The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

April 19, 2013
There are four countries in the UK called in order of size England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The UK's full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  People often call the group of countries Britain.  What you shouldn't say"England" if you want to include the three smaller countries.  Even the terms IGIRISU or EIKOKU are disliked by some people, especially from Scotland and Wales, because they seem to suggest England is the same as Britain.  England dominates the others with its bigger size and population, but history of the UK is short compared with the history of the countries separately.
Strictly Great Britain is the land consisting of the countries England, Scotland and Wales.  Northern Ireland, which is at the top of a separate island called Ireland, is politically part of the UK and separate from the country called the Republic of Ireland to its south.
Questions:
What is your own image of the UK?
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the UK, Japan or the USA today?