Briton survives apocalyptic avalanche on Kyrgyzstan trek after piece of glacier breaks off - and he filmed it - Sky News

A man who heard "deep ice cracking" says he was "bricking it" and thought he might die as an avalanche came thundering down a mountain towards him in Kyrgyzstan.

Harry Shimmin, who was among nine Britons and one American on a guided tour of the Tian Shan mountains, said they were lucky to survive after a piece of glacier broke off.

Had they walked "five minutes further on our trek, we would all be dead", he said in an Instagram post.

"We would have only heard the roar before lights out."

Mr Shimmin, 27, said they had just reached the highest point on the trek when he separated from the rest of the group to take pictures on top of a cliff edge.

Advertisement

"I'm very aware that I took a big risk," he said, but "felt in control".

Nevertheless, "when the snow started coming over and it got dark (and) harder to breathe, I was bricking it and thought I might die", he added.

"I was on a cliff edge, so I could only run away from the shelter (hence why I don't move).

"Yes I left it to the last second to move, and yes, I know it would have been safer moving to the shelter straight away."

His video shows a carpet of ice and snow rolling down the mountain, getting closer and closer until it goes over the top of him.

"Behind the rock it was like being inside a blizzard," he said.

"Once it was over the adrenaline rush hit me hard. I was only covered in a small layer of snow without a scratch.

"I felt giddy. I knew the rest of the group was further away from the avalanche so should be okay."

Image: Harry Shimmin says he was 'bricking it'. Pic: Harry Shimmin via Viral Hog

Although they were all safe, one person had "cut her knee quite badly" and "rode one of the horses to the nearest medical facility".

"The whole group was laughing and crying, happy to be alive (including the girl who cut her knee)," Mr Shimmin said.

"It was only later we realised just how lucky we'd been.

"If you look carefully in the video, you can see the faint grey trail winding through the grass. That was the path.

"We traversed it afterwards, walking among massive ice boulders and rocks that had been thrown much further than we could have run, even if we acted immediately.

"To make it worse, the path runs alongside a low ridge, hiding the mountain from view, so we would have only heard the roar before lights out."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2JyaXRvbi1zdXJ2aXZlcy1hcG9jYWx5cHRpYy1hdmFsYW5jaGUtb24ta3lyZ3l6c3Rhbi10cmVrLWFmdGVyLXBpZWNlLW9mLWdsYWNpZXItYnJlYWtzLW9mZi0xMjY0OTgxN9IBggFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9hbXAvYnJpdG9uLXN1cnZpdmVzLWFwb2NhbHlwdGljLWF2YWxhbmNoZS1vbi1reXJneXpzdGFuLXRyZWstYWZ0ZXItcGllY2Utb2YtZ2xhY2llci1icmVha3Mtb2ZmLTEyNjQ5ODE3?oc=5

2022-07-11 11:21:39Z
1497657495

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa confirms resignation, PM's office says - BBC

Getty Images

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has confirmed he will resign, the prime minister's office has said, after tens of thousands of protesters stormed the official residences of both men.

Sri Lanka is in deep financial crisis and the crowds say they won't leave until both men quit their posts.

The parliament Speaker had earlier said the president would resign on 13 July.

Mr Rajapaksa, whose whereabouts are unknown, has not spoken publicly since his residence was stormed on Saturday.

• Relief as limited fuel sales resume

He was moved to safety before protesters entered the presidential palace.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

The president has been blamed for the country's economic mismanagement, which has caused dire shortages of food, fuel and medicine for months. His resignation was first announced by the parliament Speaker on Saturday, but many Sri Lankans responded with scepticism to the idea that he would relinquish power.

On Monday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said in a statement it had been informed by Mr Rajapaksa that he would step down on Wednesday.

But under Sri Lanka's constitution, his resignation can only formally be accepted when he resigns by letter to the Speaker - which has yet to happen.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had earlier also said he would step down from his position. His house was set on fire during Saturday's unrest.

People power push to oust president

Anbarasan Ethirajan, BBC News, Colombo

At the president's office in Colombo a huge queue stretches to the end of the road as thousands of people wait to see how their rulers have been operating.

Men, women, children are all going to inside to have a look.

The president's residence is one of the symbols of power in this country and one of the most protected buildings.

These people believe that they have won - that people power has triumphed in ousting the president and prime minister from power.

But those things haven't happened yet - even though the president has indicated that he will step down on Wednesday. Unless he resigns formally, it is going to be a long, drawn-out battle.

Read more from Anbarasan - Inside the palace full of Sri Lankans

Inside the occupied palace on Sunday, protesters were refusing to budge until the president leaves.

"I feel sad," said Nirosha Sudarshini Hutchinson, who was visiting the compound with her two teenage daughters.

"A man who was elected president in democratic way had to leave in such a shameful way. We are now ashamed of voting for him."

• Inside the presidential palace now full of Sri Lankans
• The daily heartbreak of life in a country gone bankrupt
• 'Protests have changed thinking for the better'
• What's behind Sri Lanka's petrol shortage?

Other politicians in Sri Lanka met on Sunday to discuss how to handle a smooth transition of power.

The speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament told the BBC World Service Newshour programme a new cross-party coalition government would need to be formed within a week of the president officially stepping down.

"The next couple of days are going to be extremely uncertain times as to see what transpires politically," political analyst and human rights lawyer Bhavani Fonseka told Reuters news agency, adding that it would be interesting to see if the two leaders "actually resign".

Sri Lanka: The basics

• Sri Lanka is an island nation off southern India: It won independence from British rule in 1948. Three ethnic groups - Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim - make up 99% of the country's 22 million population.
• One family of brothers has dominated for years: Mahinda Rajapaksa became a hero among the majority Sinhalese in 2009 when his government defeated Tamil separatist rebels after years of bitter and bloody civil war. His brother Gotabaya, who was defence secretary at the time, is the current president but says he is standing down.
• Presidential powers: The president is the head of state, government and the military in Sri Lanka but does share a lot of executive responsibilities with the prime minister, who heads up the ruling party in parliament.
• Now an economic crisis has led to fury on the streets: Soaring inflation has meant some foods, medication and fuel are in short supply, there are rolling blackouts and ordinary people have taken to the streets in anger with many blaming the Rajapaksa family and their government for the situation.

Getty Images

The palace storming on Saturday was the culmination of months of mainly peaceful protests in Sri Lanka at the soaring cost of living and shortages of essentials.

Huge crowds converged on the official residence of President Rajapaksa, chanting slogans and waving the national flag before breaking through the barricades and entering the property.

Footage online showed people roaming through the house and swimming in the president's pool, while others emptied out a chest of drawers, picked through the president's belongings and used his luxurious bathroom.

Mr Rajapaksa vacated his official residence on Friday as a safety precaution ahead of the planned protests, two defence ministry sources said, according to Reuters.

Although it is Mr Rajapaksa's official residence, he usually sleeps at a separate house nearby. His brother, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, is at a naval base in the country, the sources say.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiLmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtNjIxMTc3NjPSATJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLTYyMTE3NzYzLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-11 08:50:31Z
1485373155

Nick Kyrgios fell apart after finger-pointing show began in Wimbledon final meltdown - Express

And it’s the “noise” that distracts Kyrgios from delivering on his true potential. After losing the first set, serial champion Djokovic calmed things down and ground out the points one at a time.

Kyrgios’s error rate - just four unforced errors in that first set - doubled and then tripled. That is always a sad measure of a player who is falling apart. He is now heading off for a “well-earned vacation”, he told Barker after collecting his runner’s up plate.

That could be time to reflect, work out where he needs to be better to take that extra step and perhaps hone that fitness like his old mucker Andy Murray used to do in his down time. Or swim, shoot some hoops and chill.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvdGVubmlzLzE2MzgzNzMvTmljay1LeXJnaW9zLVdpbWJsZWRvbi1tZW5zLWZpbmFsLXRyb3BoeS10ZW5uaXMtbmV3cy1Ob3Zhay1Eam9rb3ZpYy1SYWZhLU5hZGFs0gGBAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvdGVubmlzLzE2MzgzNzMvTmljay1LeXJnaW9zLVdpbWJsZWRvbi1tZW5zLWZpbmFsLXRyb3BoeS10ZW5uaXMtbmV3cy1Ob3Zhay1Eam9rb3ZpYy1SYWZhLU5hZGFsL2FtcA?oc=5

2022-07-10 17:30:29Z
1479273137

Wordle 387 HINTS: Struggling with July 11 Wordle? Spoiler-free clues to help with answer - Express

Wordle has become part of the daily routine for thousands of people across the globe, which is why Express Online is here to help you out. We've put together a selection of spoiler-free hints to help you keep your hard-earned winning streak alive. Simply head to the bottom of the page for the latest Wordle hints for July 11. And good luck, because Wordle 387 is a pretty tough nut to crack!

The rules to Wordle are simple. Players are given six chances to guess a different five-letter word each day. You'll need to use the process of elimination to uncover the correct answer.

For each guess, the letter tiles will show up in one of three colours. If the letter tile turns grey, the letter does not appear in the word you are guessing.

If the tile turns yellow, the letter you guessed is in the word, just not in the correct position. If the tile turns green, the letter is in the word and in the right place.

The app keeps track of your statistics, showing the number of correct answers you've managed, and your winning streak.

If you fail to solve the puzzle, then you'll have to wait until the next day for a new Wordle to be released. You'll also lose your winning streak.

Read on for some general Wordle tips, followed by three specific clues for Wordle 387 on July 11...

General Wordle tips and tricks...

• Don't use the same letter twice in your opening guess.

• Try to use a couple of vowels in your first guess, particularly 'A' and 'E'.

• Avoid letters such as 'X', 'Z' and 'Q' until later on, when you have a better idea what the answer is.

• 'RAISE' is a good word to start with, while 'TOUCH' is a decent second guess.

• Check out the daily hints provided by Express Online below...

Wordle 387 hints and clues for July 11...

1. Wordle 387 starts with the letter M.

2. Wordle 387 contains just one vowel, but it appears twice.

3. To address a lady respectfully.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmV4cHJlc3MuY28udWsvZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC9nYW1pbmcvMTYzODQ0My9Xb3JkbGUtMzg3LWhpbnRzLVN0cnVnZ2xpbmctSnVseS0xMS1TcG9pbGVyLWZyZWUtY2x1ZXMtaGVscC1maW5kLWFuc3dlctIBAA?oc=5

2022-07-11 00:27:00Z
1493541966

Selfies, picnics, board games: Inside Sri Lanka's presidential palace day after it was stormed by protesters - Sky News

Sri Lankans are roaming through the presidential palace a day after it was stormed by thousands of people angry at the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe both announced they were going to step down in the face of the protests.

The prime minister's private residence was set on fire on Saturday evening after a day of turmoil in Colombo.

Calm returned to the city on Sunday - but protesters vow to occupy the presidential palace until both leaders have left.

Thousands have been milling in and around the presidential palace with their families, and streams of people with young children and food hampers queuing to go into the president's house.

Advertisement

Speakers have been set up in the trees telling visitors to be patient and queue in a one way system for a "bizarre" tour around the palace.

Indika Jayawaradana, who is visiting the residence along with his wife and two children, says: "They thought we got independence from the British in 1948 but today is our real Independence Day."

Image: Indika Jayawaradana with his wife and kids visits president's house in Sri Lanka

Image: Protesters look around at the president's official residence. Pic: AP

Image: Women using the presidential gym in Sri Lanka

About the president, he adds: "He might leave but he might be replaced with someone loyal to him. I'm worried about that."

The protest organisers, who were some of the first people to break into the residence, have turned into tour guides.

They hurry the crowds to move along and follow instructions from the loudspeakers.

They are in total control of the building. Some police are outside - other officers wander through the crowds, taking photos like everyone else.

39 people hurt during protests

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

1:40

Tear gas and water cannon used on Sri Lanka protesters

There doesn't appear to be any attempt to stop this.

During the protests on Saturday, 39 people, including two police officers, were hurt.

Police fired shots in the air but they were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the president's residence.

Hundreds of flag-bearing protesters packed inside the president's sea-front property and used the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.

Picnics and lounging in the palace

Image: Women take selfies by the pool in the presidential residence

Image: People cook in the garden of the Prime Minister's residence

Image: Protesters rest on sofas in the living hall of prime minister's official residence. Pic: AP

Protesters also assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat, the office of the president, and the home of prime minister.

Both Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Wickremesinghe had been moved to a secure location.

Sri Lanka, home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since it achieved independence in 1948.

Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.

The country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the decline on Mr Rajapaksa.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9zcmktbGFua2Fucy10YWtlLXNlbGZpZXMtYW5kLXVzZS10aGUtZ3ltLWFzLXRoZXktcm9hbS1hcm91bmQtcmFuc2Fja2VkLXByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1wYWxhY2UtYWZ0ZXItbmlnaHQtb2YtdW5yZXN0LTEyNjQ5Mjcz0gGYAWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9zcmktbGFua2Fucy10YWtlLXNlbGZpZXMtYW5kLXVzZS10aGUtZ3ltLWFzLXRoZXktcm9hbS1hcm91bmQtcmFuc2Fja2VkLXByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1wYWxhY2UtYWZ0ZXItbmlnaHQtb2YtdW5yZXN0LTEyNjQ5Mjcz?oc=5

2022-07-10 12:24:33Z
1485373155

South Africa: Fifteen shot dead in Soweto township bar - BBC

AFP

At least 15 people have been shot dead in a bar in the South African township of Soweto, police say.

Police said gunmen entered the Orlando East tavern in the early hours of Sunday morning and started firing randomly at a group of young people.

They then fled the scene in a white minibus. No motive for the attack has been established, police said.

Several more people are in a critical condition in hospital, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko reports.

The victims are believed to be between 19 and 35 years old.

"Bodies were on top of each other with blood all over. We were looking for our loved ones, we had to jump over bodies looking for our brothers," said local resident Ntombikayise Meji.

Gauteng province's head of police, Lt-Gen Elias Mawela, told the BBC the shooting appears to have been "a cold-blooded attack on innocent tavern patrons".

A press statement released by his office said the gunmen had been armed with rifles and 9mm pistols when they entered the bar.

Police are searching for the suspects, whose identities remain unknown, it said.

Thaban Moloi, a community leader in Soweto, was angered by the amount of time it took police to arrive at the scene.

"It's terrible, I'm telling you. People don't know what to do. If you were there you could see women and children crying," he said.

Mr Moloi said the attack happened at 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Saturday but police didn't arrive until 04:00 on Sunday.

"It took five hours for them to come, honestly," he said.

AFP via Getty Images

Four other people were killed in a separate tavern shooting in the south-eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, police said on Sunday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the relatives of victims of both shootings.

"As a nation, we cannot allow violent criminals to terrorise us in this way, regardless of where such incidents may occur," he added.

Shootings are not uncommon in South Africa. They are often linked to gangs or alcohol.

But this is an exceptionally high death toll and comes soon after the death of 21 teenagers thought to have been either gassed or poisoned at another bar in the city of East London.

A country seeking answers

By Ed Habershon, BBC News, Soweto

The crowds were gathered around Mdlalose's Tavern under a typically cloudless winter sky in Soweto - some here to mourn, others just to gawk. They were pinned back by yellow police tape, as forensics went about the grim business of retrieving evidence from inside the bar. Groups of women burst into song, dancing in the litter-strewn street.

South Africa is a very violent country at the best times, but this particular incident, coupled with another shooting in Pietermaritzburg, has shaken many here.

We spoke to one man who was inside the bar when the shooting happened. He described how a group of men burst in, opened fire, and how they didn't take anything from anyone, wallets, phones, nothing, leaving him and others baffled as to the motive. Halfway through the interview, a police officer intervened, and said we can't talk to him. The gunmen may be among the crowd, he said, and they may target this witness next.

Another woman who lived nearby told us she heard the gunshots and ran to the bar to find the horrific aftermath of the shooting. People in the community are afraid, she said, and she has no idea who might be behind it.

She, Soweto and the country, are all desperately seeking answers.

Were you in the area? Did you witness the incident? If it is save to do so, email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Upload your pictures/video here
• Or fill out the form below
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiLmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtNjIxMTE4OTPSATJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLTYyMTExODkzLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-10 14:32:54Z
1490072282

Sri Lanka protesters storm president's house - swimming in his pool - and clash with police - Sky News

Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president's official residence.

In one of the largest anti-government marches in the country this year, the demonstrators are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced he would quit on Saturday afternoon.

"To ensure the continuation of the government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the party Leaders today, to make way for an all-party government," he said.

He stepped down after thousands of people descended on the government district in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach his house.

Advertisement

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the residence.

Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool

Image: Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters

At least 39 people including two police officers have now been hurt by the unrest, hospital sources said.

More on Sri Lanka

Related Topics:

Protestors also assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat - the office of the president - and the home of prime minister.

Both Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Wickremesinghe have both been moved to a secure location as a safety precaution, defence ministry sources said.

Hundreds of flag-bearing protestors were seen packed inside the president's sea-front property and using the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.

Mr Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after summoning political party leaders for an emergency meeting in the wake of the violence.

He also requested parliament to be recalled by the speaker, a statement from his office said.

US ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to protest peacefully and for police to give demonstrators space - as she warned "chaos and force will not fix the economy".

Sri Lanka, home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since it achieved independence in 1948.

Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.

Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter

Image: Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters

Image: People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters

The country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the decline on Mr Rajapaksa, who has faced ongoing calls to resign.

Protestor Sampath Perera, 37, criticised the president for "clinging on to power" and warned: "We will not stop until he listens to us."

Image: Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP

Image: A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP

Image: Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP

Anger intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments dwindled, leading to petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services.

The British Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in financial turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID pandemic.

In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a foreign currency shortage.

Image: A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP

Image: Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP

It has accumulated debts of £42.4billion - of which around half, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027.

The crisis has severely dented the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.

Mr Rajapaksa has so far held onto power after his brother resigned as prime minister in May and two other brothers and a nephew quit their cabinet posts earlier this year.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L3NyaS1sYW5rYS1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzLXN0b3JtLXByZXNpZGVudHMtaG91c2UtYW5kLWNsYXNoLXdpdGgtcG9saWNlLTEyNjQ4NjE50gFpaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL3NyaS1sYW5rYS1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzLXN0b3JtLXByZXNpZGVudHMtaG91c2UtYW5kLWNsYXNoLXdpdGgtcG9saWNlLTEyNjQ4NjE5?oc=5

2022-07-09 12:17:02Z
1485373155