Skin Cells 'Turned Into Neurons' by US Scientists

A Californian team say they have managed to convert human skin cells directly into functioning brain cells. 

The scientists manipulated the process by which DNA is transcribed within foetal skin cells to create cells which behaved like neurons.

The technique had previously been demonstrated in mice, says the report in Nature.

It could be used for neurological research, and might conceivably be used to create brain cells for transplant.

How Your Mind Can be Read

Scientists have discovered a way to watch words form in the human brain in a breakthrough that could one day allow those with severe disabilities to 'speak'.

The researchers have found a way to peer into the deepest recesses of the brain in order to watch words forming. Using electrodes they found the area of the brain that is involved in creating the 40 or so sounds that form the English language.

They then discovered that each of these sounds has its own signal which they believe could eventually allow a computer programme to read what people want to say by the power of their thoughts.

7.7 Million Foreign Tourists Targeted to Visit Indonesia This Year

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has set itself the target of 7.7 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, a tourism official said.

"We are optimistic that the target will be achieved," Rita Sofia, promotion section chief of the Marketing Directorate for Java of the Tourism Ministry, said here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion of the opening of an exhibition on Central Java tourism , Rita said that the target this year was higher than that of last year which was only seven million.

She said that the number of domestic tourists this year was also expected to increase to 237 million from 234 million in 2010. The tourism official said that actually the desire of the people to conduct touristic trips abroad could be directed to tourism sites at home.

"It’s just the right of people to go abroad but various kinds of local tourism promotions could at least attract them," she said.

Therefore, she said, her side was holding the exhibition in an effort to introduce local tourism sites through 14 stands from various travel bureaus which would offer domestic travel packages. 

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Lake Sentani Festival to be Held to Preserve Papua's Culture

Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua will this year again organize a Lake Sentani Festival (FDS) in a bid to preserve its unique and traditional arts.

The land of "Cendrawasih" (Bird of Paradise) is really blessed with an abundance of natural resources and unparalleled culture and traditional arts that have to be maintained.

Bomb Items Found after Threat to Indonesia Flights

Officials say bomb-making materials were found in an airport lounge after a threat was made against flights in Indonesia. Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan says the threat was faxed to state-run Garuda Airlines on Wednesday.

A bomb squad rushed to Juanda International Airport in Surabaya city after the threat said flights from there to the capital, Jakarta, had been targeted. Ervan said a plastic bag with liquid materials used to make explosives was found in the passenger lounge.

Garuda postponed one flight but service returned to normal later Wednesday. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by a string of terror attacks blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants that have killed more than 260 people since 2002. 

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Indonesia Bans MA-60 Aircraft from Three Airports

Indonesia has banned Chinese-made MA-60 aircraft from using three airports for safety reasons, after one of the planes crashed and killed 25 people earlier this month, an official said Wednesday.

How Suharto Can be More Popular than SBY

Indonesia's late former dictator Suharto is more popular than current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a poll found Monday, despite the Suharto regime's reputation for corruption and repression.

Move Over Inspector Rex, The Super Secret SEAL Team 6 Has a Smart Dog

The mystery dog is likely to be a German shepherd or Belgian Malinois, the breeds trained by US military dog handlers, The New York Times reported.

What’s on Osama Bin Laden’s Computer?

The raid on Osama bin Laden's compound on Sunday morning was not only a success because we killed the bastard (U-S-A!), but also because of this:

Indonesia Lack of 1 Million Pouches of Blood Yearly

Indonesia has a shortage of about one million pouches of blood every year, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairman Jusuf Kalla said here on Saturday.

"At present Indonesia is in need of around 4,5 million pouches of blood while last year we had only 3.5 million pouches. This means we are short of one million more pouches," said the former vice president.

More than 55 Pct Singaporean Tourists Visit Riau Islands

Demotix Two Australian riders, Jacob wright and Jay Wilson managed to win the prestigious class SE125cc in the international arena motocross Riau Islands Governor Cup IV which takes place on July 25, 2010, at the Circuit Sei Lekop Bintan - Indonesia.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said that 55.71 pct of 133,620 foreign tourists visiting Riau Islands Province in March 2011 came from Singapore.

The Singaporean tourists visiting Riau Islands (Kepri) reached 74,444, head of the Kepri BPS Mangaputua Gultom said here Monday.

Indonesia to Coordinate with Singapore to Save 13 Sailors

Indonesia will coordinate with Singapore to secure the release of 13 Indonesian sailors on the Singaporean-flagged MT Gemini pirated in Somalian waters last Saturday, National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said.

Security Tightening in Bali Following Osama's Death

 Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has instructed the tightening of security on the tourist island following the death of Osama bin Laden. "This is to follow up the instruction of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to step up security in Indonesia," the governor said here Tuesday.

Security measures will be intensified not only at the gates into Bali, but also places where foreign tourists, especially those from America , usually stay or gather, he said. "Certainly we are particularly protecting foreign tourists, not only American tourists but all foreign tourists," he said.

Over 598,000 Tourists Visited Indonesia

Balinese Hindu worshipers walk during the Tawur Agung ritual ahead of "Nyepi", Balis Day of Silence and the Hindu New Year, at Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta March 4, 2011. Most Balinese Hindus practice self-reflection by staying home as they observe this quiet holiday. Nyepi falls on March 5, 2011. 

More than 598.1 thousand tourists visited Indonesia in March, up slightly by 0.64 percent from the same month last year, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

"Compared with February 2011, the number of tourist arrivals in March 2011 rose 5.28 percent," BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said here on Monday.