Chinese Space Station 'May Crash Back To Earth'

A Chinese satellite may be free-wheeling through space, and could make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

China's first ever space station - Tiangong-1 - was launched in 2011 and was due to be brought down into the ocean in a controlled crash.

But it has been reported that China has now lost control of it, and one amateur astronomer believes it could come down at any moment.

If it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, it is likely to explode into pieces of molten metal as a result of the intense heat produced.

Amateur satellite tracker Thomas Dorman told Space.com that he has spotted that a problem has developed with Tiangong-1.

He has been tracking the satellite's flyovers using telescopes and video cameras.

He said: "If I am right, China will wait until the last minute to let the world know it has a problem with their space station.

"It could be a real bad day if pieces of this came down in a populated area, but odds are it will land in the ocean or in an unpopulated area."

Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, said the Chinese authorities' silence could mean it is already in freefall.

He told the website: "That would seem to suggest that it's not being deorbited under control. That's the implication."

But senior research astrodynamicist TS Kelso said "it may be much ado about nothing".

"I guess I would want to see some very specific data, notionally covering a period where Tiangong-1 was supposed to be stable, to show that it is now uncontrolled, before reading too much more into this."

Taingong-1, which means Heavenly Palace in English, was supposed to be the first step towards creating a larger space complex in Earth's orbit by 2020.

Chinese Space Station 'May Crash Back To Earth'

A Chinese satellite may be free-wheeling through space, and could make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

China's first ever space station - Tiangong-1 - was launched in 2011 and was due to be brought down into the ocean in a controlled crash.

But it has been reported that China has now lost control of it, and one amateur astronomer believes it could come down at any moment.

If it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, it is likely to explode into pieces of molten metal as a result of the intense heat produced.

Amateur satellite tracker Thomas Dorman told Space.com that he has spotted that a problem has developed with Tiangong-1.

He has been tracking the satellite's flyovers using telescopes and video cameras.

He said: "If I am right, China will wait until the last minute to let the world know it has a problem with their space station.

"It could be a real bad day if pieces of this came down in a populated area, but odds are it will land in the ocean or in an unpopulated area."

Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, said the Chinese authorities' silence could mean it is already in freefall.

He told the website: "That would seem to suggest that it's not being deorbited under control. That's the implication."

But senior research astrodynamicist TS Kelso said "it may be much ado about nothing".

"I guess I would want to see some very specific data, notionally covering a period where Tiangong-1 was supposed to be stable, to show that it is now uncontrolled, before reading too much more into this."

Taingong-1, which means Heavenly Palace in English, was supposed to be the first step towards creating a larger space complex in Earth's orbit by 2020.

Chinese Space Station 'May Crash Back To Earth'

A Chinese satellite may be free-wheeling through space, and could make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

China's first ever space station - Tiangong-1 - was launched in 2011 and was due to be brought down into the ocean in a controlled crash.

But it has been reported that China has now lost control of it, and one amateur astronomer believes it could come down at any moment.

If it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, it is likely to explode into pieces of molten metal as a result of the intense heat produced.

Amateur satellite tracker Thomas Dorman told Space.com that he has spotted that a problem has developed with Tiangong-1.

He has been tracking the satellite's flyovers using telescopes and video cameras.

He said: "If I am right, China will wait until the last minute to let the world know it has a problem with their space station.

"It could be a real bad day if pieces of this came down in a populated area, but odds are it will land in the ocean or in an unpopulated area."

Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, said the Chinese authorities' silence could mean it is already in freefall.

He told the website: "That would seem to suggest that it's not being deorbited under control. That's the implication."

But senior research astrodynamicist TS Kelso said "it may be much ado about nothing".

"I guess I would want to see some very specific data, notionally covering a period where Tiangong-1 was supposed to be stable, to show that it is now uncontrolled, before reading too much more into this."

Taingong-1, which means Heavenly Palace in English, was supposed to be the first step towards creating a larger space complex in Earth's orbit by 2020.

Theresa May Set To Be PM On Wednesday

The UK is set to have a new prime minister on Wednesday as Home Secretary Theresa May is given the keys to Number 10.

David Cameron made the announcement after Mrs May's only rival in the Conservative leadership race, Andrea Leadsom, withdrew from the campaign.

Mr Cameron said the 59-year-old Maidenhead MP would take over from him after his last Prime Minister's Questions, when he would then offer his resignation to the Queen.

Theresa May is due to take over from David Cameron as PM

The outgoing PM, who announced last month he was resigning after losing the EU referendum, told reporters he was "delighted" that Mrs May would be his successor, describing her as "strong" and "competent".

He said: "She is more than able to provide the leadership that our country is going to need in the years ahead and she will have my full support.

"With these changes we don't need to have a prolonged period of transition so tomorrow I will chair my last cabinet meeting."

:: Profile Of New Prime Minister

Mrs May was later confirmed as the new Tory leader by the chairman of the party's 1922 Committee, Graham Brady.

One of her big tasks will be negotiating the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

Around lunchtime, Mrs Leadsom, 53, said she was pulling out of the leadership contest shortly after apologising to her rival after appearing to suggest the fact that she was a mother gave her the edge over the childless Mrs May.

The junior energy minister and Brexit supporter said a nine-week leadership campaign to succeed Mr Cameron at such a critical time for the UK would be "highly undesirable".

Mrs Leadsom said Mrs May - who backed staying in the EU - was ideally placed to implement Brexit and offered the Home Secretary her full support.

Mrs May has also received the backing from leading Brexit supporters Michael Gove and Boris Johnson.

Chancellor George Osborne wrote on Twitter: "Welcome news we have 1 candidate with overwhelming support to be next PM. Theresa May has strength, integrity & determination to do the job."

Mrs Leadsom's announcement she was quitting the race came a little more than an hour after Mrs May launched her national campaign in Birmingham, seeking to present herself as the candidate of unity and experience with overwhelming support from Conservative MPs.

Mrs May repeated her vow that "Brexit means Brexit", as she insisted there will be "no attempts" to remain in the EU or to rejoin it "by the back door".

"As prime minister, I will make sure we leave the European Union," she said.

She finished top in the MPs' ballot last week with 199 votes to Mrs Leadsom's 84.

Mr Cameron's departure had not been expected to take place until after the end of a ballot of 150,000 Conservative members on a new leader on 9 September.

There have been demands from Labour and the Liberal Democrats for Mrs May to call a snap general election, rather than wait until 2020 for the next scheduled contest under the fixed-term parliaments rule.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "With Theresa May's coronation we need an early general election. The Tories now have no mandate. Britain deserves better than this."

Labour election co-ordinator Jon Trickett has said he is putting the whole party on a general election footing, on the same day Angela Eagle launched a bid to get rid of leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Fears Of Renewed Civil War In South Sudan

Large explosions have been reported in the capital of South Sudan following days of violence between rival factions that have left scores of people dead.

Battles initially broke out in Juba on Thursday between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, and those who favour vice president Riek Machar, who led rebels during a two-year conflict that began in 2013.    

The UN Security Council has called for both men to rein in their forces, amid fears civil war may be reigniting.    

But Mr Machar, whose home was attacked on Sunday, has cast doubt on any chances of a deal, tweeting: "In the last 2 hours, we went through heavy bombardments by Pres Kiir helicopters. 

"This tells that our partner is not interested in peace."

But he added: "I urge calm and restraint throughout these skirmishes.

"I'm safe. No one should take laws in their own hands to destabilise this country." 

He also said he still had hope for the future. 

An aid worker in the Tomping area of Juba, which contains embassies, the airport and a UN base spoke of a "massive explosion" early on Monday. 

A resident in the Gudele area reported "very heavy gunfire".    

The AFP news agency said tanks and helicopter gunships had been deployed, while residents reportedly barricaded themselves inside houses. 

In a tweet, the US embassy in Juba warned of "serious fighting between government and opposition forces". 

The UN said clashes had resumed near its compound in Jebel, where 30,000 civilians have taken refuge.  

UN spokeswoman Matilda Moyo said 10,000 people had been displaced by the fighting. 

More than 100 have reportedly been killed. 

South Sudanese vice president Riek Machar speaks on TV after renewed fighting breaks out

Regional airline Kenya Airways has suspended flights to Juba, citing the "uncertain security situation". 

The fighting is a fresh blow to a peace deal that has failed to end the civil war that broke out in December 2013, after President Kiir accused Mr Machar of plotting a coup. 

Tens of thousands of people have died, while nearly three million have been forced from their homes. 

Fighting has continued despite the establishment of a transitional coalition government last year.  

South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, addresses a news conference following the renewed fighting

In a statement, the UN Security Council said the violence showed a "lack of serious commitment" to peace on both sides. 

The humanitarian crisis has been accompanied by an economic one, with the currency collapsing and inflation spiralling out of control. 

The world's youngest country marked its fifth independence anniversary on Saturday. 

N Korea Vows To Turn South Into 'Sea Of Fire'

North Korea has said it will turn the South into a "pile of ashes" after moves by the US and Seoul to deploy a missile defence system on the peninsula. 

Pyongyang said it would make a "physical response" following the deployment of the advanced THAAD missile defence system.

The US and South Korea said the anti-missile system will be used to counter North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

The announcement was the latest move by the allies against the North, which conducted its fourth nuclear test this year.

The North has also launched a long-range rocket, resulting in tough new UN sanctions.

"There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea are confirmed," the North's military said in a statement.

"It is the unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike and turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes the moment we have an order to carry it out," the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency said.

The North frequently threatens to attack the South and US interests in Asia and the Pacific.

South Korea's Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun warned the North not to take "rash and foolish action".

Otherwise, he said, it would face "decisive and strong punishment from our military."

The move to deploy the THAAD system came after the US blacklisted leader North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for human rights abuses.

North Korea called the blacklisting "a declaration of war" and vowed a tough response.

Pyongyang said it had notified America that it would sever the only channel of diplomatic communication between them.

It will handle all matters, including any discussions about two Americans it has detained, under wartime laws, it said.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the THAAD system was not intended to target any third country.

He said it was purely aimed at countering the threat from the North, in an apparent message to Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that THAAD exceeded the security needs of the Korean peninsula.

He suggested there was a "conspiracy behind this move."

Banksy Murals Destroyed By Aussie Builders

Australian builders have destroyed three murals by the renowned street artist Banksy.

It is not the first time that artwork by the British artist has been wrecked by construction workers in the city of Melbourne.

In the latest incident, three rat stencils around a doorway were drilled out and dumped in a skip during renovation work.

The rat murals were found dumped in a skip. Pic: Meyer Eidelson

Meyer Eidelson, the owner of Melbourne Walks, said on his Facebook page: "Australia's largest remaining group of Banksy street art stencils was recently destroyed.

"A new doorway in ACDC lane destroyed the three iconic works even though their location was well known to the Melbourne arts community.

"The rubble was mindlessly loaded into a skip."

Mr Eidelson said two more Banksy stencils nearby were destroyed in 2014.

The rat murals were part of the street art on this Melbourne doorway. Pic: Meyer Eidelson 

"I should have seen it coming," he said. 

"Since 1992 we have been fighting to promote the city's heritage but we are losing. The people have lost control over their own city.

"The fabulous old city that tells the Melbourne story, the city that the visitors come here to see, is shrinking every year."

A City of Melbourne spokesman said the council had tried to "preserve legal street art murals where possible", but added that "the very nature of street art is that it is temporary, ephemeral and forever changing".

"Melbourne is the street art capital of Australia and we see this art as vital to the city's vibrancy," she said.

In 2012 an image of a parachuting rat on a shop in Greville Street in Melbourne was destroyed when builders knocked a hole in a wall to install a bathroom pipe.

And the following year, a stencil of another rat and an image of a girl hugging a bomb were painted over on the walls of a church in the city.

There have been other examples of Banksy murals being destroyed elsewhere. 

In 2014 a council in Essex painted over a piece of his work because it decided it was racist, and the previous year, a work in central London was removed after the deputy mayor said keeping it would be seen as condoning graffiti.

Banksy's real identity is still unknown, but he - or she - has become one of the world's most recognised artists, and pieces of his work have sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds.