Vladimir Putin won reelection as Russian President in March 2004, in an exercise in “managed democracy” in which he took 71% of the vote and faced no serious competition. The pro-Putin Unified Russia party similarly swept the parliamentary election in December 2003 and controls more than two-thirds of the seats in the Duma. Also in March, Putin replaced long-serving Premier Kasyanov with a little-known bureaucrat, Mikhail Fradkov, indicating Putin’s intent to take the reins of government even more completely into his own hands. Putin’s twin priorities remain to revive the economy and strengthen the state. He has brought TV and radio under tight state control and virtually eliminated effective political opposition. Federal forces have suppressed large-scale military resistance in Chechnya but face the prospect of prolonged guerilla warfare and terrorist-style attacks.

Text describes action on various war fronts: Japs advance to Lashio -- Allies raid Lae -- Japs attack in China -- Malta sends greetings -- Hitler in Detroit from Moscow -- Yanks in New Caledonia -- Gen. George killed -- Fourth registration -- President calls nation to new sacrifice -- Price control fixed -- Rescued crew hits sub -- U.S. movies bootlegged -- Home worries Hitler -- Eastern seaboard put under Army safeguard -- RAF 'second front' opens -- Malta stiffens fight -- Greek guerillas active -- Red commandos strike Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset map shows areas of heaviest rainfall around the Bay of Bengal. Photographs: Fortresses roamed from Australia -- Maj. Gen. Patch Jr. -- Brig. Gen. Harold H. George -- Ways will be found to deliver the planes -- The gun crew got the range -- Lt. Gen. Drum -- Germans reported Red armoured trains -- Training of U.S. Army glider pilots.