third protocol to amend the Agreement on Trade in Goods under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea."...Pyithu Hluttaw: No extension of pension scheme planned: Ministry of Finance: "Nay Pyi Taw, 20 Aug — The government has no plans to extend the pension payment scheme for civil servants who retired as of 1 April 2015 to those who retired before the date, Deputy Minister for Finance Dr Lin Aung told the Pyithu Hluttaw on Thursday. The deputy minister made the statement in response to a question raised by Dr Soe Yin of Kamayut Constituency during the 12th regular session of the Lower House. Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann announced that the Hluttaw received the bill amending the Law Relating to the Election of the President and Vice Presidents and the bill amending the 2012 Pyithu Hluttaw Law sent back from the Amyotha Hluttaw. Deputy Minister for Construction U Soe Tint submitted bills amending the Road Law and Highway Law."..... DOMESTIC NEWS: UEC announces preliminary candidate lists...Irrawaddy dolphin spotted outside normal habitat range...MP criticizes suspension of recall bill...Money Expo 2015 commences at Tatmadaw Convention Hall...Workshop teaches techniques for counselling flood victims...Irrawaddy dolphin spotted outside normal habitat range...Vice president encourages int?l educational ties...CBM staff, foreign banks donate cash, rice for flood victims...Vice-Senior General Soe Win and party arrive in Tokyo...Chin State government gives shelter to landslide victims...River embankment under repair in KhinU Township...Flood-affected villages receive cattle vaccines...Ceramic merchants prepare for toy pot festival...Farmers learn monsoon paddy growing techniques..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Myanmar to hand over 126 more verified Bangladesh nationals to country of origin...Spouses of ASEAN Navy Chiefs observe maternal, child development act...U Myint Naung concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Romania...Senior General meets ASEAN naval chiefs ahead of 9th ANCM..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Stable policies before stable politics" by Kyaw Thura..... ARTICLE: "Foundation for the Future Force" by Tekathou Maung Myo Min