RAYE to receive Grammy Award honor for “Ice Cream Man,” Wizkid, Davido, Ayra Starr, others nominated for 2026 MOBO Awards, Cristiano Ronaldo doubles Lionel Messi’s earnings to top the highest-paid athletes chart. 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. RAYE to receive Grammy Award honor for “Ice Cream Man.”
RAYE’s ‘Ice Cream Man.’ to Receive Recording Academy’s 2026 Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Awardhttps://t.co/BYv1kWQN41
— billboard (@billboard) January 15, 2026
RAYE is set to receive a major honor at the 2026 Grammy Awards, with her song “Ice Cream Man” selected as the recipient of the Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Award. The Recording Academy announced that the track, written by four-time Grammy nominee RAYE alongside three-time Grammy nominees BloodPop and Mike Sabath, will be recognized during the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 31, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, during Grammy Week. “Ice Cream Man” appears on RAYE’s critically acclaimed debut album My 21st Century Blues and will be honored in the lead-up to the 2026 Grammys, which take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena.
A deeply personal and emotionally charged song, “Ice Cream Man,” confronts sexual assault and systemic silence, transforming trauma into a call for accountability, empowerment, and justice for survivors. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. praised the track’s impact in a statement, calling it “a powerful reminder of music’s unique ability to raise awareness, inspire change, and provide a voice to those too often unheard.” Grammy Week 2026 will culminate with the live Grammy Awards broadcast on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+, with additional events and the Premiere Ceremony streaming live on live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.
2. Wizkid, Davido, Ayra Starr, others nominated for 2026 MOBO Awards
Nominees for the 2026 MOBO Awards Best Intern Act award. 🌍🏆
• Ayra Starr 🇳🇬
• Cardi B 🇺🇸
• Clipse 🇺🇸
• Gunna 🇺🇸
• Kehlani 🇺🇸
• Leon Thomas 🇺🇸
• Mariah The Scientist 🇺🇸
• MOLIY 🇬🇭
• Tyla 🇿🇦
• Vybz Kartel 🇯🇲Who gets your vote? 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/VLuXzleGAn
— 49th. (@the49thstreet) January 15, 2026
Nigerian music heavyweights Wizkid, Davido, Ayra Starr, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, and Shallipopi have all earned nominations for the 2026 Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, underscoring the continued global rise of Afrobeats. The artists were shortlisted in the highly competitive Best African Music Act category, where they will face fellow nominees Joshua Baraka, Moliy, and South African star Tyla, according to the nominations list unveiled on Thursday via the MOBO Awards’ official Instagram page.
Ayra Starr secured additional recognition beyond the African category, landing a nomination for Best International Act alongside major global names including Cardi B, Gunna, Kehlani, Vybz Kartel, and Tyla. The 2026 MOBO Awards nominations span a wide range of genres and categories, celebrating excellence across African, Caribbean, British, and international music, with winners set to be announced at the ceremony later this year.
3. The US is suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries
The U.S. Department of State has announced an indefinite pause on Immigrant Visa (IV) issuance for 75 countries, including Jamaica effective January 21, 2026. IV interview appointments will continue as scheduled.
This announcement only affects immigrant visas. Non-immigrant… pic.twitter.com/NhLmzXxgeA
— US Embassy Jamaica (@USEmbassyJA) January 14, 2026
The United States is indefinitely suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, marking a further expansion of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. A U.S. official said the pause, which begins on January 21, will affect immigrant visas used for family reunification and employment, but will not apply to non-immigrant visas such as student or tourist visas. As a result, travelers seeking short-term entry, including those planning to attend the World Cup in the U.S. this summer, will not be impacted by the suspension.
According to the State Department, the move follows increased scrutiny under the “public charge” provision of immigration law, aimed at preventing the entry of individuals the administration believes could become dependent on public assistance. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said immigrant visa processing from the affected countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on welfare and public benefits. The list includes countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Nigeria, Somalia, and Russia, many of which were already subject to expanded travel restrictions under existing U.S. immigration policies.
4. Chris Brown’s $500 million defamation lawsuit over “A History of Violence” documentary dismissed
Chris Brown’s $500 million defamation lawsuit against the producers of the ‘Chris Brown: A History of Violence’ documentary has been dismissed.
The judge ruled that the documentary presents “a balanced view.” pic.twitter.com/q7dlqvKYm6
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 15, 2026
A judge has dismissed Chris Brown’s $500 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment over the 2024 documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence. According to a court order issued Monday, January 12, and reported by Billboard, the 36-year-old singer alleged the companies promoted false information for profit. Brown filed the lawsuit last January, arguing the documentary unfairly portrayed him by revisiting assault and sexual abuse allegations, including a woman’s claim that he raped her on Diddy’s yacht in 2020—an accusation his legal team said was undermined by inconsistencies and concealed text messages.
In dismissing the case, Judge Colin Leis said the documentary presented a balanced and accurate account, noting that it acknowledged the inconsistencies cited by Brown, including the disputed text messages. The judge also rejected Brown’s claims that an interview with writer Scaachi Koul was defamatory, ruling that her comments constituted opinion and were not proven false, particularly in light of Brown’s past admissions. In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault after attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna, an incident that resulted in probation, counseling, and community service. While multiple women have accused Brown of violence over the years, including the 2020 rape allegation, that civil lawsuit was later dismissed.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo doubles Lionel Messi’s earnings to top the highest-paid athletes chart
Americans dominate Sportico’s annual look at the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes, nabbing 62 entries. Yet, the very top of the athlete financial table is a global affair with 12 different countries represented by the 15 best-paid sports stars. LeBron James the only American in… pic.twitter.com/r8fltdiyDp
— Sportico (@Sportico) January 14, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped Sportico’s annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, earning double what long-time rival Lionel Messi made in 2025. The Al-Nassr forward pulled in an estimated $260 million, with $200 million coming from his Saudi Pro League contract and a further $60 million from endorsements and other ventures, securing his place at No. 1 for the third straight year. Ronaldo’s vast global profile, including a social media following that has surpassed one billion, continues to fuel his off-field income and keep him ahead of the competition. Football accounted for 13 players in Sportico’s top 100 overall.
Messi ranked third on the list with earnings of $130 million, exactly half of Ronaldo’s total, following a new contract extension with MLS Cup winners Inter Miami through 2028. Boxing star Canelo Álvarez split the two football icons in second place, while Brazilian superstar Neymar slipped to No. 30 after returning to Santos and taking a significant pay cut following the termination of his Al-Hilal deal. Despite their age, both Ronaldo and Messi are expected to remain central figures in global football, with the legendary duo tipped to feature at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Featured image: Jenny Brough
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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