Vietnam's leaders were worried enough for a member of the Politburo to make two visits to the province, along with other senior officials.

ECONOMIST: Vietnam

Khaled Meshaal - Hamas' politburo chief living in exile - was declared the group's overall leader after Sheikh Yassin was killed in an Israeli missile strike.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | Profile: Hamas leader Rantissi

Mr Mugabe is still prevaricating over the Abuja agreement, saying he needs the approval of his party's politburo and his cabinet, neither of which has met yet.

ECONOMIST: But Robert Mugabe, unyielding, goes his own way

Even if deposed as head of Hamas's politburo, he may fancy replacing Mr Abbas as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the umbrella that covers all Palestinian outfits, though it has hitherto excluded Hamas.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Palestine

At the center of the new Great Game is Moscow's effort to put the squeeze on Azerbaijan, a secular Muslim state whose President, Heydar Aliyev, once a member of the Soviet Politburo, welcomes Western investment.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Russia's Oil Grab

Most Moldovans gave the idea their approval, but the turnout was so low that it may be hard for Mr Lucinschi, who was once a member of Mikhail Gorbachev's Soviet Politburo, to have his way constitutionally.

ECONOMIST: Moldova