as aid is air dropped into gaza — washington monitors israel's actions — to ensure it's not pursuing what it calls �*a policy of starvation�*. fast—tracked nato membership and more military support — that's on the wish list of president zelensky — as he addresses european leaders. hello, i'm annita mcveigh, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. police in argentina are investigating the death of the former member of boy band one direction — liam payne — who fell from a hotel balcony late on wednesday. police were called to the hotel in buenos aires, after receiving reports of an aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol. liam payne rose to global

stardom with band members harry styles, niall horan, zayne malik and louis tomlinson as part of one direction, selling 70 millions records worldwide. fans have been gathering outside the hotel where he died to light candles, sing and pay their respects to the 31 year old. our culture correspondent, charlotte gallagher reports. liam payne, a music superstar who found fame whilejust a teenager. he lived his entire adult life in the spotlight. sometimes struggling with the pressures of celebrity. this is the hotel in buenos aires where police say the singer fell to his death from a third—floor balcony. officers were already on the scene, following reports of an aggressive man, who may have been under the effect of drugs and alcohol. outside the hotel, fans were in disbelief. i needed to be here. ifound out the news,

in my home, after i came from the home work. i needed to be here, present, and to know this is real, to know this is real. when i read about this, like, my heart stopped for a second. i couldn't believe it. like, i felt really saddened by the news. so, as quickly as i could, i took the bus and i came here. it's such a loss. i'm 20 years old, and one - direction has been a part of me since i was eight years old. they meant... they mean and they meant a lot to me, every one of them. - hello, everybody. he had posted on social media that it was a lovely day in argentina. this was liam payne at 14, auditioning on x factor

in 2008 for the first time. # fly me to the moon...# two years later, he was back again. # cry me a river...# and soon to become one fifth of a pop—music phenomenon. # you don't know you're beautiful!# ..one direction. liam, zayn malik, harry styles, louis tomlinson and niall horan released hit after hit, toured the world and had millions of devoted fans. in 2016, they went on an indefinite hiatus. liam, like his bandmates, launched a solo career. and had a child with the girls aloud singer cheryl. to the outside world, he was living the pop—star dream, but liam also struggled with his mental health and addiction to alcohol.

the problem we had in the band, and i don't blame anyone for this, i don't want to seem like i'm whining, "oh, my god, look at my life," whatever, but it feels to me like when we were in the band the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms and, of course, what is in our rooms? mini bar. so, at a certain point, i thought, i will have a party for one. and that just seemed to carry out throughout many years of my life. and then you look back how long have you been drinking, and you are like, jesus christ, that's a long time, even for someone as young as i was. he remained close to his bandmates. just a few weeks ago, he was pictured dancing at a niall horan concert. one direction fans longed for a reunion. today those fans are mourning the death of their music icon. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. an emergency call reveals hotel workers' concerns for liam payne before his death. we can listen to that now. caller: hello, 911 what s your emergency?

hello, good afternoon, look i m calling you from the hotel casa sur palermo, which is located in costa rica st. 6032? is that between cramer st and... yes, that s correct its between arevalo and dorrego. so, we have a guest who is high on drugs and who is trashing the room. erm, so we need someone to come. understood, so you re telling me is being aggressive? sir, can you please repeat the name of the hotel? sir? let's go live to the hotel in buenos aires, where we can speak to local journalist james gatica matheson. i james gatica matheson. know you are outside the hotel i know you are outside the hotel for most of the night. it has just gone atm their local time. describe the scene for us now. �* , . , , time. describe the scene for us now. 3 . y y ., now. it's a very grey morning here. now. it's a very grey morning here- just — now. it's a very grey morning here. just outside _ now. it's a very grey morning here. just outside the - now. it's a very grey morning here. just outside the hotel. here. just outside the hotel where liam payne passed away yesterday afternoon. candles,

flowers, images and messages paying tribute to the former one direction artist who was here in buenos aires for two weeks, since october the 2nd when he attended the concert the nile horan. last year a lot of emotions from the fans as the ambulance with the liam's body left the hotel. fans started singing and a small tribute to this idol who was just here as a tourist in the city and ended with this tragic, tragic scene that we witnessed yesterday afternoon are just around six witnessed yesterday afternoon arejust around six b m local time. are just around six b m local time. . , , are just around six b m local time. ., , , ., , are just around six b m local time. , ., , ., time. inevitably lots of speculation _ time. inevitably lots of speculation on - time. inevitably lots of speculation on social l time. inevitably lots of- speculation on social media about what happened. in terms of an official investigation, what can you tell us? what we know is what _

what can you tell us? what we know is what the _ what can you tell us? what we know is what the security - know is what the security forces in buenos aires reported saying that the staff here and also the investigation has just started. one of this case, we will know more but the speculation is that we will wait two days to know about what could have happened and the first indication of what happened with liam payne and what'll happen with his return back to the uk.— what'll happen with his return back to the uk. thank you very much for _ back to the uk. thank you very much forjoining _ back to the uk. thank you very much forjoining us. _ with me is our news correspondent chi chi izundu who interviewed liam payne and one direction on a number of occasions — and also presented the podcast offstage, inside the x factor. what was he like? interviewing

the one direction _ what was he like? interviewing the one direction boys, - what was he like? interviewing the one direction boys, as - what was he like? interviewing| the one direction boys, as they were back then in the early 2000 is was an interesting one because they were children, if you like, 15, i6, 17 years old and they were quite rowdy. he was the most entered role. he took his role in the group is a very mature young man who would answer the questions intelligently and allegedly and always pay attention to what was being asked of him. he was lovely to the rest of the band members as well.— lovely to the rest of the band members as well. because you can see because _ members as well. because you can see because the _ members as well. because you can see because the band - members as well. because you can see because the band wasl members as well. because you | can see because the band was a project of the x factor and they were right in the middle of that social media explosion why people feel so invested in his story because they followed it, didn't they, right from the very beginning. it, didn't they, right from the very beginning-— it, didn't they, right from the very beginning. right from the beauinnin very beginning. right from the beginning when _ very beginning. right from the beginning when he _ very beginning. right from the beginning when he first - beginning when he first audition when he was 14, that was 2008, he returned in 2010 and auditioned again when was pulled into one direction. the reason that people feel that way potentially was because that was at a time when x

factor was at its highest, it was getting 70 million viewers every weekend. one direction was a huge band on the show, they didn't win it, they came third. there was a lot of speculation that it was orkut as it may orchestrated that way because industry insiders can see the potential of this band so people watch them grow. we followed theirjourney right followed their journey right through followed theirjourney right through from the show to afterwards to the movies that they made, to the merchandise that they sold to all the fans of followed them around the world. �* ., ._ world. and in life, liam payne s - oke world. and in life, liam payne soke a world. and in life, liam payne spoke a lot — world. and in life, liam payne spoke a lot about _ world. and in life, liam payne spoke a lot about his - world. and in life, liam payne spoke a lot about his mental. spoke a lot about his mental health, especially after the band broke up. undoubtedly, that aspect, his mental health is going to be a big part of the discussion is a result of his untimely death. indeed, a number of— his untimely death. indeed, a number of contestants - his untimely death. indeed, a number of contestants who i number of contestants who appeared on x factor is that there are a lot of issues with care after the show and a lot of issues in the industry in general. so, yes, his mental

health but he talked about this and this will be a concern going forward.— and this will be a concern going forward. thank you very much. we can speak to someone who was on the show with one direction. let's speak to irish singer and tv presenter mary byrne. she was one the finalists alongside one direction in the 2010 series of the x factor. you must be so, so shocked today as you absorb this news. i heard it last night, iam overin i heard it last night, iam over in spain doing a gig and we were having dinner last night when the news came in and i was in tears because i know this young man is a very strong person and he had his life in control and looked after the guysin control and looked after the guys in the band. it hit me like a tonne of bricks, it really did. it was very sad to hear. really did. it was very sad to hean really did. it was very sad to hear. , ., , ., really did. it was very sad to hear. , ., ,., i. hear. tell us about your recollections _ hear. tell us about your recollections of - hear. tell us about your recollections of that - hear. tell us about your. recollections of that time hear. tell us about your - recollections of that time with him on the x factor.— recollections of that time with him on the x factor. there was one thing _ him on the x factor. there was one thing on —

him on the x factor. there was one thing on my _ him on the x factor. there was one thing on my mind - him on the x factor. there was one thing on my mind i - him on the x factor. there was one thing on my mind i forgot. one thing on my mind iforgot about until i saw this happen. i was having a hard time there and i was lonely and missing my daughter. him and the boys went out and bought me a big box of roses and liam bought a card and at the top of the card, they all signed it but on the top was liam's signature and what he said was, hi, mummy mary, wejust want what he said was, hi, mummy mary, we just want to say that we are here with you and i am always here when you need to talk and i will always give you a hug to try and get you through the rest of the show. don't give up. and that always stuck in my head. from a young lad 16 years of age, you seem to have an old soul and a good head on his shoulders. he was warm and just such a good guy. i mean, they all were baked he had something different. he was the man of the band, i would say. —— they all were, but he had something different. that say. -- they all were, but he had something different. at the time, he had something different. at the time. he was —

had something different. at the time, he was a _ had something different. at the time, he was a child _ had something different. at the time, he was a child a - had something different. at the time, he was a child a newer. time, he was a child a newer aduu time, he was a child a newer adult and he was the one in the position of helping you through this process and help you through what you going through. you must look now at the conversation, the very public conversations he has had about his mental health. look at what has happened to him, his untimely death and wonder whether there are questions about the level of support that is given, especially to very young people who are exposed to this huge level of fame. yes. to be honest _ this huge level of fame. yes. to be honest with _ this huge level of fame. yes. to be honest with you, - this huge level of fame. yes. to be honest with you, there| to be honest with you, there was a councillor in the house with us and she would talk to everyone in the house of the young kids would go to her. but it's afterwards when they leave and they become a worldwide band it's then that they need the follow—up of the help, someone to turn to. liam always seem to have that with his father, he was very close to his dad. i do remember the day that he got through to become a band member and he spoke to his family, we were all standing

there and he spoke to his father and i told him to speak to whoever and his family he felt closest to. but it's when they go out into the world on their own, especially young kids like that they get such fame at a young age, they do need care. they really do. mary, we appreciate that so much. she was on the x factor with liam payne. you're watching bbc news.

now onto the middle east, where the us envoy to the united nations has said washington is watching to ensure israel is not — enacting what she called "a policy of starvation" in northern gaza. israel has denied previous accusations that its military is surrounding parts of the north and preventing food aid from getting through. these pictures show a plane dropping aid parcels above the city of khan yunis in southern gaza.

joining me now are — our correspondents in jerusalem and beirut — yolande knell and hugo bachega. just picking up on what united states un ambassador said that the eu's foreign policy chief is criticising the 30 day deadline that the united states has imposed on israel to improve the flow of aid or else see a reduction in military supplies. he is saying that thatis supplies. he is saying that that is too long. but it means that is too long. but it means that people might starve over the course of those 30 days. tell us more about this growing pressure on israel over aid. i mean, i havejust been pressure on israel over aid. i mean, i have just been talking mean, i havejust been talking to the un humanitarian agency's had in gaza. and he paints a picture that is very complicated when it comes to both getting aid in the gaza strip and also then distributing it effectively.

now, there has been this problem that un has been highlighting since the start of the month where there was a stretch where no aid, they say, went into the northern third of the gaza strip, an area where you still have an estimated 400,000 people living. and during that same timeframe, israel began new ground offensive the common saying that that was to root out hamas elements who were regrouping. and we have seen very intense fighting going on in the urban refugee camp in recent days. that is on now and we have just got initial reports that a school which was being used for displaced families has been hit in an israeli air strike with one hamas run health ministry official being quoted as saying that at least 19 people have been killed there. i was also hearing from the un humanitarian official that there have been new orders telling people to leave a particular area they had then

encountered very fierce fighting and shelling and it was just too dangerous for them to get out. so there is this really desperate situation in the north where, although in the north where, although in the last three days, and it's continuing today, there is this new effort to get aid in their and we have 30 lorries going in the, the israeli officials say, yesterday, from jordan into the north of gaza. another attempt to get 40 more in today, we understand. but you are still talking about tens of thousands of people who cannot be reached because of the ongoing fighting now. i am also told that in the north of the gaza strip, you have a situation where, for example, they may have flour for bakeries but they don't have cooking gas, there have clean water to make bread. otherwise the situation is very much about criminality and looting, problems which we have had about before and that is making in the southern part of the gaza strip, a distribution very difficult.— the gaza strip, a distribution very difficult. thank you very much, overnight _

very difficult. thank you very much, overnight if— very difficult. thank you very much, overnight if you - very difficult. thank you very much, overnight if you go i very difficult. thank you very much, overnight if you go in | much, overnight if you go in beirut. another complicated situation there in lebanon. what are the latest developments there? are there any suggestions that there might be some way of finding cessation in the conflict there? ~ . cessation in the conflict there? ~ , ., , ., cessation in the conflict there? ~ , . , ., there? we see that israel has continued _ there? we see that israel has continued with _ there? we see that israel has continued with that _ there? we see that israel has continued with that air - there? we see that israel hasj continued with that air strikes across the country. today, for the first time, it issued evacuation orders for villages in the east which is another area with a very strong has hezbollah presents. we had a strong statement in the lab a nice prime minister yesterday reacting to that attack where 16 people were killed, including the mail. when the local authority building was hit in an air strike on the

first time that a government building was hit by israeli military in this conflict was not he not only accuse the israeli military of deliberately targeting this building is a meeting was taking place to discuss emergency measures in the city but he also accused the international community of remaining silent of not trying to accuse a ceasefire hair and essentially accepting what he described as israeli crimes and israeli aggression here in lebanon. these are tanks that happen yesterday, there has been an angry reaction here. some of the newspapers had strong headlines this morning. this one is dead, scorched earth tactics by israel in the south and the french language newspaper said, south and the french language newspapersaid, israel south and the french language newspaper said, israel blows up the south of lebanon. so there has been some angry reaction here. the israeli military said yesterday that it had targeted infrastructure being used by hezbollah. it described some of

those sites is being used by hezbollah as weapon storage facilities. there hasn't been any comment from the israeli military about this particular attack which targeted the local authority building no explanation as to why this was considered to be a legitimate military target, a functioning local authority building, when a meeting was taking place with a meeting was taking place with a number of local officials. you get the jaeger —— thank you very much. ukraine's president zelensky is in brussels addressing european leaders at a summit. he laid out his plans to end russia's invasion of ukraine by the end of next year. he's also going to ask for extra military support, and fast—tracked nato membership. here's some of what he had to say. please don't ease the pressure of sanctions on russia. it truly helps.

and we appreciate the joint work with you on developing defence production. thank you. investment and manufacturing are really needed. ukraine is grateful for all forms of your support for our resilience, and this includes support for our energy sector ahead of winter and for our people, especially the financial assistance that helps us meet the basic needs of ukrainians. and your political decision on ?35 billion for ukraine as part of the g7�*s resolution on $50 billion from russian assets, is extremely important and is needed as soon as soon as possible. russia must pay and be held accountable for for the destruction and as it has caused. let's speak to our correspondent nick beake who's in brussels.

hello. out of all the items on the eu leaders�*s very substantial agenda, what do you think is going to be their top priority? is it the green? i think ukraine is up there and also the middle east as well. i think what a lot of people are talking about in brussels is migration, specifically illegal migration, specifically illegal migration or irregular migration or irregular migration as they describe it. that is because the head of the european commissioner, ursula von der leyen said she will be coming up with more plans to stop people coming into europe but decreasing the rates of deportation because she makes a point in a letter that only about the fifth of people were told they have to leave the european are actually deported, why is she doing this? i think it reflects a growing trend among lots of different people in different countries in

europe concerned about migration. we saw this in the elections in the summer where a lot of far right or certainly extreme right groups, were picking up a lot of support. and we saw a lot of centre—right groups moving their message and trying to talk tough run immigration. so thatis talk tough run immigration. so that is one to watch for sure. this was just days of after his diplomacy around various european countries. what does it say that he is back so soon? i think that he thinks that time is on his side, specifically on the battlefield. we know that russia are making gains. although it is a really grinding war in the east of the country. also there is the prospect of the us election. if donald trump is a return to the white house, that concerns a lot of ukrainians because mr trump has said that he will stop the war with russia in one

day. he hasn't explained how he would do that. there's been no clear plans for this. a lot of ukrainians assume it would mean a very bad peace deal for the ukrainians as they would see it. in other words, a lot of land which is currently occupied by the russians would remain in their hands. i think thatis remain in their hands. i think that is why mr zelensky has beenin that is why mr zelensky has been in brussels today talking about this so—called victory plan. interestingly, it is not a request from european partners to give them so much weaponry and ammunition that they can simply blast russia of they can simply blast russia of the button field —— battlefield and score this military success it's more a case, according to mr zelensky, to bring russia to the negotiating table.— the negotiating table. thank ou ve the negotiating table. thank you very much. _ the negotiating table. thank you very much, nick. - the negotiating table. thank you very much, nick. just i you very much, nick. just returning now to the news of the one direction's star, liam

payne's death after he fell from a balcony in argentina. there have been more tributes on social media. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, again. it's been a wet start to the day for some of us. the rain continuing to push away towards the east where it will fizzle across shetland later on. where you do have a lot of dry weather though, some sunshine, albeit hazy at times and some scattered showers across the north and the west, but they will be fairly hit and miss. temperatures today 13 in lerwick to 18 in london, so not quite as high as the 22.5 celsius we had in london yesterday, but still mild for the time of year. now, through this evening, we'll lose a lot of the showers and we'll see some mist and fog patches forming across eastern england and the midlands. but out towards the west, the winds are going to

strengthen, touching gale force across the outer hebrides. it's going to be a mild night tonight, just not as mild as last night. so, we start tomorrow with our weather front coming in from the west. this is the first one. then another one comes in a bit later bringing heavy rain. but in between, there's a real squeeze in the isobars. so, some windy conditions coming our way. the mist and fog lifting. again, a lot of dry weather. some sunny spells around. our first weather front comes through bringing in the rain. the second one follows on hot on its heels with heavier rain. and in between, we're looking at some very windy conditions through the irish sea and also north—west scotland. temperatures 12 to about 17 degrees. but it's as we head through friday night, that rain will continue to move from the west towards the east. some clearer skies follow on behind. some of this rain could prove to be quite heavy. and on saturday, eventually, it does move away into the north sea, leaving behind it some sunshine, some bright spells and also some showers. the heaviest showers likely to be across the north—west of the country. temperatures on saturday, well, we've got a wide range from about 12 in the north to 16 in the south. but it's as we head into sunday, looks very much like we're pulling in a deep area of low pressure. now the track of this could still change, but it

looks like it's going to bring some wet and windy weather moving from the west towards the east. you can see the curl of rain coming back around this area of low pressure. strong gusty winds in northern ireland, northern england and also much of scotland, but the strongest winds will be across the north—west where we could well see 70 to 80mph gusts.

this is bbc news, the headlines. one direction star — liam payne — dies afterfalling from a balcony at a hotel in argentina. an emergency call reveals staff had concerns about his safety. fans gather outside the hotel to mourn his death — lighting candles, singing one direction songs and sharing moments of silence. on fox news kamala harris insists she'll make a clean break from joe biden's presidency —

if she wins the us elections. polling suggests its neck—and—neck in the swing states. assayed this airdrop into gaza washington monitors israel's actions to make sure it is not pursuing what what calls a policy of starvation. == pursuing what what calls a policy of starvation.- pursuing what what calls a policy of starvation. -- as aid is airdropped. _ hello, i'm annita mcveigh. let's turn to the us now — and kamala harris has sat down with fox news in herfirst—ever inteview with the network. she was pushed on immigration as well as her vow to be a candidate of change. a key moment came when she was pressed on comments she made last week when she said she could not think of anything she would have done differently from president biden during his four years in office. my presidency will not be a continuation of joe biden's presidency. and like every new president that comes in to office, i will bring my life experiences, my professional experiences, and fresh and new ideas. i represent a new

generation of leadership. i, for example, am someone who has not spent the majority