ARGUMENT UP TO DATE

  Newmont nixes smelters in Indonesia for now

PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) says gold and copper shortfalls will halt its plans to build smelters in Indonesia.
According to the mining company’s feasibility study, building gold and copper smelters in Indonesia was not economical and might lead to severe financial losses, Newmont spokesperson Kasan Mulyono said on Friday.

“The study result suggests that it is not feasible to build smelters in the country. But we continue to communicate with the government about future possibilities,” he told reporters at a media briefing in Jakarta.

Smelters worldwide were currently operating below maximum capacity due to difficulties in finding raw materials, he said. He said that if the company rushed to build smelters in Indonesia they would collapse.

“We understand the spirit of the government to develop downstream industries in the gold and copper mining sector, but we can't risk our business. But we always keep our door open for further discussions with the government,” Kasan said.

MUI says Valentine’s Day is haram

The Dumai chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Riau says the celebration of Valentine’s Day is haram (forbidden for Muslims).
“From its origins, it is recognized that the Valentine’s Day is a holiday of non-Muslims in Rome, Italy. Therefore, Valentine’s Day celebrations are forbidden for Muslims,” MUI Dumai chairman Roza`i Akbar told Antara in Dumai on Thursday.
He added that Valentine’s Day celebrations went against Islamic teachings because the celebration was akin to encouraging young people to build relationships outside marriage.
”What will happen if Valentine’s Day becomes part of Islam culture? This was one of the considerations in deciding to forbid the celebration for Muslims,” he said.
The MUI has called upon all Muslim parents to explain to their children that Valentine’s Day is something they must not celebrate.
“It would be better to educate them and give them religious teachings so that Valentine’s Day celebrations will not become a tradition among Muslims youths,” he said.