Latest news with #SecretIntelligenceService
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Security experts praise the Mail for doing a 'national service' by revealing new MI6 chief's granddad was a Nazi spy chief - before the Russians could
Security experts have praised the Mail for doing a 'national service' by disclosing that the next head of MI6 is the granddaughter of a Nazi spy chief. Our investigation found incoming Secret Intelligence Service boss Blaise Metreweli is descended from notorious Ukrainian traitor Constantine Dobrowolski. Known as 'Agent No 30' by Wehrmacht commanders, he had vowed revenge against the Russians after they slaughtered his family and seized his country following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. He requested to be sent to the front when Germany invaded the Soviet Union – and immediately switched sides, initially serving with an SS Panzer division in August 1941. Then, as the Soviets moved in to 'liberate' Ukraine in 1943, Dobrowolski got safe passage from the Nazis for his wife Barbara and their two-month-old son, also named Constantine, to flee west towards Germany. While Dobrowolski's fate is unknown, his wife and their son made it to Britain, where she married a new partner, Georgian-born David Metreweli, in Yorkshire in 1947. Perhaps wanting to suppress their dark family history, his son took his stepfather's surname – a name which passed to his daughter, Blaise Metreweli, who from September will head up the very same intelligence service that was fighting against her grandfather in the Second World War. The Mail unearthed hundreds of pages of documents held in Germany detailing the extraordinary – and blood-soaked – life and times of Dobrowolski that are worthy of a spy thriller. Known as 'Agent No 30' by Wehrmacht commanders, Dobrowolski had vowed revenge against the Russians ever since they slaughtered his noble land-owning family They detail how the Soviets put a 50,000-rouble bounty – £200,000 in today's money – on the head of the man they dubbed 'the executioner' and 'a fascist cannibal' . Dobrowolski boasted to German commanders of 'personally' taking part 'in the extermination of the Jews'. Professor Anthony Glees, who specialises in intelligence, said the Kremlin likely knew 'from the moment' Blaise Metreweli was appointed about her family's past. He said: 'It is very important that the Mail told the British nation and that they did not discover it from a Russian source. 'I suspect the moment the Russian intelligence service saw the appointment that they could well have been waiting for their moment to embarrass us. 'What the Mail has done has very much been in our national security interest, and it is to be applauded.' Giorgi Badridze, former Georgian ambassador to the UK, said: 'It was incredibly important that the story was published by the British media before Russian propaganda could run amok.' A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesman 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. 'It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6.'
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Adventures in Streaming: Gary Oldman, John Le Carre and a series worth sitting through ads for
Article content Le Carre was a veteran of MI-5 and knew his stuff, and since the plot was clearly inspired by the infamous real-life defection of English spy Kim Philby, the series is not short on veracity. The slow burn is worth it. But for the most surprising discovery in the reality-based, anti-Bond espionage genre, go to 1978, the year before TTSS went to air. That's when Brits were treated to the first of three seasons of The Sandbaggers (all seasons are available for free on Tubi). The action beats are few and far between, but the series, created by Scottish novelist Ian Mackintosh, is absolutely compelling, considering that 80 per cent of the show consists of men talking in nondescript bureaucratic office spaces. The premise: Neil Burnside (Roy Marsden) presides over the Secret Intelligence Service, a small, specialized cadre of agents who use their skills to take on special assignments, such as escorting defectors out of hostile countries, or neutralizing turncoats using whatever means necessary. For a modest production, the show is full of surprising moments, shocking reversals, and at least one jaw-dropping betrayal. It's worth sitting through those terrible Tubi commercials. There is no higher praise than that.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Blaise Metreweli
The best way for real to reflect reel could well be a spy thriller, arguably. James Bond's 'M' is now 'C', a woman, powerful and savvy enough to take on the world. And in a world where, increasingly, fact seems like fiction and fiction, fact, Britain has appointed a woman to its secret intelligence agency. Seldom have the two overlapped so effortlessly as when Blaise Metreweli was named as the first woman chief of Britain's MI6. Ms. Metreweli will be the 18th Chief of the MI6, coming in at a time when geopolitics is more in tune with a Mission Impossible world than the racy, but dated intrigue of the Cold War espionage that James Bond played amidst. Adversaries have changed, goalposts have shifted, and the tools of war constitute even more fancy technology than Bond's most creative tech guy 'Q' could even fathom. Ironically enough, Ms. Metreweli is currently Director General 'Q' in MI6, responsible for technology and innovation. Earlier she was with the MI5, Britain secret service agency for domestic intelligence. Ms. Metreweli, who will succeed Sir Richard Moore, will be referred to as 'C', as all chiefs of the MI6 are, going back to the initial used by the agency's first head, Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming. The main mission of the MI6 or the Secret Intelligence Service is to collect foreign intelligence for the United Kingdom. U.K.'s Prime Minister Keir 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.' While a female 'M' played fabulously by a formidable Dame Judi Dench dominates recent public memory, it was only in 1995 that, inspired by Stella Rimington (the first female head of MI5), 'M' became female. It was about the same time that Ms. Metreweli, born in 1977, entered Cambridge University, to study anthropology. She graduated in 1998, and as per official records, joined the MI6 the very next year. She reportedly spent her early career in West Asia, and has since, worked as an intelligence officer, handling counter-terrorism on the field, and taking on director level roles at the MI5. Brush with technology In her role as 'Q', she addressed sophisticated threats including Chinese biometric surveillance and cyberattacks from Russia. Since her headship was confirmed, Ms. Metreweli's felicity with technology has been flaunted as a key strength in leading espionage operations in an increasingly 'post-truth' world, where guns and poisons are no longer the only weapons of choice. The news of her appointment has been welcomed, by and large, not only because she is the first woman head of the MI6 in 116 years, but also because she is perceived as 'one of their own', one who has risen through the ranks. Ms. Metreweli too acknowledged her kinship with the agency: '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 U.K. interests overseas. I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.' U.K.'s Foreign Secretary David Lammy too echoed this sense of propinquity: '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 U.K. can tackle these challenges head on.' Clearly, with Ms. Metreweli, the U.K. has made a studied choice. Perhaps we must let 'M' have the last word, slightly altered. As Dench tells Daniel Craig's James Bond in Skyfall, 'she knows the rules of the game. She has been playing it long enough.'
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- 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
17-06-2025
- 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.
