Belgium Computer Distributor

Personal computers, accessories, and supplies: Becauseof price advantages, good opportunities exist for U.S. suppliers of computer hardware,software, and related products. The market remains small, but it is beginning to showsigns of expansion. For suppliers who can sell in small quantities, it is definitely agood prospect. ...

The 1994 devaluation of the CFAF offers new opportunitiesfor U.S. and other foreign firms as the prices of some products have become competitivewith French products, which dominate the Burkinabe market. These opportunities include thesale of pharmaceuticals and reactives, medical equipment (used) and supplies, heavy workscontracts, and consultant services. The telecommunications, used clothing, and computermarket continue to offer opportunities to U.S. vendors. ... [Read More]

J) Europe and Central Asia

Policy Initiatives. The increase in drug seizures and decrease in direct drug-related crime apprehensions in Latvia this year is partly due to greater police targeting of wholesale drug operations—usually carried out by established Organized Crime (OC) groups as opposed to targeting local distributors. Fewer apprehensions might actually matter more as “bigger fish” have been arrested. But the decrease in drug-related crime apprehensions is also due to changes in distributor selling tactics and methods, making activity in the illicit drug market more difficult for drug enforcement to follow. ... [Read More]

Report on Global Anti-Semitism

January 5, 2005 Executive Summary I.  Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism has plagued the world for centuries. Taken to its most far-reaching and violent extreme, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews and the suffering of countless others. Subtler, less vile forms of anti-Semitism have disrupted lives, decimated religious communities, created social and political cleavages, and complicated relations between countries as well as the work of international organizations. For an increasingly interdependent world, anti-Semitism is an intolerable burden. The increasing frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has compelled the international com ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

If bringing a personal computer, include surge-protectors and UPS protection and consider shipping a computer desk. Any small appliances, such as toaster/toaster oven, blender, bread machine, mixer, food processor, or ice cream maker, should be shipped as well. Dual-voltage or 220v appliances are the most convenient; small numbers of transformers and plug adapters are provided; ship enough to meet most of your needs. Utilities and EquipmentLast Updated:  10/15/2004 4:19 AM  ... [Read More]

Chemical Controls

Traffickers extract chemicals, particularly pseudoephedrine, from pharmaceutical preparations. The 1988 UN Convention does not control pharmaceutical preparations, allowing them to be traded internationally without regard to legitimate requirements unless exporting and importing countries impose such controls. These tactics are masked by the use of front companies, false invoicing, multiple transshipments, use of free trade zones, and any other device that will conceal the true nature of the product, its ultimate recipient or its final end-use. There is some recycling of the solvents used in illicit drug manufacture; recycling cannot be used for acids, alkaline materials or oxidizing agents. Since recycling requires some sophistication, and there is a loss of chemical with each recycling pr ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

For school-age children, a computer with CD-ROM, modem and printer is a near-necessity. Children are expected to type their major school reports as early as the fifth grade.  Encyclopedia and other reference materials on CD would be practical to bring since the school libraries are small. CDs are available for sale in kiosks around town and in music stores. There is even a CD rynok. There are numerous computer stores and a computer rynok in Moscow, but it could be more affordable to buy dual-voltage equipment, computer games and supplies in the U.S.  Computer paper, ribbon cartridges and other computer supplies are available at computer stores, kiosks and large bookstores. Be advised that the locally available A4 size paper may not fit all printers. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Campion School is an all-age, coeducational international school run on British lines, admitting pupils of any race or nationality. Senior pupils are prepared for the "A," "O," and AP level exams and the SAT. Campion is registered in Massachusetts and has been a member of the Governing Bodies Association in the U.K. since 1970. Bus service is available. One-third of the student body is British; the remainder represents 50 other countries. Computer and technical studies are available, and a particularly wide range of foreign languages is taught. Campion has one campus with grades PreK-12 in Pallini, 16 km from the American Embassy. The mailing address is: ... [Read More]

International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports

FINANCIAL CRIMES AND MONEY LAUNDERINGMONEY LAUNDERINGOVERVIEWIn 1992, the major trends affecting money laundering policy were: (1) further sophistication of money laundering practices; (2) greater investment of drug and other illicit proceeds into established businesses, both to conceal money movements and to capitalize on illicit profits; (3) the internationalization of money laundering networks whose operations involve an ever larger number of countries and territories, regardless of their importance as financial centers or as drug producing or transit countries; and (4) the intensified involvement of the Sicilian Mafia and other criminal organizations in Europe, Asia and the Western Hemisphere who comingle proceeds from many crimes to confound investigators, and are now acting as brokers for funds unrelated to their own trafficking activities. These trends have made it more difficult to differentiate between drug-related money laundering and other forms of illegal money m ... [Read More]

Article Alert, Archives--Electronic Advance Documents

This report uses data from the September Computer and Internet Use supplement to the 2001 Current Population Survey to examine the use of computers and the Internet by American children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17. The report examines the overall rate of use, the ways in which children and teens use the technologies, where the use occurs (home, school, and other locations), and the relationships of these aspects of computer and Internet use to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics such as children's age and race/ethnicity and their parents' education and family income. ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

During the year, authorities monitored telephone conversations, facsimile transmissions, e-mail, text-messaging, and Internet communications. Authorities also opened and censored domestic and international mail. The security services routinely monitored and entered residences and offices to gain access to computers, telephones, and fax machines. All major hotels had a sizable internal security presence, and hotel guestrooms were sometimes bugged and searched for sensitive or proprietary materials. ... [Read More]