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 Payne on 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.

The 31-year-old singer died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.

Speaking on stage at the MTV Europe Awards in Manchester, Ora described Payne as “one of the kindest people” she ever knew.

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 and best video for Fortnight, her collaboration with Post Malone. She did not attend the event, but gave a recorded speech to accept all three.

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.”

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.”

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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Stars on the MTV Awards red carpet

Earlier in the night, stars gathered on the red carpet – including some local Mancunian guests including Blossoms and Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez.

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.

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.

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.

Sir Keir Starmer will attend Armistice Day commemorations in France on Monday – the first UK leader to do so since Winston Churchill in the Second World War.

Towns and cities across France will mark the 106th anniversary of the Armistice agreement in 1918 that brought fighting in the First World War to an end.

Sir Keir will attend the events at the personal invitation of President Emmanuel Macron and the pair will join British and French veterans and the public in paying tribute to the fallen.

It comes as the prime minister announces more than £10m to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day in the UK next year.

Sir Keir is expected to lay a wreath at Paris war memorials close to the Champ-Elysees, and also at the Arc de Triomphe’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a national symbol for all those who have died for France in war.

The prime minister said: “I am honoured to be in Paris to stand united with President Macron in tribute to the fallen of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.

“These events are vital in ensuring the memory of millions of young soldiers, sailors, and aviators live on for generations to come.”

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Sir Keir and President Macron will also have talks ahead of the commemorations to discuss issues like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

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On Sunday, Remembrance events were held across the UK as the nation paid tribute to those who have served in the armed forces past and present.

King Charles, who is still receiving cancer treatment, paid his respects without the Queen, who did not attend events in central London due to a chest infection.

He appeared alongside his son Prince William and daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, who carried out two consecutive public engagements for the first time this year after her cancer treatment ended.

The Miami Marlins are hiring former Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough as their new manager, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN on Sunday.

McCullough, 44, spent the last four seasons on Dave Roberts’ coaching staff in L.A., the last of which ended in a championship. He succeeds Skip Schumaker, who was not brought back at the end of his contract and has since joined the Texas Rangers‘ front office as a senior advisor to president of baseball operations Chris Young.

A career minor league catcher, McCullough managed in the Toronto Blue Jays‘ minor league system from 2007 to 2014, with six of those seasons finishing with winning records. He was then was hired by the Dodgers as their minor league field coordinator, at which point he worked under current Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler.

The Dodgers promoted McCullough to their major league coaching staff in 2021, inserting him as their first-base coach while having him work with outfielders and placing him in charge of their baserunning program. In 2024, McCullough played a big part in helping Shohei Ohtani evolve as a basestealer, paving the way for the first 50/50 season in baseball history.

McCullough was one of three primary candidates for the Marlins’ managing job, along with Will Venable and Craig Albernaz. Venable was named manager of the Chicago White Sox and Albernaz pulled out of the race, opting to remain the Cleveland Guardians‘ bench coach.

The Marlins interviewed McCullough over videoconference while the Dodgers navigated a World Series run in October. He met with staff members at the team’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida, last week and then again at loanDepot Park in Miami on Friday.

McCullough is the first managerial hire by president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who took over baseball operations last offseason. He will inherit a franchise once again in transition.

The Marlins surprisingly made the playoffs in 2023, getting swept in the wild-card round, then lost 100 games in 2024, a season that saw Bendix trade away established veterans such as Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tanner Scott, A.J. Puk and Trevor Rogers, among others.

Bendix’s goal is to build an infrastructure that will lead to sustained winning despite not possessing the revenue streams of some of the bigger-market teams in the National League East, similar to what he helped produce with the Tampa Bay Rays. That process, Bendix has acknowledged, will take time.

McCullough, who has experience developing young players but has also been around a championship culture, will help lead it.