Profile

Vladimir Putin's motives and aims are at the heart of the Ukraine crisis. In this week's Profile, Mary Ann Sieghart speaks to those who've watched him closely. We hear about his life as KGB agent, his volatile temper and the role religion now plays in his life and politics.

Janet Yellen is Barack Obama's choice as the next Chairman of the US Federal Reserve. She will become the most powerful central banker in the world and, arguably, the most powerful woman in the world. But who is she? Mary Ann Seighart finds out

Actor, Producer and DJ Idris Elba is best known for his role playing Baltimore drug boss Stringer Bell in The Wire, and Detective John Luther on British television. He is now appearing in a very different role - Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom. Chris Bowlby profiles the British actor who some think will one day be the first black James Bond.

This week Mark Coles profiles 'Dr Ironfist', Vitali Klitschko, the world boxing champion turned Ukrainian political leader. The son of a Soviet air force officer and the only top boxer with a PhD but can he make a successful politician?

Michelle Bachelet is on the threshold of winning a second term as President of her country. Her family were victims of the coup under General Pinochet in 1973. Her father was tortured and eventually died from a heart attack. The regime also tortured Bachelet and her mother before allowing them to go into exile. Edward Stourton profiles the Chilean socialist.

Tom Daley is in the media spotlight again this week when he announced via YouTube that he is dating a man and he has spent most of his life in the public eye since achieving attention when he became Britain's youngest diver to win the national championships. Mark Coles looks at Tom's long list of sporting accolades and his life away from the diving board.

Lesley Curwen profiles Nicola Sturgeon. Plans for an independent Scotland have been announced by the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon, deputy to Alex Salmond, may be key to the party's chances of success. How did she achieve such a rapid rise to political prominence? And why is she so obsessed with the TV drama Borgen? Lesley Curwen profiles.

Bill de Blasio will soon take over as Mayor of New York. Having overcome the suicide of his war veteran father, created the most famous multiracial family in the US he now has to persuade Wall Street to fund his radical plans to overcome inequality in the Big Apple. Mark Coles profiles a politician attracting global attention.

Sachin Tendulkar embodies the Indian dream and is seen by some as a living god. As his quarter-century cricketing career comes to a close and he plays his 200th test match, Tim Franks looks at his life and role as an inspiration to a nation.

Becky Milligan profiles Alison Saunders, the new Director of Public Prosecutions and a barrister who has prosecuted some of the country's most infamous criminals.

Grangemouth owner Ineos has been described as the 'biggest company you've never heard of.' Jo Fidgen profiles its billionaire boss Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest men.

Becky Milligan profiles Andrew Mitchell, who resigned as Conservative Chief Whip last year after being accused of calling officers guarding the Downing Street gates "plebs".

Mary Ann Sieghart looks at the life of Rufus Norris, the next director of the National Theatre and the first not to be a Cambridge graduate since Sir Laurence Olivier.

Mark Coles examines the life of former Islamist Maajid Nawaz who has been instrumental in the departure of leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll from the English Defence League.

A gifted journalist with his finger on the pulse of Middle England? Or "the most dangerous man in Britain" as the Guardian newspaper has described him? Mark Coles profiles the powerful and influential Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre.