Europe: United Kingdom
About United Kingdom
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the European Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999.
| Vital Statistics | |
| Capitol City: | London |
| Population: | 59,647,790 (July 2001 est.) |
| Percent below poverty: | 17% |
| Language: | English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland) |
| Date of independence: | England has existed as a unified en |
| Form of government: | constitutional monarchy |
| Title of Leader: | Queen |
| Natural Resources: | coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land |
| Environmental Issues: | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has meet Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and hopes to reduce even more); small particulate emissions, largely from vehicular traffic, remain a problem; solid waste continues to rise |
| Agricultural Products: | cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fis |
| Imports: | manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs |
| Exports: | manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco |
| Trading Partners: | IMPORTS: EU 53% (Germany 14%, France 9%, Netherlands 7%), US 13%, Japan 5% (1999) EXPORTS: EU 58% (Germany 12%, France 10%, Netherlands 8%), US 15% (1999) |
United Kingdom Headlines
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[Ad - World3News.com/JOBS] - Sep 7 2010 12:55 p.m.
Dementia Web UK Offers Free Resources On Its New Website
[OfficialSpin] - Sep 7 2010 12:55 p.m.
Leeds: Mr Gay UK PC denies rape charges
[Yorkshire Evening Post] - Sep 7 2010 12:55 p.m.
Briton killed by balcony fall in Majorca
[London Evening Standard] - Sep 7 2010 12:55 p.m.
£100m banker Bob Diamond back 'home' in London to take Barclays reins
[London Evening Standard] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Battle of Britain heroes saluted in service
[Shields Gazette] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Brit teen becomes first person to 'wakeboard' across English Channel
[DNA India] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Goldie's son sentenced to life for gang-related murder
[Guardian.co.uk] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
George Osborne tells Europe: Hands off UK budget rebate
[London Evening Standard] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
National Sport: Toshack set for Wales exit
[Ormskirk and Skelmersdale Advertiser] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Bradley Wiggins in London's cycling jungle
[London Evening Standard] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Forex - Euro, British Pound Weighed By Risk Aversion
[Forex TV] - Sep 7 2010 12:54 p.m.
Battle of Britain heroes remembered
[Richmond and Twickenham Times] - Sep 7 2010 12:53 p.m.
Scottish News: Crime at 'lowest level in 30 years'
[Wishaw Press] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
Scottish News: 10-year-old in drug arrest figures
[Wishaw Press] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
Battle of Britain heroes remembered
[Swindon Advertiser] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
Scottish News: Police chief slams immigration cuts
[Wishaw Press] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
HSBC chair to be appointed as UK minister, say sources
[Newstalk] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
Scottish News: Higgins 100% innocent, says agent
[Wishaw Press] - Sep 7 2010 12:52 p.m.
Battle of Britain heroes remembered
[Midhurst and Petworth Observer] - Jan 1 1970 12:00 a.m.
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