Frankly I find some obvious, others dubious, and I once again feel compelled to remind people that they should not mention the Middle East and then name nations such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Oh, my... it was truly fun to read. From the depth of "China, Syria, Iran, Pakistan magically collapses" to the US being a "surprise winner of the global recession", it is such a gem of juvenile naivety. Your problems will just magically disappear at the blink of an eye! If you wish it hard enough you may pass the exam, but I suggest sitting down to study instead.

Random questions: how can you become a "winner" of the global market when you have an unsustainable economy (negative budget) and your creditor has just collapsed (according to your prediction)? How can you be still a force in Afghanistan if your main ally there, the Pakistani regime, has just disappeared and you can't even supply your own troops?

Never mind. I suggest adding a 14th page, suggesting that in 2012 "God descends from heaven to kiss Mr. Rothkopf on the cheek", it is about as well-founded as the others.

Either it would be full of news on television or would land up in a slow and steady manner. Thanks for sharing !

Hope the elections in 2012 in some power center will have some good results. Mahogany Furniture

Truest me editor,

you missed one more country list, Nepal - in 2012, either it will take the way where would gonna watch it or move is such a bad way which no one ever excepting at the moment.

Either Constituion will come out with result or country go back to 10/20 years back again.

regards

Keshab
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The young Egyptian professional could pass for any New York bachelor.

Dressed in a crisp polo shirt and swathed in cologne, he races his Nissan Maxima through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan, late for a date with a tall brunette. At red lights, he fusses with his hair.

What sets the bachelor apart from other young men on the make is the chaperon sitting next to him — a tall, bearded man in a white robe and stiff embroidered hat.

"I pray that Allah will bring this couple together," the man, Sheik Reda Shata, says, clutching his seat belt and urging the bachelor to slow down.

Christian singles have coffee hour. Young Jews have JDate. But many Muslims believe that it is forbidden for an unmarried man and woman to meet in private. In predominantly Muslim countries, the job of making introductions and even arranging marriages typically falls to a vast network of family and friends.

In Brooklyn, there is Mr. Shata.

Week after week, Muslims embark on dates with him in tow. Mr. Shata, the imam of a Bay Ridge mosque, juggles some 550 "marriage candidates," from a gold-toothed electrician to a professor at Columbia University. The meetings often unfold on the green velour couch of his office, or over a meal at his favorite Yemeni restaurant on Atlantic Avenue.

The bookish Egyptian came to America in 2002 to lead prayers, not to dabble in matchmaking. He was far more conversant in Islamic jurisprudence than in matters of the heart. But American imams must wear many hats, none of which come tailor-made.

Whether issuing American-inspired fatwas or counseling the homesick, fielding questions from the F.B.I. or mediating neighborhood spats, Mr. Shata walks an endless labyrinth of problems.

If anything seems conquerable, it is the solitude of Muslim singles. Nothing brings the imam more joy than guiding them to marriage. It is his way of fashioning a future for his faith. It is his most heartfelt effort — by turns graceful and comedic, vexing and hopeful — to make Islam work in America.

Word of the imam's talents has traveled far, eliciting lonely calls from Muslims in Chicago and Los Angeles, or from meddlesome parents in Cairo and Damascus.

From an estimated 250 chaperoned dates, Mr. Shata has produced 10 marriages.

"The prophet said whoever brings a man and woman together, it is as if he has worshiped for an entire year," said Mr. Shata, 37, speaking through an Arabic translator.

The task is not easy. In a country of plentiful options, Muslim immigrants can become picky, even rude, the imam complains.

During one date, a woman studied the red-circled eyes of a prospective husband and asked, "Have you brought me an alcoholic?"

On another occasion, an Egyptian man stared at the flat chest of a pleasant young Moroccan woman and announced, "She looks like a log!" the imam recalled.

"This would never happen in Egypt," said Mr. Shata, turning red at the memory. "Never, never. If I knew this boy had no manners I never would have let him into my office." The young Egyptian professional could pass for any New York bachelor.

Dressed in a crisp polo shirt and swathed in cologne, he races his Nissan Maxima through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan, late for a date with a tall brunette. At red lights, he fusses with his hair.

What sets the bachelor apart from other young men on the make is the chaperon sitting next to him — a tall, bearded man in a white robe and stiff embroidered hat.

"I pray that Allah will bring this couple together," the man, Sheik Reda Shata, says, clutching his seat belt and urging the bachelor to slow down.

Christian singles have coffee hour. Young Jews have JDate. But many Muslims believe that it is forbidden for an unmarried man and woman to meet in private. In predominantly Muslim countries, the job of making introductions and even arranging marriages typically falls to a vast network of family and friends.

In Brooklyn, there is Mr. Shata.

Week after week, Muslims embark on dates with him in tow. Mr. Shata, the imam of a Bay Ridge mosque, juggles some 550 "marriage candidates," from a gold-toothed electrician to a professor at Columbia University. The meetings often unfold on the green velour couch of his office, or over a meal at his favorite Yemeni restaurant on Atlantic Avenue.

The bookish Egyptian came to America in 2002 to lead prayers, not to dabble in matchmaking. He was far more conversant in Islamic jurisprudence than in matters of the heart. But American imams must wear many hats, none of which come tailor-made.

Whether issuing American-inspired fatwas or counseling the homesick, fielding questions from the F.B.I. or mediating neighborhood spats, Mr. Shata walks an endless labyrinth of problems.

If anything seems conquerable, it is the solitude of Muslim singles. Nothing brings the imam more joy than guiding them to marriage. It is his way of fashioning a future for his faith. It is his most heartfelt effort — by turns graceful and comedic, vexing and hopeful — to make Islam work in America.

Word of the imam's talents has traveled far, eliciting lonely calls from Muslims in Chicago and Los Angeles, or from meddlesome parents in Cairo and Damascus.

From an estimated 250 chaperoned dates, Mr. Shata has produced 10 marriages.

"The prophet said whoever brings a man and woman together, it is as if he has worshiped for an entire year," said Mr. Shata, 37, speaking through an Arabic translator.

The task is not easy. In a country of plentiful options, Muslim immigrants can become picky, even rude, the imam complains.

During one date, a woman studied the red-circled eyes of a prospective husband and asked, "Have you brought me an alcoholic?"

On another occasion, an Egyptian man stared at the flat chest of a pleasant young Moroccan woman and announced, "She looks like a log!" the imam recalled.

"This would never happen in Egypt," said Mr. Shata, turning red at the memory. "Never, never. If I knew this boy had no manners I never would have let him into my office." The young Egyptian professional could pass for any New York bachelor.

Dressed in a crisp polo shirt and swathed in cologne, he races his Nissan Maxima through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan, late for a date with a tall brunette. At red lights, he fusses with his hair.

What sets the bachelor apart from other young men on the make is the chaperon sitting next to him — a tall, bearded man in a white robe and stiff embroidered hat.

"I pray that Allah will bring this couple together," the man, Sheik Reda Shata, says, clutching his seat belt and urging the bachelor to slow down.

Christian singles have coffee hour. Young Jews have JDate. But many Muslims believe that it is forbidden for an unmarried man and woman to meet in private. In predominantly Muslim countries, the job of making introductions and even arranging marriages typically falls to a vast network of family and friends.

In Brooklyn, there is Mr. Shata.

Week after week, Muslims embark on dates with him in tow. Mr. Shata, the imam of a Bay Ridge mosque, juggles some 550 "marriage candidates," from a gold-toothed electrician to a professor at Columbia University. The meetings often unfold on the green velour couch of his office, or over a meal at his favorite Yemeni restaurant on Atlantic Avenue.

The bookish Egyptian came to America in 2002 to lead prayers, not to dabble in matchmaking. He was far more conversant in Islamic jurisprudence than in matters of the heart. But American imams must wear many hats, none of which come tailor-made.

Whether issuing American-inspired fatwas or counseling the homesick, fielding questions from the F.B.I. or mediating neighborhood spats, Mr. Shata walks an endless labyrinth of problems.

If anything seems conquerable, it is the solitude of Muslim singles. Nothing brings the imam more joy than guiding them to marriage. It is his way of fashioning a future for his faith. It is his most heartfelt effort — by turns graceful and comedic, vexing and hopeful — to make Islam work in America.

Word of the imam's talents has traveled far, eliciting lonely calls from Muslims in Chicago and Los Angeles, or from meddlesome parents in Cairo and Damascus.

From an estimated 250 chaperoned dates, Mr. Shata has produced 10 marriages.

"The prophet said whoever brings a man and woman together, it is as if he has worshiped for an entire year," said Mr. Shata, 37, speaking through an Arabic translator.

The task is not easy. In a country of plentiful options, Muslim immigrants can become picky, even rude, the imam complains.

During one date, a woman studied the red-circled eyes of a prospective husband and asked, "Have you brought me an alcoholic?"

On another occasion, an Egyptian man stared at the flat chest of a pleasant young Moroccan woman and announced, "She looks like a log!" the imam recalled.

"This would never happen in Egypt," said Mr. Shata, turning red at the memory. "Never, never. If I knew this boy had no manners I never would have let him into my office."

Thanks

Admin of Alarm clocks | Electric kettles

The year 2012 will be the year of Europe. Not economic events but the political events of the continent will be very interesting to watch.http://your-life-guide.com

In the US. Obama is narrowly re-elected on a vastly decreased turnout, prompting further downgrades of the US credit rating.

In France, Sarkozy loses in the first round of the Presidential election. In a Le Pen vs Hollande run off, Hollande wins comfortably, prompting a huge loss of confidence in the French governments ability to tackle its debts.

In the UK, the Olympics goes ahead without problems but is truly uninspiring. Growth is flat until the crisis in the Eurozone finally tips Britain back into a deeper recession, and Cameron gives in and agrees to hold a referendum on EU membership.

Across Europe, anti-austerity protests and general strikes cause huge damage to growth prospects. Massive anti-German sentiment born from Frankfurt and Berlin wielding veto over national budgets leads to attacks on the German embassy in Athens.

Greece leaves the Euro, triggering another banking crisis and credit crunch. The ECB steps in to save itself and the currency by pumping a trillion Euro's into buying up debt in Italy, Spain and Portugal to in an unconvincing attempt to stave off contagion, causing high inflation to go alongside the 10% that is knocked off Eurozone GDP.

Merkel's coalition collapses. A federal election is called in Germany. The SPD, the Left and the Greens enter into a coalition. Bunds hit 5% as German credit rating is downgraded considerably.

In the Middle East, the Iranian Parliamentary Elections are again defined by huge Green movement protests. The regime ballot stuffs and sends the thugs out. Huge crisis as the Supreme Leader pressures Ahmadinejad to resign. He refuses. An armed insurgency begins, and we see barbarity that makes what is happening in Syria look like a Disney movie. The nuclear industry is hit by Stuxnet 2.0. And a wave of unexplained explosions and assassinations keep nuke ambitions in check.

This, alongside US withdrawal, causes huge instability in Iraq, and a return to the sectarian style violence of the 4-5 years ago.

In Syria, Assad falls eventually towards the end of the year. Assad flees to Iran as, he's never really been committed to the fight anyway. Revenge attacks against Alawites, and a general climate of sectarian division means that, in the eventual elections Sunni hardliners dominate the government. And we all realise that nothing much has changed.

In Egypt the military refuse to hand over meaningful power to the Brotherhood after Freedom and Justice triumph in elections. Crowds out in Tahrir. The military crack down hard. Nothing much changes.

In Russia, Putin wins the Presidency, but is now damaged and weak. Seeking to assert himself he deploys missiles to Kaliningrad and starts expanding Russia's naval presence in the Arctic Ocean in anticipation of commencing oil exploration. Putin also orders his Central Asian proxies to remove all military cooperation with the US and NATO. However the financial crisis in Europe alongside lower oil and gas prices caused by a massive slowdown in Chinese growth, mean that social unrest really kicks off in Russia, with huge protests and high inflation.

In China, growth rates collapse to 4%. The social unrest that follows is met with a Tiananmen style crackdown by the new generation of leaders. China expands its presence in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

North Korea realises it has considerably more room for antagonising the South than it once did. Renewed skirmishes along the borders result in a bolstering of the regime in Pyongyang.

Afghanistan continues to get more and more violent throughout the year, as Western commitment to the country gets weaker and weaker. The Haqqani network continues to cause havoc in Kabul on a regular basis. The Taliban continue to bide their time. Karzai continues to become more authoritarian the more insecure his regime becomes.

In Pakistan, the government collapses. The military take over in a backdoor coup in a time of 'national crisis'. The country continues to be an untrustworthy partner, becomes even less cooperative with NATO, playing the long game in Afghanistan whilst sanctioning new attacks by its minions against the 'evil neighbour'.

In Venezuela, Chavez dies. Opposition take power. Venezuela returns to being a Colombian style US proxy in the region.

And a whole bunch of other stuff happens. Or doesn't happen. Who knows. It's the future.

Rebellious Chinese village under siege by police by Ed Flanagan, NBC News, Dec 13, 2011

"For years, in the name of social harmony, China’s ruling Communist Party has been highly successful in masking, placating or simply distorting the tens of thousands of protests – dubbed 'mass demonstrations' – that occur here ever year. The Wukan rebellion will prove a tougher dilemma for Beijing to solve. From The Telegraph newspaper’s Malcolm Moore comes details of the stunning story of Wukan, a fishing village of 20,000 in China’s southern Guangdong Province. Earlier this week, the entire town rose up and threw out local party officials and police forces following years of having the people’s land sold out from underneath them."