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REBECCA Ferguson has insisted Liam Payne would “still be alive” if he’d never auditioned for The X Factor.

She and Liam – who died yesterday aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires – both competed in the 2010 series of Simon Cowell’s ITV reality show.

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Singer Rebecca, 38, took to social media to speak out after former One Direction star Liam’s sad passing was confirmed.

She wrote: “It’s always a hotel room!

“We both met at Euston station and shared the taxi together to X Factor.

“I can’t help but think of that boy who was hopeful and looking forward to his bright future ahead.

“If he hadn’t jumped on that train and jumped in that taxi I believe he would be alive today.”

She added: “Rest in peace Liam, I hope you find peace on the other side and love to your mum and family x.”

Rebecca has been outspoken about her time on The X Factor and the years that followed.

In 2023 the Nothing’s Real But Love hitmaker claimed she “lived through hell” while filming for the ITV programme.

In a statement, Liam’s family said this afternoon: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this awful time.”

It comes as:

• Liam’s cause of death was released by medics
• A heartbreaking 911 call from worried hotel staff was revealed
• Cops are reportedly set to hunt for a drug dealer
• The star’s ex says he “predicted his early death”
• Liam’s girlfriend revealed why she left Argentina
• Simon Cowell cancelled BGT auditions after Liam’s death

In the hours before his death, dad-of one Liam had shared Snapchat posts detailing his plans to play polo and showing what he had for breakfast, despite it being 1pm.

Girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, could be heard saying they were “losers” for getting up so late.

They had arrived in Argentina on September 25 and were staying at Hotel CasaSur in the neighbourhood of Palermo when Liam died.

Tributes have poured in for the singer with celebrities and fans alike sharing their heartbreak.

Former bandmate Harry Styles’ mum shared a moving tribute to Liam on Instagram writing in the caption: “Just a boy…”.

While Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry was ” in shock” in the wake of the tragic news.

BEN STOKES was left baffled after a major technological blunder during England’s second Test match against Pakistan.

The captain made his return to the team after missing out on the first Test victory last week.

AFP

Ben Stokes was left bemused after DRS stopped working against Pakistan[/caption]

AP

The technological blunder potentially cost Brydon Carse a wicket[/caption]

Reuters

Sajid Khan was able to bat on after appearing to be caught behind[/caption]

England currently need 261 more runs from their second innings to win the game at Multan.

It could have been slightly less if not for a technological blunder during Pakistan’s second innings.

The hosts had already scored 366 from their first and were looking to build on their lead of 75 runs after bowling England out for 291.

The hosts were down to their last two wickets when Brydon Carse believed he had taken the scalp of Sajid Khan.

The bowler was convinced that the batter had nicked the ball, which was caught behind by Jamie Smith.

However, the umpire disagreed, meaning that Stokes would have to go to a review to see if the decision could be overturned.

After speaking with Carse, he decided to send the decision upstairs, only for the review to be denied.

This was due to the technology not working and, therefore, could not be looked at again.

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The Sky Sports commentator was sure there was a noise as the ball passed the bat.

They said: “There was a sound for sure.”

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Zak Crawley was stumped out in England’s second innings[/caption]

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Ben Duckett went for a duck[/caption]

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Ollie Pope and Joe Root batted out day three[/caption]

Khan was able to bat on, though Pakistan would be all out for three more runs as they set England 297 to win the match and the series.

England’s second innings did not start well as they ended day three 36/2.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have already lost their wickets, leaving Joe Root and Ollie Pope to recover the run chase on day four.

England had missed earlier chances to stifle the Pakistan innings as Smith and Root both dropped sitters.

They included a vital ninth-wicket stand of 65 between Salman Ali Agha and Khan.

Fielding coach Paul Collingwood admitted: “In the context of the game, you can say they were costly misses. But the slow pitch means ‘keepers and the slips are so close to the stumps that any chance is difficult because there’s less reaction time.

“At least the guys are brave enough to come closer to the stumps and give the ball a chance to carry in the first place.

“I’m sure Jamie will be disappointed but he never seems to change his deadpan demeanour, no matter what has happened. That’s a great trait. Barring that dropped catch, I think his keeping has been exceptional.”

Colly added: “There’ll be belief in the dressing-room that we can win. We’ve done special things in the past and broken records. But we have to be realistic – it would be one hell of an effort.

“The pitch will effectively be on its ninth day. It’s doing a lot for the spinners, there are plenty of cracks.

“We won’t go away from our mantra of trying to apply as much pressure as possible when we get the chance. There’ll be plenty of sweeps and reverse sweeps. We’re going to have to take risks to score runs. But if we try to defend all day, that would be even tougher.”

A last-wicket stand of 29 between Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir helped England to 291 in their first innings.

And then Bashir promptly took the first three wickets in Pakistan’s second innings.

The ball was turning, batting was hazardous. But Pakistan’s middle-order all contributed and their lead grew and grew.

Those two drops were crucial and they probably increased England’s victory target by 60 or 70 runs.

The spinners did most of the damage but the big-hearted Carse was superb. His feet were bandaged and his frustration enormous when the catches were spilled – but his spirit remained intact.

He has had five catches dropped off his bowling in the series so far but emerged as a significant performer in alien conditions.

Collingwood explained: “Brydon has been magnificent. Not just with skills such as reverse swing on pitches that are very different to Durham. But he has maintained his pace and stamina in hot conditions.”

ONE Direction star Liam Payne spent nights before his death paying into sick children’s GoFundMe accounts live on Snapchat.

The singer, 31, had quietly been spending his evenings completing the GoFundMe pages of sick children in America.

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Liam Payne spent nights before his death paying into sick children’s GoFundMe accounts[/caption]

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Liam with his son Bear[/caption]

The kids all need life saving operations with some on their second bout of cancer and one even being the victim of a horrific school shooting.

But Liam said being a dad to his son Bear, who he shares with Cheryl, means he can’t just sit back and not help.

He said: “As a father, it hits me differently.

“I would want everyone in the world helping.

“I have been spending the last few nights trying to finish off the donations so they can get the operations they need – they would be free in my country.

“I can’t not look at a sick child and not see Bear. I can’t and I won’t.

“I’m not asking for people to say well done or I’m amazing – I don’t give a f*** about what people think of me.

“What I care about is that that child gets to live the life it’s supposed to.”

Yesterday it was revealed that Liam had died in Argentina after falling from his hotel balcony.

He was in Buenos Aires for pal Niall Horan’s tour when he tragically plunged from the third floor on Wednesday afternoon.

Liam died instantly from multiple injuries including a fractured skull caused by his fall.

Emergency services were unable to save the star when they reached the scene.

Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said: “Our role was to head there quickly, give medical attention, and try to resuscitate him, but his injuries were incompatible with life.

It comes as:

• One Direction fans held candlelit vigils outside the hotel
• The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
• Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to the singer
• His ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
• Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy’s message before he died
• Harry Styles’ mum pays heartbreaking tribute to the star

“Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death.”

Liam’s family have since paid tribute to the “kind and brave soul” that they lost.

In a statement, Liam’s family said this afternoon: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space during this awful time.”

Liam shot to fame on The X Factor in 2010 as part of One Direction.

The boy band placed third in the competition.

1D split in 2016 and Liam launched his solo career the following year.

The Mega Agency

Liam is best known for being in One Direction[/caption]

JACK WILSHERE is in advanced talks to leave Arsenal and take up a first-team coaching role elsewhere, according to reports.

Wilshere, 32, currently works as U18s head coach for the Gunners, having been forced to retired from playing early with injury.

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Jack Wilshere is in talks to take up a first-team coaching role at Norwich City[/caption]

Now, The Athletic are reporting that Wilshere is in advanced talks to join Championship outfit Norwich City as part of their coaching staff.

It’s claimed that Wilshere would replace Narcis Pelach at the club, who left last month to take over at Stoke City.

Norwich are understood to be “increasingly confident” that Wilshere will make the switch to join them a Carrow Road.

However, it’s thought that any deal is unlikely to get over the line before the Canaries face Stoke on Saturday.

Former England international Wilshere is reportedly “excited” by the opportunity to join Johannes Hoff Thorup’s backroom staff at Norwich.

While the move has been helped on by the former midfielder’s relationship with Norwich’s sporting director Ben Knapper.

Knapper previously worked as Arsenal‘s loans manager during Wilshere’s time at the club.

Wilshere was highly rated as a young player but saw his career scuppered by injuries after bursting onto the scene under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

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Those injuries got the better of him in 2022 when he hung up his boots after spells with West Ham, Bournemouth and Danish outfit Aarhus GF.

It was that same summer that the former rising star began his role as head coach of the Gunners’ U18s.

During his time as boss of the youth team he managed to guide the youngsters to the FA Youth Cup final, ultimately losing to West Ham.

While he also helped nurture talent such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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FERRARI have launched their most powerful car ever – a hybrid hypercar that will serve as the long-awaited successor to the legendary LaFerrari.

The F80, described as a “beautiful spaceship” has been unveiled by the famous brand just weeks after McLaren revealed the W1, reigniting the two manufacturers’ long–running rivalry.

Named to celebrate Ferrari’s 80th anniversary, although slightly prematurely as they only celebrated their 75th in 2022, the F80 follows in the tire tracks of the F40 and F50 models for their respective milestones.

Capable of hitting 0-62mph in a staggering 2.15 seconds, and just another 3.6 seconds to hit 124mph, the F80 will draw an eye-watering 1184bhp from its electrified V6 powertrain – making it the most powerful road car ever to come out of the gates of the Ferrari factory.

A chunk of this power is generated by the aptly-named ‘E-turbos’, which connect to an F1-derived ‘MGU-H’ heat recovery device, to essentially allow for more power at higher revs.

The Maranello marvel is said to be a result of technology fused from their Le Mans-winning 499P machine and that of its famous Formula One racing cars.

Despite coming in at $3.9million and limited to just 799 examples – which is 300 more than the production run of the LaFerraris – it’s thought that the F80 will be “snapped up the moment customers set their eyes on it”, say Pistonheads.

In terms of looks, the F80 couldn’t be further from the LaFerrari; as the new beast boasts aggressive, dramatic, and alien-like stylings.

This is reiterated by Ferrari’s design chief, Flavio Manzoni, who claims he wanted a look that was more futuristic than elegant, and describes the F80 as “a beautiful spaceship”.

Its black front visor certainly mirrors that of the recently released 12Cilindri, serving to reduce the “anthropomorphic” appearance of two headlights and a grille in the centre.

The back of the expensive vehicle is also a sight to see, with a diffuser that Ferrari claims has set a new record for the longest diffuser fitted to a production car – measuring 1,800mm in length.

Ahead of the car’s unveiling, Ferrari’s marketing chief, Enrico Galliera, revealed that a single-seater concept had been considered early in the car’s development.

However, this McLaren F1-styled design was ultimately scrapped, although the F80 has positioned the passenger seat slightly behind and closer to the driver – making the carbon fibre cabin asymmetric.

The unveiling of the F80 comes just months after the Prancing Horse all but confirmed that two popular sports cars were set to be axed, while two others are said to be nearing “the end of their lifecycle.”

This comes as the brand is also preparing their very first EV – as well as an electric supercar factory.

Elsewhere, a host of classic cars that have been sitting in a junkyard for decades are set to be sold off for millions of dollars.

The incredible collection includes retro Porsches, a trio of dilapidated Lamborghinis, and even a Mercedes that could sell for $1 million.

Famed auction house RM Sotheby’s is preparing to sell off the collection from the inventory at Rudi Klein’s Los Angeles junkyard.

And the hidden meanings behind 10 car makers’ iconic badges from Cadillac to Ferrari have been revealed.

Most car enthusiasts will be able to recognise which logo belongs to which brand – but what do their symbols actually mean?

“Three and a half hours after the interview, they canceled the shows,” he said.

Food on the fly? None for this guy. 

Women on social media are debating over the "hidden fees" associated with getting prepared for dates.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier recounted the awkward moment that cut his interview with Kamala Harris short.

Payne tragically died after he fell from the balcony of his hotel room and sustained "extremely serious injuries." He was 31.