Habibie to award scholarships

SEMARANG: President B.J. Habibie is scheduled to award scholarships to elementary, high school and college students in Kendal district, Central Java, on Thursday.

"The head of state will also extend business loans to people from the lower-income bracket and open a market operation to sell rice at subsidized prices here," spokesman of the provincial administration, Henky Hermantoro, was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

He said the President, to be accompanied by First Lady Ainun Habibie and a number of ministers, would take time to visit poverty-eradication and labor-intensive projects in the province as well as a cooperative in Mangkang Kulon village near here.