A brief look at the stories making headlines in the Russian-language press

In the 100 years since the democratic revolution in 1905, Russia has suffered more wrenching, radical changes than probably any other nation on earth.

One day Vladimir Vladimirovich™ Putin was sitting in his Kremlin office watching a working session of his Cabinet live on closed-circuit television.

The firing earlier this month of Vladimir Loginov, governor of the Koryaksky autonomous district in the Far East, ushered in a new era in the Kremlin's relations with regional leaders.

RTS to Get New Hours The RTS, the nation's second-largest bourse, will extend its operating hours to match the opening and closing times of the rival MICEX. The RTS board met Thursday and approved a plan to open trading at 10:30 a.m. and close at 6:45 p.m., the bourse said in a statement. The change will take effect after the nation's market regulator approves the new hours. (Bloomberg) RTS Estimate Lifted to 800 Brunswick UBS lifted its estimate for the RTS index to 800 by year's end on optimism higher commodity prices will boost earnings for oil and metals producers. Brunswick UBS also raised its estimate for economic growth for 2005 and 2006 to 7 percent from 5 percent. Brunswick UBS earlier forecast a year-end RTS index value of between 650 and 700. The RTS closed at 679.27 on Friday.

Industrial output registered a sharp improvement in February on January's dismal showing, but the outlook remains tempered by a weaker performance in the key oil sector and by government infighting.