MI6 headquarters in London as new and first woman UK spy chief appointed

The UK government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the first-ever woman to head its MI6 spy service as the country faces "threats on an unprecedented scale", Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday.

The MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) achieved global fame through Ian Fleming's fictional agent James Bond. Metreweli will be the 18th head of the service, Starmer's Downing Street office said in a statement. "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of intelligence services has never been more vital," Starmer said.