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Australia attack proves ISIS, jihadist networks far from defeated
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The terror attack in Australia has renewed urgent warnings from intelligence officials and counterterrorism experts that global jihadist networks are intensifying their reach, even as Western governments continue to frame groups like ISIS as weakened or in retreat.
Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and one of the longest-running trackers of jihadist movements, said the Australia attack highlights a persistent miscalculation in Western capitals.
“We’ve always been quick to declare terrorist organizations defeated and insignificant, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Roggio told Fox News Digital.
Roggio, who is also managing editor of The Long War Journal, said ISIS remains far from dismantled despite the collapse of its territorial “caliphate.”
FAMILIES MOURN LOVED ONES LOST IN BONDI BEACH TERROR ATTACK: ‘NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THE PAIN’
People gather around a tribute for shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, a day after a shooting. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
“This attack in Australia is absolute proof that the Islamic State hasn’t been defeated,” he said. “These groups are still able to recruit and indoctrinate people. They still have safe havens.”
He pointed to ISIS’ enduring presence in Afghanistan. “I just read the U.N. report. There are 2,000 ISIS fighters there, according to the United Nations,” Roggio said. “That’s not what a defeated group looks like.”
Police inspect at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 15, 2025. (DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli officials say the threat revealed in Australia is part of a broader global pattern. Over the past year, they said, plots have been attempted or disrupted across Europe, North America, and elsewhere — signaling an escalating jihadist resurgence rather than isolated bursts of violence.
Corri Zoli, a research associate at Syracuse University’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute, said Western governments cannot ignore the indicators.
“Governments are on notice that there is a steep rise in the terrorist targeting of religious minorities, particularly those from the Jewish faith community and Israelis worldwide — a trend intelligence agencies say has accelerated in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, which killed more than 1,200 people in Israel,” Zoli said.
Roggio agrees the Israel–Hamas war has supercharged radicalization and emboldened extremists worldwide.
“With Israel’s war against Hamas, it’s given new life for people to attack Jews worldwide,” Roggio said. “It’s a further reason to radicalize.”
BYSTANDERS SEEN CONFRONTING AUSTRALIAN GUNMAN DURING ISIS-INSPIRED DEADLY RAMPAGE
Intelligence officials told Fox News Digital that extremist actors across ideological lines are leveraging the conflict to inspire supporters, amplify propaganda and justify attacks in the West. Terrorist organizations, they said, are adapting quickly — merging digital incitement with on-the-ground recruitment networks.
“Analysts at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center warn these networks are probing for openings in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States, exploiting ideological ecosystems that can radicalize individuals far from traditional battlefields,” Zoli said.
GLOBAL WAVE OF TERROR PLOTS SPARKS NEW ALARMS OVER THE WEST’S GROWING VULNERABILITY
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Zoli also noted that Australian authorities had acknowledged that the attacker’s family had been on the radar of domestic intelligence. Zoli said the son “Was known to Australian officials for his extremism since 2019 and his association with extremist imam Wissam Haddad, a habitual violator of Australia’s racial hatred laws at the Al Madina Dawah Centre and a prominent figure in the Street Dawah Movement. [He] also maintained close ties to Isaac El Matari, who claimed to be an Australian ISIS commander and is currently serving jail time for insurgency and firearms offenses,” she said.
Roggio rejects the notion that individuals like the two of them should be viewed as “lone wolves.”
“I disagree with that whole ‘lone wolf’ terminology,” he said, arguing that extremist ecosystems continue to provide ideological motivation, guidance and validation even when attackers act alone.
A senior intelligence source put it even more starkly: “Today is ISIS, tomorrow is Iran.”
PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES GIVE UPDATE ON BONDI BEACH GUNMEN’S MOVEMENTS AMID SPECULATION ABOUT TERROR TRAINING
ISIS has long waged a recruitment and propaganda war online. (Reuters) (Reuters)
Roggio also stressed that the threat is not confined to ISIS but spans an interconnected web of jihadist actors.
“This isn’t just the Islamic State. It’s al Qaeda,” he said. “We were quick to declare al Qaeda defeated in Afghanistan. You read the U.N. reports, they’re still there. They’re in bed with the Taliban.” “These groups aren’t defeated,” he added. “They’re just operating differently.”
Morgan Murphy, a national security expert and former Trump White House official, and current U.S. Senate candidate in Alabama, told Fox News Digital that “Because of an unprecedented influx of unvetted, Islamist, fighting-age male migrants into both Europe and the United States, the West now faces a threat from within. That internal risk undermines our global leadership and drains resources that should be used to defend freedom abroad. This is a national security disaster created by the shortsighted policies of leaders like President Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel, who welcomed so-called refugees without considering the long-term consequences for Western society.”
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A photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), showing an ISIS flag among the belongings of a Hamas terrorist. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Just because we want to declare the war against terror over doesn’t mean it’s over,” Roggio said. “We wanted to end our involvement in these wars, but the enemy gets a vote. That’s what we just saw in Australia.”
Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Christmas card left King Charles’ former butler stunned after he noticed key differences between it and Prince William and Kate Middleton’s
Simon Green Head of Trendswatch
14:45, 22 Dec 2025
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Christmas card with their family(Image: @KensingtonRoyal/Josh Shinner)
A former royal staff member says he was surprised by a “strange” detail in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Christmas card, compared to that of Kate Middleton and Prince William. The Sussexes’ festive photo featured Prince Harry tenderly holding Prince Archie’s face, while Meghan was seen clasping Princess Lilibet’s hands.
This came just hours after the Prince and Princess of Wales released their family’s 2025 card – a snapshot taken earlier this year.
In the Cambridge’s picture, Kate and William were seen sitting with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on the grass in Norfolk. Both photos unsurprisingly caused quite a stir online upon their release.
Now, Grant Harrold, who served the then Prince Charles from 2004 to 2011 and has had ample experience meeting Princes William and Harry, has shared his thoughts.
In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, he expressed his surprise at the Sussexes’ decision to once again not show their children’s faces in the photo.
Meghan Markle released a Christmas photo with her family last week(Image: INSTAGRAM/@MEGHAN)
He elaborated: “Meghan and Harry have kept the royal tradition of sending a Christmas card with a family photo on the front, which is of course a big American tradition as well. They’ve cherry picked the traditions they want to keep from royal life, keeping the ones that work for them.
“However I find this year’s photo a bit strange. They don’t want to show their children’s faces, and I completely understand their choice to keep their children’s faces out of the spotlight. However I think it just comes across a bit odd in this picture. Again, they’re kind of sitting in the middle. Why send out a photo of your children if you don’t want them to be seen? For me, it doesn’t make sense.”
Meghan and Harry have made a deliberate effort to shield their children from public attention, which frequently results in concealing their faces in photographs and footage.
Grant Harrold worked for the then-Prince Charles for seven years(Image: Daily Record)
The image stands in “sharp contrast” to the Wales’ “very traditional” photograph, according to Grant. He added: “It’s a proud family photo. Their picture oozes confidence, while Meghan and Harry’s still looks a bit off in my opinion.
“The only similarity between the photos is their choice of an outdoor setting. Again, this is very normal for royal Christmas cards, however I think it’s also symbolic as both families love being outside. Kate has spoken regularly about the benefits of spending time outdoors, and Meghan has also spoken of her love of being in her garden.”
Grant also highlighted a “sad difference” between the two brothers’ cards, considering who he believes will receive them. He further commented: “To my understanding, Kate and William’s Christmas card list still includes friends they’ve held close for years and years – I bet a lot of the names I knew from my time working with them are still on the list. However, Prince Harry has parted with so many of his friends so I doubt he’ll be in touch with them this Christmas.”
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.
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.
WORLD NEWS
Israel condemned after approving 19 new settlements in West Bank in latest blow to Palestinian state
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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.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/flight-attendant-040924-10571f801d8e4c69926ee96130c47c1e.jpg "When’s the Best Time to Ask for a Flight Upgrade? Here’s What Experts Say")
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.
Getty
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.
Getty
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.
Getty
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.”
WORLD NEWS
Mani’s A-list line up: Liam Gallagher joins Stone Roses stars Ian Brown, John Squire and Alan Wren and Primal Scream’s Bobbie Gillespie as pallbearers for Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s final journey
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.’
Police are now treating an alleged attack on a 33-year-old Huddersfield mum as murder after she tragically passed away in hospital
SOURCE PAGE
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.
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.
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.
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.
WORLD NEWS
Israeli military storms West Bank towns, carries out demolition | Occupied West Bank News
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.