King Charles III Makes World Debut as Tour Starts in Germany

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave after their visit to the Bolton Town Hall, in Bolton, Britain January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave after their visit to the Bolton Town Hall, in Bolton, Britain January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
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King Charles III Makes World Debut as Tour Starts in Germany

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave after their visit to the Bolton Town Hall, in Bolton, Britain January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla leave after their visit to the Bolton Town Hall, in Bolton, Britain January 20, 2023. (Reuters)

Britain’s new king will make his debut on the world stage Wednesday, three days later and 550 miles (885 kilometers) northeast of where he had intended.

Although King Charles III will be greeted with a hearty “willkommen” in Berlin rather than “bienvenue” in Paris, his goals remain the same: to cement Britain’s improving relations with Europe and show that he can help the UK win hearts and minds abroad just as his mother did so successfully for seven decades.

But the decision to cancel the first leg of his trip due to protests over planned pension changes in France may make it harder for Charles to make his mark during his first big international mission as monarch. And first impressions matter as Charles, 74, prepares for his coronation on May 6.

“Charles will have fewer opportunities to present himself,” said Arianne Chernock, a royal expert and professor of modern British history at Boston University. “This means that he’ll need to be very disciplined about using those opportunities available to maximize his impact — there won’t be many second chances on this trip.”

Charles, who ascended the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September, had something bigger in mind when this coming out party as king was announced.

Billed as a multi-day tour of the European Union’s two biggest countries, the trip was designed to underscore British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s efforts to rebuild relations with the bloc after six years of arguments over Brexit and highlight the countries’ shared history as they work together to combat Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Now everything rests on Germany.

The truncated trip starts Wednesday in Berlin, where German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will welcome Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, at the historic Brandenburg Gate.

The king is scheduled to give a speech to the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, on Thursday. He will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, talk to Ukrainian refugees and meet with British and Germany military personnel who are working together on joint projects.

The royal couple go to Hamburg on Friday, where they will visit the Kindertransport memorial for Jewish children who fled from Germany to Britain during the Third Reich, and attend a green energy event before returning to the UK.

The king was urged to make the trip by Sunak, who during his first six months in office negotiated a settlement to the long-running dispute over post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland and reached a deal with France to combat the people smugglers ferrying migrants across the English Channel in small boats.

Sunak hopes goodwill created by a royal visit can help pave the way for progress on other issues, including Britain’s return to an EU program that funds scientific research across Europe.

This is the first big test of whether Charles can be an effective conduit for the “soft power” the House of Windsor has traditionally wielded, helping Britain pursue its geopolitical goals through the glitz and glamor of a 1,000-year-old monarchy.

The Windsors are among the most recognizable people on the planet. While their formal powers are strictly limited by law and tradition, they draw attention from the media and the public partly because of the historic ceremonies and regalia that accompany them — and also because the public is fascinated by their personal lives.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was the embodiment of this — the monarch everyone wanted to meet for tea, if for no other reason than that she’d been around so long.

Elizabeth’s influence stemmed in part from the fact that she made more than 100 state visits during her 70 years on the throne, meeting presidents and prime ministers around the world in a reign that lasted from the Cold War to the information age.

But questions remain about whether Charles has the same star power as his mother, dubbed “Queen of the World” by one biographer, Robert Hardman.

Charles has fewer years to make his mark and will not try to copy her, said Bronwen Maddox, who heads the Chatham House public affairs think tank in London.

“He’s getting this (opportunity) towards the end of his life, and it’s very much a chance to make the best of it without claiming that it is the same, in any way, as his mother,” she said. “I think he will find his own way to do it.”

Charles, a former naval officer who is the first British monarch to earn a university degree, is expected to insert heft where his glamorous mother once wielded star power.

As Britain’s head of state, the king meets weekly with the prime minister and retains his mother’s role as leader of the Commonwealth.

His visit to Germany will showcase these roles while also giving him an opportunity to highlight the causes he holds dear, like sustainability and the environment.

But there will also be a full dose of the pomp and circumstance that screams royal visit, starting with a ceremonial welcome at the Brandenburg Gate, the neoclassical landmark in the center of Berlin that has provided the backdrop to so much of German history. White tie and tiaras are expected to be on display during a state dinner at Schloss Bellevue, the German president’s official residence.

There will be plenty, therefore, to attract the crowds in Germany and demonstrate to people back home that Charles has eased into the role of monarch and chief diplomat.

“In some ways, Charles does not have to do very much for people to follow him because there’s the mystique of the institution,” Chernock said. “I think people are fascinated by his family and all of the drama surrounding it. So he could stand perfectly still and not utter a word and he would still draw crowds.”



Newspaper Says Video of Prince William, Kate Should Halt Royal Rumor Mill

Commuters walk past copies of the Evening Standard featuring a picture of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, on the front page at subway station in London, Britain, March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Commuters walk past copies of the Evening Standard featuring a picture of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, on the front page at subway station in London, Britain, March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
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Newspaper Says Video of Prince William, Kate Should Halt Royal Rumor Mill

Commuters walk past copies of the Evening Standard featuring a picture of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, on the front page at subway station in London, Britain, March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Commuters walk past copies of the Evening Standard featuring a picture of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, on the front page at subway station in London, Britain, March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Prince William and his wife Catherine have been filmed at a farm shop near their Windsor home, The Sun newspaper reported — the first footage of Kate since she had abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition two months ago.
The newspaper published a short clip late Monday that appeared to show William and Kate smiling as they walked together, carrying shopping bags. It said the footage was taken on Saturday in Windsor, west of London.
The Sun quoted Nelson Silva, who said he filmed the video, as saying, “Kate looked happy and relaxed. They look happy just to be able to go to a shop and mingle.”
The couple’s Kensington Palace office did not comment.
The palace has said Kate, 42, will return to official duties after Easter. That's likely to be once her children go back to school on April 17.
The Sun plastered its front page with “Great to see you again, Kate!” It said it had decided to publish the footage “in a bid to bring an end to what the Palace has called the 'madness of social media.'”
Feverish and at times fantastical speculation has swirled about the princess's condition during her absence. The palace has not disclosed details, but said it is not cancer-related.
Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate and her children George, Charlotte and Louis on March 10 to coincide with Mother’s Day in the UK But the move backfire when The Associated Press and other news agencies retracted it from publication because it appeared to have been manipulated, fueling even more conjecture.
Kate issued a statement acknowledging she liked to “experiment with editing” and apologizing for “any confusion” the photo had caused.


Sudanese Fast with Empty Pockets amid Inflation

Volunteers prepare food for displaced fasting individuals inside Sudan during Ramadan (AFP)
Volunteers prepare food for displaced fasting individuals inside Sudan during Ramadan (AFP)
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Sudanese Fast with Empty Pockets amid Inflation

Volunteers prepare food for displaced fasting individuals inside Sudan during Ramadan (AFP)
Volunteers prepare food for displaced fasting individuals inside Sudan during Ramadan (AFP)

In Sudan, amid the chaos of conflict, Islam’s holy month of fasting arrives for many this year with deep struggles. Ramadan usually brings a special taste and scent to the North African nation, but this year, people are missing its essence due to the ongoing war.

War has not just displaced, injured, and killed, but has also left people without means to live. Many Sudanese have lost income, spent savings, and sold whatever they could for basic needs like dates and water, facing steep prices.

They plan for the month ahead, but poverty, displacement, and loss have dimmed their Ramadan spirit.

Reports show that even in safer areas, workers get only about 60% of their pay since the war started. The Sudanese pound has weakened, and prices have soared, hitting hard, especially in government jobs.

Minister of Finance Jibril Ibrahim had revealed that the state lost over 80% of its income due to the war.

Amid Ramadan, Sudanese grapple with severe poverty, relying heavily on aid from relatives abroad, according to Kamal Karar, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Karar highlighted the widespread economic impact of the war, causing individuals, groups, and businesses to lose income.

Abdelazim Al-Mahal, a Sudanese expert, adds that many in Sudan can’t afford basic needs anymore, as prices soar.

He noted that even in areas without fighting, many have lost at least half of their income.

A recent survey by Asharq Al-Awsat in Port Sudan’s markets shows prices soaring for Ramadan staples.

The cost of sugar, a Ramadan must-have, is up, along with that of lentils and rice. Chicken now stands at 6,000 Sudanese pounds per kilo.

Traditionally bustling with Ramadan foods and drinks, markets are now sparse, with many Sudanese facing the toughest Ramadan yet due to high prices and widespread poverty.

Karar explained that traders are importing fewer goods due to reduced demand from displacement, leaving people struggling to afford their Ramadan needs.

Beyond Ramadan needs, hunger plagues around 24.8 million Sudanese out of a total population of 51 million, says the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Most affected are children, women, and the elderly, with roughly 10 million internally displaced.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that at least two children die every hour in displacement camps.


UK: Flying Taxis Could Take Off in 2 Years

An Uber vehicle stops across the road from a taxi rank in Sydney, Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
An Uber vehicle stops across the road from a taxi rank in Sydney, Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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UK: Flying Taxis Could Take Off in 2 Years

An Uber vehicle stops across the road from a taxi rank in Sydney, Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
An Uber vehicle stops across the road from a taxi rank in Sydney, Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

The first piloted flying taxi could take to the UK skies in two years if a government announcement goes to plan.

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has released its Future of Flight Action Plan which also proposes flying taxis without pilots on board by 2030.

"Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionize transport as we know it - this plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality,” Aviation and Technology Minister Anthony Browne said.

"From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we're making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation, improving people's lives and boosting the economy,” he added.

Some of the uses of unmanned drones include transporting medical supplies, delivering post in rural areas and tracking down criminals on the run.

Their use is still in early stages, but the plan suggests drone deliveries would be commonplace by 2027.


New Banksy Mural Depicting Tree Foliage Appears in London

Crowds gather to view a Banksy artwork near Finsbury Park in north London on March 18, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Crowds gather to view a Banksy artwork near Finsbury Park in north London on March 18, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
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New Banksy Mural Depicting Tree Foliage Appears in London

Crowds gather to view a Banksy artwork near Finsbury Park in north London on March 18, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Crowds gather to view a Banksy artwork near Finsbury Park in north London on March 18, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

A new artwork by British street artist Banksy has appeared in London, using green paint sprayed across the side of a four-story building to mimic the foliage of a real, heavily pruned tree that stands a few meters in front of it.

A photo of the mural was posted on Banksy's official Instagram account on Monday, where the artist usually claims responsibility for works of art to his more than 12 million followers.

When viewed from certain angles, the green paint lines up with the tree's bare branches to represent its leaves. The work includes a stencil, typical of Banksy, of a person holding a spraying device, dripping in green paint.

The new attraction drew a stream of onlookers who took photos and snapped selfies. Many discerned an environmental message in the vibrant green artwork, which appeared on Sunday — St. Patrick’s Day.

The renowned street artist's latest work also sparked interest and excitement across social media platforms, including from lawmaker and former leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who represents the area of north London where the art appeared.

"Banksy has come to Islington! What wonderful artwork, proving there is hope for our natural world everywhere," Corbyn said in a post on X.

The work "makes people stop and think, ‘Hang on. We live in one world. We live in one environment. It is vulnerable and on the cusp of serious damage being done to it.’”
“Environmental politics is about densely populated urban areas like this, just as much as it is about farmland and woodland and hedges," he added.

In December, artwork by Banksy showing three grey drones across a "STOP" traffic sign in south London was removed by an unidentified man in broad daylight as passersby looked on. Police later made arrests.

That fate looks unlikely for his latest piece, which stretches beyond the height of the fully grown tree and across several floors of a large building.


Iceland Volcano Still Pouring Out Fountains of Lava 

The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. (AP)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. (AP)
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Iceland Volcano Still Pouring Out Fountains of Lava 

The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. (AP)
The lava flow that crossed Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, Sunday March 17, 2024, a day after the volcanic eruption. (AP)

A volcano in Iceland that erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December was still spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air early on Monday although infrastructure and a nearby fishing town were safe for now, authorities said.

The eruption was the seventh on the Reykjanes peninsula near Iceland's capital Reykjavik since 2021 when geological systems that had lain dormant for around 800 years again became active.

Man-made barriers have been successful in steering the lava away from infrastructure including the Svartsengi geothermal power plant and Grindavik, a fishing town of some 4,000 residents.

Footage from public broadcaster RUV showed lava flowing a few hundred meters from the town which was evacuated during an eruption in November and again during another one in February.

"The defenses at Grindavik proved their value ... they have guided the lava flow in the intended direction," local utility HS Orka said, adding that infrastructure running to the Svartsengi power plant was intact.

Magma had been accumulating underground since the last eruption in February, prompting authorities to warn of an imminent eruption.

The warning time late on Saturday was only 15 minutes before fountains of molten rock began soaring from a 3km-long (1.9 mile) fissure, roughly the same size and at the same place as the eruption in February.

Lava flows continued at a steady pace on Monday, and it was too early to project when it would end, Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, told RUV.

"It was surprisingly stable overnight and certainly majestic, but is still only between 2-5% of what it was at the beginning," he said.

The February eruption lasted less than two days while volcanic activity continued for six months at a nearby system in 2021.


The Spring Equinox Is Here. What Does That Mean? 

Visitors hold their hands out to receive the sun's energy as they celebrate the Spring equinox atop the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (AP)
Visitors hold their hands out to receive the sun's energy as they celebrate the Spring equinox atop the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (AP)
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The Spring Equinox Is Here. What Does That Mean? 

Visitors hold their hands out to receive the sun's energy as they celebrate the Spring equinox atop the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (AP)
Visitors hold their hands out to receive the sun's energy as they celebrate the Spring equinox atop the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (AP)

Spring is almost here — officially, at least.

The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.

But what does that actually mean? Here's what to know about how we split up the year using the Earth's orbit.

What is the equinox? As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle.

For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.

During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.

The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.

What is the solstice? The solstices mark the times during the year when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt toward or away from the sun. This means the hemispheres are getting very different amounts of sunlight — and days and nights are at their most unequal.

During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted in toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.

Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are just two different ways to carve up the year.

Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.

Astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun.

Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices kick off summer and winter.


US Library Says Will Excuse Overdue Book Charges in Exchange for Cat Photos

The goal is to encourage people to read and visit the library. The New York Post
The goal is to encourage people to read and visit the library. The New York Post
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US Library Says Will Excuse Overdue Book Charges in Exchange for Cat Photos

The goal is to encourage people to read and visit the library. The New York Post
The goal is to encourage people to read and visit the library. The New York Post

A library in Worcester, Massachusetts will scratch during the month of March certain fees off a book borrower’s record in exchange for a picture of the person’s cat — or any cat, for that matter, The New York Post reported.

The goal is to encourage people to read and visit the library, even if they owe money for a lost or damaged book, it said.

“People are struggling and sometimes choosing between paying for that book that, literally, your dog ate for $30 or buying $30 worth of groceries — those are two very different things,” Jason Homer, executive director of the Worcester Public Library, told Fox News Digital.

“And, people do have priorities. So we want to come to them with kindness, with forgiveness and say, ‘Just be part of our community.’”

It’s called the “Feline Fee Forgiveness” program — all part of the library’s month-long “March Meowness” event.

It aims to reduce barriers to returning to the library, regardless of a person’s circumstances.

And Homer and his staff thought, What better way to welcome people than with soft, cuddly cats?

“A librarian is a book lover, a cardigan lover and a cat lover,” Homer said.

“Our staff has a lot of cats. Some of the staff were in a meeting and they were coming up with ways to bring people back to the library, and they thought, ‘What if we removed as many barriers as possible and told people they could show us a picture of a cat, draw a picture of a cat or just tell us about a cat?'”


Record-breaking Rhododendron Plant Blooms a Month Early

"Big Rhodey" was planted more than 120 years ago and is believed to be the biggest in the UK. Photo: BBC
"Big Rhodey" was planted more than 120 years ago and is believed to be the biggest in the UK. Photo: BBC
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Record-breaking Rhododendron Plant Blooms a Month Early

"Big Rhodey" was planted more than 120 years ago and is believed to be the biggest in the UK. Photo: BBC
"Big Rhodey" was planted more than 120 years ago and is believed to be the biggest in the UK. Photo: BBC

A huge rhododendron nicknamed "Shrubzilla" has bloomed a month earlier than expected in the United Kingdon, BBC Radio Sussex.

The plant at the South Lodge Hotel, near Lower Beeding, West Sussex, usually blooms in April but due to recent wet weather has flowered now.

Also known as "Big Rhodey", it is thought to be more than 30 ft high (9.1m) and 40ft wide (12.1m).

The enormous shrub was planted more than 120 years ago and is believed to be the biggest in the UK.

Paul Collins, the hotel's head gardener, said: "I've worked here for 12 years and it keeps getting earlier and earlier every year, but this is the earliest I have ever known it to bloom. It is thriving off the rain."

Mr Collins said the plant was "covered in red and pink blooms" and so big "there is nothing I can do to it".

He told BBC Radio Sussex: "The reason that I believe it has bloomed this early is due to global warming."


UK Brass Band Keeps Miners' Legacy Burning, 40 Years after Strike

The brass band consistently ranks in the world's top 10. Oli SCARFF / AFP
The brass band consistently ranks in the world's top 10. Oli SCARFF / AFP
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UK Brass Band Keeps Miners' Legacy Burning, 40 Years after Strike

The brass band consistently ranks in the world's top 10. Oli SCARFF / AFP
The brass band consistently ranks in the world's top 10. Oli SCARFF / AFP

Memories of the UK's once-mighty mining industry are fading but 40 years after an epoch-defining strike, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band still embodies the close ties that once bound the community.
"It's like the band, when times are hard, we stick together," said Ray Sykes, chairman of the year-long 1984-85 strike, from the practice hall that has been his second home for 70 years, AFP said.
Miners at Frickley Colliery, in the Yorkshire town of South Elmsall in northern England, prided themselves on being "second to none" during the action against planned pit closures.
Very few broke the strike, which was once described as "the decisive social and economic confrontation of Britain's post-war era" that hastened the demise of heavy industry.
The mine, which employed 3,000 workers at its height, eventually succumbed and shut in 1993.
Pete Wordsworth, a miner from the age of 16 who was only in the job nine months when the strike began, said most miners had fared well since the closures.
"People who've worked in a coal mine can go into that big wide world and they can put their hand to anything," he added. "They want to work, they want to work hard."
However, the mines were the foundation of the regional economy, and without them, communities are still suffering economically.
South Elmsall is still among the top 10 percent of England's most deprived neighborhoods.
But the brass band marches on -- consistently still ranking in the world's top 10 -- and keeps Frickley on the international map.
'Really bitter'
Sykes, 77, said the heaviest toll had been the gradual fracturing of the community bond, forged in the unforgiving and often dangerous subterranean world of heat and dust.
Camaraderie spread through the community above, he said. "Sadly we're losing it, and you can see it happening in the village," he told AFP.
He likened the pit closure's effect on the community to "a son losing his father".
The community's social life largely revolved around the mine -- including not only the band but local football club Frickley Athletic, which is still plying its trade four leagues below professional level.
On Saturday the club marked the anniversary by wearing the same shirt as the team wore in 1984. On the back was written "The Miners United will never be defeated".
Hundreds packed the club's 100-year-old main stand, which was decorated with a flag depicting firebrand union boss Arthur Scargill being arrested during the strike.
But wounds opened during the miners' strike are not yet fully healed.
"The violence in the village was quite nasty, really nasty, and I wouldn't like to see that ever, ever again," said Sykes, whose father and grandfather both worked at the pit.
Wordsworth, who stopped working as a miner in 2015, said the most ardent strikers "are still saying that they would not speak to a miner who went back to work. They are really, really bitter."
He is now deputy mine manager at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield, which has special exhibitions marking the strike's anniversary.
"All the small villages had really good communities and everybody pulled together," he said, in the shadow of the old mine's winding gear.
But pit closures "fragmented" those communities, he said. Miners moved to find work and more educated people left.
Love and legacy
Even the celebrated band came close to shutting during the strike, as financial hardship whittled its numbers down to just eight.
Its reputation for excellence was its saving grace, helping it to attract talented players from hours away with no links to the pit.
They are now trumpeting the area's heritage and identity.
"That's what keeps this band going, the name," said a visibly emotional Sykes, beating his hand on the 119-year-old band's logo, over his heart.
"We've been told many times to lose the word colliery. We'll not. It's pride."
One such newcomer is cornet player Tabby Kerwin, who makes a two-hour round trip for each of the twice-weekly practices.
"Everyone does it for the love of it and for the legacy, for the history. We all know we're custodians for the next generation," she said before practice.
"The colliery is so closely interwoven into the band's history and everyone that comes into the band, however young they are.. wherever they are from, have that awareness of it."


South Sudan Shutters All Schools as It Prepares for an Extreme Heat Wave

South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heatwaves common but rarely exceeding 40C. (Reuters)
South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heatwaves common but rarely exceeding 40C. (Reuters)
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South Sudan Shutters All Schools as It Prepares for an Extreme Heat Wave

South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heatwaves common but rarely exceeding 40C. (Reuters)
South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heatwaves common but rarely exceeding 40C. (Reuters)

South Sudan's government is closing down all schools starting Monday as the country prepares for a wave of extreme heat expected to last two weeks.

The health and education ministries advised parents to keep all children indoors as temperatures are expected to soar to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit), in a statement late Saturday,

They warned that any school found open during that time would have its registration withdrawn, but didn't specify how long the schools would remain shuttered.

The ministries said they “will continue to monitor the situation and inform the public accordingly.”

Peter Garang, a resident who lives in the capital, Juba, welcomed the decision. He said that “schools should be connected to the electricity grid" to enable the installation of air conditioners.

South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heatwaves common but rarely exceeding 40C. Civil conflict has plagued the east African country which also suffered from drought and flooding, making living conditions difficult for residents.

The World Food Program in its latest country brief said South Sudan “continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis” due to violence, economic instability, climate change and an influx of people fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. It also stated that 818,000 vulnerable people were given food and cash-based transfers in January 2024.