Govt to run labor intensive program

Govt to run labor intensive program

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Fighting chronic unemployment, the government will run a labor
intensive employment program next month.

The program will be implemented in 40 regencies in Central,
West and East Java provinces, said Kirnadi, director general for
domestic job placement at the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration, on Tuesday.

He said the program was aimed at reducing the social impact of
unemployment and the current prolonged drought. Some 38 million
Indonesians are currently jobless.

Kirnadi said the government had earmarked Rp 6 billion
(US$750,000) to finance the program. The labor intensive program
will include the repair of markets and roads. -- Antara

Mars closest to Earth on Wednesday

JAKARTA: For three days beginning on Wednesday Jakartans will
be able to see Planet Mars from the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts
center's planetarium. Another viewing site will be Boscha
Observatory in Bandung, planetarium chairman Haryadi said on
Tuesday.

Or else wait for another 200 years, he said, when the planet
will be close to Earth again. Close means more than 34 million
miles away.

Viewing time at both places will be 8 p.m.

"But, whether the public will be able to see it clearly or not
will depend on the weather," he said.

Separately, Mudji Raharto, chairman of Boscha Observatory,
said that the planet would be seen as a bright star at 12:53 a.m.
on Friday.

"But, the public should not expect that it will be much bigger
than a full moon," said Mudji Raharto. -- Antara