Latest news with #Blaise
NDTV
7 days ago
- NDTV
Women Watched By Men Using Toilets In Trump-Era Detention Centres: Report
According to a report titled, 'You Feel Like Your Life is Over': Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration Detention Centres Since January 2025, undocumented migrants were being exposed to degrading treatment at several US immigration facilities. The report published conditions at three overcrowded south Florida facilities. It claimed migrants were in shackles with their hands tied behind their backs and made to kneel and eat food from Styrofoam plates "like dogs". Dozens of men had been packed in cells for hours and denied lunch till 7pm. They remained in shackles with food in chairs in front of them. "We had to eat like animals," one detainee named Pedro said. This incident took place at a Miami immigration jail. At the Krome North service processing center in west Miami, female detainees were forced to use toilets in full view of male detainees. Women were denied access to gender-appropriate medical care, showers or adequate food. The jail was full far beyond capacity, and to deal with that, detainees were held in a bus at a parking lot for more than 24 hours. Men and women were cramped together and unshackled only when they had to use the single toilet. Soon after, the toilet became clogged. "The bus became disgusting. It was the type of toilet in which normally people only urinate but because we were on the bus for so long, and we were not permitted to leave it, others defecated in the toilet," one man said. "Because of this, the whole bus smelled strongly of feces." After they were transferred to a facility, the group spent up to 12 days crammed in a cold room with no bedding or warm clothes, and they had to sleep on the cold concrete floor. The room was called la hielera - or the ice box. The detainees suffered delays in treatment for injuries, medical or psychological care. At the third facility, the Broward transitional center in Pompano Beach, a 44-year-old Haitian woman, Marie Ange Blaise, died in April because of lack of necessary care. Rosa, one of the detainees, said she heard screams when she saw Blaise in a kneeling position. She thought Blaise was having a "seizure". "We started yelling for help, but the guards ignored us. Finally, one officer approached slowly, looked at her without intervening, and then walked away. After that, it took eight minutes for the medical provider to arrive, and then another 15 or 20 before the rescue team came. By then, she was not moving," Rosa was quoted as saying in the report. The detainees said the "Alligator Alcatraz" jail in the Everglades was quickly built to hold up 5,000 undocumented migrants because the facilities were severely overcrowded.
Canberra Times
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Canberra Times
Grandfather of new MI6 chief was a Nazi spy: reports
The Foreign office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said: "Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Blaise Metreweli to be MI6 first-ever female chief: UK PM Keir Starmer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the "historic" appointment of Blaise Metreweli as the first female chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service , commonly known as MI6 , in the 116-year history of the organisation. Commonly referred to as 'C', the international spy agency's chief has operational responsibility for MI6 and is the only publicly named member of the organisation, accountable to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Metreweli, 47, has been promoted from current role as Director General, or 'Q', responsible for technology and innovation in MI6 and has previously held a director-level role at MI5 - the UK's domestic security service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Starmer said on Sunday. "The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale - be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services," he said. Live Events Metreweli will succeed Sir Richard Moore, who leaves the service in the autumn later this year. "I'd like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe - the foundation of my Plan for Change," added Starmer. The new spy chief expressed her pride and honour in leading the security service which she has been a part of since 1999 as a career intelligence officer, having joined the Security Service as a case officer. "MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ [Government Communications Headquarters] - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners," said the new 'C'. Metreweli, who studied Anthropology at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. "With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future," said her boss David Lammy. "At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad," he said. "Every day, our intelligence services work behind the scenes to protect our national security and compete with our adversaries. That's why I am proud that we are investing an extra GBP 600 million in our intelligence community so they can continue to defend our way of life," added Lammy. Metreweli will be the 18th chief of MI6 when she takes charge from Moore. "I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli to succeed me as 'C'. Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6," said the outgoing 'C'. Cabinet Secretary Christopher Wormald said the new C's experience and leadership in the intelligence community will help MI6 protect the "foundation of our national security and project our interests overseas". "Blaise will be an excellent chief, who will embody the values of the Service and act as a fine role model to its staff. I would also like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his excellent leadership of the Service over the past five years and his contribution to UK national security during that time and over his long career," said Wormald. MI6 has been famously projected in Ian Fleming authored James Bond novels and the related Hollywood film franchise, where Dame Judi Dench has taken on the role of 'C' referenced as 'M' in the fictional scenario. Meanwhile, Metreweli's current role in charge of tech at the spy agency is depicted as 'Q' in the books and films.
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
MI6 appoints first ever female chief to lead secret intelligence service
Blaise Metreweli will become 'C', the only publicly named member of the MI6 intelligence service, in the autumn - the first woman ever to hold the top-secret job Keir Starmer has appointed the first ever woman to lead the secret intelligence service MI6. Britain's new top spy, Blaise Metreweli, spent most of her career in the Middle East and Europe and first joined the top secret agency as a case officer in 1999. Ms Metreweli, who is currently director general 'Q' of MI6, will succeed Sir Richard Moore as the 18th 'C' when he leaves the service in the autumn. The role is the only publicly named member of the organisation. The intelligence service was dramatised in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and films and saw the actress Dame Judie Dench play the first female chief of MI6. Donald Trump won't sink crucial nuclear submarine deal, Keir Starmer says Mr Starmer said: 'The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. 'The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services." Ms Metreweli, who studied at Cambridge and has previously held director-level roles in MI6 and MI5, said: "I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service. MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. "I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners." Mr Starmer also thanked departing MI6 chief Sir Richard for his "dedicated service". Sir Richard said: "I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli to succeed me as 'C'. "Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6." Foreign Secretary David Lammy added: "I am delighted to appoint Blaise Metreweli as the next Chief of MI6. With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future. 'At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad." He added: "Every day, our intelligence services work behind the scenes to protect our national security and compete with our adversaries."
Evening Standard
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Evening Standard
First female chief to take reins of secret service MI6
'I'd like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe – the foundation of my Plan for Change.'
