No word yet on the composition of the new Russian government, but President Vladimir Putin, speaking at an economic forum in Sochi, said it would be announced "soon". The only one who may definitely be out is Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who reportedly handed in his resignation on Tuesday because he is the son-in-law of the new prime minister, Viktor Zubkov. Speaking of Zubkov, hegave ministers in the old cabinet a bit of a tongue lashing on Thursday. He had particularly harsh words for the director of the economy and finance department for the slow pace of the department's aid to victims of the recent earthquake on Sakhalin Island.

Russia's billionaires shaped much of the news this week. First up, Alisher Usmanov. Ranked 142 on Forbes's list of the world's wealthiest people, this steel and iron-ore magnate bought the entire art collection of late Mstislav Rostropovich. According to news reports, Usmanov paid 25% more than the estimated price of the famed cellist's collection. Rostropovich had amassed some 450 pieces of Russian art, and they had been expected to get bids of $25 million to $40 million. Usmanov's deal came on the eve of a planned auction at Sotheby's in London. He will reportedly return the entire collection to Russia.

Usmanov also played a different game this week. An investment company controlled by the billionaire bought another big chunk of the English soccer team Arsenal, becoming its second-largest shareholder. Usmanov and another investor bought 14% of Arsenal for about $150 million in August. This week's deal raises his stake to 21%.

Meanwhile, another Russian billionaire sidelined the handpicked coach for his soccer team. Roman Abramovich, who has risen to become the world's 16th-richest man after being orphaned as a child, has parted ways with Jose Mourinho, the coach of his England-based soccer team, Chelsea. According to Fox Sports, Abramovich had increasingly been calling the shots at the club, buying players and bringing in other management without Mourinho's approval.

Moscow left me dizzy on my last adoption trip, and it may be getting more so. According to Kommersant, a company called ST Towers has plans to build Europe’s tallest building in Moscow, at a cost of $2 billion. According to the newspaper, Rossia Tower will have no supporting columns, but rather use a fan pier design. The tower will include residential space, a hotel and offices.

And finally, this Voice of America story: Russia's ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party has picked a man wanted for murder in Britain to be one its candidates for Russia's December parliamentary elections. Andrei Lugovoi is a suspect in the 2006 murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer and critic of Russian President Putin.

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