07/11/2013 Newsround

Good afternoon! You're watching Newsround with me, Ricky. On the

way... The Olympic torch blasts off into space. The secret world of

spies becomes less secret. Why balloons are being used in the fight

against crime. First, while you guys were sleeping early this morning -

this happened. We have liftoff. An Olympic torch blasted into space.

It's all part of Russia's preparations for the Winter Games in

Sochi next year. For many, this part of the torch relay is being seen as

a chance for Russia to show itself off as a strong and modern country,

a world leader when it comes to space. Watch out for the flashes in

Leah's report. It was still dark early this morning when three

cosmonauts and one very special torch started its mission. We have

liftoff! For many, this blastoff will be a moment they will not

forget, especially people watching from the launch site in Kazakhstan.

There it goes, off to the International Space Station with the

Olympic torch on board! It is so loud you can feel it in your feet.

It is a dramatic reminder of Russia's leading role in

It is a dramatic reminder of space flight. All the excitement

built up to next year. Next - it's been a huge

day in the usually super-secretive world of spying. For the first time

ever, bosses from the UK's three top spy agencies have been shown on TV,

being grilled by a group of MPs They defended the work of Britain's

spies, with the head of MI5 saying that they worked for "freedom and

democracy". Spying has been big news in recent months, after documents

suggesting that US and UK spy agencies have been able to tap into

millions of emails were published in a newspaper. You are travelling

through the same waters where you disappeared. If you wanted to catch

spies on film this is as close as you can get. Shows like CBBC's MI

High, Spykids or James Bond. But today, for the first time, the heads

of the UK's three main spying agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ appeared

Live on TV for the first time in front of a committee of MPs. They

might just look like men in suits but it's a huge moment. These are

people who you hear about but you do not see them. We are going to be a

bit more wise by the end of today with regards to the world is that

spies living and what they are up against. Years ago, top spies

appearing like this would never have happened. Their faces were never

shown, and their identities were kept secret. But more recently, spy

agencies have become more open. So who are the three main agencies and

what do they do? MI5's role is to protect the UK itself from any

threats from terrorism or violence. MI6 tries to find out

threats from terrorism or violence. from overseas. And GCHQ listens to

phone calls and reads emails from all

phone calls and reads emails from spy bosses are answering questions

about how they collect info using mobiles and the internet. It's after

US security worker Edward Snowden leaked details of spying missions to

a British newspaper which suggested that millions of emails have been

monitored. The public grilling of these top spies today is seen as

such a big deal because of the news that so much spying has been going

on. Everyone accepts that spies need to do their work in secret to keep

the country safe. But many think we need to know more about their

methods to make sure that they don't gather more secret info than they

really need. Next - Justin Bieber is in trouble

with police in Brazil after apparently painting on a wall in the

south American country. He could be made to pay a fine after pictures

which appear to show him spraying graffiti, were printed in local

newspapers. Now it's claimed officers want to talk to him about

it. Finally, spotted any strange balloons in your house recently

Police in South Yorkshire are using a very unusual way to warn people

about the risks of burglary - by breaking in to homes themselves

Officers try to enter unlocked houses through doors or windows and

leave a balloon to show people living there how easy it was to get

in. I would be petrified if I found one of though -- those balloons in

my house. Lego fans - head over to the Newsround website