Weekly Reflection

Hello! Today I'm going to pay my promise last week. "Trasnlation More Hobby Than Work for Novelist Murakami" apparently is the article I will give my comment on. So, let's start.

As far as I can remember I have never read novel from a Japanese novelist before but I believe that he is a great novelist. I can tell from the quote statement he gave at the event. Indeed it is the best for someone to have a job which is not far from their hobbies. However, I am telling you not to have one of your hobbies as your job because if someday you are tired of everything you have done at your job, you will hate your job which means you will end up hating your hobby too. What do you think about hating your job and your hobby in the same time? You are not ready for that, aren't you?

End of story it is okay to have your job as one of your hobbies but never make your hobbies as your job.

Translation More Hobby Than Work For Novelist Murakami

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, an accomplished translator as well as author of works that have been translated for readers around the world to enjoy, said Thursday translation is "almost in the realm of a hobby" for him. 

"I just find myself doing more and more (translations)," Murakami said at an event celebrating the publication of his new nonfiction work in which he reflects on his experience doing translations.

It is rare for Murakami, 68, to speak in public within Japan. But he seemed relaxed, clad in a T-shirt and jacket, as he gave a speech peppered with jokes to a crowd of around 460 people. Reflecting on his experience of both writing novels and translating foreign literature, Murakami said he feels like his "mental circulation has improved greatly by keeping a good balance (between the two)." He said translating the works of American writer Raymond Chandler has made him realize that he is "still developing" as a novelist. "For people who create things, getting oddly settled into a fixed system is what's frightening," Murakami said. "Translation is like a window opened onto the outside." Murakami got stuck into translation in 1981 and has continued the work while penning his bestselling novels. Around 70 of his translations have been published. His latest work touches on themes from American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose works are among Murakami's translations.

Aneka Gas Eyeing Double Digit Revenue Growth in 2017

Publicly listed gas distributor PT Aneka Gas Industri is aiming for double-digit growth in its 2017 revenue, at around 20 to 30 percent, assuming the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth can be maintained at 5 to 6 percent this year. Aneka Gas saw Rp 1.6 trillion (US$120.17 million) in total sales last year, a 15.75 year-on-year increase. Gas sales, which rose 13.87 percent to Rp 1.4 trillion, were the main driver of the growth. To reach the 2017 target, the company will expand its network by constructing 11 more gas filling stations in addition to its existing 80 filling stations. The strategy will broaden its nationwide coverage to 34 provinces, from the current coverage of 24 provinces. “We have constructed two filling stations in Borneo, and will construct the remainder in Ternate, Ambon, Papua, Sumatra, and Java,” Arief Harsono, president commissioner of Aneka Gas Industri, said on Thursday. The construction of one filling station requires a Rp 5 billion to Rp 12 billion investment, depending on the capacity of the gas filling stations and the location of the site, among other factos. 

Teenager Became Withdrawn Before Joining Tuban Attack

Satria Aditama, one of the six people shot dead after an attack on a police station in Tuban, East Java, was known as a friendly person in his neigborhood. Just like other people of his age, the 19-year-old resident of Ngaliyan subdistrict in Semarang, Central Java, was active in the neighborhood and went regularly to a nearby mosque. “But he changed six months ago. He did not hang out with his friends or go to the mosque,” Candra Satya Nugroho, the head of neighboring unit where he lived. Satria was the youngest of five children of Wagito and Cici Murdiati. When he was not in the neighborhood, he usually visited his older siblings. The news that he was among the six people who apparently attacked a police station in Tuban shocked the residents in Ngaliyan. “We are shocked. We are now helping his mother Cici Murdiati to cope with this tragedy. We think Satria is a victim of a terrorist group,” said Candra. National Police’s counterterrorism squad Densus 88 shot six men on Saturday after they apparently attacked the police station in Tuban. The motive behind the attack was suspected to be retaliation against the police who had earlier arrested a leader of terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) in Lamongan, East Java.

Safety Worries Dampen Chinese Demand For North Korea Tours

Some Chinese tourism companies are eliminating or offering fewer trips to neighboring North Korea as regional tensions and safety worries dampen demand. Representatives of tour companies Ctrip, Caissa and China Youth Travel Service said Wednesday they are no longer organizing trips to North Korea. State-run media in China and members of the public have been critical of hostile statements from North Korean leaders as the nation pursues a nuclear arsenal. Caissa sales manager Zhao Cuili says most tourists are unwilling to go because of safety concerns. The two biggest companies, China International Travel Service and China Travel Service, say they still offer multi-day trips to North Korea. China International Travel sales manager Zhao Haiwei says passengers must take North Korean airlines after the Civil Aviation Administration of China suspended flights.

Government Urges Public To Turn Off Lightbulbs, AC To Conserve Energy

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry wants more people to be involved in its energy saving program so that it can save electricity and cut carbon emissions further in the long run. “As of December 2016, it was estimated that we could save electricity amounting to 1.8 terawatt hours and reduce the carbon emissions by about 1 million tons of CO2,” Satry Nugraha, a special staff member for environment and spatial planning for the energy and mineral resources minister, said in Jakarta on Tuesday. The ministry launched the energy saving program called “Potong 10%” (10 percent cut) in April last year in a bid to encourage people to reduce their use of energy in their daily lives, including by using energy-efficient lighting technologies such as light emitting diode (LED) lightbulbs, setting the air conditioner temperatures at 24 degrees Celsius, or turning of electronic devices when not in use. Since August 2016, it has also mandated all air conditioner producers to label their products with energy saving labels from the ministry to ensure the use of energy-efficient technologies. “We believe that this year we can surpass these achievements if more people are involved, including by using more energy-efficient technologies in their daily lives,” Satry added. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has stated that a 10 percent energy saving in three years is equal to the development of one coal-fired power plant. Thus, more people should contribute to the program.

weekly reflection

Hi! First of all, thank you for have been reading my article this whole time. I don't know what I've done in my past life so I could get loyal readers like all of you. I've been thinking for weeks about what I can do to make my blog (especially my weekly-reflection articles) be more interesting for you to read. Therefore I came up with solution last night.
I'm going to give comments on 1 out of 5 articles I published that week. I will randomly choose which article I want to give my opinion of. I feel very excited about this! Can't wait for next week!
See you guys, on the next week! Bye!

Germany Still Hunting Perpetrators of Dortmund Bus Attack

German investigators said Thursday they have found no evidence so far that an Iraqi detained after the Borussia Dortmund bus attack was involved in the bombing, but he is suspected of membership in the Islamic State group. The search for the bomber or bombers continued.Three explosions on Tuesday evening near the soccer team's bus wounded a Dortmund player and a police officer as they headed to a Champions League match against Monaco. Federal prosecutors said the 26-year-old Iraqi — identified only as Abdul Beset A. in line with German privacy laws — allegedly joined IS in Iraq by late 2014 and led a unit of about 10 fighters involved in preparing kidnappings, extortions and killings. He traveled to Turkey in March 2015 and remained in contact with members of IS after arriving in Germany in early 2016, prosecutors said. However, "so far the investigation has turned up no evidence that the suspect participated in the attack," they said in a statement. A judge later Thursday ordered that A. be kept in investigative detention over his alleged IS membership. Authorities also searched the home of a second suspected Islamic extremist but prosecutors said Thursday there were no indications he was involved in the bus attack. Police say the metal-packed devices used in the attack were sophisticated and would have required detailed knowledge of explosives and detonators. Investigators are still puzzling over three copies of a note claiming responsibility for the attack that were found at the scene. The note demanded that Germany withdraw reconnaissance jets assisting the fight against IS and close the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Experts say the letter's mix of correct, complicated German and obvious mistakes raises the possibility it is a red herring intended to place blame on Islamic extremists. The head of the domestic intelligence agency's regional branch, Burkhard Freier, said that Arabic phrases were missing from the note and its demands weren't typical of IS, noting that "IS doesn't negotiate." He said that Islamic, left-wing and right-wing extremists are being considered by investigators, the news agency dpa reported.

University Student Charged With Running Prostitutes In Jakarta

A university student who allegedly made tens of millions of rupiah per month from online prostitution and trafficking children has been arrested, police said. The 26-year-old student, identified only by the initials KA, 26, allegedly ran the business for a year, according to Tanjung Priok Port Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Roberthus Yohanes De Deo Tresna Eka Trimana on Tuesday. Police claimed the student had confessed to have "sold" an underage person into prostitution. “According to information from KA, [the business] gave him profits of tens of millions every month,” said Roberthus. He claimed that KA allegedly offered the sex services via his website. Roberthus said that the police arrested KA on March 31 at a hotel in Sunter Agung, North Jakarta. The police confiscated KA’s cell phone and Rp 1.1 million (US$83), among other things, during the arrest. The police said KA got Rp 300,000 per transaction, while the fee for each prostitution service was between of Rp 800,000 and Rp 1 million. KA was charged under the 2014 Child Protection Law, which imposes a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison upon conviction, and under the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison or a fine of Rp 750 million upon conviction.

Energy Ministry Teams Up With BI For Single Energy Subsidy Card

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bank Indonesia (BI) to expedite the integration of energy subsidies that will be channeled through the Prosperous Family Card (KKS). The KKS, which is expected to promote non-cash social assistance with proper distribution, will be linked to an integrated system connecting various state-owned lenders under the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara). Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said it was difficult to monitor the distribution of subsidized 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters on the field as such canisters were often purchased by ineligible customers. “Hence, the subsidy for the 3-kg LPG canisters will no longer be given to [state-owned energy firm] Pertamina. Instead, it will be distributed directly to those really needing it through the KKS,” Jonan said in Jakarta on Thursday. Jonan expects the implementation of the new subsidy scheme for the 3-kg LPG canisters and electricity to begin in January 2018, or in March at the latest. “However, we might need to wait for the full implementation of the single identification number system before we can impose a similar scheme for kerosene and biosolar,” Jonan said. Data from the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation (TNP2K) show that there are only 25.7 million households eligible to purchase Pertamina’s subsidized 3-kg LPG canisters. However, the canisters have been distributed to almost 60 million households.

Environment Journalists Raise Funds To Replant Natural Preserve In South Tapanuli

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) North Sumatra staged on Thursday a fund-raising event for the restoration of forests on Mount Lubukraya and across the Sibual-Buali Nature Reserve in South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra. The group said both conservation zones, which have become water catchment areas and homes for protected animals such as Sumatran orangutans and hornbills, should be well-conserved and protected from any practices that may lead to environmental destruction. “Our sources have revealed that massive forest conversions have taken place in these areas. This is what has triggered flash floods there,” SIEJ North Sumatra member Mei Leandha said at Thursday’s event. The activist was referring to flooding caused by the overflow of the Batang Ayumi River on March 26, which killed seven people, swept away livestock and damaged plantations, houses, schools and numerous public facilities. Opening up access to conservation areas without implementing replanting and restoration activities would only bring further disasters, she added. “If we care about the Earth and all it has to offer, let’s join this restoration movement,” said Mei. Money raised at the event will be used to restore forests affected by flash foods, and fund the planting of 1,000 trees along the Batam Ayumi River. The replanting activity will be held on April 22 to coincide with Earth Day.

UN Strongly Condemns North Korea's Latest Missile Launch

The Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch and demanded a halt to all missile tests, stressing again that they violate UN sanctions and "are significantly increasing tension in the region and beyond." A press statement agreed to by all 15 members expresses "utmost concern" at North Korea's "highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance of the Security Council" by conducting the latest launch less than three weeks after the previous test. Council members said they "deplore" all North Korean ballistic missile activity, stressing that it contributes to the country's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and diverts resources from the needs of its people. Tensions have escalated over North Korean moves to accelerate its weapons development. The North conducted two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missile tests last year, defying six Security Council sanctions resolutions banning any testing. The constant testing has deepened concern especially in nearby Japan and neighboring South Korea — and also in Washington over fears that Pyongyang could soon develop a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the US mainland. A US official said Wednesday's missile test ended in failure when the rocket spun out of control and plunged into the ocean in a fiery crash. The council the failed test followed a missile launch on March 21 and two additional rounds of launches and an engine test in February and March. The council statement was issued hours before US President Donald Trump meets China's President Xi Jinping at his Florida resort, where North Korea will be at the top of the agenda. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Monday that "the United States has seen China for 25 plus years say that they're concerned about North Korea, but we haven't seen them act like they're concerned about North Korea." "This administration wants to see them act, and I think they're going to pressure them to do that," she said.

Weekly Reflection

Hello! I am back. Thank God I'm still capable to write on this blog. As I said before, I will come back after a month, and ta-raaa I am back. I am going to serve you the best, the hot, the latest news from this world. I am not going to give you only the news from politics because literally it's too hard for me to understand what is happening in the world of the politician even though I have read it so many times and secondly maybe you have the same feeling with me. :)

I am going to give you random news. It may comes from entertainment world, animal world, sport maybe, politic also (but believe it will be few of them).

Well, stay tune my friend!

Freeport Won’t Reach For Arbitration Option

The government has said PT Freeport Indonesia will not bring it to the international arbitration tribunal as both parties are in the process of negotiation to seek solutions to their differences. "No, they will not do it," Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's mineral and coal director general Bambang Gatot Ariyono told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Thursday. Bambang’s statement was confirmed by Freeport McMoRan Inc. chief executive officer Richard Adkerson, who said, as reported by Bloomberg, that “the arbitration wouldn’t happen if talks are proceeding well”. Bambang said the government had issued a special mining license (IUPK) to Freeport, which automatically allowed the company to export concentrates. However, he added, Freeport had eight months to adapt itself to the IUPK requirements, if not, it would have to revert back to a contract of work (CoW). "It is not a 'temporary contract', we’ve already issued the IUPK for Freeport, but it has eight months to adapt, if it fails it must to go back to a CoW and cannot export concentrates," he said. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said if Freeport chose to revert to a CoW, it would still be allowed to sell to the domestic market. "It will be allowed to revert to the CoW, but with consequences of not exporting anymore," he said.

Indonesia Launches First Catholic State Institute

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin inaugurated on Thursday the Pontianak State Catholic Institute (STAKatN) in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, saying the institute would hopefully support the spirit of unity in the diverse nation of Indonesia. He acknowledged that it had taken quite a long time to award STAKatN Pontianak the status of a state institute because of bureaucratic procedures at the local level. “I was once feeling guilty when I saw that all religions in our country, except Catholics, had state institutes. It made me feel quite concerned,” said Lukman. The minister said he hoped the inauguration of STAKatN Pontianak would be followed with the development of similar institutions in other areas across Indonesia. This was because religious education was important to help Indonesia maintain unity among its diverse population. “Religion is not something we should debate in the public sphere. It is its values that we must implement,” said Lukman. Earlier, STAKatN Pontianak was a private institute called the Santo Agustinus Pastoral Institute (STP), which began to operate in 2006. Former STP Santo Agustinus head Andreas Muhrotien said the presence of the institute was initially a solution to fulfill a shortage of teachers for Catholic religious education. “We have taken a long journey in our process to make it a state institute. Thank God, it was realized today and this is a historic moment because this is the first Catholic state institute in Indonesia,” said Andreas. In the last 10 years, STAKatN Pontianak has produced 1,250 bachelors and 31 masters while 703 people have participated in a program to make their school degrees equal to a bachelor degree.

Indonesia, Russia Vow Stronger Cooperation Against Terrorism

Russia's bestowing of an international police cooperation award to National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, a former top antiterrorism official, was amplified in meaning given that the event came soon in the aftermath of a fatal terrorist attack in St. Petersburg earlier this week. The ceremony in Jakarta on Thursday saw Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Y. Galuzin place a pin on the police chief's uniform in token of the commemorative medal of "100 years of international police cooperation" from the Russian Interior Affairs Ministry, which oversees Russia’s national police force. Tito, who has an established background in counterterrorism as he previously led the National Police's counterterrorism unit, was recognized for his contribution for progressing the development of the National Police’s partnership with their Russian counterparts. "The relations between our police services are really close. The representatives of the National Police of Indonesia participate actively in interagency consultations between Russia and Indonesia in the format of a special working group to counter international terrorism and organized crime," Galuzin said. The ambassador further praised Tito's contribution to the deepening of global police cooperation, noting the gathering of 167 countries at the Interpol General Assembly in Bali in November as a significant achievement. Tito in turn conveyed his "highest appreciation" to Russia and "deepest and heartfelt" condolences on Monday’s suicide bombing on the St. Petersburg metro that reportedly killed 14 people. "This is again, our common problem that we should look after and deal with hand-in-hand," Tito added.

Compulsory Evening Study For Schoolkids In Thousand Islands

Schoolchildren on Untung Jawa Island in Thousand Islands face compulsory study hours at home under the supervision of neighborhood and community unit (RT and RW) heads. Untung Jawa subdistrict head Ade Slamet said the authorities had made evening study hours compulsory between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. starting on Wednesday, while the operational hours of free wifi would also be limited. “Neighborhood and community unit heads will monitor [the students]," Ade said, adding that local officials had disseminated the evening study hours through banners at strategic locations. "We also call on parents to take part in monitoring their children," he added. The officials have also limited the operation of free wifi to only between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. The wifi service previously operated from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. before eventually the residents requested the officials cut the operational hours, he added.

Bojonegoro May Be Listed As National Geoheritage Site

The Bandung Geology Agency in West Java expects that Bojonegoro regency, East Java, along with Yogyakarta, will get a national geoheritage certificate from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in 2017. Andiani, the head of the Bojonegoro geopark verification team from the agency, said Bojonegoro’s geoheritage documents were almost complete. “It’s about 80 percent. I still have to visit locations, which have geoheritage potential in Bojonegoro,” she said as quoted by Antara on Wednesday. Andiani said that if Bojonegoro and Yogyakarta were determined as geological cultural preserves, they would become Indonesia’s first two cities granted such status after the issuance of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministerial Regulation No.32/ 2016 on Geological Cultural Preservation. “This year, we are also aiming to rank the national geoheritage potential,” she said. A proposal to grant geoheritage status to Bojonegoro was conveyed to the Bandung Geology Agency on March 3. However, the proposal, which has been signed by Bojonegoro regent Suyoto, must be accompanied by an approval letter from East Java Governor Soekarwo. “The governor’s approval letter can be directly conveyed to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry,” said Andiani. Hanang Samudra, the head of the geoheritage verification team from the Bandung Geology Agency, said Bojonegoro’s geological potential met 100 percent of qualifications to be included in the national geoheritage rank. These include fossils, rock formations and other natural richness. “To get international geoheritage status from UNESCO, it should be first granted national geoheritage status,” said Hanang.