Entertainment
Liam Payne’s Funeral Set for Wednesday in Private Ceremony
The funeral of former One Direction member Liam Payne is scheduled for Wednesday, following his tragic death at the age of 31. The private service will be held in the Home Counties of south-east England, with his family, close friends, and former bandmates expected to attend.
Payne passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel. The autopsy confirmed that he suffered internal and external bleeding along with multiple traumatic injuries due to the fall.
In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed their profound grief, saying:
“We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts, and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul.”
Payne rose to international stardom after competing on The X Factor in the 2010s. Despite finishing third, his band One Direction became one of the most successful British groups since The Beatles, selling over 70 million records globally. Their legacy includes four UK number-one singles and albums, with Payne contributing as a co-writer on many of their hits.
As a solo artist, Payne also achieved success with songs such as Strip That Down and Bedroom Floor.
He is survived by his parents, two sisters, and his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl. His girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, is also expected to attend the service.
Payne’s untimely passing has left fans and the music industry mourning the loss of a talent whose impact extended far beyond the stage.
Entertainment
BTS Triumph at American Music Awards as Black Eyed Peas Reunite
BTS dominated the American Music Awards, taking home some of the night’s biggest honours as Black Eyed Peas reunited during the ceremony.
The K-pop superstars secured the event’s top award, further cementing their global success following their return from a nearly four-year hiatus earlier this year and a world tour reportedly worth around $1bn.
BTS also won song of the summer for their single Swim and were named best male K-pop artist.
Their label partners Katseye picked up the new artist of the year award.
Meanwhile, Golden — the breakout track from the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters — was named song of the year.
Sabrina Carpenter enjoyed a successful evening after winning album of the year for Man’s Best Friend. She also claimed awards for best female pop artist and best pop album.
Justin Bieber was named best male pop artist.
BTS beat a strong field in the top artist category, including Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga.
The group also overcame competition from artists such as Harry Styles, Tame Impala and PinkPantheress in the song category.
Despite entering the awards with eight nominations, Taylor Swift — the artist with the most AMA wins in history — left the ceremony without an award.
Entertainment
Madonna, Shakira and BTS to Headline Historic World Cup Final Half-Time Show
Global music stars Madonna, Shakira and BTS are set to headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final this summer.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will conclude with the final in MetLife Stadium on 19 July.
The performance is expected to last around 11 minutes, despite speculation the show could extend beyond the standard 15-minute half-time interval allowed under the laws of football.
The introduction of a Super Bowl-style performance marks a major shift for FIFA, with elaborate pre-match entertainment already common at events such as the UEFA Champions League Final.
Last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final in the US between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain featured a half-time show lasting more than 24 minutes.
Shakira’s involvement comes shortly after the announcement of her official World Cup anthem Dai Dai, which also features Nigerian music star Burna Boy.
The Colombian singer previously delivered one of football’s most iconic tournament songs with Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Madonna — often referred to as the “Queen of Pop” — is preparing to release her 15th studio album, Confessions II, on 3 July.
The 67-year-old recently made a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where the pair performed Vogue and Like a Prayer together.
BTS, regarded as the best-selling music act in South Korean history with more than 45 million albums sold, are also preparing for a major comeback after a three-year hiatus during which members completed mandatory military service.
The group previously collaborated with Coldplay on the hit single My Universe.
The half-time show is being curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100m for children around the world.
Gianni Infantino previously described the event as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Entertainment
Coroner Says Investigation Into Liam Payne’s Death Still Awaiting Evidence From Argentina
A coroner overseeing the inquest into the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne has said authorities in the UK are still waiting for additional evidence from Argentina as investigations there continue.
During a pre-inquest review hearing held at Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court on Thursday, senior coroner Crispin Butler said there had been no significant updates since a previous hearing in January 2025.
“We have had no further disclosure of evidence from Argentina via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,” Butler told the court.
Payne, who was 31, died in October 2024 after falling from a balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.
A post-mortem examination found the singer died from multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage” after falling from the hotel’s third-floor balcony.
The coroner said documentation already received from Argentina had undergone translation and confirmed that relevant material would be shared with Payne’s family, who were not present at the hearing.
Butler added that his understanding was that investigations by authorities in Argentina were still ongoing.
In February last year, an Argentine court dropped criminal negligence charges against three of the five people initially charged in connection with Payne’s death.
Payne rose to global fame as a member of One Direction before launching a successful solo career following the band’s hiatus. He released his debut solo album, LP1, in December 2019.
The inquest proceedings in the UK have now been adjourned until a further pre-inquest review scheduled for 1 December.
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