SCB chips in for ASIACRYPT2007 early bird incentive
Sarawak Convention Bureau handed over a donation of RM5000 to sponsor early bird participants of ASIACRYPT2007, to be held in Kuching from 2^nd to 6^th December, to the organizers of the conference Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) at its office in Kuching on 4^th July. ASIACRYPY2007 is the 13th annual international conference on the theory and application of cryptology and information security sponsored by International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) and it will be held in Malaysia for the first time. After the handing over of the sponsorship a draw was made to pick the two lucky early bird delegates by Dato Aloysius Dris and Professor Lueckenhausen and the winners were from Turkey and Canada.

Tattoo artists exchange ideas at international convention
For three days between 29^th June and 1^st July, tattoo artists from Argentina, China,Italy, Spain, Mariana Islands and USA mingled with local artists and those from West Malaysia at the Bukit Aup Jubilee Park in Sibu exchanging ideas and finding common ground in the practice of their art. Riding on the success of the first Borneo International Tattoo Convention held five years ago, the second convention at Bukit Aup attracted 45 world renowned tattoo artists. This international gathering was not confined to the art of tattooing only as the participants were also treated to traditional musical and dance performances. To give the foreign artists a better understanding of the local culture, the convention programme included tribal peace offerings to the spirits and a chance for them to interact with several Iban elders whose bodies were extensively tattooed with traditional designs. The convention a brainchild, of internationally acclaimed tattoo artist Ernesto Kalum, was jointly organized by his company Borneo Headhunter Tattoo Studio and the Sibu Municipal Council. Ernesto said the convention had the dual objectives of preserving the traditional method of tattooing and designs and to expose the artists to the latest development in the art through exchange of ideas and technology. He hoped the international tattoo convention had aroused the interest of local tattoo artists in the traditional methods and designs and encouraged them to preserve this important cultural heritage. The rousing success of the convention was reflected by the unanimous call among participants to hold the event more often which resulted in the organizers mulling the idea of holding the event biennially Those interested to find out more about the next convention or seek information on traditional tattoos of Sarawak can contact Ernesto at www.borneoheadhunter.com.