Ukraine war: Russia postpones 'referendum' in occupied region
The Russian occupation authorities in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson have postponed a so-called referendum on joining Russia, on security grounds, BBC reported.
"This is being paused because of the security situation," said Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-appointed administration there.
He said heavy Ukrainian shelling had made a key Kherson bridge impassable.
Ukraine and its Western allies have denounced the referendum plans in Kherson and other areas as illegal.
Meanwhile, Ukraine says its forces have recaptured Vysokopillya, a small town some 167km (104 miles) north of central Kherson.
That gain - not verified independently - is part of a counter-offensive in the south launched by the Ukrainian army last week.
His photo caption says: "Vysokopillya, Kherson Region. Ukraine. Today."
President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had recaptured two "population centres" in the south, but did not name them.
Russia has been planning referendums in Kherson and the southern Zaporizhzhia region, most of which it controls.
He said barges transporting civilians across the Dnieper (Dnipro) river were also coming under Ukrainian fire, as was the city's infrastructure, according to BBC.
Ukraine has deployed US-made Himars multiple rocket launchers in its drive to push the Russians out of the city - the first to fall to them after their 24 February invasion.
As well as Kherson, Russia has announced plans for referendums in other captured territory, similar to that held in Crimea after its troops seized the peninsula in 2014.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged civilians to leave Kherson as fighting intensifies in the area. She has also warned that any who participate in the planned Russian referendum are liable to face Ukrainian prosecution.
Russia's invasion has destabilised life in Ukraine to such an extent that it is not clear who could vote in such referendums anyway. The Crimea vote in 2014, held under military occupation, was not recognised internationally, BBC reported.
China quake: Deadly tremor rocks Sichuan city in lockdown
At least 46 people have been killed after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China, state media said, BBC reported.
The quake struck at 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT) in Sichuan province at a depth of 10km (6 miles).
The impact severed telecommunications lines and triggered mountain landslides that caused "serious damage", local media reports say.
Some 21 million people in Sichuan's capital Chengdu were last week ordered to stay at home because of Covid rules.
The epicentre of the quake was at Luding, a town in a remote mountain region located about 226km southwest of Chengdu, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. State broadcaster CCTV said 17 people died in the city of Ya'an, while 29 deaths were reported in the neighbouring prefecture of Ganzi.
"Another 16 people were missing and 50 were injured," CCTV said late on Monday.
Tremors shook buildings in Chengdu and the neighbouring mega-city of Chongqing, leaving roads blocked and cutting communication lines in areas home to more than 10,000 residents.
The shocks also forced some power stations to shut down in the areas of Garze and Ya'an, CCTV said.
More than 500 rescue personnel have been despatched to the epicentre, while workers laboured to clear roadblocks caused by landslides, according to state broadcaster CGTN.
Chengdu residents reported seeing people running out of their high-rise apartments in a panic after receiving earthquake alerts on their phones, according to BBC.
"There were many people who were so terrified they started crying," Laura Luo, an international PR consultant, told news agency Reuters.
"Some of my neighbours on the ground floor said they felt it very noticeably," Chen, a resident of Chengdu, told AFP news agency.
"But because Chengdu is currently under epidemic management, people aren't allowed to leave their residential compounds, so many of them rushed out into their courtyards."
On Friday, Chengdu became the latest city to be locked down by Chinese authorities, in an attempt to stem the rise in Covid cases.
The latest disaster comes months after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake tore through Sichuan in June. Sichuan is a earthquake-prone area, as it lies along the eastern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, BBC reported.
The earthquake also called into memory an 8.0-magnitude quake which hit Wenchuan county in northwest Sichuan in 2008, which killed 70,000 and caused widespread destruction.
Asia Cup: Pakistan beat India by five wickets
Pakistan beat India by five wickets in their first Super Four game at the Asia Cup in Dubai, BBC reported. Chasing 182 to win, Pakistan reached the target with a ball to spare thanks to a 73-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan, who top scored with 71, and Mohammad Nawaz, who added 42. After both were out, Khushdil Shah (14) and Asif Ali (16) saw Pakistan home. Earlier Virat Kohli’s 60 off 44 balls saw India reach 181-7 from 20 overs after being put into bat. The tournament in the United Arab Emirates is warm-up to the T20 World Cup next month in Australia, according to BBC. India and Pakistan still have to play Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the Super Four round robin stage, with the top two teams reaching the final on 11 September.
Novak Djokovic unable to travel to New York for US Open
Novak Djokovic says he will be unable to travel to New York for the US Open, which begins on Monday, BBC reported.
Djokovic did not defend his Australian Open title in January because his Covid-19 vaccination status led to him being deported from the country.
Since October 2021, the United States has banned non-vaccinated visitors.
Serb Djokovic had hoped to compete, but wrote on Twitter on Thursday: "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open."
The 35-year-old won his 21st major title with victory at Wimbledon in July, leaving him one behind Rafael Nadal's all-time men's record, but will miss out on another chance to add to his tally.
"I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again," Djokovic added.
"See you soon tennis world!"
Djokovic was on the US Open entry list as recently as Monday and, in a social media post on 30 July, wrote "I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete".
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - the nation's health protection agency - had reviewed some of its rules for unvaccinated citizens in recent weeks, but Djokovic's apparent withdrawal suggests travel restrictions will continue to apply, according to BBC.
His absence at Flushing Meadows may benefit Spain's Nadal, who seeks a 23rd Grand Slam title, with world number one Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, looking to defend the title he won for the first time in 2021.
The US Open draw will take place later on Thursday.
