Britain’s foreign intelligence agency MI6 has named Blaise Metreweli as its next chief, making her the first woman to lead the storied organisation since its inception in 1909. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday as he arrived in Alberta, Canada, for the G7 summit.

Metreweli, 47, is currently MI6’s director of technology and innovation and will formally assume the role this fall, succeeding outgoing chief Richard Moore. She is the only MI6 official whose name is publicly known, and will be referred to by the agency’s traditional title for its chief – “C”.

Describing her appointment as an honour, Metreweli said, “I am proud and honored to be asked to lead my Service.”

Prime Minister Starmer called the appointment “historic,” adding that it comes at a time when “the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital.” He pointed to the growing threats posed by state actors such as China and Russia, cyberattacks targeting public infrastructure, and continued terrorist risks.

Metreweli joins the top ranks of British intelligence leadership at a time of growing complexity in global security. She brings deep experience in both traditional espionage and emerging technologies, having served MI6 for over 25 years. A Cambridge University graduate in anthropology and a former member of the women’s rowing team, she represents a new face of British intelligence leadership—modern, diverse, and tech-savvy.

Her appointment follows a broader trend of gender inclusion in UK intelligence. MI5 was previously headed by women including Stella Rimington and Eliza Manningham-Buller, while Anne Keast-Butler became the director of GCHQ in 2023.

Outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore, who has served since 2020, had previously advocated for greater female representation in intelligence leadership. In a 2023 post, he expressed hope that he would be “the last C selected from an all-male shortlist.”

Metreweli’s selection was the result of a confidential recruitment process launched earlier this year, involving candidates from across the intelligence, diplomatic, and security sectors. In the end, MI6 chose an internal candidate with deep institutional knowledge and forward-looking capabilities.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Metreweli’s leadership will help Britain confront an era defined by hybrid warfare, cyber threats, and geopolitical volatility. “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,” he said.

A top Iranian official has claimed that Pakistan has vowed to launch a nuclear strike against Israel if Tel Aviv uses nuclear weapons against Iran, raising alarm over the potential for broader escalation in the Middle East conflict. The statement, however, has not been officially endorsed by Islamabad.

General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the country’s National Security Council, made the assertion on Iranian state television, stating, “Pakistan has told us that if Israel uses nuclear missiles, we will also attack it with nuclear weapons.” His remarks come amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, including Israeli airstrikes on Iranian facilities and Iranian missile retaliation.

The claim has triggered concern across the region, especially given Pakistan’s capability to strike Israel using its Shaheen-3 ballistic missile, which has a range of up to 2,700 kilometers. While the missile is operational within Pakistan’s strategic arsenal, the Pakistani military has not issued any statement confirming its intended use in the current Israel-Iran conflict.

Pakistan’s official stance has so far remained diplomatic, with no confirmation of the Iranian general’s claims. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in a recent address to Parliament, condemned Israel’s military actions and called for unity among Muslim nations. He urged countries with diplomatic ties to Israel to sever them and pressed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to adopt a united strategy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed support for Iran, strongly criticizing Israeli strikes and calling on the international community to intervene. However, he did not indicate any military commitments, let alone nuclear ones.

The Iranian general’s statement appears to reflect strategic signaling rather than a confirmed bilateral understanding. It also raises the stakes in a region already bracing for the fallout from active hostilities. Several Israeli and Iranian military targets have reportedly been hit in the past week, resulting in multiple casualties.

Global powers are watching the situation closely. Security analysts suggest that while the Iranian claim may be aimed at deterrence, it risks dragging additional nuclear-armed states into the Israel-Iran conflict, which could have devastating regional consequences.

As of now, Pakistan maintains a posture of diplomatic support for Iran without indicating any direct military involvement. The assertion of nuclear retaliation remains a one-sided declaration by Iran, lacking formal corroboration from Pakistani authorities.

The situation remains tense, and with nuclear rhetoric now entering the discourse, the urgency for de-escalation and international diplomacy is greater than ever.

Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) have joined forces to develop a next-generation Unmanned Airborne Early Warning (UAEW) solution, combining Saab’s renowned AEW&C sensor technology with the MQ-9B unmanned aerial system. This strategic collaboration aims to deliver a cost-effective and persistent surveillance platform capable of operating over land and sea.

The system is designed to detect and track threats such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and drone swarms. By integrating Saab’s advanced radar systems into GA-ASI’s MQ-9B—a long-endurance drone already ordered by several countries—the partnership seeks to make high-end early warning capabilities more affordable and accessible for global defence forces.

According to Saab, the UAEW system will offer operational flexibility, functioning either independently or as part of a manned-unmanned team. It can be deployed from naval warships or land-based platforms, expanding AEW coverage to regions where conventional systems are limited by infrastructure or cost.

GA-ASI president David R. Alexander described the program as “a transformation in operations,” noting its potential to enhance defences against both sophisticated missile threats and low-cost drone attacks. Saab’s Surveillance division chief Carl-Johan Bergholm emphasized that the new system complements the company’s existing AEW&C portfolio while opening up new mission possibilities.

The first flight of the AEW-equipped MQ-9B is scheduled for 2026. Once operational, the system is expected to support customers such as the U.K., Canada, Japan, India, and the U.S., where the MQ-9B is already in active procurement or deployment.

The Saab–GA-ASI collaboration is being closely watched by defence analysts, who see it as a key step in evolving early warning systems into more agile, unmanned formats suitable for tomorrow’s battlefields.

A fire broke out at the Haifa refinery in northern Israel after it was struck by missiles launched by Iran late on June 15. The attack, seen as retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes that killed several high-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders including Iran’s armed forces chief Mohammad Bagheri, has escalated tensions across the region.

Satellite images and verified footage from the scene show damage to critical pipelines and transmission lines within the refinery complex. Emergency crews are working to bring the fire under control, while assessments of the full extent of the damage are ongoing.

According to experts, the strike indicates a notable improvement in Iran’s missile capabilities. A recent report from the International Crisis Group suggests Iranian missile precision has increased by nearly 30 percent since 2020. The Haifa refinery is considered a strategic asset within Israel’s energy network, and the strike has raised concerns about broader disruptions in the energy sector.

While the refinery is located near Haifa Port—a major international trade hub now operated by India’s Adani Group—port operations remain unaffected. Adani Group’s CFO, Jugeshinder Singh, clarified that no damage occurred at the port, and cargo handling continues as normal. The facility handled over 10.6 million metric tonnes of cargo in the fiscal year 2025 and plays a key role in the Europe-Asia shipping route through the Suez Canal.

This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between Iran and Israel, which have included Israeli operations targeting Iranian nuclear sites and senior military officials. Analysts warn that continued escalation could destabilize the broader West Asian region and impact global energy markets.

Authorities in Israel are closely monitoring the situation and have heightened security around critical infrastructure points as diplomatic channels work to contain the fallout.