Patches of the moon are destined to become spacecraft graveyards where dead lunar satellites and other defunct hardware can be crashed into the ground, far away from sites of cultural and scientific importance, researchers say.

The number of satellites circling the moon is set to soar in the next two decades as space agencies and private companies build moon bases and dabble with mining operations and constructing scientific instruments on the barren terrain.

The surge in activity will be supported by constellations of lunar satellites for positioning, navigation and communications. But when the satellites run out of fuel, operators have few options other than steering them into the ground, where they will be smashed to pieces.

“These satellites will have to be crash-landed on the moon, so it will potentially become a rubbish site,” said Dr Fionagh Thomson, a senior research fellow at the University of Durham, who convened an expert panel on the issue at the Space-Comm meeting in Glasgow in December.

Beyond scattering satellite parts across the surface, researchers fear that if scores of dead satellites rain down across the moon, they risk causing damage to buildings, scientific instruments, historic sites such as the first astronaut footprints, and pristine sites of scientific interest.

With impact speeds of 1.2 miles per second, the collisions will produce intense vibrations, which could disrupt the sensitive instruments scientists want to build on the moon. The scars carved into the surface are expected to stretch for tens of metres and produce vast clouds of abrasive dust that could obscure telescopes and damage equipment.

“It’s not an immediate concern, given the surface area of the moon, but the more lunar satellites there are, the greater the chance that some may crash into scientifically or culturally sensitive locations,” said Prof Ian Crawford of Birkbeck, University of London. “We do need a plan going forward.”

Satellite operators routinely use Earth’s atmosphere to dispose of dead satellites drifting around the planet. Each year, thousands of defunct satellites are incinerated on re-entry. But because the moon has no atmosphere, lunar satellite operators need other solutions.

And they need them soon. More than 400 moon missions are planned in the next two decades. They include the Nasa-led Lunar Gateway, a space station that will orbit the moon, and the Artemis base camp on the surface. A second moon base is planned by China and Russia.

Next year, the European Space Agency will launch the Lunar Pathfinder satellite, a testbed for its Moonlight constellation of lunar satellites that should be operational by 2030. Work is under way on how to dispose of Lunar Pathfinder at the end of its eight-year lifetime.

Lunar satellite operators have three main options. With a propulsion unit and sufficient fuel, a satellite can fly off and orbit the sun. But this is costly. Alternatively, it could move to a more remote lunar orbit, but the moon’s lumpy gravitational field makes this difficult. Finally, satellites can be crashed into the ground, but this needs careful planning.

Sarah Boyall, the head of the Office of Regulation at the UK Space Agency, said the UN’s Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (Atlac) and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), which the UK currently chairs, are working to establish best practices for disposing of lunar satellites.

Spacecraft graveyards are a leading contender, with operators required to crash old satellites at designated spots, or into giant craters that would contain the dust kicked up on impact. Both the UK Space Agency and signatories to the US Artemis accords, a set of principles for future space exploration, are pursuing the approach.

“Establishing graveyard zones on the moon is the most practical solution,” said Ben Hooper, senior project manager for Lunar Pathfinder at SSTL, the Surrey-based satellite manufacturer. “Designating specific regions as ‘impact zones’ would limit the spread of human artefacts across the lunar surface, preserving other areas for scientific exploration and future operations.”

Charles Cranstoun, the head of the ESA’s Moonlight programme office, said when the time came, the satellites would be crashed into the surface in a controlled manner “in specified zones”, to avoid “sites of scientific interest and historical importance and ongoing missions”.

John Zarnecki, emeritus professor of space science at the Open University, said crash-landing satellites in graveyard zones could be put to good use because the impacts generate seismic waves at known spots, to shed light on the moon’s structure. “If you have an object of known mass, known geometry and known speed, and you know pretty much where it impacted, that’s a fantastic experiment in seismometry,” he said.

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Denmark is incensed at the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as new US special envoy to Greenland as President Donald Trump continues to heap pressure on the Nordic nation and looks to take over the autonomous territory from Copenhagen.

In appointing Landry on Sunday, Trump — who has threatened to take Greenland by force from ally Denmark if necessary — wrote that the southern governor, “understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.”

Landry took to the social media platform X to thank Trump for the appointment, writing, “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.”

On Monday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the move left him “deeply angered” and said Washington must respect Denmark’s sovereignty, with Copenhagen vowing to summon the US ambassador in protest.

“As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland,” said Rasmussen, “we cannot accept that there are those who undermine our sovereignty.”

Rasmussen told Denmark’s TV 2 that he was “particularly upset by his [Landry’s] statements,” calling them “completely unacceptable,” and adding to the Reuters news agency: “We insist that everyone — including the US — must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

Donald Trump continues push for Greenland to join the US

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Greenland PM: Appointment ‘doesn’t change anything’

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said news of the appointment, “might sound like a big deal,” but added that it “doesn’t change anything for us here at home.”

“We will determine our future ourselves,” he said.

In a joint statement with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Nielsen added: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland.” 

Though most Greenlanders say they want to be independent of Denmark, they have also voiced very clear opposition to becoming the property of the US.

Why is Trump so insistent on taking over Greenland?

Trump, who floated the option of buying Greenland and established a new consulate there during his first term, has repeatedly threatened to get it no matter what since returning to office in January 2025.

He has sought to emphasize Greenland’s location and mineral riches as key to US national security and has ignored the wishes of Greenlanders and Danish leaders in his pursuit.

The US has also dispatched high-level representatives such as Vice President JD Vance as well as Donald Trump Jr., to Greenland in an apparent effort to push the president’s agenda.

This August, Denmark — a NATO ally — summoned US representatives over reports suggesting Washington was attempting to interfere in Greenland.

Greenland, located halfway between the US and the Arctic, is a former Danish colony that has held the right to declare its independence since 2009.

Trump appoints special envoy to Greenland

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Edited by: Rana Taha

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A Russian general was killed in a car bombing in Moscow on Monday, with investigators saying they suspect Ukrainian intelligence may have been behind the attack.

The bombing targeted Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, and he died from his injuries. He was the third senior Russian military officer to be killed in a bombing this year.

“Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin had been immediately informed about Sarvarov’s killing.

PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT

This undated image provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, shows Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, who was killed Monday morning after an explosive device detonated under his car in southern Moscow. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Sarvarov had previously fought in Chechnya and taken part in Moscow’s military campaign in Syria, according to Russia’s defense ministry.

Ukrainian forces have yet to take responsibility for the attack.

Prior to Sarvarov, Russia lost the head of its nuclear, biological and chemical protection force, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, in a similar bombing earlier this year. Ukrainian forces took responsibility for that attack.

PUTIN DERIDES EUROPEAN LEADERS AS HE INSISTS RUSSIA’S WAR GOALS IN UKRAINE WILL BE MET BY FORCE OR DIPLOMACY

Policemen secure the area near the scene where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, was killed by an explosive device placed under his car in Moscow, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)

Russian military officer Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was also killed by a car bombing in Moscow in April.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the aftermath of that attack that he had received reports about the successful “liquidation” of Russian military leaders, though he did not mention Moskalik directly.

The Monday bombing comes as Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. remain in peace talks. Russian officials said they were proceeding “constructively” on Sunday, even as missiles rained down on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a journalist’s question during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor, in Moscow, on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin also noted on Friday that the nation’s “troops are advancing,” and expressed confidence that Russia would achieve its goals by military force if Ukraine does not accept its peace terms.

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“The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on X: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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Israel’s cabinet has approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, the far-right finance minister has said, drawing condemnation from governments and rights groups.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition has been pushing ahead with a construction surge in the occupied territory, with the latest approvals set to drive the number of settlements up to 210.

UK foreign office minister Hamish Falconer said the announcement risks “undermining the [US] 20 Point Plan [for ending the Gaza war] and prospects for the long-term peace and security that only a two-state solution can deliver”. Earlier this month, the UN secretary-general condemned Israel’s “relentless” pursuit of settlement expansion.

Lawyer and former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that while the settlements have been approved in Israeli law, they remain war crimes under the Geneva Convention.

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Israeli soldiers during a weekly settlers’ tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (REUTERS)

Two of the approved settlements were previously evacuated during a 2005 disengagement plan, according to Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who has pushed an aggressive settlement expansion agenda in the West Bank.

The approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current government’s tenure, from 141 in 2022 to 210, according to Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group. The settlements are widely considered illegal under international law.

The approval comes as the US is pushing Israel and Hamas to move ahead with the new phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect 10 October. The US-brokered plan calls for a possible “pathway” to a Palestinian state, something the settlements could prevent.

The Cabinet decision included a retroactive legalisation of some previously established settlement outposts or neighbourhoods of existing settlements, and the creation of settlements on land where Palestinians were evacuated, Peace Now said.

It said two of the settlements legalized in the latest approval are Kadim and Ganim, two of the four dismantled in 2005 as part of a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. There have been multiple attempts to resettle these, after Israel’s far-right government repealed a 2005 act that evacuated the four outposts and barred Israelis from re-entering the areas in March 2023.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza — areas claimed by the Palestinians for a future state — in the 1967 war. It has settled over 500,000 Israelis in the West Bank, in addition to over 200,000 more in contested east Jerusalem.

Israel’s government is dominated by far-right proponents of the settler movement, including Smotrich and Cabinet Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the nation’s police force.

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Residents of the West Bank refugee camp of Nur Shams, Tulkarem, evacuating their homes during an Israeli military operation in February (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Settler expansion has been compounded by a surge of attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank in recent months.

During October’s olive harvest, settlers across the territory launched an average of eight attacks daily, the most since the United Nations humanitarian office began collecting data in 2006. The attacks continued in November, with the U.N. recording at least 136 more by 24 November. Settlers burned cars, desecrated mosques, ransacked industrial plants and destroyed cropland.

The latest announcement also comes after the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed in clashes with the Israeli military on Saturday night in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

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West Bank Palestinians have seen home demolitions and settler attacks once again escalate (Mohammad Hesham Huraini)

The Israeli military said one militant was shot and killed after he threw a block at Israeli troops in Qabatiya on Saturday night, while another was killed after he hurled explosives at Israeli troops operating in the town of Silat al-Harithiya.

The Palestinian killed in Qabatiya was identified by authorities as 16-year-old Rayan Abu Muallah. Palestinian media aired brief security footage of the incident, where the youth appears to emerge from an alley and is shot by troops as he approaches them without throwing anything. The Israeli military said the incident is under review.

The Health Ministry identified the second man as Ahmad Ziyoud, 22. He was buried on Sunday in Silat al-Harithiya, near Jenin.

Israel’s military has scaled up military operations in the West Bank since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 which triggered the war in Gaza.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Former flight crew members told Travel + Leisure that while travelers are rarely given a free upgrade, they can ask to pay for one
• Passengers can request upgrades from the booking point through the end of boarding
• They advised that travelers ask about the upgrade as early in the booking process as possible

There’s nothing quite like flying in style, especially during a busy travel season.

Flight upgrades can be hard to come by, but they can make a world of difference on a long travel day — turning a cramped middle seat near the bathroom into extra legroom, better service and a calmer cabin up front. The good news: They aren’t impossible. With the right timing and approach, there are expert-approved strategies that can improve your chances on your next trip.

Two former flight crew members spoke to Travel + Leisure about their insider tips for scoring a flight upgrade and shared that travelers very rarely are given a free upgrade to a better seat — with the exception of frequent flyers with elite status — but they can ask to pay for one.

So, when is the best time to ask for a flight upgrade? Here’s what experts say.

When is the best time to ask for a flight upgrade?

A stock image of a flight attendant.

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The flight attendants told the outlet that upgrade requests can be made any time between booking the flight and boarding, though they advised that travelers ask as early in the process as possible.

Passengers can inquire about paid upgrades — using either cash or accrued miles — with the airline at the time of booking. If they strike out, they can try again at the check-in desk when they arrive at the airport for their flight.

If they are told no, hope is not lost. On some flights, passengers who booked a first-class or business seat may fail to show up for their flight. In that case, savvy travelers can speak to the gate agent just before boarding to see if they can pay to upgrade to one of those unfilled seats.

Can you ask for a flight upgrade once you’re on the plane?

A stock image of a flight attendant.

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Even once boarding has begun, it’s not too late to ask for an upgrade. If asking ahead of time didn’t work out, a final option is to ask the lead flight attendant or the flight attendant at the boarding door.

“You should ask prior to door closure, but don’t be surprised if they don’t move you until after you’re in the air if they’re going to grant your request,” Bobby Laurie, a travel expert and former American Airlines flight attendant, told Travel + Leisure.

Susan Fogwell, a former flight attendant with 22 years of experience, pointed out that travelers are more likely to score a paid upgrade to an economy-plus seat than first or business class.

“While sitting in a cramped middle seat or squeezed in at a window seat, a passenger observes an empty economy plus seat and will ask if they can change seats,” Fogwell explained to Travel + Leisure. “Standard procedure is to wait until the door closes to see if everybody shows up for the flight. If the seat is available, the passenger pays for the upgrade on the flight.”

Can anyone get upgraded on a flight?

A stock image of a woman on an airplane.

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Yes, anyone is eligible for a flight upgrade given they pay. Fogwell dismissed stories of people being given upgrades to business or first class based on their looks or how they’re dressed during her conversation with Travel + Leisure.

“This simply never happened at the major airline where I worked,” she said. “If a flight attendant moved a passenger from one class to another, the flight attendant would not have a job for long. The difference in price is in the thousands, depending on the route.”

Fogwell continued, “There is also a team of flight attendants on board who would be aware of the ‘free upgrade.’ So when someone tells a story about a so-called free upgrade, take it with a grain of salt.”

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Rock legends and footballers came together today to pay farewell to Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield at his funeral. 

The ceremony at Manchester Cathedral had guests including Stone Roses singer Ian Brown and Paul Weller, while David Beckham and Gary Neville – legends of Mani’s beloved Manchester United – also attended, along with Liam Gallagher.

Mounfield died in his sleep aged 63 of ‘respiratory issues’ after having the lung condition emphysema, it was revealed last week.

He was found at his Stockport home on November 20 after collapsing following a seizure, with family sources saying an ambulance was called but he could not be revived.

His death came two years after his wife of 25 years, Imelda died after suffering from bowel cancer. They are survived by their 12-year-old sons Gene and George.

A black hearse containing his coffin first left Heaton Moor, with white flowers forming the words ‘R Kid’ – while among the mourners were Charlatans singer Tim Burgess, Oasis guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie.

Ian Brown said outside: ‘We will celebrate his life like the beautiful human being that he was – he’s a brother to me.’ He was later among the pallbearers carrying the coffin out, alongside John Squire, Alan Wren, Bobby Gillespie and Liam Gallagher.

The coffin – decorated in artwork reflecting the cover of the Stone Roses’ self-titled debut album in 1989 – had been applauded as it arrived for the service starting at 11.30am, while the band’s anthem I Wanna Be Adored was played over speakers.

Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s coffin was carried out today by pallbearers including former Stone Rosees bandmates Alan ‘Reni’ Wren (left) and John Squire (right) plus Liam Gallagher (centre)

Also seen with the coffin were the Stone Roses’ Ian Brown and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie

David Beckham paid his tributes to the late Stone Roses bass player Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield

Paul Weller was among today’s mourners, seen holding an order of service outside the service

Among the mourners was David Beckham, who played for Manchester United – Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s beloved football club

Oasis singer Liam Gallagher was also among those arriving to pay tribute

Also attending was former The Jam and Style Council star Paul Weller

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown was seen among the mourners arriving for today’s service

Also there was Stone Roses lead guitarist John Squire

Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie told those attending the service: ‘Mani’s not dead, he’s just gone. He will always live forever in my soul and mind’.

He told the congregation: ‘Mani’s warm and welcoming manner, treating me like an equal, made me feel like a million dollars and I’ll never forget that.

‘No one was too important to escape his laser eye ability to cut the pretentious and self-important down to size, myself included.

‘His ability to make laughter out of any situation was our great value wherever we were in the world.’

Brown told the service there should be a 50ft golden statue commemorating Mani put up in Manchester.

He also said: ‘Mani was like a brother to me , a musical comrade. Beautiful soul and spirit. Mani was able to laugh his way through any darkness. He was the life and soul of any room he was in.’

Afterwards, the coffin was carried by Gillespie and fellow Primal Scream member Andrew Innes, Gallagher and Mani’s Stone Roses bandmates Ian Brown, John Squire and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren – while Beckham was pictured touching the coffin. 

Songs played as the service ended including Bob Marley’s Redemption Song and Goin’ Back, written by legendary 1960s partnership Gerry Goffin and Carole King. 

This was the scene overlooking Manchester Cathedral as people gathered to honour Mani

Greg Mounfield is seen attending the funeral of his brother Gary Mounfield, known as Mani

The coffin was decorated in the style of John Squire’s artwork for the Stone Roses’ debut LP

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown appeared emotional as he greeted fellow guests at the funeral

Also there and among the pallbearers were Liam Gallagher (centre) and Bobby Gillespie (right)

Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie was among those who spoke at the funeral service

This framed portrait of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield was displayed among today’s tributes

The cortege is seen leaving the funeral service for Mani, the father of two young sons

Stone Roses drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Wren (left) and Liam Gallagher (right) helped carry the coffin

The coffin was carried out by stars including Bobby Gillespie, John Squire and Liam Gallagher

The funeral of Stone Roses star Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield is taking place at Manchester Cathedral

David Beckham is seen holding an invitation to the service, alongside Gary Neville

The Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess (left) was among those arriving today for the funeral

Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs (left) from Oasis was also seen arriving for the funeral service

Mark Berry, known as Bez, a dancer with the Happy Mondays, was among today’s mourners

A framed photograph of Gary Mounfield was seen arriving among floral tributes

Former Joy Division and New Order bass player Peter Hook was among other mourners

Sir David Beckham is pictured today embracing Mani’s brother Greg Mounfield

The bassist’s brother Greg first confirmed the news of Mani’s passing last month, writing: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother. Gary Mani Mounfield RIP.’ He added in the comments section: ‘Reunited with his beautiful wife Imelda.’

Glen was seen being embraced outside today’s funeral by Sir David Beckham. 

The Stone Roses took to X to share a throwback photo of Gary playing the bass and wrote: ‘RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for. X.’

Lead singer Ian Brown, 62, took to his own page to share his tribute: ‘Rest In Peace Mani.’

His appearance at today’s funeral alongside former bandmates John Squire and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren came despite past disputes that saw the group split in 1996, with Squire announcing he was quitting – then again, after a 2011 reunion, in 2017. 

Mani’s death came less than a week after he announced an intimate in-conversation tour of the UK.

The musician shot to fame with The Stone Roses, but they went their separate ways in 1996 and he went on to join Primal Scream.

Then in 2011 he announced he had left the band to reunite with The Stone Roses for a huge stadium tour.

During the 13-month long recording of the second Stone Roses album Second Coming at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, Mani met his wife Imelda.

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher previously described Mani as a ‘hero’

He was seen in Manchester today looking sombre, alongside his partner Debbie Gwyther

David Beckham (left) and Gary Neville (right) were among those paying tribute

Stone Roses frontman was among the attenders at Monday’s funeral for Gary Mounfield

Former Happy Mondays member ‘Bez’ was also in attendance at today’s commemoration

The singer Rowetta, who also worked with the Happy Mondays, is seen attending today

Rowetta paid tribute to Mani on X, saying: ‘Going to miss you so much. All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew & loved him’

Ex-Manchester United stars David Beckham and Gary Neville were among mourners arriving

Former Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim and ex-Smiths drummer Mike Joyce also attended

Also there was former Inspiral Carpets keyboardist and frontman Clint Boon

Guy Garvey, Radio 6 Music presenter and singer for fellow Manchester band Elbow, arrived

A funeral director places a framed photo of Mani beside his coffin in the rear of the hearse as it arrives for his funeral

Mike Joyce, drummer with 1980s Manchester group the Smiths, was seen arriving on Monday

Mourners watching on outside Manchester Cathedral saw a hearse carrying this floral tribute

Also there on Monday was Ian McCulloch, singer with indie band Echo & the Bunnymen

This badge paying tribute to Mani was worn by one mourner

Mods on scooters escort the cortege to the funeral service of Gary Mounfield

Mani’s former bandmate and Stone Roses guitarist John Squire was seen outside the cathedral

Flowers reading ‘Mani’ are seen in the hearse on arrival for the Manchester Cathedral service

Another floral tribute reads an affectionate message of ‘R KID’

Sir David Beckham is seen entering Manchester Cathedral for Monday’s ceremony

The coffin was applauded as it arrived at Manchester Cathedral for the 11.30pm service

Fans lined the streets of the city to pay their own tributes to Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield

The hearse bearing his coffin is seen arriving at Manchester Cathedral on Monday morning

A parade of scooters accompanying the procession carried their separate tributes to Mani

This scooter honoured both Mani and his wife Imelda who died of bowel cancer two years ago

A banner honoured Mani while also referencing his favourite team Manchester United

Clint Boon from fellow Manchester band the Inspiral Carpets is seen at today’s funeral

Mark Berry, better known as Bez, from the Happy Mondays, was pictured outside the cathedral

Also there was another of Mani’s former Stone Roses bandmates, guitarist Aziz Ibrahim

The Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s died last month aged 63

Also there was musician and journalist John Robb, formerly of the band the Membranes

John Squire, Mani, Ian Brown and Reni of The Stone Roses (pictured L-R on October 2011) 

Mani’s wife Imelda (pictured in 2013) died from cancer two years ago – they are survived by their 12-year-old sons, Gene and George

In the wake of her cancer diagnosis, Imelda and Mani held a number of charity fundraisers to raise money for good causes The Christie Hospital, The Stockport Charitable Trust and Maggie’s.

They raised funds for charity by organising auctions of items from David Beckham and Oasis.

Imelda told the BBC: ‘I just don’t want to be sat thinking about cancer and illness all the time, because it is all-consuming.

‘And this was just a way to balance that out – to give myself something else to think about but something positive.

‘Sometimes I have bad days and demon days and I’ll have side effects. And other times people haven’t got a clue that I’m ill because I try and carry on as best as I can.’

Imelda’s death came weeks after The Stone Roses’ bassist Pete died aged 61 – reportedly after a cancer battle.

The musician was the Manchester band’s original bassist but quit the group in 1987 to work in HMV because he did not feel worthy of being in the group.

Mani was last seen out in public at the funeral of Ricky Hatton at Manchester Cathedral in October.

Among those turning out on Monday was former Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was among the mourners at Mani’s funeral

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Gary “Mani” Mounfield, former member of rock bands The Stone Roses and Primal Scream

The design of the coffin reflected the artwork for the Stone Roses’ debut album from 1989

Liam Gallagher and his partner Debbie Gwyther had their head bowed when arriving

Many people lined the streets of Manchester ahead of the ceremony at the city’s cathedral

The Stones Roses’ Reni, Mani, Ian and John are photographed in a London studio in July 1990

Mani was last pictured at the funeral of Ricky Hatton at Manchester Cathedral in October 

His brother Greg announced on Facebook: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother. Gary Mani Mounfield RIP’

Lead singer Ian Brown shared this post on Twitter 

The Stone Roses took to X to share a photo of Gary playing the bass when he died and wrote: ‘RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for. X’

Liam Gallagher and Shaun Ryder also paid tributes following his death last month to Mani, who also played for Primal Scream.

Oasis star Liam, who was a close friend of Mani’s, took to X and wrote: ‘In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani my hero. RIP.’

Happy Mondays star Shaun shared a photo of the pair together and wrote: ‘RIP Mani – my heartfelt condolensces to his twin boys and all of his family.’

Kasabian drummer Ian Matthews wrote: ‘So sad to learn of the passing of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield. He was a true gentleman, and a wonderful musician. A massive legend!’

Kasabian also shared a tribute on their official band account, writing: ‘Sad and shocked to hear the news.’

‘RIP Mani. Beautiful man, Manchester Icon, a huge talent with huge heart and one of our first industry supporters as a band. You will be missed massively X.’

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A new row over the future of Greenland has erupted between Denmark and the US after Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the territory.

The US President announced that he had appointed Louisiana’s governor Jeff Landry to the position on Sunday, saying “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security”.

Mr Landry then wrote on X: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.”

But Greenland is currently a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, which is unhappy about Trump’s latest move. The country has summoned the US ambassador in protest, with its foreign minister saying the move shows the US is still interested in the vast Danish territory.

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President Donald Trump has said America ‘needs’ Greenland for ‘international security’.

Trump has repeatedly called for the US to take over over the mineral rich and strategically located Arctic island, since winning his second term, and has not ruled out using military force to achieve it.

Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Landry’s comments were “completely unacceptable” and that everyone – including the US – must show respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity.

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NATO allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and France took part in military drills in Greenland, where the US has a military base, in September. Pic: Reuters

Greenland back in the headlines

In March, US Vice President JD Vance visited a remote American military base in Greenland and accused Denmark – a NATO ally of the US – of underinvesting there.

The issue then gradually drifted out of the headlines but, in August, Danish officials again summoned the US ambassador – following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.

On Sunday, Trump said: “Jeff [Louisiana’s governor] understands how essential Greenland is to our national security and will strongly advance our country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed, the world.”

Earlier this month, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the US was using its economic power to “assert its will” and threaten military force against friend and foe alike.

Image:
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (left) greets Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Read more:
Head of US Greenland base sacked after criticising JD Vance
Denmark’s PM says “you can’t spy against an ally”

The report also highlighted the rising strategic importance of the Arctic to great power countries as “conflict between Russia and the West intensifies.

It went on to say that the growing security and strategic focus on the Arctic by the US would “further accelerate these developments”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is worried about NATO’s activities in the Arctic and will respond by strengthening its military capability in the polar region.

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Palestinian officials condemn the actions as part of a ‘systematic policy of displacement’ in the occupied territory.

Israeli forces have stormed towns in the occupied West Bank and demolished a residential building.

Soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas on Monday as they carried out the demolition in East Jerusalem. Palestinian officials accused Israel of a campaign of displacement in the city, saying the operation was part of a systematic attempt to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their land.

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Scores of Palestinians were displaced as Israeli bulldozers tore through a four-storey residential building. Activists called it the largest such demolition in the area this year.

Three bulldozers destroyed the building with 13 apartments in the Wadi Qaddum neighbourhood of the Silwan district, south of Jerusalem’s Old City, Al Jazeera Arabic correspondents reported.

Israeli forces cordoned off surrounding roads, deployed heavily across the area and positioned security personnel on the rooftops of neighbouring houses. During the operation, a young man and a teenage boy were arrested.

Residents were told the demolition order was issued because the building had been constructed without a permit.

Palestinians face severe obstacles in obtaining building permits due to Israel’s restrictive planning policies, activists say, a policy that they assert is part of a systematic attempt to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their land.

Israel’s security cabinet has recently approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the West Bank, expanding the total number approved this year to 69 as the government continues its settlement push.

‘Systematic policy of displacement’

The Jerusalem governorate, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, condemned the demolition.

“The building’s destruction is part of a systematic policy aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinian residents and emptying the city of its original inhabitants,” the governorate said in a statement.

“Any demolition that expels residents from their homes constitutes a clear occupation plan to replace the land’s owners with settlers.”

The Jerusalem municipality, an Israeli authority whose jurisdiction over East Jerusalem is not recognised under international law, said the demolition was based on a 2014 court order.

Israeli human rights groups Ir Amim and Bimkom said the demolition was carried out without warning despite a scheduled meeting on Monday to discuss steps to legalise the building.

“This is part of an ongoing policy. This year alone, around 100 East Jerusalem families have lost their homes,” the groups said, calling Monday’s demolition the largest of 2025.

Escalated attacks

Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces damaged agricultural land and uprooted trees in the northern town of Silat al-Harithiya.

In the city of Halhul, north of Hebron, Israeli forces stormed several neighbourhoods with large numbers of military vehicles, deployed sniper teams and took up positions across the city.

Al Jazeera Arabic journalists reported that Israeli vehicles entered Halhul through multiple checkpoints, including Nabi Yunis, while closing the Halhul Bridge checkpoint linking the city to Hebron.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have also sharply escalated attacks across the West Bank.

More than 1,102 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, about 11,000 wounded and more than 21,000 arrested, according to Palestinian figures.

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Tories call new EHRC chair ‘disgrace’ after she says ‘demonisation of migrants’ bad for UK

The Conservatives and Reform UK have strongly criticised the new head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for criticising the “demonisation” of migrants”.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, who took up her post as chair of the EHRC at the start of the month, appealed for restraint in language used to discuss migrants in an interview with PA Media published last night.

The interview, as published, largely focused on Stephenson’s thoughts about the European convention on human rights. But it also included this comment from her about immigration.

I think it’s really important that we have honesty in the way that we talk about human rights, and that we also have a recognition that the demonisation of migrants, the creating this idea that migration causes huge risks for the country, can make the lives not just of migrants to the UK, but of ethnic minority UK citizens, very, very difficult.

Stephenson did not specify who or what she was referring to, but the rise in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK on small boats in recent years has coincided with an upsurge in hostile comments about migrants in the rightwing media, and from Reform UK and the Tories.

Much of this negative commentary links migration with criminality, on the basis of partial, contested or nonexistent evidence and there has been much more of this from the Conservative party since they lost the election and since Rishi Sunak was replaced as leader by Kemi Badenoch. Only last week Badenoch responded to the publication of the government’s violence against women and girls strategy by implying that the main threat to women comes not from British men, but from migrants.

This morning the Daily Telegraph has splashed on Stephenson’s comments. Its story includes a quote from Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, saying:

Reform believes we should deport terrorists, rapists and serious foreign criminals. The vast majority will agree with me that we must prioritise the rights of British people, whatever their ethnicity.

This morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, went further. He issued a statement saying:

These comments by the new Labour-appointed human rights chief are a disgrace. Once again, the left tries paint those opposed to mass immigration and illegal immigration as racist.

Mass migration with no integration has undermined social cohesion. Sex crimes by foreign nationals are up 62%, foreign criminals and illegal immigrants routinely abuse human rights, modern slavery and asylum laws to stay in the UK.

This nonsense has to end. It is completely wrong that Labour’s new human rights chief dismisses legitimate concerns about mass migration and crimes committed by foreign nationals – including the recent spate of rapes and sex attacks committed by small boat illegal immigrants.

Stephenson was appointed by the Labour government to replace Lady Falkner, who was appointed by the last Conservative government. Previously Stephenson ran the Women’s Budget Group, a feminist, economic thinktank.

Mary-Ann Stephenson. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PAShare

Updated at 11.30 CET

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‘Abusing Muslims is not going to fix this country’ – a Guardian video about rising hate crime in UK

Mary-Ann Stephenson, the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has said that the “demonisation of migrants” is bad for Britain. (See 10.21am.)

This morning we have published a video report illustrating what she is worried about. It is about the rise in hate crimes, and it features the Muslim journalist Taj Ali visiting smaller more isolated minority communities around the UK to find out the impact this is having.

‘Abusing Muslims is not going to fix this country’: rising hate in the UKShare

Starmer hosts Christmas dinner at Downing Street for almost 100 public sector workers as thank you for their ‘dedication’

Keir Starmer has hosted a dinner in Downing Street for almost 100 public sector workers and their families to show his appreciation for their “extraordinary dedication” to the country.

In a post on his Substack blog, he referred to people who would be working on Christmas Day and said he wanted to pass on his thanks to all people who have to make sacrifices on behalf of others.

He said:

I remember thinking that the pandemic really showed just how dependent we all are upon the workers that keep our country going. But just because we are out of those times, does not mean that their sacrifice for all of us has stopped. Quite the opposite. So on behalf of everyone in the country, I would like to thank them and their colleagues who are heading out to work on Christmas Day to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. It’s a huge sacrifice, and it lets the rest of us celebrate Christmas with our families in peace.

Describing the Downing Street dinner, he said:

We laid out 17 tables in a single-run through the first floor, decorated with 10 table runners, 60 miniature Christmas trees, 70 tea lights, a Christmas cracker for each person, and 93 hand-written place cards.

In the corner we set up a hot chocolate station for the kids with gingerbread, Christmas stickers, arts and crafts.

In his blog Starmer also named two of the people invited as examples of the sort of people who attended: Zoe Rufus, a nurse from Lancashire who has also fundraised for the hospitals where she works, “collecting over 600 Easter eggs that she donated to the neurosurgery and children’s ward earlier this year in April”; and Stacey Bailey, a detective sergeant specialising in digital capabilities who has been nominated for a leadership award and whose work has had “a massive impact on the quality of investigations and better outcomes for victims”.

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Animal rights groups are mostly positive about the animal welfare strategy being published today. (See 9.26am and 9.36am.) Here are some of their comments.

About the proposals for farm animals

From Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK

The government’s commitment to phase out the use of farrowing crates for mother pigs is extremely welcome. We are concerned that this and other measures are being held hostage by ongoing trade negotiations with the EU because if the UK doesn’t clearly protect our right to set our own animal welfare standards, we will be unable to stop cruel products, like pork from caged pigs, from coming into our country, which could undermine the viability of a crate ban for British farmers. We need the government to ensure that high animal welfare standards are a foundation of our trade policy, not a casualty of it.

From Georgie Hancock, public affairs lead at the Humane League UK

Overall this a very promising strategy – but the mooted bans on cages need to be implemented before we can truly celebrate. However, the direction of travel for farmed animals suggests the government understands the need to reform factory farming.

But some of the rhetoric in the press, that this strategy is a war on farmers, needs massive pushback. Making British farming more compassionate makes the lives of animals and farmers better, as workers won’t need to collect as many dead animals or see so much suffering.

While we would also love to see animal welfare standards be applied to imports, we should not make the perfect the enemy of the good.

From Lindsay Duncan, farming campaigns manager at World Animal Protection

We welcome the inclusion of a ban on cages for laying hens and on crates for mother pigs in the government’s animal welfare strategy, being published today. These measures address some of the cruellest elements of UK factory farming. But they do not go far enough.

Most farmed animals are raised in environments that cause needless suffering and create huge climate, environmental and human health costs. Animal welfare is a strong indicator of the harms a system does to people and planet – what is bad for one is bad for the other.

Despite the animal welfare strategy being announced in advance of the national food strategy and farming vision in 2026, there are few indications it will seek to halt the expansion of factory farming and embed a just transition to an equitable, humane and sustainable food system that has animal welfare at its core.

About the proposals for pets

From Owen Sharp, chief executive of the Dogs Trust

We welcome the government’s new animal welfare strategy, particularly its commitment to delivering the measures set out in the recently passed animal welfare bill, which will prevent the import of underage puppies, heavily pregnant dogs and dogs with mutilations. We are also pleased that the government plans to consult on the regulation of rehoming centres. We have seen too many cases of neglect and fatalities involving dogs at the hands of unregulated individuals, and the public strongly supports mandatory licensing and regular inspections.

It is also positive that the government intends to consult on banning the use of cruel and unnecessary electric shock collars. However, we are disappointed that the proposals stop short of committing to a full ban on the sale of shock collars and other aversive devices.

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Greens broadly welcome animal welfare strategy, but urge PM to follow Wales in banning greyhound racing

The Green party has broadly welcomed the government’s animal welfare strategy. In a statement, the Green MP Adrian Ramsay said:

There is much to welcome in the animal welfare strategy, but it must have real teeth to deliver for animals. Ministers must set clear timescales to phase out crates and cages, properly support farmers through the transition and not allow imports that don’t meet UK standards.

I welcome the action on snares, hunting and puppy farming. Puppy legislation must end breeding for extreme, unhealthy traits in dogs. The strategy could go further for animals, particularly by ending greyhound racing, as the Welsh government is doing.

Ending the use of farrowing crates and cages – as we called for in the cross-party letter I organised – is particularly crucial for tackling cruelty, and the strategy must set out how and when this will happen.

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Resident doctors say they will resume talks to avoid further strikes with ‘can-do spirit’

Resident doctors have said they will approach talks with Wes Streeting with a “can-do spirit” to avoid further strikes in the new year, as their five-day action ended this morning. Rowena Mason has the story.

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In her interview with PA Media, Mary-Anne Stephenson, the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, also criticised calls for the UK to leave the European convention on human rights. This is a policy supported by both Reform UK and the Conservative party, although Stephenson did not talk about that in the published interview remarks. Kevin Rawlinson has more on what she said on this topic here.

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Tories call new EHRC chair ‘disgrace’ after she says ‘demonisation of migrants’ bad for UK

The Conservatives and Reform UK have strongly criticised the new head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for criticising the “demonisation” of migrants”.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, who took up her post as chair of the EHRC at the start of the month, appealed for restraint in language used to discuss migrants in an interview with PA Media published last night.

The interview, as published, largely focused on Stephenson’s thoughts about the European convention on human rights. But it also included this comment from her about immigration.

I think it’s really important that we have honesty in the way that we talk about human rights, and that we also have a recognition that the demonisation of migrants, the creating this idea that migration causes huge risks for the country, can make the lives not just of migrants to the UK, but of ethnic minority UK citizens, very, very difficult.

Stephenson did not specify who or what she was referring to, but the rise in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK on small boats in recent years has coincided with an upsurge in hostile comments about migrants in the rightwing media, and from Reform UK and the Tories.

Much of this negative commentary links migration with criminality, on the basis of partial, contested or nonexistent evidence and there has been much more of this from the Conservative party since they lost the election and since Rishi Sunak was replaced as leader by Kemi Badenoch. Only last week Badenoch responded to the publication of the government’s violence against women and girls strategy by implying that the main threat to women comes not from British men, but from migrants.

This morning the Daily Telegraph has splashed on Stephenson’s comments. Its story includes a quote from Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, saying:

Reform believes we should deport terrorists, rapists and serious foreign criminals. The vast majority will agree with me that we must prioritise the rights of British people, whatever their ethnicity.

This morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, went further. He issued a statement saying:

These comments by the new Labour-appointed human rights chief are a disgrace. Once again, the left tries paint those opposed to mass immigration and illegal immigration as racist.

Mass migration with no integration has undermined social cohesion. Sex crimes by foreign nationals are up 62%, foreign criminals and illegal immigrants routinely abuse human rights, modern slavery and asylum laws to stay in the UK.

This nonsense has to end. It is completely wrong that Labour’s new human rights chief dismisses legitimate concerns about mass migration and crimes committed by foreign nationals – including the recent spate of rapes and sex attacks committed by small boat illegal immigrants.

Stephenson was appointed by the Labour government to replace Lady Falkner, who was appointed by the last Conservative government. Previously Stephenson ran the Women’s Budget Group, a feminist, economic thinktank.

Mary-Ann Stephenson. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PAShare

Updated at 11.30 CET

What’s in government’s new animal welfare strategy?

Here is a summary from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of what’s in the animal welfare strategy.

Improved welfare for companion animals by:

-Reforming dog breeding practices to improve health and welfare, preventing animals from becoming unwell and ending puppy farming

-Consulting on a ban on the use of electric shock collars due to the possible harm to our pets

-Considering the introduction of new licences for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure rescues have the right checks in place

-Promoting responsible dog ownership to protect public safety

Improved welfare for farmed animals by:

-Moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and the use of pig farrowing crates

-Addressing the welfare issues that arise from the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs because of animal welfare concerns

-Introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to spare them avoidable pain

-Promoting the use of slow growing meat chicken breeds

Protection for wild animals by:

-Banning trail hunting amidst concerns it is being used as a smokescreen for hunting

-Banning snare traps because they cause suffering to animals and can catch pets

-Introducing a close season for hares which should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, meaning that fewer young hares are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation

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Ministers defend ‘most ambitious animal welfare strategy in generation’ as NFU claims it could undermine British farming

Good morning. Parliament is in recess, ministers, like everyone else, are getting ready for Christmas, but the government does have a big announcement today – its animal welfare strategy. The document is being published later today, but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already published a good summary here.

There are multiple strands to what is being proposed. As Helena Horton reported at the weekend, there are plans to ban trail hunting and shooting hares during most of the year.

And there will be higher welfare standards for farmed animals, including the banning of colony cages for chickens, and pig farrowing crates.

The Conservatives are claiming this will lead to British farmers being undercut by rivals from countries where standards are lower. In her response to the plans, Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said:

While it is good to see the government taking forward Conservative policies to tackle puppy smuggling and livestock worrying, Labour is yet again favouring foreign farmers over British farmers by allowing substandard foreign imports to undercut our already-high welfare standards.

Labour have snuck this announcement out just before Christmas to avoid scrutiny, because they know that this will be another hammerblow to farming profitability. Once again, they have shown that they simply don’t care about rural Britain.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union, was on the Today programme this morning and he echoed these concerns – although his language was less alarmist than Atkins’.

Bradshaw told the programme:

We’ve seen from history that, if we don’t implement the changes that we want to have in our production systems here within our import standards, all we do is export our industry overseas.

We saw that with our pig industry back in 1999 where we used to produce 80% of our pork, but now we only produce about 45% …

We’ve got to make sure that we don’t drive food price inflation by adding a cost burden to the production system. The battery cages that have been banned are still in use in countries around the world, particularly in some of our Eastern European counterparts where we are importing eggs from those systems.

So what we in the National Farmers’ Union want is a system of fairness so that, if we have higher animal health and welfare standards here, then our imports have to meet those same standards of production.

Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has defended the plans, calling them “the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation”.

There is not much in the diary for today, but we are getting a No 10 lobby briefing at 11.30am.

If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.

If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.

I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.

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Updated at 10.38 CET

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Japan is a step closer to restarting the world’s largest nuclear power plant for the first time since the Fukushima disaster.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was among 54 reactors shut down after a massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011.

On Monday, the Niigata prefectural assembly, where Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is located, approved a bill paving the way for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to restart one of seven reactors at the plant.

TEPCO, which also operated the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant, will now seek final permission from Japan’s nuclear regulator to restart operations.

Initially, only one of the seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be put back online Image: Issei Kato/REUTERS

Japan increasing nuclear power generation

According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the operator hopes to restart one of the seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa on Jan. 20, with another 1.36-gigawatt reactor expected around 2030.

Some general facts about the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant:

• It is located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo
• It has a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts
• This is enough to supply power to several million homes
• A single reactor could boost electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2%

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office two months ago, has backed nuclear restarts to strengthen energy security and counter the cost of imported fossil fuels.

So far, Japan has restarted 14 of the country’s 33 reactors still considered operationally viable.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will become the first nuclear plant operated by TEPCO to resume operations since Fukushima.

After Fukushima, local communities remain uneasy

But not everyone is happy about restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.

Around 300 protesters demonstrated outside the assembly on Monday against the decision.

“I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart,” Kenichiro Ishiyama, a 77-year-old protester from Niigata city, told the Reuters news agency after the vote.

“If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences.”

Many residents of Niigata are wary of a nuclear plant restartImage: Issei Kato/REUTERS

A survey published in October showed that 60% of residents did not think conditions for the restart had been met, and nearly 70% were worried about TEPCO operating the plant.

Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who backed the restart, described Monday’s decision as “a milestone,” but “not the end.”

“There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents,” he said.

Edited by: Rana Taha

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