For example, when the Bank of England began to tighten slightly its oversight of Moscow Narodny Bank in London after 1986, the USSR simply moved at least a portion of its more risque banking activities to Eurobank in Paris and East-West United Bank in Luxembourg -- where regulatory officials were more laissez-faire.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

And it sort of got lost this week, and nobody has asked about it, but the United States dropped its demand that Israel freeze its settlements in the Middle East -- on the West Bank.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Topics would include financial instruments in East-West trade offered by the banking sector (such as bonds), bank-to-bank cooperation, and even ruble convertibility.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Obama's turn as tourist capped a four-day visit to the Middle East that included stops in Israel and the West Bank, as well Jordan.

NPR: Obama Ends Mideast Trip With Tour Of Ancient Petra

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- The future of the Middle East entered a new era of uncertainty Thursday, as the militant Palestinian opposition group Hamas snatched power from the ruling old guard and made skeptics of many key players in the peace process.

CNN: Hamas' past casts shadow over peace plans