Simone Biles crowned with two ESPY Awards at 2025 ceremony, Adekunle Gold rewards first-class graduates with N250,000 each, Coldplay’s Chris Martin “accidentally exposes” CEO Andy Byron cuddling with HR chief. 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. Simone Biles crowned with two ESPY Awards
Gymnastics icon Simone Biles stole the spotlight at the 2025 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, taking home two of the ceremony’s most prestigious honors. Held annually since 1993, the ESPYs recognize the year’s most inspiring athletes and unforgettable sports moments. Biles, now an 11-time Olympic medalist, won Best Championship Performance for her dominant showing at the Paris Summer Games, where she captured three gold medals and a silver, helping lead the U.S. to its first team title since 2016. She also took home the Best Female Athlete honors, earning a standing ovation as she delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech that first offered condolences to victims of the recent Texas flash floods.
In an emotional moment, Biles credited her support system—teammates, coaches, and fans—for lifting her through a journey marked by resilience and excellence. “The recognition means more than you guys know,” she said. “I wouldn’t be standing here without all of you.” The night also honored other athletic standouts, including NBA MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA title and won Best Male Athlete. In his speech, he thanked his family and team, calling them the “best basketball team in the world,” with a grin and a playful jab at the audience: “I love you guys too—not as much as the other guys—but I love you.”
2. Adekunle Gold rewards first-class graduates with N250,000 each
If you graduated with First class, post your transcripts.
— BIG FISH 🦈 (@adekunleGOLD) July 16, 2025
Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold has captured national attention with a touching act of generosity, awarding N250,000 to several first-class graduates across the country. The initiative began when the Afro-pop singer took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, inviting top academic achievers to share their transcripts. “If you graduated with First class, post your transcripts,” he wrote, sparking an outpouring of responses from proud graduates.
After personally reviewing the submissions, Adekunle Gold selected multiple recipients for the cash prize. Social media quickly lit up with screenshots of bank alerts and emotional thank-you messages, as beneficiaries expressed gratitude for what many called a life-changing gesture. Fans and fellow celebrities praised the singer for using his platform to uplift young Nigerians and celebrate academic excellence in a meaningful way.
3. Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation raises $1.2 million for women and children
Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation raised over $1.2 MILLION during its first-ever gala.
Funds will benefit programs impacting education, housing, health and wellness. pic.twitter.com/bvWzFI2bjH
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 17, 2025
Megan Thee Stallion is turning personal legacy into community impact. The Grammy-winning rapper hosted the inaugural gala for her Pete & Thomas Foundation on Wednesday, July 16, at Gotham Hall in New York City, raising over $1.2 million to benefit women, children, and underserved communities through programs in education, housing, health, and wellness. The foundation, launched in 2022, honors her late parents, Joseph Pete Jr. and Holly Thomas, and their influence on her commitment to giving back. The evening, hosted by actress Taraji P. Henson, featured a performance from Muni Long and high-profile auction wins, including Klay Thompson’s $50,000 bid for Super Bowl tickets and a $30,000 bid from Lil Uzi Vert for a custom bracelet.
Speaking to the press at the event, Megan, 30, reflected on the emotional significance of the night. “I feel like they can see what I’m doing right now,” she said of her parents. “I feel like they’re looking down on me from heaven, and I feel like they’re like, ‘Yes, daughter.’” Stepping out with her boyfriend, NBA star Klay Thompson, for their red-carpet debut, Megan expressed gratitude to her supporters and pride in the foundation’s mission. “I feel like my momma’s so happy. I feel like my daddy is like, ‘This is exactly what I knew my child was gonna do,’” she added. With the success of the gala, the Pete & Thomas Foundation is poised to expand its reach and continue uplifting communities in Houston and beyond.
4. Burna Boy acknowledges Naomi Campbell’s role in new collaboration
“Shoutout to Naomi Campbell… It was literally her idea.”
Burna Boy gives credit to the supermodel for making his collaboration with Mick Jagger possible. pic.twitter.com/f1rdvR7LNA
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) July 16, 2025
In one of the most surprising musical pairings of the year, Afro-fusion star Burna Boy has teamed up with rock legend Mick Jagger for a soul-stirring track titled “Empty Chairs,” and the unlikely collaboration wouldn’t have happened without supermodel and cultural icon Naomi Campbell. In a recent interview, Burna Boy revealed that it was Campbell who first floated the idea of working with the Rolling Stones frontman. This suggestion seemed improbable at first, but ultimately birthed one of 2025’s most talked-about songs. “Naomi saw something we didn’t,” Burna Boy shared, crediting her vision for bridging the two musical icons.
“Empty Chairs,” now a standout on Burna Boy’s latest album, seamlessly fuses his signature Afrofusion style with Jagger’s classic rock energy. The track explores deep emotional terrain—loss, legacy, and introspection—with both artists delivering raw, vulnerable performances that have resonated with listeners worldwide. Campbell’s role behind the scenes underscores her enduring commitment to elevating African artistry and her unique talent for uniting worlds. With “Empty Chairs,” a bold concept has blossomed into a timeless anthem, cementing yet another genre-defying chapter in Burna Boy’s global rise.
5. Coldplay’s Chris Martin “accidentally exposes” CEO Andy Byron cuddling with HR chief
Coldplay puts CEO of Astronomer and Head of HR on jumbotron looking cozy during their concert. pic.twitter.com/yuy2R5FAEc
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 17, 2025
A Coldplay concert turned into unexpected drama Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium when frontman Chris Martin’s playful use of the “kiss cam” exposed more than just fan affection. As the camera panned across the 60,000-strong crowd, it landed on tech CEO Andy Byron in a tight embrace with Kristin Cabot, his company’s Chief People Officer, and notably, not his wife. What followed was a flurry of awkward scrambling: Byron ducked behind a barrier while Cabot buried her face in her hands. Martin quipped, prompting roars of laughter from the audience.
The moment, captured on fan phones, exploded online overnight, with millions of views and speculation spiraling across social media. Byron, the married CEO of billion-dollar software firm Astronomer, has helmed the company since mid-2023, while Cabot, also believed to be married, oversees workplace culture and employee trust. Internet users were quick to call out the pair’s choice of venue for a potentially secret rendezvous, with one tweet reading: “Why go to a packed stadium if you’re hiding a secret?” Neither Byron nor Cabot has addressed the incident. Still, the concert moment has become a lightning rod for commentary on office ethics, privacy, and the risks of mixing business with pleasure in very public places.
Featured image: Shaniqwa Jarvis for Netflix Queue
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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