Bond buzz: new 007 casting talks as the franchise hunts a fresh face. James Bond, fictional MI6 agent created by Ian Fleming in 1953.
Sir Alex Younger, who led MI6 from 2014 to 2020, has died at 62 after a cancer diagnosis. Colleagues and politicians have paid tribute, highlighting his openness and efforts to broaden recruitment beyond traditional norms.
Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for a two-day state visit, his first there in seven years, to bolster China-North Korea relations amid North Korea’s growing ties with Russia. The visit follows a long history of diplomacy and defence agreements, with analysts watching for negotiations on denuclearisation and regional balance against the US and Russia.
Xi Jinping has visited Pyongyang with Kim Jong Un, signaling a deepening China–DPRK relationship. Talks emphasize broader cooperation while avoiding denuclearisation discussions, raising questions about regional balance and North Korea’s nuclear status.
The Furka Pass railway has reopened sections since the 1980s, with steam trains now running as a summer tourist attraction between Realp and Oberwald. Volunteers, dubbed pioneers, maintain and operate the line, preserving a century of history and connecting Uri and Valais. A one-way journey lasts just under 2.5 hours and costs 46 Swiss francs.