Empire Hotel Brunei
US Department Of State Post Report
The Brunei capital has two cinemas that screen English, Malay and Chinese movies. The luxurious Empire Hotel also has its own mini-multiplex cinema. ... From the 14th to the 16th century, Brunei was the center of an empire covering most of the northern part of the Island of Borneo and extending north through the Philippines to Manila. By the 19th century, much of Brunei’s empire had been whittled away by piracy, wars, and the spread of European nations into the Far East. By the end of the century, Brunei was a British protectorate, and in 1906, the British Resident system was introduced. The discovery of major oilfields in the western end of Brunei during the 1920s brought economic stability and created a new style of life for the population. ... [Read More]
2002
1111--07/16/02 Press Availability Following Meeting of the Quartet; Secretary Colin L. Powell; Empire Room, Waldorf-Astoria; New York, New York ... 1111--04/17/02 Remarks at David Citadel Hotel; Secretary Colin L. Powell; Jerusalem ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Laundry is done in the home. Dry cleaners exist but may not be adequate. Many Embassy employees take their dry cleaning to the Concessionaire Cleaners at the Embassy in Bangkok or to first-class Bangkok hotels. Hotel dry cleaning services are very expensive, so keep your supplies of this type of clothing to a minimum. ... Bimonthly, nonprofessional courier trips to Bangkok, in which designated staff participate, provide a break from Laos and give employees time to shop, relax, and take care of medical and dental appointments. The Post and Its AdministrationLast Updated: 7/11/2003 1:49 PM The American Mission to Laos consists of elements from the Department of State, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Defense (DOD). The Chancery, Administrative Annex building, and the Consular, Economic/Commercial and Public Diplomacy sections are located near the center of town on Rue Bartholonie. The Chancery houses the offices of the Ambassador and DCM, the Political, Narcotics Affairs and Drug Enforcement Administration sections, and the Information Programs Center (IPC). From Defense, there is ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
In Jakarta and other large cities, you can enjoy Western culture, including popular music and jazz at hotels and nightclubs. Hotels and foreign embassies occasionally sponsor dance, theater, and other performing arts. Many American films are shown in Indonesian theaters with Indonesian subtitles. ... Swimming. In Jakarta, most clubs, hotels, and apartment or townhouse complexes have swimming pools. Many hotels charge daily fees for use of the pool. Ancol and Pondok Indah offer public swimming and water park facilities. These tend to be crowded on weekends and public holidays. Saltwater bathing is available at beach resorts and nearby islands. Beach lovers should note, however, that the closest beach is some 3˝ hours by car from Jakarta. Pelabuhan Ratu (Samudra Beach) on the Indian Ocean, south of Jakarta, is about 4˝ hours by car, and Anyer, Carita, and Sombola, on the Sunda Straits west of Jakarta, are about 3˝ hours by car. Pulau Seribu or Thousand Islands is a system of small islands in the sea north of Jakarta. There are several basic but pleasant resorts that offer scuba, snorkeling, swimming, and various sports. Touring and Outdoor ActivitiesLast Updated:&n ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: China, April 1998Released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsOfficial Name: People's Republic of ChinaPROFILEGeographyTotal area: 9,596,960 sq. km. (approximately 3.7 million sq. mi.).Cities: Capital--Beijing. Other major cities--Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin, Chengdu.Terrain: Plains, deltas, and hills in east; mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west.Climate: Tropical in south to subarctic in north.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Chinese (singular and plural).Population (1997 est.): 1.22 billion.Population growth rate (1997 est.): 0.93%.Health (1997 est.): Infant mortality rate--37.9/1,000. Life expectancy--70.0 years (overall); 68.6 years for males, 71.5 years for females. Literacy rate: 82%.Ethnic groups: Han Chinese--91.9%; Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities--8.1%.Religions: Officially atheist; Taoism, Buddhism, ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
Background Notes: China, October 1998 Released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsU.S. Department of StateOfficial Name: People's Republic of ChinaPROFILEGeographyTotal area: 9,596,960 sq. km. (approximately 3.7 million sq. mi.).Cities: Capital--Beijing. Other major cities--Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin, Chengdu.Terrain: Plains, deltas, and hills in east; mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west.Climate: Tropical in south to subarctic in north.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Chinese (singular and plural).Population (1997 est.): 1.22 billion.Population growth rate (1997 est.): 0.93%.Health (1997 est.): Infant mortality rate--37.9/1,000. Life expectancy--70.0 years (overall); 68.6 years for males, 71.5 years for females.Literacy rate: 82%.Ethnic groups: Han Chinese--91.9%; Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities--8.1%.Religions: Officially atheist; Taoism, Buddhism ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
U.S. Department of State Background Notes: China, October 1997 Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Official Name: People's Republic of China PROFILE Geography Total area: 9,596,960 sq. km (approximately 3.7 million sq. mi.). Cities: Capital--Beijing. Other major cities--Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin, Chengdu. Terrain: Plains, deltas, and hills in east; mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west. Climate: Tropical in south to subarctic in north. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Chinese (singular and plural). Population (1997 est.): 1.22 billion. Population growth rate (1997 est.): .93%. Health (1997 est.): Infant mortality rate--37.9/1,000. Life expectancy--70.0 years (overall); 68.6 years for males, 71.5 years for females. Ethnic groups: Han Chinese--91.9%; Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities--8.1%. Religions: Officially atheist; Confucianism, Taoism, Budd ... [Read More]
Country Reports: A-F
Afghanistan While Afghanistan is not a regional financial or banking center, its informal financial and credit system is extremely robust in scope and scale. Afghanistan is a major drug transit and drug producing country. Afghanistan recently passed anti-money laundering and terrorist financing legislation, and many efforts are being made to strengthen police and customs forces. However, there remain few resources and little expertise to combat financial crimes, or to produce meaningful financial intelligence. The most fundamental obstacles continue to be legal, cultural and historical factors that many times conflict with more Western-style proposed reforms to the financial sector generally. In early 2004, the Central Bank of Afghanistan, Da Afghanistan Bank ( ... [Read More]
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