Latest news with #SecretIntelligenceService
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
In MI6, a woman at the helm: Rewrite the credits
There's a new M in the game and like her fictional predecessor, played by Judi Dench in James Bond movies, she doesn't need a tux, a martini, or a licence to kill. For the first time in its 116-year-old male-coded history, Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, will be led by a woman, Blaise Metreweli. The 47-year-old will take over the reins of an organisation long mythologised through the lens of Ian Fleming — all Aston Martins, 007 swagger and espionage chic — later this year. The appointment, long overdue, marks a strategic shift — a recalibration of power and priorities in an age where spycraft has traded car chases for cyberattacks and cocktail parties for codebreaking, where espionage is less theatrical performance, more tactical subtlety. It signals a rewriting of the operational playbook to keep up with the times. In the last three decades, the battlefront has shifted from Cold War back alleys to cyberwar rooms, shadowy digital domains, misinformation mines, and global crises, demanding steel, subtlety and technical know-how. Currently MI6's director of technology and innovation, Metreweli has been described as precise and unflappable — more John le Carré's George Smiley than Fleming's Bond. Her elevation to the top job comes as the culmination of a career forged in the crucible of high-stakes geopolitics. Despite their front-row seats and pop-culture glory, espionage has never been a boys-only game. From Bletchley Park code-breakers such as Joan Clarke to undercover World War II operatives such as Violette Szabo and Noor Inayat Khan, women have consistently worked in the shadows. With institutional recognition behind her, Metreweli can now rewrite the credits: In today's intelligence wars, where influence networks stretch across continents, the most dangerous person in the room is no longer the one with a weapon. It may be the woman who can reimagine what strength and leadership might look like in the real-life spyverse.
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
5 things to know for June 17: Israel-Iran, G7, Spending bill, NIH grants, Mike Lindell
Britain's foreign intelligence service, MI6, will be led by a woman for the first time in its history. Blaise Metreweli, who is currently head of the technology and innovation teams, will become chief of the Secret Intelligence Service in the fall. For fans of the James Bond movies, that means Q just became M. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Get '5 Things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. As Israel and Iran trade strikes for a fifth day, civilians in both countries are paying the price. At least 224 people in Iran and 24 people in Israel have been killed. Schools in Tehran have been turned into bomb shelters and emergency bases, while citizens seeking to evacuate the capital ahead of Israeli strikes have been stymied by fuel shortages. People in Israel are trying to avoid Iran's missiles by gathering in bomb shelters where they sit, glued to their phones and TVs, waiting for the latest updates. Amid the escalating conflict, Israel has publicly justified its unprecedented attack as an effort to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. However, US intelligence assessments show Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon and was up to three years away from being able to produce and deliver one to a target. President Donald Trump abruptly left the Group of 7 summit in Canada due to 'what's going on in the Middle East,' and directed his national security staff in Washington to meet in the Situation Room. How Trump intends to handle the situation is unclear as he has been sending mixed signals. He posted 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' on his social media platform, but did not explain why. On Monday, he initially signaled his intention not to sign a joint statement calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran. However, when the G7 leaders released the statement later in the day, an official said it had Trump's blessing. Trump also told European leaders that discussions were underway to obtain a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Overnight, he took to Truth Social to deny ever saying that. The GOP-led Senate Finance Committee released its proposal for President Trump's agenda bill on Monday and it includes some notable changes. While the committee wants to keep many of the provisions contained in the legislation that the House approved last month, it is also calling for: * Deeper cuts to Medicaid* Raising the debt limit by $5 trillion* Lowering the cap on state and local tax deductions* Slowing the elimination of some clean energy tax cuts* Lowering the child tax credit from $2,500 to $2,200 but making it permanent* Limiting tax relief on tips and overtime* Making some business tax breaks permanent Senate Republicans hope to pass their package by next week so the two chambers can work out a final deal to send to President Trump by July 4. A federal judge ruled on Monday that it was illegal for the Trump administration to cut certain research grants at the National Institutes of Health because they focused on gender identity, diversity, equity or inclusion. US District Judge William Young called the administration's process for terminating these grants 'arbitrary and capricious.' He also said it was clear that what was behind the government's actions was 'racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community.' The ruling is expected to be appealed. A federal jury in Colorado has found Mike Lindell guilty of defaming a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. Eric Coomer, who was the security and product strategy director at the voting equipment company, sued the MyPillow founder and conspiracy theorist for calling him a traitor and accusing him of stealing the 2020 election. Lindell and other allies of President Trump continue to falsely claim that his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was due to widespread fraud and blamed Dominion's voting machines. The jury awarded Coomer $2.3 million in damages. Perry's doc takes plea One of the physicians accused of providing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry ('Friends') has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distribution. Perry died in 2023 of 'acute effects' of ketamine and subsequent drowning. Trouble At HomeThe popular home goods chain filed for bankruptcy and may close some locations. Record-breakerTwo-time Olympic gold medalist Mondo Duplantis has broken the pole vault world record for the 12th time. Stand up guysActor Al Pacino and film producer Andrea Iervolino ('Maserati: The Brothers') recently met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Iervolino described the meeting as 'a moment of profound spiritual and cultural inspiration.' Good eatsThe 2025 James Beard Awards were announced on Monday night. Outstanding restaurant honors went to eateries in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Boulder, Colorado. $50 millionThat's how much Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has donated to launch an autism research institute. 'This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.' — Sophie and Colin Hortman, in a statement following the murder of their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. Check your local forecast here>>> BustedA tourist sat on a crystal-covered chair in Verona's Palazzo Maffei and broke it. The piece by Italian artist Nicola Bolla has since been restored.
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Is being head of MI6 actually anything like M in James Bond?
While James Bond answered to a female MI6 boss for years, the real life spy agency has only just appointed its first female chief. Blaise Metreweli was announced as the 18th chief of the 116-year-old Secret Intelligence Service yesterday. She will be taking over from Sir Richard Moore later this year. Bond's boss, codenamed 'M', was played by Dame Judi Dench in the film franchise for 20 years. Famously cold and blunt, she oversees Bond's missions and has a direct line to the Prime Minister. But just how close will Metreweli's new job be to Bond's famous superior? Metreweli, 47, joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999 as a case officer and then an agent runner. She previously worked at director-level for MI5 – MI6's sister agency that looks after domestic security in the UK. Currently, she is MI6's head of technology and innovation and known as 'Q'. In her new role as chief, she will be referred to as 'C'. It's been reported that Bond's 'M' was so named because it stood for 'Missions' – or as Bond suggests in 2006's Casino Royale tied to her real name. However, Metreweli's new initial does not stand for her new positon as chief. In fact, Britain's first spy agency, the Secret Service Bureau, was led by a Royal Navy officer. Captain Mansfield Cumming always signed his letters 'C', for his last name. Since then, the tradition has stuck. 'C' will head up MI6's intelligence gathering on threats to the UK's security from terrorism and hostile states. However, the new MI6 chief has been keen in previous roles to dispel the myth that her work was like 'old school movies and novels territory'. Speaking to the Telegraph in 2021, when she was at MI5 and known only as 'Director K', she said female spies were not like the stereotypes shown in films where 'women in particular in this world are portrayed as psychologically damaged in some way.' The identity of 'M' is shrouded in some Bond films, but in her new role Metreweli will the agency's only publicly named member of the service. The chain of command in the Bond movies is a little different too. Dench's 'M' is answerable to the Prime Minister. But Metreweli will report to the Foreign Secretary and will instead be able to advise Sir Keir Starmer as part of the Joint Intelligence Committee. And will she be able to issues agents a licence to kill? While it was 'M' that revoked Bond's authorisation in 1989's Licence to Kill, Metreweli won't be handing out such immunity to her agents. That power lays with the Foreign Secretary, who can greenlight a spy to use lethal force. More Trending However, Metreweli will have one special right – as the only person in Whitehall to write correspondence in green ink. Captain Cumming established the tradition more than 100 years ago, signing his letters with a green 'C'. A report from 2010 revealed that the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service was receiving a salary of almost £170,000. Sir John Sawers, who got the top job in 2009, was listed as earning £169,999 fifteen years ago. As of April last year, the Prime Minister's annual salary was just £2,154 more – at £172,153. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: A-list heartthrob new favourite to play next Bond villain MORE: 007 First Light trailer revealed and fans are convinced this actor is James Bond MORE: Games Inbox: What are your Nintendo Switch 2 first impressions?
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
MI6 gets first female chief: The real-life female intelligence agents who mastered the art of espionage
This is where the reel merges into reality. MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), the foreign intelligence agency of the United Kingdom, is all set to get its first female chief – Blaise Metreweli – nearly three decades after Dame Judi Dench landed the role of 'M' in the 007 movies. Metrewel, who is to become MI6's 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security. She steps into her new role in the autumn, having joined the intelligence services as a case officer in 1999 – four years after the top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films (from 1995). However, as per the service tradition, the new chief Metrewel will be using the title 'C'. Although it took over a century for MI6 to appoint their own very own 'M', three decades later than the reel version won over the worldwide audience, women have made significant contributions to intelligence and espionage throughout history. Take a look. Virginia Hall An American who became one of the most distinguished spies of World War II. Despite having a wooden prosthetic leg, she served as a field agent for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), organizing sabotage missions and aiding in the escape of Allied soldiers. She was the only female civilian to receive the Distinguished Service Cross during the war. Mata Hari Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The idea of a beautiful, exotic dancer using her powers of seduction as a spy made her name synonymous with the femme fatale. She was executed by firing squad in France. Noor Inayat Khan A British-Indian princess and the first female wireless operator, Noor Inayat Khan, also known as Nora Baker, was sent to Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Operating under the codename 'Madeleine', she transmitted vital intelligence until her capture and subsequent execution at Dachau. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her bravery. Amy Elizabeth Thorpe An Anglo-American socialite and spy, also known as Betty Pack, Betty Thorpe, Elizabeth Pack, and Amy Brousse, who worked as a spy for British and American intelligence during World War II. Known by her codename 'Cynthia', she used her charm to extract sensitive information from foreign diplomats, including German Enigma codes and Vichy French naval secrets. Melita Norwood A British civil servant who secretly passed nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union over several decades. She was one of the longest-serving Soviet spies in Britain, operating under the codename 'Hola'. Her espionage activities were revealed only after her death. Belle Boyd Maria Isabella Boyd, best known as Belle Boyd, was a Confederate spy during the American Civil War. Boyd used her charm to extract information from Union officers, which she then relayed to Confederate commanders. She operated from her father's hotel in Front Royal, Virginia, and provided valuable information to Confederate General Stonewall Jackson in 1862. She was arrested multiple times but continued her espionage activities throughout the war. Lydia Darragh An Irish-American Quaker, Lydia Darragh was an Irishwoman who acted as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. She overheard British officers planning an attack and managed to warn General Washington, allowing the Continental Army to prepare and thwart the assault. Nathalie Sergueiew Nathalie 'Lily' Sergueiew was a Russian-born French journalist who worked as a double agent for MI5 during World War II under the codename 'Treasure'. She played a significant role in the Double-Cross System, deceiving the Germans about the location of the D-Day landings. Elvira Chaudoir Elvira Concepción Josefina de la Fuente Chaudoir was a Peruvian socialite and double agent for the British during World War II. She worked for MI5 and MI6 under the codenames 'Cyril', 'Dorette', and 'Bronx', contributing to operations such as the Double-Cross System and Operation Overlord. Chaudoir's deceptive communications to the Abwehr are credited with preventing the 11th Panzer Division from reinforcing German forces at Normandy.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Blaise Metreweli named Britains first female MI6 spy chief
Britain on Sunday named Blaise Metreweli, a career intelligence officer, as the first female head of the Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6. Metreweli, 47, who is currently MI6's head of technology, known as "Q", joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, and has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe, the government said in a statement. Richard Moore, the current chief of MI6, will step down in the autumn after a five-year tenure. "I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service," said Metreweli, who takes on one of the most powerful jobs in Western intelligence and will be known by the code name "C". I am delighted to announce that Blaise Metreweli will succeed me as Chief of #MI6 on 1 October 2025. Blaise has had a distinguished career as an intelligence officer and leader. She possesses all the qualities to be an outstanding 'C'. Read more here 🔽 — Richard Moore (@ChiefMI6) June 15, 2025 MI6, founded in 1909, joins the other main British spy agencies, the domestic spy service MI5, and the intelligence communications agency GCHQ, in having appointed a female head. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is currently in Canada for the G7 summit, said Metreweli's appointment comes when Britain is "facing threats on an unprecedented scale". "I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country," he said. Metreweli's biggest challenges are likely to be dealing with Russia, China and Iran. Britain's spy agencies have accused Russia of waging a campaign of sabotage across Europe to scare other countries off from backing Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion. According to the BBC, Ms Metreweli, who spoke under the pseudonym "Director K" during her time at MI5, told The Telegraph in December 2021 that the threats facing UK national security are "truly diverse." She noted that the primary focus includes safeguarding government, protecting classified information, defending individuals from assassination attempts, and securing the economy, sensitive technologies, and critical knowledge. She emphasized that "Russian state activity – not Russia itself – remains a threat," while also acknowledging that China is "reshaping the global landscape," bringing both significant opportunities and risks for the UK. According to Reuter, Moore in 2021 said China was the single greatest priority for his spy agency, while MI5 said last year that Iran had been behind 20 plots to kill, kidnap or target dissidents or political opponents in Britain since 2022. MI6, depicted by novelists as the employer of some of the most memorable fictional spies, from John le Carré's George Smiley to Ian Fleming's James Bond, operates overseas and is tasked with defending Britain and its interests. Metreweli previously held a director-level role in MI5, and studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, the government said. MI5 has had two female bosses, starting with Stella Rimington in 1992. Eliza Manningham-Buller ran MI5 between 2002 and 2007. In 2023, Britain named its first female director of GCHQ. Metreweli's appointment comes three decades after the actress Judi Dench first played a female boss of MI6 in the James Bond film "GoldenEye".
