How she does in office could help determine whether the resource-rich country of 60 million, also known as Burma, continues down the road of reform after it began opening to the outside world over the past year.

WSJ: For Myanmar's Rebel Icon, Politics Get Real

But China will continue trying to prod the North Koreans into reforming the economy and opening the country more to the outside world.

ECONOMIST: North Korea's succession

With the specter of the sex scandal fading and her second group of seniors sending out college applications, Winfrey is opening the school back up to the outside world.

FORBES: The Education Of Oprah Winfrey: How She Saved Her South African School

Jerusalem (CNN) -- In a highly symbolic break with previous policy, Egypt reopened its border crossing into Gaza on Saturday, opening the door for Palestinians to the outside world and raising fears among some Israelis that militant attacks will increase.

CNN: Egypt reopens border with Gaza

Yet opening a financial system to the outside world carries dramatic risks witness the tide of hot money into China's neighbours that led to the Asian financial crisis at the end of the 1990s.

ECONOMIST: China��s capital controls