Embassy   Each country's Embassy located in Washington DC is shown thus. Strange as it may seem in the 21st Century but some countries still do not have an Embassy web site.  Others have to be linked to their UN Delegation web site.

  British Foreign Office Travel Safety Alerts for business & tourist travellers. 

       Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Country Reports.

  Link to World Governments - Ministries, Departments and contacts.

  Link to overview of country listed, including political and topographic maps.

National Intelligence Services  We have listed the National Intelligence Services links for those countries where such data is available.

Languages   A primer on the languages spoken in the country.

Travel Guide   All you need to know if traveling to the country.

Pictures   Pictures of the country, its people and its cities.

Universities   A listing of major Universities within the country.

NATIONAL STATISTICS  The Official Government Reports of a Nation's Statistics. For countries that do not post Statistics (English) we use data from the World Bank.

GDP $  -   We give World Health Organization economic statistics on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for almost every Country listed. Click on the blue number given to see a regional comparison chart. For countries not listed by the WHO we give CIA data.

Population -  Accepted number of people living in the country January 1st, 2004.

Living In Poverty - % of the population  Note: Living in Poverty in Afghanistan or Mozambique is far different to living in poverty in Northern Europe or the United States.  In Developed Countries N/A means Not Applicable - in Un-Developed Countries N/A means Not Available.

 -  Population Reference Bureau Data Finder Information. The % after the entry is the Growth or Decline in population expected between 2000 and 2050 (including migrations.) See: Population

Land Area -  The number of sq. km. shown is the actual land area of the listed country, bodies of water within that country are not included.

Population Density - The number of people now living within the country per sq. km. of land area - these are United Nations statistics.

Literacy -  We have listed the latest percentages of the population over the age of 15 years able to read and write. i.e. male: 47%, female 15%  

Life Expectancy - We have listed life expectancy of men and women at birth.

Environmental & Ecological Factors - Link to information on this subject by Country. Click on the link, then click on the subject you wish to research (i.e.: Water Resources) then scroll down to and click on the Country you require data for.

Trafficking in Human Beings Report -  US Department of State Report. Source

Human Rights Report - US Department of State Country Briefs on Human Rights.

Age of Consent. - Legal Age of Sexual Consent.   Source

International Migration Profile - United Nations Data on Migration.  Source

Adults 15-49 with HIV/AIDS - Percentage of the Population infected. Source

National Intelligence Quotient - The Average Intelligence Quotient is 100. 

Corruption Index  -  Transparency International Data. 

Armed Forces -  Includes various data on Land, Sea and Air Forces and Budgets.

World Bank Report - World Bank Country Report

International Monetary Fund - International Monetary Fund Country Report

USAID Grants taken 1962-2003 - $ - United States authorized Grants to foreign Nations.

News Sources -  English Language Local News sources.

World Health Organization   -  An overview of the Health situation within the country.

Freedom House Report   -   Freedom House Country Freedom Rankings.

World Trade Organization  -  WTO Member Nations Report.

Newspaper  -  National Newspapers & Business Publications published in English.

Stock Exchange - Stock Exchanges that are presented real-time in English.

Chambers of Commerce  -  Link takes you to the World Chambers Network. Pick the Country or Territory you want and click on search for the links you will require.

 Wikipedia Overview - Link takes you to the Wikipedia Encyclopaedia. 

Current Conflicts - Link takes you to an update on conflicts the Nation is engaged in.

  TODAY'S NEWS - News relating to the country from around the world.

 Currency exchange rates for Local Currency. 

  Local weather conditions today.

THE WAR ON TERRORISM



The States of Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea and Sudan
 are the five governments that the United States Secretary of State
has designated as state sponsors of international terrorism.

US Department of State - Counter Terrorism

US Department of Homeland Security
     

Editorial Policy: 

Nothing you read in World Information should ever be construed to be the opinion of, or condoned by, or advice from, The Business Forum, its staff, officers, members, directors, sponsors or shareholders. We pass no opinion whatsoever upon the content of what we publish, nor do we accept any responsibility for the claims, or any of the statements made, within anything published herein.  We merely aim to provide an academic forum and information sourcing vehicle for the benefit of the business community of the Pacific States of America.  Readers must determine for themselves where the comments, statements and advice that is published herein are gained from and act, or not act, upon what is published herein entirely and always at their own risk.  We accept absolutely no liability whatsoever, nor do we take any responsibility for what anyone does or does not do based upon what is published herein, or the information gained through use of the links to other web sites we have included herein.   Please refer to our:  legal disclaimer

Click Here and Forward our Site to a Friend

---

Support our Program

 

John H. Hathaway-Bates
President & Executive Director

John was born and educated in Oxford, England. He served with the Royal Air Force in the late 1950’s in Africa and the Middle East.  During the 1960’s he was the lead singer with The Tribe, and later with The Foundation in Britain.  In the 1960's and the 1970’s he was recognized as one of the top commercial Interior Designers in Britain, and worked on projects for many multi-national corporations, restaurants and several academic institutions. He wrote the "Contract Procedure and Specification Advice" sections of the Architect's and Specifier's Guide Series (A4 Publications, Ltd.) and he innovated and wrote for The Office Planner (Benn Brothers Ltd.) He has also had published several articles on "Colour, Texture & Design", and wrote a  weekly column for Westminster Newspapers Ltd.  He also wrote the "Executive Guide to Office Space Planning & Design" (American Management Association.)

He has been President, Managing Director or Corporate Vice President for several multi-national corporations in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and the United States of America. 

John moved to the United States of America in 1979; and in 1982 he founded The Business Forum in Beverly Hills, California.  At the time of establishing The Business Forum, John was recognized as a Commercial Tactician with experience on four continents.

John has during his career been elected a Fellow of the British Society of Commerce, the Institute of Buyers, the British Institute of Directors, the British Institute of Administrative Accountants, the Institute of Purchasing and Supply; and was elected to be a member of the British Institute of Marketing, the Institute of Management and the British Institute of Journalists.

John has written several books, that include: ”Tactics" (Nerthus Publications)), "How to Promote Your Business" and "How to Organize Your Marketing" (Asigan International), and "Fast Track Marketing in a Global Economy" (Van Nostrum Reinhold)  He has had published many  articles in Europe and America and has lectured on four Continents at Universities and to professional audiences on subjects ranging from international accounting, office management and interior design to international marketing and management. 

John has also written and lectured on etiquette and business ethics.  He is also a professional artist with regular exhibitions and his paintings hang today in many countries around the world.