Problem: (CNN) -- Mohammed Alshaya owns more high street brands than most fashion addicts could stuff in their closets.

Mohammed Alshaya, CEO of Alshaya's retail division, tells MME he sees a new mindset in the Gulf

Topshop, Coast, NEXT and River Island are just some of the big names he's imported from the United Kingdom to shopping centers in the Middle East.

As chief executive of M.H. Alshaya, he knows what sells: tried and tested Western brands that will appeal to local shoppers.

And his empire is not limited to clothing. In the past month, he's taken Mothercare and The Body Shop to Central Eastern Europe.

With the addition of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, M.H. Alshaya now operates in 16 markets including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, Turkey, Poland and Russia.

John Defterios spoke with Mohammed Alshaya, and started by asking him for his thoughts on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plans for a single currency.

(JD): I would imagine as a retail operation you'd be a huge proponent of a single currency within the GCC. Is it realistic within the next 4 to 5 years?

(MA): I think it can be, as long as there is a will of the leaders to get together and decide. It is a huge leap towards efficiency, conciliation, getting closer between the six countries. One single Central Bank that governs and regulates is much better than the current six, I believe.

(JD): Have you ever done any calculations of what impact it would have on your back office operations?
1. Who own lots of high street brands?
2. What company does he work for?
3. What is his title?
4. What does he imports?
5. Where to?
6. And where else?
7. How many countries?
8. Who interviewed him?
9. Who did they say needed a common money?
10. How many nations are in it?
11. How much time will it take them to make it happen?
Answer: 1. Mohammed Alshaya
2. Alshaya
3. CEO of retail division
4. Topshop, Coast, NEXT and River Island
5. the Middle East
6. Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia
7. 16
8. John Defterios
9. Gulf Cooperation Council
10. six
11. 4 to 5 years

Q: (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama formally announced Sunday that retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki, a decorated veteran and popular figure among critics of the Bush administration, is his pick to be secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Retired Gen. Eric Shinseki Sunday promised to work for veterans "each and every day."

"There is no one more distinguished, more determined, or more qualified to build this VA than the leader I am announcing as our next secretary of Veterans Affairs -- Gen. Eric Shinseki," Obama said at a press conference.

"No one will ever doubt that this former Army chief of staff has the courage to stand up for our troops and our veterans. No one will ever question whether he will fight hard enough to make sure they have the support they need," Obama added.

Obama said the nation must focus on helping troops who have served their country especially during bad economic times.

"We don't just need to better serve veterans of today's wars. We also need to build a 21st century VA that will better serve all who have answered our nation's call," Obama said. Watch Obama talk about Shinseki "

Obama said Shinseki, who served two combat tours in Vietnam and lost part of his foot, "understands the changing needs of our troops and their families. And he will be a VA secretary who finally modernizes our VA to meet the challenges of our time."

Shinseki, who spoke after Obama, made a vow to his fellow veterans. If confirmed, he said, he will "work each and every day" to ensure the nation is serving them "as well as you have served us."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who made the announcement?
2. When was it?
3. Who is the selection?
4. What did he promise?
5. Where did he deploy overseas?
6. How many times?
7. What did he promise if selected?
8. When did he promise?
9. What did he lose?
10. Where did he lose it?
A: 1. President-elect Barack Obama
2. Sunday
3. retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki
4. to work for veterans "each and every day."
5. Vietnam
6. two
7. "work each and every day" to ensure the nation is serving them
8. Sunday
9. part of his foot
10. Vietnam

Problem: When the tearful broadcaster broke the news to North Koreans that their leader, Kim Jong Il, had died, the audience in the hall gasped.

Then the hysterics began, along with the bawling and sobbing.

"Father!" mourners cried. A wailing woman pounded her fist against her chest to signify heartache. Some appeared to go into physical convulsions. Other North Koreans sobbed so hard, they barely maintained their balance.

"Our leader endured all the hardships," one mourner told state-run Korean Central News Agency in a televised interview. "I can't believe it. Our leader, he's still with us."

Even the reporter holding KCNA's microphone bowed his head and trembled.

In North Korean media videos viewed by CNN, people wept in fitful, theatrical proportions. Whether the mass grieving was genuine is up to debate.

Cultures grieve differently. For instance, in South Korea, it's acceptable to express sorrow vocally, said Sung-Yoon Lee, a research fellow at the National Asia Research Program.

But North Korea presents a unique case.

"It's such a regimented, uniform society, people are conditioned from their early years to praise and adore their leader," he said. "The passing of their leader would be an indication to grieve properly so they are not to be stigmatized by failing to grieve properly. There are always people watching you -- if you are not devastated by the news, you may get in trouble."

While some may exaggerate, for others the grief is authentic, Lee said.

"I think there would be great deal of sincerity, because they're so programmed and conditioned and have an incentive to outperform their families, neighbors in grieving properly," he said. "North Koreans are raised to praise their leader, as are Christians for God. For North Koreans, it's part of the rhetoric to thank the fatherly leader. For them to learn the death of a near God-like leader, it certainly has an emotional reaction."
1. What Asian country is this story primarily about?
2. Which of their leaders is mentioned?
3. WHat heppened to him?
4. Who reported on it?
5. How did the people react to the news?
6. How can you tell?
7. Anything else?
8. Did the newsman remain composed?
9. WHat did he do?
10. Are these reactions sincere?
11. who tried to explain these reactions?
12. Who is he?
13. Where?
14. What explanation did he give for why some reactions might not be sincere?
15. What explanation did he give for why some reactions might be sincere?
16. Is it a diverse country?
17. Are there a lot of rules?
18. How do they feel about their leader?
19. What do they call him?
Answer:
1. North Korea
2. Kim Jong Il
3. he died
4. KCNA
5. They were upset
6. A wailing woman pounded her fist against her chest
7. Some went into convulsions
8. No
9. bowed his head and trembled
10. some were
11. Sung-Yoon Lee
12. a research fellow
13. at the National Asia Research Program
14. There are always people watching you -- if you are not devastated by the news, you may get in trouble
15. because they're so programmed
16. No
17. Yes
18. they adore him
19. Father