Less women in higher education

Less women in higher education

DENPASAR: Notwithstanding the number of women in higher
education, gender equity is declining, says a top official.

"Gender equity should therefore be focused on the
implementation of regional autonomy," said H. Yusuf, the deputy
for gender equity at Office of the State Minister for Women's
Empowerment, in Denpasar on Thursday.

Promoting gender equity and women's empowerment is one of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targeted by the United Nations
since 2000.

All countries are expected to reduce gender inequity in
education at the elementary and intermediate levels by 2005, and
at all levels by 2015. --Antara

Jakarta cloud seeding in September

JAKARTA: The Agency for Assessment and Application of
Technology (BBPT) revealed on Thursday that it planned to conduct
cloud seeding for in the greater Jakarta area and West Java in
September to mitigate the adverse consequences of the current
prolonged dry season.

The State Minister for Research and Technology, who also
serves as the chairman of the BPPT, Hatta Radjasa, said that
Central Java would be next on the agenda.

"Central Java comes next as we have to wait until after the
tobacco harvest," the minister told reporters here.

In Jakarta, the project would target Depok municipality, which
had been severely hit the drought, Hatta said. -- Antara

Fishing industry to be developed

JAKARTA: Gorontalo is set to develop a fishing industry in the
Tomini Gulf, says Gorontalo governor Fadel Muhamad.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to inaugurate the
project in October, Fadel told reporters on Thursday after a
meeting with the President at the State Palace.

An agency will be set up to develop the industry in the gulf,
which is bounded by Gorontalo, North Sulawesi and Central
Sulawesi provinces.

The President gave her approval for the establishment of the
agency after a lengthy explanation on the need to assess the
performance of the integrated economic zone in the three
provinces.

"She (Megawati) has agreed to the proposal, and she can rest
assured that it will not add to the operating costs of
companies," he said. -- Antara