UK govt forced Guardian to destroy Snowden top secret files

The British government forced the Guardian to destroy files or face a court battle over its publication of US security secrets leaked by Edward Snowden, the paper's editor claimed today.

Alan Rusbridger (pic) said he was contacted by "a very senior government official claiming to represent the views of the prime minister" which led to two meetings in which "he demanded the return or destruction of all the material we were working on."

The paper was in the middle of publishing candid revelations about mass surveillance programmes conducted by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and its British counterpart, the GCHQ, after former US intelligence operative Snowden handed them thousands of documents.

Writing in today's Guardian, Rusbridger claimed authorities told him: "You've had your fun. Now we want the stuff back."

"There followed further meetings with shadowy Whitehall figures," he continued.

"The demand was the same: 'hand the Snowden material back or destroy it...You've had your debate. There's no need to write any more'."

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Britain’s royal baby named George Alexander Louis

Britain's Prince William, his wife Kate and newly-named baby son George spent last night at her family home in rural England, far from the glare of the world's media.

The couple slipped away from London in the afternoon, shortly before it was announced that their newborn baby would be called George Alexander Louis.

George, a name shared by six previous kings, was the clear favourite during the fevered speculation about the prince's name, as it pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's beloved father King George VI, who reigned from 1936 until his death in 1952.

The new baby, who is third in line to the throne, will now officially be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, after his father and mother the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A selection of British national newspapers showing the new royal baby are pictured on a news stand in London yesterday. The British monarchy's formidable media machine handled the birth of the royal baby smoothly but huge challenges lie ahead to protect the young prince's privacy, commentators said yesterday. - AFP



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Harry promises fun times for new baby

Britain's Prince Harry yesterday promised to use his expertise to make sure his new nephew George "has fun".

The fast-living prince said he had met and cuddled brother William's new baby George Alexander Louis, who was born on Monday, although the newborn was "crying his eyes out" at the time.

Harry, 28, also joked that his babysitting services would not come cheap.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge' new-born baby boy seen in a car seat outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013. The baby was born on Monday afternoon weighing 3.8 kg. The baby, titled His Royal Highness, Prince George of Cambridge, is directly in line to inherit the throne after Charles, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son and heir, and his eldest son William.

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Prankster getting head stuck inside traffic marker for 2 hours

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Prankster has to be freed by police after getting head stuck inside traffic marker

Man could be seen walking around Hemel Hempstead for two hours
Shoppers left amused by bizarre sight
Police officer placed the man on ground and began yanking at his legs
Man was eventually freed and said 'thank you so much' to officer

Police officers are used to being called out to all manner of bizarre emergencies.

But, as these pictures show, its unlikely many have had to deal with anything as strange as this.

Shoppers in Hemel Hempstead were yesterday left completely bemused after seeing a man walking up and down a street with a traffic bollard stuck on his head.

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Magician Dynamo stuns onlookers as he levitates from the roof of a London bus

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Magician Dynamo stuns onlookers as he levitates from the roof of a London bus

Illusionist Steven Frayne travelled across Westminster Bridge with one had placed on top of 15ft bus
Stunned fans look on from inside the bus, taking pictures of the floating magician
Entertainer to the stars worked on the stunt in partnership with Pepsi Max
Caused a stir in 2011 when he 'walked' across the River Thames in publicity stunt



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