Author: The Guardian

In the weeks since Vladimir Putin sacked his longtime defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s FSB security service has pursued a series of high-level corruption cases against a deputy minister and department heads in what many insiders are now calling a purge in the defence ministry.Andrei Belousov, the technocrat economist appointed to replace Shoigu, has a mandate to reduce corruption in the defence ministry and streamline military production for a long war against Ukraine that could largely be decided by industrial output.But former defence and Kremlin officials, ex-officers and foreign observers have said it was likely the exit of Shoigu and…

IIn central Seoul, in front of the iconic Gyeongbokgung Palace, dozens of people of all ages sat on wet yoga mats and stared into space. Some were dressed in the uniforms of doctors and dentists, while others were dressed in the attire of office workers and students. Welcome to the international “space race”.The rule is simple: do nothing. However, falling asleep will result in disqualification. Organizers monitor participants’ heart rates; the contestant with the most stable heart rate wins.The space race was started by local artist Woopsyang in 2014 and has grown in popularity over the years. The show, described…

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda has won re-election, official results showed, in a vote marked by defence concerns over neighbouring Russia.The count published by the electoral commission showed that Nausėda won 74.6% of votes with 90% of ballots counted after polls closed on Sunday in the second-round vote.Voters “have handed me a great mandate of trust and I am well aware that I will have to cherish this,” Nausėda, 60, told journalists in Vilnius.“Now that I have five years of experience, I believe that I will certainly be able to use this jewel properly, first of all to achieve the goals…

Josef Newgarden puts aside cheating scandal to become first man since Helio Castroneves 22 years ago to win back-to-back Indianapolis 500 A record 20th race victory for Roger Penske.The Tennessean passed Pato O’Ward on the final lap of Sunday’s rain-delayed race to become the first man since Castroneves to win for Team Penske in 2001 and 2002 Drivers who win 500 miles in a row.”I love this group of guys. If we win here, I have to be in the crowd, which I always do,” Newgarden said.O’Ward put his head on the steering wheel in despair. He was trying to…

Donald Trump’s inner circle is stepping up efforts to woo Black and other minority voters, with a leading candidate to be his vice-presidential running mate claiming falsely on Sunday TV that Joe Biden was resegregating US public schools.Tim Scott, the US senator from South Carolina who has been open about his desire to be on Trump’s ticket, made one of the most extreme claims yet. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union show, he described President Biden as a supporter of educational segregation.“We need four more years of common sense under Donald Trump, and not four more years of segregation…

Sergio Perez condemns Kevin Magnussen for “dangerous driving” after serious accident at Monaco Grand Prix, with Red Bull driver accusing Dane of being deliberately reckless while racing while Mexican was lucky to climb out of him car wreckageOn the first lap of Monte Carlo, when going up the hill after the first lap, Perez started in 16th place ahead of the two Haas drivers Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, and was beaten by Magnussen. Passing from behind at about 150 mph. The Mexican’s car plowed into the guardrail before ricocheting across the track and into another wall. Both Haas vehicles were…

Six people who shared a meal involving black bear meat kebabs have been diagnosed with trichinellosis, a parasitic zoonotic disease.In a new report released this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that in July 2022, a 29-year old hospitalized patient with suspected trichinellosis was reported to the Minnesota health department. His symptoms included fever, severe muscle aches, periorbital edema or eye swelling, and eosinophilia or the condition of elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.According to the report, a week prior to the symptoms appearing, the patient and eight other people shared a…

When Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka first met on the court, two hopeful young men were eager to establish themselves in their sport but still unsure of what would happen next. Nineteen years later, with six Grand Slam titles between them, they gather again at Stade Philippe Chatrier as icons in the final stages of their careers.Now aged 37 and 39, their 23rd match is the second oldest match at Roland Garros in the past 50 years. This time, Wawrinka won a well-deserved victory with his disciplined and destructive hitting. He completely overwhelmed the powerless Murray, swept his old opponent…

Britain’s armed forces need more money not untrained teenage volunteers, former military leaders and Tory figures have said in a new blow to the Conservatives’ faltering election campaign.Within hours of being announced, Rishi Sunak’s election pledge to bring back military service for 18-year-olds was rubbished by army chiefs and a former Conservative defence secretary.Rishi Sunak pledged to introduce mandatory national service which would see young people spend a year in the military or do volunteer work on weekends.The prime minister doubled down on the proposal on Sunday night, saying that national service schemes in other countries “show just how fulfilling…

A professional jockey has died while competing in a show jumping event in Devon.British Eventing’s governing body said in a statement: “It is with the deepest regret that we announce that George Campbell (GBR) suffered a fatal injury while competing at the Bickerton International Equestrian Trials in Devon, UK, on ​​Sunday 26 May 2024. ACCIDENT.”Medical professionals arrived immediately after she fell from pen 5b. Unfortunately, however, she could not be saved. The horse, Global Quest, was evaluated by an on-site veterinarian and walked back to the stable without any injuries. Injuried.”To respect the family’s privacy at this extremely difficult and…