An earthquake in Japan, more Spice Girls, a dodgy year for Britain's government and war involving the US - these are just some of the things predicted by News Online users for 1998.

25% of you think the Spice Girls will go on to (even) bigger and better things. Depending who you believe they will be knighted, Geri (Ginger Spice) will marry Prince Charles, or - if you believe Michael Bower from the USA - Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair will resign from public office to become their manager.

We asked "What do you predict for 1998?"

Trouble in store for British government

If that isn't bad enough, the news this year gets worse for Britain's Labour government. 40% of Talking Point users believed 1998 will see a serious drop in the government's popularity as a result of cuts in welfare benefits and indecision over joining the single European currency. Some of you suggested flaws would appear in the devolution bills. Georgia Webb in Scotland went so far as to predict an explosion of sectarian violence in Wales.

A less than happy year on the international arena as well, it seems. At least half of you predicted another earthquake in Japan, resulting in the liquidation of its overseas assets leading to more trouble on global financial markets. Mat Guthrie from the UK says we won't see a recession or a depression but "a total collapse." "The world will be plunged into chaos, and, in desperation, almost all nations will cede national sovereignty to the UN," he concluded.

A third of respondents predict that Europe will also be plagued with problems, including rising inflation and unemployment. But interestingly many users still say the single european currency will nevertheless go ahead, even if it has a rather "soft" effect on the rest of the world.

60% predict War for US

According to those users who submitted their predictions to Talking Point there could be more war in 1998. 60% of you pointed the finger at the USA and its problem called Saddam Hussein, agreeing that military presence would continue in the Gulf, sanctions would not be lifted and at the worst, the situation would come to full boil again.

On a less apocalyptic note, lots of excitement and suspense on the sports field. Opinion was very divided on the winner of this year's largest event - the football World Cup. Colin Gaunt defied all your views and named The Spice Girls as his tip to win! Mind you Colin, didn't you also predict Microsoft would go into the strawberry jam business and the Queen would take up professional wrestling?

What better way to begin seeing out this already extraordinary millennium?

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