Vladimir putin has never been one to radically overhaul his top team. Those who fall foul of his rules may find themselves in jail, or blown out of the sky. But Russia’s autocrat typically prefers to keep the loyal close, watched over, and rewarded. News of the dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister of 12 years, in the middle of war, thus raised eyebrows. Replacing him with Andrei Belousov, a technocrat with no previous direct relations to the security bloc, was even more unexpected.

In his final public appearance as Russia’s defence minister on Thursday, Sergei Shoigu saluted Vladimir Putin atop Lenin’s mausoleum on Red Square, clad in a general’s uniform bedecked with medals.

Andrei Belousov, appointed as his successor on Sunday, is cut from a different cloth. A Soviet-trained economist, Belousov has never served a day in the army and has served Putin, Russia’s president, in various roles as a civilian adviser on economics.

There was an expectation that the appointment of Vladimir Putin’s new government would see some change in the Russian security apparatus, but few predicted that Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu would be replaced by an economist, Andrey Belousov, with Shoigu becoming secretary of the Security Council.

With an economist taking over the defence ministry, and the old minister taking up a policy and advisory role, the technocrats are in the ascendant. The goal though is not peace, but a more efficient war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to remove his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister, the Kremlin has announced.

The 68-year-old had been in the role since 2012 and will be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, an economist with little military experience.

Mr Shoigu is to be appointed secretary of Russia's Security Council.

The Kremlin said the defence ministry needed to stay "innovative".

Reshuffles in Russia don't happen very often so this is a big moment at the top of Russian politics.

American troops were hit four times by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East after a U.S. strike Wednesday on an Iranian facility in Syria.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday the U.S. has now been attacked 46 times since Oct. 17, following the breakout of a major war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

That includes 24 attacks in Iraq and 22 in Syria, Singh said. The attacks have all involved explosive drones and rockets.

PARIS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Paris with smiles and a handshake on Wednesday, but ignored questions on their faltering relationship as they headed into the Elysee Palace.

Scholz flew into the French capital for a hastily scheduled working lunch to find common ground after the French leader postponed a joint Cabinet meeting last week over what sources said were differences, including over energy policy and defence.