Who runs Russia with Putin?

When Vladimir Putin first came to power, he was asked in an interview which of his colleagues he trusted most. He named five people: Nikolai Patrushev Sergei Ivanov Dmitry Medvedev Alexei Kudrin Igor Sechin Fifteen years later, these men still form President Putin's core group and dominate the strategic heights of Russian government and big business: Mr Patrushev was director of the FSB internal security service from 1999 until his appointment as Secretary of the Russian security council in 2008 Mr Ivanov has been Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Since 2011, he has been head of the presidential administration Mr Medvedev was President from 2008-12, forming part of the ruling "tandem" with Mr Putin, and is now Prime Minister Mr Kudrin, Finance Minister until 2011, no longer holds a formal position but still appears to offer advice to the president on financial and economic matters Mr Sechin, who has held senior positions in the presidential administration and government, is chief executive of Rosneft, the state oil company This core group illustrates two important points about who runs Russia. First, there has been continuity in terms of the personnel closest to Mr Putin. Real reshuffles are rare, and very few have been evicted from this core group.

Athletics doping crisis: Russia has 'serious problem'

The former director general of Russia's anti-doping agency has admitted the country has "a serious problem", and says 40% of its drug-test violations have come in youth sports. Russia was suspended from international athletics over doping, and must reform in order to return for the Olympics. On Thursday, four Russian weightlifters were suspended after failing drugs tests at the World Championships. "In Russia, the doping issue is acute, we can't deny it," said Ramil Khabriev. Khabriev, who left his post at Rusada earlier this month, was speaking to Russian broadcaster R-Sport. He added: "We have the most violations in anti-doping rules in comparison with other countries. "This, of course, shows there's a serious problem. Around 40% of these violations are from youth sports, which is alarming."

Is Russia still a key world power?

Russia has been eclipsed as a world power by China Whether Russia, one of 15 successor states to the USSR, which broke up in 1991, is still a genuine world power in 2015 is open to question. It remains the world's largest country and the largest oil producer It retains its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (one among five) Its nuclear arsenal (in Cold War times one of five countries, but now one of nine) has been progressively modernised Sustained increases in defence spending have brought it close to its goal of escalation dominance in local and regional war But the economic base for these capabilities is steadily declining. Russia's economy is the 10th largest in the world, producing little of value beyond hydrocarbons. Corruption and rent-seeking extract an enormous economic toll. It remains burdened with Soviet era infrastructure, and its ability to meet the educational and medical needs of its population is rapidly declining.

Euro 2016 draw: England to face Wales in France

Wales and England will meet at Euro 2016 after being drawn together in Group B for next summer's finals in France. Russia and Slovakia are the other teams in their group. European Championship debutants Northern Ireland are in Group C with world champions Germany, Poland and Ukraine. The Republic of Ireland are up against the world's top-ranked side Belgium, Italy and Sweden in Group E.

Roy Hodgson: England boss likely to take charge until 2018

 

England boss Roy Hodgson is likely to remain in charge for the 2018 World Cup campaign, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has said. Hodgson was hired in 2012 and his deal runs until Euro 2016. "If we do well in the Euros, then he is our man for 2018 - and I believe we will do well in the Euros," Glenn said. "If we see progress, this will make us feel that Roy is the best person to take this young team forward and really fire at the next two tournaments." Glenn was speaking directly before the Euro 2016 draw, which saw England placed in a group with Wales, Russia and Slovakia.