But to a degree that few would have predicted at the time, they came true.

And it is hard to predict at this stage in the game whether we are ready to make a big step forward or not.

Instead the population has been growing faster than anyone had predicted - at a rate of 8 percent a year.

Once again, it is extremely difficult to predict at the moment how things are likely to develop on a political level.

It is expected to go public, and some predict, at a premium.

Prospects for the current year are difficult to predict at this early stage.

Now get home before I feel the bumps on your head and predict gas at night for you!

Diplomats say that it is hard to predict at this point what effect his return will have.

The latest forecasts for 2009 predict economic growth at a level of -1% or lower.