BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.
Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.
Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Arriving police heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances of his death and conducting an autopsy. He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.
Payne had been vocal about struggling with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel where he said he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.
Argentine media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Payne was one of five band members of One Direction, which formed in 2010 when they each auditioned for the British singing competition series “The X Factor.” After each singer failed to make it through the competition as solo acts, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges combined Payne, Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson into what would become one of the most successful boy bands.
The band became known for their pop sound and romantic hits like “What Makes You Beautiful.” They had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. They had a loyal fan base, many of whom were teen girls, who became known as “Directioners.” Once the group disbanded, Payne pursued a solo career, putting out the album “LP1” in 2019. His last release was a single called “Teardrops,” in March.
Payne had a 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, with his former girlfriend, the musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with Girls Aloud. She was an “X Factor” judge during One Direction’s season. He is also survived by his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and his two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Representatives for Payne did not immediately return emails and calls.
Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall
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Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall
Winter Wonders: Not-to-be-missed events in Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH: With the Kingdom’s entertainment season in full swing as the weather cools, here are some of the not-to-be-missed events coming your way before the end of the year
Soundstorm
The Middle East’s biggest music festival returns to Banban, Riyadh from Dec. 12 to 14. The lineup is mostly focused on electronic dance music again, but headliners include UK rock band Muse , who, over the course of their 25-year career, have repeatedly been hailed as one of the world’s best live bands by critics and fans alike; rap legend Eminem; and the hugely influential alternative hip-hop pioneer Tyler, the Creator. Other big names on this year’s roster include Jared Leto’s band Thirty Seconds to Mars; Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren; the ubiquitous David Guetta; and EDM superstar Steve Aoki. As always, there will be significant representation from regional and local artists getting the opportunity to showcase their skills too.
Red Sea International Film Festival
Stars of the silver screen will descend on Jeddah from Dec. 5 to 14 for what has — in just three previous editions — become the region’s most significant film festival. Only a few details have yet been announced about this year’s lineup, beyond the addition of the “New Saudi, New Cinema” program — which features 21 shorts created by Saudi filmmakers addressing “themes from cultural identity and modern societal topics to personal victories” — and the 15 short films that will make up the Arab Shorts Competition. Based on previous years, though, expect an eclectic roster encompassing arthouse movies, box-office beasts and Oscar contender, attended by a diverse audience of global celebrities.
Ancient Kingdoms Festival
From Nov. 7 to 30, AlUla plays host to the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, a “program of special events showcasing 7,000 years of human history.” This year’s edition includes an exhibition of treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum — both buried under the volcanic ash caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, leaving incredibly well-preserved relics of Roman life. AlUla’s Old Town is the site of one of the highlights: The Incense Road Experience, billed as an “immersive adventure through a historic maze of mudbrick buildings as live performances and state-of-the-art technology meet interactive storytelling and exclusive explorations of archaeological treasures.” The hugely popular “immersive night-time summit” Hegra After Dark is back too.
Elie Saab
The groundbreaking and hugely influential Lebanese fashion designer will stage “1001 Seasons” at The Venue in Riyadh on Nov. 13 — a fashion show that will showcase his latest collection, but also include live performances. Saudi Arabia has been a hugely significant market for Saab throughout his career, and “1001 Seasons” will likely include some tributes to the Kingdom in both Saab’s designs and the accompanying entertainment. Earlier this year, Saab said he planned to create “something unprecedented and new to celebrate the important occasion in Riyadh, a city that supports creativity and cultural diversity in the region.” The show is part of Riyadh Season, which began last week and includes a host of other major events in the Kingdom’s capital.
Boris Brejcha
The prolific German DJ and producer will be performing at Onyx Arena in Jeddah on Oct. 31. Brejcha has both a signature sound (which he calls “high-tech minimal” — his own take on house music) and a signature look (a Carnival of Venice-style joker mask) and has established himself firmly among the world’s top DJs with a regular stream of releases and albums over his 17-year career.
Stephan Bodzin
The veteran German DJ and producer performs in the Kingdom for the first time on Nov. 1 in Riyadh’s Jax District. Bodzin is a classically trained musician who fell in love with electronic music — due in no small part to the fact that his father was an experimental musician — but only started DJing full time aged 36. His live shows have been widely acclaimed, often embracing his love of collaboration, so expect the unexpected in Riyadh.
REVIEW: Ella Purnell shines in ‘Sweetpea,’ a dark, twisted but funny thriller
LONDON: After announcing herself to the wider world with her breakout role as Jackie in Paramount’s “Yellowjackets”, and traversing the irradiated wastelands as the charismatic hero of Amazon’s brilliant “Fallout,” British actress Ella Purnell has chosen a UK production for her next role — one without a cannibalistic schoolgirl or organ-harvesting robot in sight. It is, however, still a strikingly dark part for Purnell, as she plays a shrinking violet-turned-serial killer in “Sweetpea,” a six-part adaptation of CJ Skuse’s book of the same name.
Rhiannon has spent most of her life feeling unseen. Whether it’s the manspreading passengers on her bus to work, the bored shop assistants who blank her, or the condescending boss who constantly overlooks her for promotion. She consoles herself with a mental list: “People I’d like to kill.” A simple, harmless thought experiment that doesn’t really mean anything, right?
Wrong. When her school bully returns to the town, and Rhiannon loses her dad and her beloved dog, something snaps inside her, and the otherwise sweet, softly spoken young woman begins to lash out in the most violent way possible, making herself finally seen in the most shocking manner. All of a sudden, anyone who has found themselves on Rhiannon’s hypothetical hit list could well find themselves the target of her now very lethal rage.
The whole show hinges on Purnell, and she’s more than up to the job. Utterly convincing as the downtrodden victim-turned-vigilante, she’s a villain that’s easy to root for — a strange thing to admit, perhaps, but testament to Purnell’s skills here.
A strong supporting cast (including Calam Lynch as colleague AJ, Jon Pointing as Rhiannon’s sort-of boyfriend Craig, and Leah Harvey as a young police detective) provide excellent foils for Purnell, but “Sweetpea” is definitely her show. Dark, funny and surprisingly violent, it’s a star outing from an exciting young talent.
Princess Rajwa makes first public appearance since giving birth
DUBAI: New mother Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein made her first public appearance since the birth of her first child, Princess Iman bint Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II.
Appearing alongside her husband, Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the couple attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match in support of the national football team at Amman International Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The pair, both dressed casually in all-black ensembles, were seen cheering on the Jordanian team as they played against Oman’s national team.
On August 3, 2024, the Saudi-born royal welcomed her first child, Princess Iman.
The Royal Hashemite Court released a statement on the birth of Princess Iman.
“The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein were blessed, on 3 August 2024, with a baby girl they named Iman,” the statement read.
At her birth, Jordan’s King Abdullah posted a tribute to his granddaughter on social media. Translated from Arabic, the post reads: "I thank God for giving us our first granddaughter Iman bint Hussein. I congratulate beloved Hussein and Rajwa for their newborn.
“We ask God to raise her well and protect her for her parents. You have lit up our family.”
Princess Rajwa, who celebrated her 30th birthday in April, is the daughter of late Saudi businessman Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif, who died in January this year, and his wife, Azza bint Nayef Abdulaziz Ahmad Al-Sudairi.
Katara Studios is taking Arab culture to the world
DUBAI: Doha-based Katara Studios is making strides in producing Arab stories that showcase the region’s rich culture for local and international audiences.
Hussein Fakhri, the studio’s chief commercial officer and executive producer, spoke to Arab News recently about the company’s mission.
“We have a responsibility as filmmakers to tell our stories from our perspective. Our projects vary from informative to entertaining but are all seen through an Arab lens.”
Katara Studios is working on a diverse slate of productions, including two feature films set for release in 2025 and 2026. One is a Qatari dark comedy, while the other is described by Fakhri as a “fantasy Bedouin Western.”
“These films aim to introduce innovative and exciting elements to the industry,” he said.
The studio is also eyeing international audiences. “If the work is strong enough, it should travel without much effort,” he added.
“We don’t adapt our production approach based on where the content will be viewed. We produce it to the best standard possible for our Arabic-speaking audience, and if done right, it will find an audience beyond our region,” Fakhri said.
“Language is no longer a barrier as viewers are happy to read subtitles or dubbed content. It’s all down to the strength of the writing and production value,” he added.
Fakhri also shared insights into the studio’s 2027 lineup, which includes a historical series based on the life of Arab pirate Erhama bin Jaber.
Additionally, the studio is co-producing “All Before You,” a historical drama directed by lauded Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir.
“Anything we do that will advance our industry, our language, and our culture is a win for us. Our role is not of leadership but rather bringing a spirit of collaboration with fellow Arab filmmakers,” Fakhri said.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’s kids show off Arab nursery rhyme
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia-based Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez seem to be keen to give their children a taste of the Arab world — including its nursery rhymes.
Rodriguez took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon to post a clip of four of the couple’s children singing “A Ram Sam Sam,” a popular Moroccan nursery rhyme that is sung by children across the world.
They perform the accompanying dance while Rodriguez laughs off-screen.
There is not much meaning to the lyrics, even in the original Moroccan dialect of Arabic, “A ram sam sam” are nonsense words. However, “guli” means “tell me” while “a rafiq” means “friend.”
In September, a viral clip showing the couple’s children speaking Arabic created quite a stir among social media users.
The video shows Ronaldo’s son Mateo greeting passersby with the phrase, “Peace be upon you,” before daughter Alana is seen trying to correct her Arabic pronunciation and then showing off her ability to count in Arabic.
Last year, the couple’s daughters Alana and Bella went viral Rodriguez posted a series of Instagram Stories showing them speaking and singing in Arabic.
“My family, my family, I love my mom, I love my brother,” the two girls sang in the clip.
“Our daughters already sing in Arabic,” Rodriguez captioned the video in Spanish, tagging Ronaldo.
In another Instagram Story, 5-year-old Alana recited the days of the week in Arabic.
“Our daughters already speak Arabic,” Rodriguez wrote in Spanish.
The family moved to the Kingdom in January last year after Ronaldo signed with Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.
In September 2024, Ronaldo said it was easy for him and his family to adapt to Saudi Arabia after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Saudi football club.
“To be honest, I am really happy to be there (Saudi Arabia),” Ronaldo said in an interview with former Portuguese footballer, Rio Ferdinand.
“For me the adaptation was easy, and I really love it to be there,” he said.
