Chinese rocket could hit cities including New York, Rome and Madrid as it's set to crash back to Earth TODAY

THE out-of-control Chinese rocket could hit cities including New York City, Rome or even Madrid as it's set to crash back to Earth TODAY, warn experts.

Scientists trying to track the final movements of the 21-ton space junk – as big as three fire engines – say it could plummet to Chicago or Beijing.

?Follow our Chinese rocket live blog for all the latest updates…

UK reports another 2,047 COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain reported another 2,047 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and another 5 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

Government data also showed 35,188,981 people had received their first dose of a COVID vaccine and 17,214,436 had both shots.

Herald morning quiz: May 9

Test your brains with the Herald’s morning quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz at 3pm for the afternoon quiz.

To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

Pedestrian dies in overnight hit-and-run incident in Lakewood.

A pedestrian in Lakewood was killed overnight in a hit-and-run incident, police said.

The man was struck at West Colfax Avenue and Oak Street, police said. He died at the scene. The driver who hit the victim fled.

Anyone with information on fatal hit-and-run incident is asked to call police 303-980-7300.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner sacked as party chair after election disaster

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has been sacked as party chairman and coordinator, according to reports.

Labour sources confirmed the shock move, which comes after the party suffered a number of humiliating losses in the local elections.

Ms Rayner will remain the party’s deputy leader as that is an elected position.

More to follow

‘I think it’s got a great story’: Michael Jordan game-worn UNC jersey sells for $1.38 million

A game-worn jersey belonging to Michael Jordan from his 1982-83 championship season at the University of North Carolina sold for $1.38 million Saturday, making it the most expensive Jordan jersey sale ever. 

The previous record had been set in October when a No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey from 1986-87 went for $480,000 through Heritage Auctions, which also auctioned theNorth Carolina jersey. 

"As the final price tag proves," Heritage director of sport auctions Chris Ivy said, "this jersey has everything any serious collector could possibly want.

“It’s got scarcity, it’s one of a kind, it’s photo-matched,” Ivy later told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s a great investment. That’s another angle. … It’s something that you’re investing in. I think this is as solid as it gets.”

Govt. alerts PSBs as Cairn may seize overseas assets

Oil firm won $1.2 bn award in tax case

The Finance Ministry has asked public sector banks (PSBs) to be on a high vigil against any attempt being made to seize their overseas deposits to recover $1.2 billion that the U.K.’s Cairn Energy has been awarded against India levying retrospective taxes, sources said.

Cairn had previously stated it can seize Indian assets abroad if it is not paid $1.2 billion plus interest and cost an international arbitration panel had awarded against levy of retrospective taxes.

Cash of Indian banks lying in nations such as the U.S. and the U.K. are said to be easy targets for seizing and enforcing the arbitration award. To guard against cash being taken over, the Ministry has asked PSBs to be extra vigilant and immediately report back any attempt Cairn makes to legally attach the deposits, two sources aware of the matter said.

This will allow the Indian government to quickly take legal recourse to prevent the assets from being taken over, they said.

Scottish National Party leader vows independence vote after election success

• Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would push ahead with plans for a new independence referendum after results showed her party would win an election to Scotland's parliament, albeit without a majority.
• The results of the election mean the SNP together with the Scottish Greens will hold a significant pro-independence majority in the parliament.

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said she would push ahead with plans for a new independence referendum after results showed her party would win an election to Scotland's parliament, albeit without a majority.

Results on Saturday showed Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens had won 65 of the 87 seats so far declared for the 129-seat parliament. The results of the election mean the SNP together with the Scottish Greens will hold a significant pro-independence majority in the parliament.

"In normal democratic debate, parties that promise something in an election and get elected are made to deliver on those commitments," Sturgeon told BBC TV. "It is an absurdity that in Scotland we seem to have other parties determined to block the party or parties that have won the mandate."