Singer Mario welcomes his first child with girlfriend Esmeralda Rios, Burna Boy makes Top 20 on Billboard Hot 100 with “wgft,” Chelsea miss out as Douglas Luiz agrees to Villa return. 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. Singer Mario welcomes his first child with girlfriend Esmeralda Rios
R&B Singer Mario Is Officially a Dad: Singer Welcomes First Child With Esmeralda Rios https://t.co/ufTsxOks98
— Baller Alert 🚨 (@balleralert) January 27, 2026
Singer Mario is officially a father as the “Let Me Love You” hitmaker, 39, welcomed his first child—a baby boy—with his girlfriend, Esmeralda Rios. Mario shared the news on Monday, January 26, posting a selfie of himself wearing medical scrubs on his Instagram Stories. In the image, the newly minted dad, born Mario Dewar Barrett, jokingly referred to himself as “Doctor Barrett” while announcing the arrival of his son and expressing gratitude for women. “Women are God’s greatest creation cuz what I witness today was ONLY GODS work!” he wrote, adding that the baby boy is healthy.
The R&B singer first revealed that he and Rios were expecting their first child together in late August, sharing a photo on Instagram Stories in which he rested his hand on her bare baby bump. “It’s a whole universe in there! 🥹 I can’t wait,” he wrote at the time. Mario has previously spoken openly about the weight of fatherhood, telling V-103 Atlanta in a 2023 interview that he does not “take having kids lightly.” Reflecting on his own upbringing without a father, the “Closer to Mars” artist said he wanted to approach parenthood with intention and care, emphasizing that when the time came, he wanted to “do it right.”
2. Burna Boy makes Top 20 on Billboard Hot 100 with “wgft”
Burna Boy earns his first ever top 20 hit on the Hot 100 this week with “wgft”. pic.twitter.com/B8lyU7Np62
— chart data (@chartdata) January 27, 2026
Burna Boy has reached a major career milestone on the Billboard Hot 100, earning his first-ever Top 20 entry with “wgft,” his collaboration with Gunna. The track surged to a new peak at No. 16 on this week’s chart, marking Burna Boy’s highest placement to date on the all-genre ranking and solidifying his growing presence in the U.S. mainstream music market.
The record has now spent a total of 24 weeks on the chart, continuing its steady climb and demonstrating strong staying power. The milestone underscores Burna Boy’s expanding international reach as he continues to bridge African music with global hip-hop and pop audiences.
3. FIFA’s ex-chief Sepp Blatter joins calls to boycott World Cup over Trump policies
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter backs a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the U.S. because of the conduct of President Trump and his administration at home and abroad. https://t.co/ekCT3F5tdx
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 27, 2026
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has joined growing calls for a boycott of World Cup matches in the United States, citing concerns over the policies and conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration. In a post shared on Monday on the social media platform X, Blatter urged fans to avoid traveling to the U.S., writing, “For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the USA!” He was quoting remarks made by Swiss attorney and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who warned of potential risks for visiting supporters and questioned the country’s suitability as a host. Blatter added that Pieth was “right to question this World Cup,” making him the latest prominent football figure to publicly challenge the U.S. as a venue.
The United States is set to co-host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. But criticism has intensified over Trump-era travel bans, immigration enforcement tactics, and broader foreign policy positions. Recent measures have disrupted travel plans for fans from several qualified nations, including Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti, due to expanded entry restrictions. Concerns have also been echoed within European football leadership, with German football federation vice president Oke Göttlich saying the idea of a boycott should be taken seriously. Blatter, who led FIFA from 1998 to 2015 before resigning amid corruption investigations, said the growing list of issues surrounding the U.S. warranted renewed scrutiny of the tournament’s location.
4. One Battle After Another and Sinners lead Bafta film nominations
Breaking News: “One Battle After Another” got the most nominations for this year’s BAFTA awards, which are seen as a bellwether for the Oscars. https://t.co/0t7Gq7ocBy
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 27, 2026
One Battle After Another and Sinners led the field of contenders for Britain’s BAFTA film awards, topping the nominations announced Tuesday ahead of the ceremony next month. The offbeat thriller One Battle After Another, which explores themes of radical violence, immigration raids, and white supremacists, earned a leading 14 nominations, including a nod for best film. Close behind was the vampire period horror Sinners, which secured 13 nominations and will also compete in the top category, less than a week after it set an all-time Oscars record with 16 nominations. The BAFTAs, the centerpiece of the British film calendar, will be held in London on February 22, three weeks before the Academy Awards in Hollywood.
The strong showing further cements both films as awards-season heavyweights, with One Battle After Another widely favored after sweeping several precursor prizes, including multiple wins at this month’s Golden Globes. BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip praised this year’s slate for its “bold storytelling and unique takes,” highlighting One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Bugonia, while also noting the strength of more intimate films such as Hamnet and Sentimental Value. Hamnet secured 11 nominations and a best film slot, alongside Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme. Meanwhile, directors, including Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, and Yorgos Lanthimos, will vie for top honors, underscoring what Millichip called “a really rich year” for global and British cinema alike.
5. Chelsea miss out as Douglas Luiz agrees to Villa return
🚨🟣🔵 Douglas Luiz to Aston Villa, here we go! The Brazilian midfielder is back at the club after talks revealed last week.
Verbal agreement with Juventus over paid loan deal with buy option clause.
Nottingham Forest send Luiz back to Juve and new loan to #AVFC. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZKd4UDw5HH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2026
Chelsea have missed out on Douglas Luiz after Aston Villa agreed a loan deal to bring the Brazilian midfielder back to Villa Park until the end of the season. The 27-year-old is set to cut short his difficult spell at Nottingham Forest. Villa has reached a verbal agreement with Juventus that includes a paid loan fee and an option to make the move permanent next summer. According to multiple reports, Unai Emery moved quickly to secure the reunion, beating off interest from Chelsea, who had been considering a loan move as they looked to strengthen their midfield options.
Villa’s decisive action has been driven by a mounting injury crisis, with Boubacar Kamara ruled out for the rest of the season, captain John McGinn sidelined for several weeks, and concerns over Youri Tielemans after an apparent ankle injury. Luiz, a former Villa mainstay who made more than 200 appearances for the club before joining Juventus in 2024, is eager to revive his career after struggling for form and fitness at Forest. His return offers Emery an experienced and familiar option in midfield as Villa aim to stabilize their squad and sustain their push for European qualification, while Chelsea are left to explore alternative targets.
Featured image: Prince Williams/FilmMagic
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 2026.
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