PC Andrew Harper died in 2019 while he responded to reports of a burglary. He was dragged along a country road for more than a mile after his ankle became caught in the getaway car's tow rope loop. Driver Henry Long was sentenced to 16 years, and passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years for manslaughter in 2020 after the death of the Thames Valley Police traffic officer. Cole and Bowers are set to be eligible for release as part of the government's efforts to ease prison overcrowding, with around 5,000 people expected to be freed early under recently announced sentencing changes. That's down from 6,000 after the exemptions announced as part of an urgent review of the scheme, but the planned release of the two has sparked controversy. A petition set up by the Thames Valley Police Federation on the Change.org website, which calls for Cole and Bowers to be kept in jail, has now reached 1,000,459 signatories as of Friday morning. See more from Sky News:'We have grab bags by the door': Stourbridge residentUnprecedented strain on hospitals, as nurses collapse on wards In response to the milestone, the police body said: "We would like to thank each and every person who has signed our petition for their support on this important issue. "With the seventh anniversary of Andrew's death tomorrow, we have chosen to acknowledge this important milestone without fanfare, out of respect to his family at this difficult time." Andy Burnham has asked his justice secretary to find a way to keep Cole and Bowers behind bars when the early release scheme comes into effect in October. Speaking to LBC on Wednesday, the prime minister said he "wouldn't forgive myself" if he did not try to lessen the "anguish" of PC Harper's family. Minister Sally Jameson also told Sky's Anna Jones that "all options" were being looked at by the government. The prospect of Cole and Bowers' early release has drawn widespread criticism, with former officer Chris Bushnell, a colleague of PC Harper who chased down his killers the day he died, accusing the government of "spitting in the faces of police officers".

Nick Reiner, 32, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his father and mother, Rob and Michele Reiner, in the family's home in the affluent suburb of Brentwood. Grand jury charges unsealed on Wednesday replaced last year's original murder case, adding what prosecutors referred to as a "special circumstance" - the accusation that he lay in wait for the couple before the fatal stabbing attack. He was also charged with using a deadly weapon, a knife. The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found at their home on 14 December. Nick Reiner was arrested the following day. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or be jailed for life with no chance of parole. A decision about whether to seek the death penalty will be made later, prosecutors said. Los Angeles County district attorney Nathan Hochman said it was "a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing". He added: "We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice." Read more:Messi's doubts over playing futureRod Stewart gigs off after surgery Rob Reiner's films include When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and This Is Spinal Tap. Michele Reiner was a photographer and producer. In April, Nick's brother Jake discussed how hard it was to cope with the death of his parents.

Youth unemployment is already at its highest level in more than a decade, and Andy Burnham has made getting more youngsters into work or training one of his first priorities as prime minister. Ministers argue their proposed reforms will help millions of workers who face uncertainty over their weekly hours and earnings and even support economic growth because it will improve employee "wellbeing and engagement". But Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said they will only serve to add more strain on businesses still reeling from the government's decision to raise employers' national insurance contributions. She warned: "Adding further costs when youth unemployment is soaring risks being a hammer blow to young people's job prospects, at precisely the time businesses across the country need to be creating more opportunities." Ms Dickinson's concerns were echoed by Kate Shoesmith from the British Chambers of Commerce, saying: "We are already facing a youth unemployment crisis – now is not the time to make it even more costly for employers to hire." UKHospitality chairwoman Kate Nicholls said the government should instead be seeking ways to "reduce the cost of employing people", and that young people would be most impacted by a zero-hours contracts ban. Read more from Sky News:UK braces for 37C highsTrump's press secretary to leave Reforms 'will give workers greater security' According to the government's impact assessment published yesterday, the direct cost to employers of a ban may be between £350m and £2.9bn per year. It is consulting on whether to apply the policy to anyone working 48 hours a week, but its preference is for it to be between eight and 20 hours. The proposals would mean workers get payments of between £5m and £1.2bn because of the right to payments for shifts getting cut or moved at short notice. A government spokesperson maintained it was "absolutely committed to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts". "These reforms will give workers in every postcode greater income security and predictability of hours," they added. The proposals have been welcomed by the Trades Union Congress, which accused critics of "scaremongering". "These are common-sense reforms, which bring us closer to the European mainstream," it said.

City are interested in the midfielder, who shared a strong relationship with Enzo Maresca when he was Chelsea boss. Chelsea value Fernandez at £120m and he has six years left on his contract. They have not received any bids for the 25-year-old this summer. If City do not meet Chelsea's demands, they do not intend to sell Fernandez in this window or the winter window. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Latest on YOUR PL club!Premier League fixtures & scores | FREE PL highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 Barcelona's pursuit of Rodri - which saw them have a £40m bid rejected - has raised the prospect of Manchester City making a late move for Fernandez before the window closes. City have targets in mind for any player who departs and they are in ongoing talks with Lille for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. They have already signed central-midfielder Elliot Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest. Chelsea have a high valuation for Fernandez but they signed him for around £107m from Benfica in the 2023 winter window. The summer transfer window closes on Tuesday September 1. Relations between City and Chelsea are strained after the acrimonious manner of Maresca's departure from Chelsea. City paid Chelsea £17m in compensation to appoint Maresca this summer. He had resigned with three and a half years to run on his contract at the end of 2025 after being sounded out about succeeding Pep Guardiola last autumn. Chelsea chose to impose this deadline to avoid the distractions that arose when Maresca stood down with his shock exit announced by the club on New Year's Day. Their view is that interested clubs have had the best part of two months to make an approach for Fernandez. They want new manager Xabi Alonso and his players to be able to focus on the new season ahead. Fernandez was dropped by Chelsea for two games in April after he admitted he would welcome living in Madrid. The player and his agent also apologised for his comments. They had been seeking improved terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid released a statement earlier this summer denying that they would make an attempt to sign Fernandez. Barcelona expected to raise bid for Rodri Barcelona are ready to raise their offer for Rodri - which could lead to Man City making their move for Fernandez before Chelsea's deadline. City want to keep the 30-year-old but he has entered the final year of his contract. Barcelona are ready to up their offer to City for Rodri to somewhere in the £50m (€60m) to £60m (€70m) bracket. City are also aware of interest from Nottingham Forest in Tijjani Reijnders.

According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a fan blade in the plane's right engine broke off, sending fragments flying out of the engine - smashing the window and damaging the fuselage in several other places. Ljubisa Karovic, 61, was partially sucked through the opening and had to be pulled back into the cabin by fellow passengers, where a doctor on board tended to him. Mr Karovic suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns in the incident, which occurred shortly after take-off from the city of Thessaloniki in Greece on 10 July. The plane returned to Thessaloniki about an hour after departing. Investigators found bird remains inside the engine of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, suggesting the plane may have struck birds during take-off, but what caused the fan blade to break loose has not yet been determined. One video recorded inside the plane following the incident showed passengers wearing oxygen masks after the cabin lost pressure, while another appeared to show the broken window, with a man seated nearby wearing an oxygen mask. Recounting the ordeal, Mr Karovic's wife, Svetlana Grkovic, who helped return her husband to safety, said: "I thought: 'If we die, we die together.' It was horrible." One passenger told Radio Thessaloniki there were "screams, shrieks, shouting" when Mr Karovic's "whole head, neck, [and] shoulders" were pulled out of the window. They added: "Most people had fallen asleep, we had closed our eyes. We heard a sound, I'd describe it like a tyre bursting ... but very loud. "We knew straight away we lost pressure because we lost altitude." 'Still unanswered questions' Maintenance records show the fan blades had last been inspected in May, with no damage found. However, flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes to the same engine over the previous year, according to the NTSB, which took over the investigation under international aviation rules. Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator who reviewed the preliminary report, told the Associated Press that the required maintenance appears to have been performed on schedule. Investigators, however, are expected to examine how the inspections were conducted and whether the previous suspected bird strikes contributed to pre-existing damage. "We know what happened and even to some extent why it happened, but there's still unanswered questions that the NTSB will get at," Mr Guzzetti said. Following the incident, the NTSB reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary after he told investors the investigation was focused on foreign object damage rather than the plane's age or maintenance history. The US agency said investigators had not ruled anything out and that Mr O'Leary was not authorised to discuss the investigation. On Thursday, Ryanair said it would not comment further until the completion of the NTSB investigation, which Boeing and CFM International, the engine maker, are assisting with. Read more from Sky News:ICE plans to equip officers with electric shock glovesOne killed after explosion at Dutch port Required modifications Last year, the FAA issued three directives requiring airlines to strengthen parts of the engine coverings on Boeing 737s after two previous fan blade failures sent pieces of the engine coverings flying. In one accident in 2018, a Southwest Airlines passenger was killed after debris struck the fuselage and knocked out a window, causing the cabin to rapidly lose pressure. The directives, which took effect in April, require changes aimed at keeping pieces of the engine covering from breaking away and striking the plane if a fan blade breaks off. The NTSB report states the required modifications - which the FAA gave airlines until July 2028 to complete - had not yet been made to the Ryanair plane. The FAA declined to comment on whether its deadline could be brought forward following the incident, but said it closely supports the NTSB and will "take any necessary safety actions based on the evidence".

Traditionally, the competition is hosted by the previous year's winning broadcaster, with the next show due to take place in Bulgaria in 2027 after singer Dara's victory for the country in May. Following an annual review by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the rules have now been updated. The winning Eurovision broadcaster will now "automatically be ineligible to host the contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region", the rules now state. Changes to hosting tradition have been made in the past, with the 2023 contest held in Liverpool, in the UK, following Ukraine's win the previous year. At the time, the EBU said the Russia's war made it impossible to begin the 12 months of preparation needed to organise the show. In the run-up to this year's competition, which was held in Vienna, Austria, countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia all withdrew after Israel's place in the contest was confirmed. Their boycotts followed criticism from some broadcasters of Israel's role in the competition amid the war in Gaza. In the final, Israel claimed second place, as it did in 2025. Changes ensure contest 'remains fair' The EBU said the rule changes had been made following feedback from participating broadcasters, and that the updates would provide greater clarity for artists and production staff. Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said in a statement: "The Eurovision Song Contest is constantly evolving, and our annual review of the rules is an important part of making sure the contest remains fair, transparent and consistent for all those who participate, including the millions who engage with the event globally. "Guided, as always, by feedback from our members, we have clarified and strengthened several areas for 2027. These changes are about giving everyone involved greater clarity, protecting artists and ensuring the contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while preserving the spirit and integrity that make the Eurovision Song Contest so special." In circumstances involving a potentially difficult situation outside of armed conflict, the country would be assessed by an independent security body to help the EBU determine whether or not they could safely host. If the winning member is ruled ineligible, the EBU will identify an alternative host broadcaster to "assume all rights, obligations and liabilities associated with hosting the contest". Eurovision said this alternative broadcaster would organise the contest "in its own right" and not simply stage the event on behalf of the ineligible host. Read more from Sky News:The 1999 solar eclipse in picturesMessi raises 'serious doubts' over footballing future The rule changes also include an update to the minimum age for artists. At the moment, competitors need to be at least 16 on the day of their first rehearsal. This increases to 18 from 2027.

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Playing for the first time since finishing tied for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale almost a full month ago, McIlroy was level par going into the final three holes before a disastrous streak left him towards the rear of the field. Dropped shots at 16 and 17 were followed by a double bogey at TPC Southwind's final hole, which came after McIlroy found the water with his tee shot to the closing par four. All the latest golf leaderboards | Live golf on Sky Sports this week🏌️‍♂️PGA Tour: Full 2026 schedule and key dates 📆Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 The 74 left McIlroy nine shots adrift of the first-round leaders, with Jordan Spieth among a group of five Americans to finish on five-under par. Spieth, who started the week outside of the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings that will go through next week's BMW Championship, is joined in the lead by Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim. Spieth said: "I just tried to come into this week and just be as patient, non-reactive as possible, dumb it down to try to win the golf tournament and not worry about anything else." England's Tommy Fleetwood, who was paired with Spieth, was a shot off the lead after opening up with a 66 that included a delightful chip in for eagle at the par-five third hole. Fleetwood said: "I feel good. I didn't really play very good in the practice days. Game's not really been that great. I've been showing a lot, like some good and some really not so good. "Hit it great off the tee today. Still my iron play was iffy, but I did a good job of managing it for the most part. Still hit some really good shots, and you can never underestimate how good - I think shooting under par on this golf course is very good." World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who played alongside McIlroy in the marquee group for the opening two rounds, put himself in a solid position by delivering a 68. Scheffler said: "I felt like I hit a lot of quality shots with my irons.I did a good job of being patient and not trying to force it too much. "I feel like I was right on the edge of having a good day, kind of all day is how I would describe it. So, I felt like patience-wise, I did a pretty good job." Fleetwood had European company towards the top of the leaderboard, with Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka joining Scheffler on two-under. Shane Lowry posted a solid one-under round to start the week, while Matt Fitzpatrick was left frustrated by a closing double bogey that dropped him back to level par. McIlroy could at least take consolation from not having the worst round of the day, which belonged to Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who shot a 12-over par 82. Justin Rose also made a slow start as he finished on three-over, with fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall faring little better as they finished two over. Memphis is hosting the first of three FedExCup Playoffs events, with only the top 50 in the overall season standings at the end of Sunday's final round progressing to the BMW Championship, and then the top 30 qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship. McIlroy's position of 12th out of the 70-player field means there is no concern about his progress to the BMW Championship, while the fact the events have no cut gives him plenty of time to climb the leaderboard over the weekend. How do the FedExCup Playoffs work? All season long, players have earned points based on how they have performed in PGA Tour events, with extra points available for the signature events and majors. Only the top 70 in the standings have reached the FedEx St Jude Championship (August 13-16), with just the top 50 then progressing to the BMW Championship (August 20-23) and then only the top 30 making it to the finale, The Tour Championship (August 27-30). Winners of the first two play-off events earn 750 points apiece - the same as The Players and the majors - before the points reset to zero ahead of the Tour Championship. In the closing event, all players begin at even par, with the starting-strokes model based on FedExCup placings at that point axed in 2025. The winner of the Tour Championship becomes FedExCup champion for 2026, earning $10m (£7.4m) and a five-year PGA Tour exemption. Live coverage of the first event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, continues at 5pm on Friday. Watch live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event or stream with no contract.