January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
LONDON, June 16 — The UK has appointed Blaise Metreweli, a seasoned intelligence officer, as the first woman to lead the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6.
Currently serving as MI6’s head of technology — a role often likened to “Q” in the James Bond films — Metreweli, 47, joined the agency in 1999 and has spent much of her career in operational roles across Europe and the Middle East, according to a government statement.
She will succeed Richard Moore, who will step down this autumn after five years as MI6 chief. Metreweli will assume the title “C,” continuing a long-standing tradition within the agency.
“I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service,” she said upon the announcement of her appointment.
Her promotion marks a historic milestone, making MI6 the latest of Britain’s three main intelligence agencies — alongside domestic security service MI5 and the communications-focused GCHQ — to be led by a woman.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking from Canada during the G7 summit, called the appointment timely, noting that the UK faces “threats on an unprecedented scale.”
“I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country,” he added.
Among the pressing challenges Metreweli will face are mounting threats from Russia, China, and Iran. UK intelligence agencies have accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage operations across Europe to discourage support for Ukraine. In 2021, Moore identified China as MI6’s top strategic priority, while MI5 reported in 2023 that Iran had been behind at least 20 plots targeting dissidents in Britain since 2022.
Metreweli brings experience beyond MI6, having held a director-level role in MI5. She studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge.
Her appointment follows a broader trend of women rising to top intelligence roles in the UK: MI5 had its first female chief, Stella Rimington, in 1992, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller (2002–2007), and GCHQ named its first female director in 2023.
Fittingly, Metreweli’s milestone comes three decades after actress Judi Dench famously portrayed a female MI6 boss in the 1995 James Bond film “GoldenEye.” — Reuters
