Mariah Carey to perform at 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Tiwa Savage reaches 800M streams on Spotify, PSG ordered to pay Kylian Mbappé €60m in unpaid wages and bonuses. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. Mariah Carey to Perform at 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
🎤 Mariah Carey will take the stage.
A performance set to define an unforgettable Opening Ceremony performance at @milanocortina26. Are you ready?#Olympics pic.twitter.com/bH7IlxiW1z
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) December 15, 2025
Mariah Carey is set to take center stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, NBC News reports. Organizers announced that Carey will perform during the opening night festivities on February 6, 2026, at San Siro Stadium in Milan, the iconic venue shared by football giants Inter Milan and AC Milan. The ceremony will officially launch the Winter Games, which run from February 6 to February 22 across multiple locations in northern Italy.
In a statement, the local organizing committee described Carey’s participation as a fitting match for the tone of the Games, noting that she “fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the run-up to the Olympics,” with music serving as a “universal language” tied to the ceremony’s theme of harmony. While Milan will host the main spectacle, athletes competing in Cortina, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme will join remotely, reflecting the Games’ multi-city format. Mariah Carey, 56, brings extensive experience performing at the Winter Olympics, including the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and the U.S. Open women’s final, placing her in the lineage of global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, who performed at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.
2. Tiwa Savage Reaches 800M Streams on Spotify
JUST IN 🚨
Tiwa Savage has now surpassed 800 MILLION streams across all credits on Spotify!
— She becomes the 24th Nigerian artist to reach this milestone (3rd female). 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ETbwvUGc8N
— THE DEBUT HUB (@thedebuthub) December 13, 2025
Tiwa Savage has reached a major career milestone, officially surpassing 800 million streams across all credits on Spotify. The achievement underscores the singer’s lasting impact on the global Afrobeats movement and places her among an elite group of Nigerian artists to hit the mark. With the feat, Savage becomes only the 24th Nigerian artist overall and just the third female act to cross 800 million Spotify streams, reinforcing her reputation as one of the genre’s most influential and enduring figures in an industry long dominated by male stars.
The milestone reflects more than a surge in numbers, highlighting a decade-plus run defined by consistency and global appeal. From early hits like “Ma Lo” featuring Wizkid to fan favorites such as “Koroba” and her recent feature on Asake’s “Loaded,” Savage has maintained a strong streaming presence in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Her catalog, blending Afrobeats, R&B, and pop, has earned international recognition, including Time magazine naming “Celia” one of the best albums of 2020, and frequent appearances on Spotify’s annual lists of Nigeria’s most-streamed female artists, most recently ranking eighth in 2025.
3. Tyla Sets Record for the Biggest Tour by an African Artist in Asia
Tyla sets the record for the Biggest Tour by an African Artist in Asia.
She sold out 20,000 capacity Impact Challenger H3 Arena in Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭
15,000 capacity Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵
15,000 capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in The Philippines 🇵🇭
Performed at… pic.twitter.com/MOAgEwOso3
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) December 15, 2025
Tyla has set a new benchmark for African artists in Asia after completing the biggest tour ever by an African act across the continent. The 23-year-old South African star sold out major arenas in key cities, including Bangkok, Tokyo, Manila and Singapore as part of her debut world tour, thrilling fans with high-energy performances that blended amapiano, R&B and pop. The tour’s success has been widely celebrated online, with fans hailing Tyla as a trailblazer whose growing international presence reflects the expanding global reach of African music.
The Water hitmaker’s record-breaking run included a sold-out 20,000-capacity Impact Challenger H3 Arena in Bangkok, a packed 15,000-seat Ariake Arena in Tokyo, and another 15,000-capacity crowd at Manila’s SM Mall of Asia Arena. She also performed at India’s Sneaker Festival, which drew over 60,000 attendees across two days, headlined Bahrain’s 10,000-capacity Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre twice, and filled Singapore’s 8,000-seat Expo Arena. The milestone further cements Tyla’s status as one of Africa’s most compelling global exports, following a year defined by viral moments, chart success and growing influence on the world stage.
4. Rob Reiner’s Son Arrested on Suspicion of Homicide as More Details Emerge About Shocking Killings
JUST IN : LAPD photos of Rob Reiner’s son Nick being arrested in L.A.
24 hours after a blowout fight at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party. pic.twitter.com/PXBIo4inem
— Ape𝕏 (@CubanOnlyTrump) December 16, 2025
Rob Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested on suspicion of homicide after the filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their Brentwood home, authorities said. Los Angeles police responded to the residence around 3:40 p.m. Sunday and later apprehended Nick Reiner, 32, in South Los Angeles near the USC area at about 9:15 p.m., according to law enforcement sources.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell described the case as “a tragic incident,” confirming that investigators have obtained a search warrant for the home, where there were no signs of forced entry and the victims’ injuries were consistent with stabbing. Nick Reiner is being held in Los Angeles County jail without bail as the investigation continues, and no motive has been publicly identified.
The deaths of Rob Reiner, 78, the acclaimed director and actor behind classics including “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, a photographer and producer, have sent shock waves through Hollywood and the political world. Family friends told local media that tensions had surfaced over the weekend, including an argument between father and son at a holiday gathering, and that Michele Reiner had grown increasingly concerned about her son’s mental health.
Tributes poured in from across entertainment and politics, including a statement from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who called the couple “good, generous people” whose work and civic engagement inspired millions, as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the killings.
5. PSG Ordered to Pay Kylian Mbappé €60m in Unpaid Wages and Bonuses
🚨 Official: Kylian Mbappe has won the lawsuit against PSG, with judge ruling in the player’s favor. 🇫🇷
As a result, the Court of Paris have sided with the footballer and order PSG to pay around €61 million, reports RMC. pic.twitter.com/9tPnsJiEBN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 16, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain have been ordered by a Paris labour court to pay more than €60 million in unpaid wages and bonuses to Kylian Mbappé, following a long-running dispute linked to the final months of his contract before his 2024 move to Real Madrid. The ruling, delivered by the Conseil de prud’hommes, sided with the France forward after hearings last month that examined claims of unpaid salaries for April, May and June 2024, as well as tensions that followed his decision not to extend his deal. Mbappé’s representatives welcomed the judgment, saying it “confirms that commitments must be honoured” and that labour law applies even at the highest level of professional football, while PSG said it would comply with the decision but reserved the right to appeal.
The relationship between Mbappé and PSG deteriorated in 2023 after the club learned he would allow his contract to expire. This denied them a major transfer fee despite having offered him the most lucrative deal in their history in 2022. PSG accused the striker of reneging on an alleged agreement to reduce his pay if he left on a free transfer and sought €440 million in damages, citing financial harm and a “loss of opportunity.” Mbappé’s camp rejected those claims, insisting no such agreement existed and maintaining that the player fulfilled all sporting and contractual obligations over seven seasons. Mbappé ultimately joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals for PSG, who went on to win the Champions League without him.
Featured image: @mariahcarey/Instagram
Our Weekday News Digest brings you a curated selection of the most compelling stories from around the globe. This week, we delve into the latest celebrity headlines, from Hollywood to Nollywood, explore trending global news, and highlight the most exciting sports developments of 2025.
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