MTV Awards host Rita Ora paid a poignant tribute to her friend Liam Payne on stage at the ceremony, saying he had the “biggest heart”.
Ora, who duetted with Payneon the song For You from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack in 2018, became emotional as she spoke about the One Direction star towards the end of the event.
Speaking on stage at the MTV Europe Awards in Manchester, Ora described Payne as “one of the kindest people” she ever knew.
Image: Pic: Reuters
Her voice shaking, the 33-year-old appeared tearful as she addressed the audience.
“I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us,” she said. “We lost him recently and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world.”
Payne “had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could”, she added. “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on the world.”
The tribute took place near the end of a ceremony which saw Taylor Swift crowned best artist – making her the first act to claim the award three times.
The star, who is about to resume her record-breaking Eras tour next week, also won the awards for best live act, best US artist and best video for Fortnight, her collaboration with Post Malone. She did not attend the event – instead cheering on her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce at his latest game – but gave a recorded speech to accept her prizes.
“I had the best time touring in Europe this summer, so it just is wonderful for you to do this,” she said.
Sabrina Carpenter and Raye among winners
Image: Raye was named best UK and Ireland act. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
Sabrina Carpenter‘s mega hit Espresso was crowned best song, while Ariana Grande was named best pop act and South African star Tyla – one of the night’s performers – picked up the awards for best Afrobeats and best R’n’B.
British singer Raye, who cleaned up at the Brits earlier this year, was named best UK and Ireland act, and also performed her hits Escapism and Body Dysmorphia as her name shone in lights behind her.
Hip-hop star Busta Rhymes received the global icon award before performing a medley of hits including Break Ya Neck, Put My Hands Where Your Eyes Could See, and I Know What You Want.
“I’ve never got an award from MTV before,” he said, as he accepted the trophy from British star Little Simz. “Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV.
“It feels f****** incredible.”
Image: Busta Rhymes was honoured with the global icon award. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
The night was opened by Benson Boone, who made a show-stopping entrance suspended in the air playing a golden piano before touching down to perform his hit, Beautiful Things, as pyrotechnics sparked around him.
He quickly went on to pick up the first prize of the night, for best new artist.
“Thank you guys for changing my life,” he told the crowd. “I promise you I will be giving it all back to you.”
Image: Tyla performed before picking up awards including best R’n’B. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
Rapper Eminem was also among the winners, accepting his best hip-hop gong in a video speech which he started in a mock British accent. “I appreciate y’all, man,” he added.
Other award winners were announced on screen, including Liam Gallagher for best rock and Calvin Harris in the best electronic category.
The show was closed by the Pet Shop Boys, who performed the classic hit West End Girls and their new cover of Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, after being honoured with the pop pioneers award.
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0:52
Shaun Ryder and Bez talk pop and politics
Earlier in the night, stars gathered on the red carpet – including local Mancunian guests such as Blossoms and Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez.
Former X Factor stars Jedward – twins John and Edward Grimes – were also among the VIP guests.
Speaking to Sky News on the red carpet, they paid tribute to Payne, saying they had “grown up together” and that his death was a “big loss”.
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This is the first time the MTV event, which is held in different European cities each year, has taken place in the UK since a ceremony in London in 2017 – when Payne performed Strip That Down, his first solo single, to launch his career after One Direction.
It has also previously been held in Liverpool and Glasgow, but this is a first for Manchester and its new Co-op Live arena – which opened earlier this year, albeit three weeks later than planned due to several setbacks and cancellations.
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1:48
Best moments from the MTV EMAs
Last year’s EMAs ceremony was planned for Paris, but was cancelled amid security concerns “given the volatility of world events” following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
The European awards are separate to the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which take place in the US earlier in the year.
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Swift dominated at that ceremony, taking home seven gongs to equal Beyonce’s career total of 30 and match her as most-awarded musician in VMAs history.
But her three EMA wins take her to a career total of 18 – which means she still has a few to go to equal Justin Bieber’s record of 22.
The MTV EMA winners
Image: Taylor Swift accepted her awards in a video message. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
Best artist – Taylor Swift Best song – Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso Best UK and Ireland act – Raye Best video – Taylor Swift ft Post Malone, Fortnight Best new artist – Benson Boone Best collaboration – Lisa ft Rosalia, New Woman Best US act – Taylor Swift Best live – Taylor Swift Best pop – Ariana Grande Best rock – Liam Gallagher Best alternative – Imagine Dragons Best hip-hop – Eminem Best K-pop – Jimin Best electronic – Calvin Harris Best R’n’B – Tyla Best Afrobeats – Tyla Best Latin – Peso Pluma Best push – Le Sserafim Biggest fans – Lisa Global icon – Busta Rhymes Pop pioneers – Pet Shop Boys
Sky News can reveal that the government has rowed back on a national compensation scheme for victims of child sexual abuse, despite it being promised under the previous Conservative administration.
Warning – this story contains references to sexual and physical abuse
A National Redress Scheme was one of 20 key recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), but a Home Office report reveals the government has scrapped it because of the cost.
Marie, who is 71, suffered alleged sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at Greenfield House Convent in St Helens, Merseyside, between 1959 and 1962, and is still fighting for compensation.
Image: Greenfield House Convent, where Marie says she was abused
As soon as she arrived as a six-year-old, Marie says her hair was cut off, her name changed, and she experienced regular beatings from the nuns and students.
She claims a nun instigated the violence, including when Marie was held down so that her legs were “spread-eagled” as she was sexually abused with a coat hanger.
Merseyside Police investigated claims of abuse at the convent, but in 2016, a suspect died before charges could be brought.
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Marie has received an apology from the Catholic body that ran the home; she tried to sue them, but her claim was rejected because it was filed too long after the alleged abuse.
Image: Marie, 71, is still fighting for compensation for the abuse she says she suffered as a child
In February, ministers said the law would change for victims of sexual abuse trying to sue institutions for damages, which was a recommendation from the IICSA.
Previously, people had to make a civil claim before they were 21, unless the victim could prove a fair trial could proceed despite the time lapse.
Campaigners argued for the time limit to be removed as, on average, victims wait 26 years to come forward. Changes to the 1980 Limitation Act could lead to more people making claims.
Image: Peter Garsden, President of The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers
Civil cases ‘can take three to five years’
But Peter Garsden, president of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, worries that when it comes to historical abuse where the defendant is dead, institutions will still argue that it is impossible to have a fair trial and will fight to have the case thrown out of court.
Mr Garsden said it takes “between three and five years” for a civil case to get to trial.
He warned that claimants “can end up losing if you go through that process. Whereas the Redress Scheme would be quicker, much more straightforward, and much more likely to give justice to the victims”.
Victim awarded £10 compensation
Jimbo, who was a victim of abuse at St Aidan’s children’s home in Cheshire, took his case to the High Court twice and the Court of Appeal three times, but, after 13 years, all he ended up with was £10 for his bus fare to court.
Despite the Lord Justice of Appeal saying he believed that the abuse had occurred, Jimbo lost his claim because of the time limit for child sexual abuse claims to be made.
Neither Marie nor Jimbo is likely to benefit from the removal of the time limit for personal injury claims, which is why Mr Garsden is calling on the government to implement a National Redress Scheme for victims of sexual abuse, as recommended by the IICSA.
Hundreds of millions paid to victims
The governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland have set up compensation schemes and paid hundreds of millions of pounds to victims.
In 2023, the then Conservative government said a similar scheme would be organised for England and Wales.
But the Home Office admitted in its Tackling Child Sexual Abuse: Progress Update that it “is not currently taking forward any further steps on the IICSA proposal for a separate, national financial redress scheme for all survivors of child sexual abuse”.
“In the current fiscal environment, this recommendation is very difficult to take forward,” it added.
For victims, the scheme was the last chance of compensation for a lifetime blighted by abuse.
“The money is about justice and about all the other people who have had to suffer this abuse,” Marie said.
Five men have been arrested on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Counter-terror officers arrested the five men, four of whom are Iranian nationals, on Saturday, with all currently in police custody.
The Met said the arrests related to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.
In an update shortly after midnight, the force said: “Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time.”
It added officers were carrying out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London and Swindon areas in connection with the investigation.
It said those detained were:
• A 29-year-old man arrested in the Swindon area • A 46-year-old man arrested in west London • A 29-year-old man arrested in the Stockport area • A 40-year-old man arrested in the Rochdale area • A man whose age was not confirmed arrested in the Manchester area.
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Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we are working closely with those at the affected site to keep them updated.
“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter.
“We understand the public may be concerned and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.
“We are working closely with local officers in the areas where we have made arrests today and I’d like to thank police colleagues around the country for their ongoing support.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Fourteen children aged between 11 and 14 years old have been arrested after a boy died in a fire at an industrial site.
Northumbria Police said the group – 11 boys and three girls – were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the incident in Gateshead on Friday. They remain in police custody.
Officers were called to reports of a fire near Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area shortly after 8pm.
Emergency services attended, and the fire was extinguished a short time later.
Police then issued an appeal for a missing boy, Layton Carr, who was believed to be in the area at the time of the fire.
In a statement, the force said that “sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building”.
Layton’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police added.
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Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life.”
She added that the force’s “thoughts are with Layton’s family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one”, and asked that their privacy be respected.
A cordon remains in place at the site of the incident.