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1+ min ago (1089+ words) The regional bloc seemed resigned to the coup crises rocking the region until the attempted coup in Benin this month. When armed soldiers in the small West African nation of Benin appeared on national television on December 7 to announce they had seized power in a coup, it felt to many across the region like another episode of the ongoing coup crisis that has seen several governments toppled since 2020. But the scenes played out differently this time. Amid reports of gunfire and civilians scampering to safety in the economic capital, Cotonou, Beninese and others across the region waited with bated breath as conflicting intelligence emerged. The small group of putschists, on the one hand, declared victory, but Benin's forces and government officials said the plot had failed. By evening, the situation was clear " Benin's government was still standing. President Patrice Talon…...

3+ min ago (1646+ words) Whether or not you consider Wham!'s "Last Christmas" a gay song depends on how you see its lyrics and its creator. The 1984 Wham! song "Last Christmas" has become a regular holiday favorite among listeners who like their Yuletide jingles with a touch of romantic heartbreak. But is Last Christmas a gay song? It depends on how you view its history and lyrics (especially since its music video is decidedly heterosexual). To answer the question "Is "Last Christmas" a gay song?" we took a deeper look at its biographical, historical, and cultural contexts. In short, a lot of fans think Last Christmas can be interpreted as a gay or bisexual song, even though its lyrics aren"t explicitly gay. Wham! was a 1980s British music duo consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Though the duo began releasing albums in 1983 and…...

12+ min ago (322+ words) Mediaite's Most Influential in News Media 2025 (Press Association via AP Images) President Donald Trump filed his long-promised $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over a documentary broadcast that aired just days before the 2024 election, which edited a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021. Court documents filed late Monday in a Miami federal court seek $5 billion in damages for defamation and a further $5 billion over alleged violations of trade practices. In the 46-page filing, Trump's team argue the edit gave the "mistaken impression" he called for violence on that day. The footage used in the broadcaster's Panorama documentary spliced together two separate clips, creating the impression Trump told supporters: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol" and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell." Speaking in Washington DC, the president accused the broadcaster of "putting terrible…...

14+ min ago (701+ words) If I had no concerns and I was confident in the lawful order, I would definitely execute that order." Guillot's openness about the potential for unprecedented military action within U.S. borders comes as the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department continue to refuse to rule out summary executions of Americans on Trump's secret enemies list, after weeks of requests for clarifications from The Intercept. The military has carried out 25 known attacks in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing at least 95 civilians whom it claims are narco-terrorists affiliated with DTOs. The most recent strikes, three on Monday in the Pacific Ocean against vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," killed a total of eight people, according to U.S. Southern Command. The questionable legal justification for these attacks makes Guillot's response all the more concerning, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of…...

15+ min ago (1296+ words) After UNESCO Koshari nod, will Egypt gentrify its national dish? US Army names 2 National Guard members killed in attack in Syria South Africa misses G20 sherpa meeting following Trump disinvite Exit-only from Rafah: Israel's long game of displacement in Gaza After the ceasefire: In south Lebanon, Israel's war never ended Storm Byron hits Gaza Gulf states reconsider their reliance on US' security umbrella A hero in Sydney Gaza's orphaned girls shoulder family burdens amid Israel's war European football fuels online betting black market in Algeria Egyptians were extremely proud when they learned that UNESCO had inscribed koshari, their most popular and affordable meal, on its list of intangible heritage. Then, at joy's heels, came a few tangible fears. As they celebrated a cultural victory associated with their most budget-friendly dish, Egyptian koshari lovers also expressed concerns that restaurants serving the meal…...

21+ min ago (86+ words) US Army names 2 National Guard members killed in attack in Syria South Africa misses G20 sherpa meeting following Trump disinvite US envoy Barrack 'reaches understanding' with Netanyahu on Syria Exit-only from Rafah: Israel's long game of displacement in Gaza After the ceasefire: In south Lebanon, Israel's war never ended Storm Byron hits Gaza Gulf states reconsider their reliance on US' security umbrella A hero in Sydney Gaza's orphaned girls shoulder family burdens amid Israel's war European football fuels online betting black market in Algeria...

23+ min ago (309+ words) White House officials revealed Tuesday that the Trump administration is "likely" to engage in what critics have called acts of "piracy and maritime terrorism" " and "soon," The New York Times reported. According to multiple White House officials who spoke with the Times on the condition of anonymity, the Trump administration will "likely" seize more Venezuelan oil tankers following the administration's seizure of the Venezuelan oil tanker "Skipper" last week in the Caribbean, an act that Venezuela condemned as an "act of international piracy." The revelation comes amid the Trump administration's aggressive escalation of military threats against Venezuela, starting with its deadly strikes in September on suspected drug-carrying vessels that have killed at least 95 people, and have been condemned by critics as unlawful. Trump has also considered assassinating Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to reports, has illegally closed the South American…...

23+ min ago (328+ words) JERUSALEM, Israel" Two days after the Hanukkah massacre in Sydney, Australia, Jewish communities around the world and their supporters are gathering to show their concern for the victims of the worst terror attack there in nearly thirty years. Jewish groups are also calling for greater security and vigilance. Thousands of Australians gathered on Monday to mourn the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting. One mourner said, "I was just really, really shocked from yesterday. It was really terrifying for all of the Jews, all around the world, even." Another said, "All it is is hate. It's just purely two people that came down to Bondi yesterday with the intent of killing Jews." Jewish communities also held vigils in Manchester, England;London;and Boulder, Colorado, the site of an anti-Semitic attack in June, when a man hurled a Molotov cocktail at…...

28+ min ago (362+ words) Catholic Charities in Wisconsin will not be required to pay unemployment taxes after a ruling Monday by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which found that the religious nonprofit is eligible for a statutory religious exemption. The decision comes in light of a June 2025 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming that Catholic Charities qualifies for the exemption based on its faith-based mission. The Wisconsin case had been in legal limbo following the federal ruling, which sent the case back to the state's courts for further consideration consistent with the Supreme Court's findings. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul had asked the court to eliminate the exemption, but the state's highest court sided with Catholic Charities instead. In its order, the Wisconsin Supreme Court wrote that Catholic Charities "is eligible for the religious purposes exemption to unemployment taxation" and directed the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review…...

30+ min ago (495+ words) A 71-year-old woman is on trial in the UK for allegedly murdering her 84-year-old husband with a kitchen knife she claims he "slipped" onto, with local reports detailing how she admitted to writing "bye bye" in a calendar " the same day he died " just hours later. "It has got 'bye bye' and it has got two kisses, and it has got a heart," Daryl Berman testified on Monday, according to the Manchester Evening News. "I put it on at the end of the day when everybody had gone and I was ready to go up to bed." The March stabbing death of David Berman, Daryl Berman's husband, was initially ruled an accident before an investigation allegedly revealed his wife's alleged involvement. As a result, police left David's body in the couple's home and ordered an undertaker to come get it....