Russia has been running a surplus and is using the proceeds to buy gold and fix things up. Things are looking up. The demographic situation is improving and they're diversifying their economy. The question is what benefits they'll realize from their relative frugalness? 

The Mideast is a total basket case. Iraq is becoming Italy. There's widespread rioting in Israel due to the US opening of its embassy in Jerusalem. Is this a longer term deterioration of the situation or is it just business as usual for this troubled region of the world?