Essence Names 2026 Black Women in Hollywood Honorees, 2Babawoman, Natashadedicates baby during church ceremony, Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after dismal Premier League run. Stay informed with our Rave News Summarywhich summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to stay informed, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
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1. Essence Names 2,026 Black Women in Hollywood Honorees
Get ready. We’re going Off-Script.
ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood has always been a defining moment of awards season, celebrating the Black women shaping the industry from every angle.
But this year, tradition is not the blueprint. We are rewriting it.
This year’s winners include… pic.twitter.com/FJINuAlKsG
— ESSENCE (@Essence) February 12, 2026
Essence Magazine has announced this Chase Infiniti, Kerry Washington, LaTanyaRichardsonJacksonAnd Zinzi Coogler as the 2026 Black Women in Hollywood (BWIH) honorees. The 19th annual awards luncheon will take place on March 12 at the Fairmont Century Plaza themed “Off script,” which organizers say reflects a shift in the way black women navigate Hollywood and redefine success on their own terms. The event continues Essence’s long-standing tradition of celebrating groundbreaking achievements by Black women in film, television and media.
Infiniti is recognized for her breakthrough role as Willa Ferguson One battle after another, a role that earned her nominations at the Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards and the Actor Awards. A previous BWIH honoree in 2012, Washington will be celebrated for her versatile career as a Golden Globe and Tony-nominated actress, Emmy-winning producer via Simpson StreetAnd New York Times bestselling author. Jackson will be honored for her nearly four-decade career on stage and screen, along with her social contributions to the arts, while Coogler, founder of Proximity Media, will be recognized for producing critically acclaimed projects, including her latest film. Sinners. The 2026 Black Women in Hollywood ceremony will be streamed on Essence’s YouTube channel and will also feature the Essie’s Choice Award and the inaugural Creators’ Award presented by Smartwater.
2. 2Baba and wife Natasha carry baby during church ceremony
𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝟐𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚, 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲
Credit: Facebook | Ameriawing Utah
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Follow us for more current news and videos pic.twitter.com/MZoGWNlFuU— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) February 12, 2026
Veteran Nigerian singer Innocent Idibiapopularly known as 2Face or 2Baba, and his wife, Edo state lawmaker Natasha Osawarudedicated their baby in a church ceremony attended by close family and friends. A video that began circulating online Thursday captured the heartwarming moment the couple presented their newborn at the service, marking an important spiritual milestone for their growing family. The dedication comes about three months after they welcomed their first child together in November 2025, following their traditional wedding earlier this year.
In the now viral footage, 2Baba and Natasha were seen dancing joyfully to the altar while carrying their baby, with family members following behind them, clapping and celebrating as they approached the officiating pastor. The ceremony reflected a mix of faith and celebration, with the couple visibly elated as they committed their child to God in the presence of loved ones. Fans have since flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating the latest chapter in the music icon’s personal life.
3. Chris Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX becomes the highest-grossing solo tour by a black male artist
Chris Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX officially becomes the highest-grossing tour ever by a Black American solo artist, raking in $295.5 million from 1,983,000 million tickets sold across 49 shows. pic.twitter.com/jaJbti0xa5
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) February 11, 2026
Chris Brown has reached a new milestone in his career as his Breezy Bowl XX Tour officially becomes the highest-grossing tour by a Black American solo artist. The worldwide run generated an estimated $295.5 million from 1,983,000 tickets sold across 49 shows, making the multi-platinum singer one of the most commercially successful touring acts in contemporary music. The numbers reflect not only the strong demand for tickets, but also Brown’s continued global appeal, almost two decades after his debut.
This achievement underlines the growing importance of live performance income in today’s music industry, where touring has become the primary driver of artists’ incomes. With nearly 2 million tickets sold and an average of more than 40,000 fans per show, Breezy Bowl XX showcases the size of Brown’s international fan base and the power of a catalog that spans R&B hits from the early 2000s to recent chart-topping hits. Industry analysts note that tours of nearly $300 million typically involve stadium-level production, extensive logistics and consistent near-capacity attendance, all of which points to Brown’s enduring commercial power in a competitive global market.
4. Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey charged with two more charges of rape as stated
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with two further rapes. pic.twitter.com/GycZ2bcZGz
— Telegraaf Voetbal (@TeleFootball) February 12, 2026
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with two further counts of rape, according to a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The 32-year-old Ghanaian international footballer, who now plays for Spanish side Villarreal, is already set to stand trial in November 2026 after pleading not guilty to five charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022. The CPS confirmed the new charges relate to a separate report of non-recent crimes in 2020 involving an additional woman, following a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The allegations were first reported in August 2025 and Partey will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 13.
Partey, who left Arsenal at the end of his contract in the summer of 2025, remains on bail and is allowed to continue playing professional football under certain conditions. He is prohibited from contacting any of the complainants and must notify police 24 hours before any international travel. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, he remains part of the Ghana national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is expected to travel to North America for the tournament. Meanwhile, his club’s future remains uncertain as his one-year contract with Villarreal expires in June as he prepares to contest the charges in court later this year.
5. Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after dismal Premier League series
BREAKING: Thomas Frank has been fired by Tottenham Hotspur 🚨 pic.twitter.com/5LKf0MHiqW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 11, 2026
Tottenham Hotspur have sacked head coach Thomas Frank after just eight months in charge, the club confirmed on Wednesday, following a dismal Premier League run that has left Spurs 16th in the table. The decision came less than 24 hours after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, which marked their 11th league defeat of the season. Frank, 52, faced chants of “You will be fired tomorrow morning” from frustrated supporters during the match, while others chanted the former manager’s name Mauricio Pochettino. In a statement the club said: “The club has taken the decision to make a change to the position of men’s head coach and Thomas Frank will leave today,” adding that while he had received time and support since his appointment in June 2025, “results and achievements” had forced the board to take action.
Spurs have won just two of their last seventeen league matches, collecting eleven points in that period and are now just five points above the relegation zone. Their current run of eight games without a win is the club’s longest in the Premier League since October 2008, despite guiding Tottenham to the last 16 of the Champions League and narrowly losing the UEFA Super Cup final to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this season. The domestic struggle, including early exits from the EFL Cup and FA Cup, increased the pressure on the Danish coach. Sources indicate that the club is leaning towards appointing an interim manager while a longer-term solution is considered, with a CEO Vinai Venkatesham expects them to address the situation further. Frank’s departure marks his manager’s first dismissal since then Daniel Levy’s abandoned as Spurs try to stop a slide that has plunged the club into a relegation battle.
Featured image: @chaseinfiniti/Instagram | @kerrywashington for Pomellato | Laura Kim for Marie Claire
Our Weekday News Digest brings you a curated selection of the most compelling stories from around the world. This week we dive 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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