Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were jailed in 2020 for manslaughter. PC Harper, who was 28, was dragged for a mile behind their car after he tried to stop the group towing away a stolen quad bike in Berkshire in August 2019. Cole and Bowers, who were 17 at the time of the incident, were passengers in the vehicle. They were given a 13-year prison sentence but might be eligible for release halfway through, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said. The Police Federation for England and Wales has condemned the prospect as "disgusting". Its deputy national chair, Brian Booth, said: "Police officers from across the country stood side by side to honour Andrew Harper at his funeral. They and every serving officer will be utterly sickened at the prospect of Bowers and Cole being back on the streets so soon." 'It feels like an insult' It comes after PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, told The Telegraph she had received a letter from the department informing her the sentences may be reduced. Long, the driver, received a 16-year term and won't be eligible. Ms Adlam told The Telegraph it "makes me feel sick" that Cole and Bowers may be released. "It feels like a slap in the face and an insult," she added. The potential release of Cole and Bowers would come under the Sentencing Act. Set to come into force in September, the legislation stands to see 6,000 prisoners released early. The policy has proved controversial, but the government has repeatedly said it must act to free up jail cells. An MoJ spokesperson said: "This was a horrific crime, and our deepest sympathies are with PC Andrew Harper's family and friends. "In 2024, the country was facing a prison crisis and a total breakdown of law and order, with judges ordered to stop jailing dangerous criminals. "This government is committed to public safety: we are building prison places at the fastest rate since the Victorian era and taking the difficult decisions needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders." Following his death, PC Harper's widow Lissie Harper successfully campaigned for legal changes to see harsher sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty. Harper's Law introduced mandatory life sentences for anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty, including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics. But the legislation was not retrospective, meaning PC Harper's killers cannot have their sentences extended. The backlash to the early release of PC Harper's killers comes as the new defence secretary, Wes Streeting, had to apologise for making a joke about the controversial scheme. He was caught on mic before Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first cabinet meeting on Tuesday joking the new justice secretary, Alex Norris, "wants to let them all out". Mr Streeting said he was "ribbing" his colleague but added: "I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity."

The 21-year-old musician, whose real name is David Burke, is accused of fatally stabbing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez after she threatened to make their relationship public. Burke is alleged to have dismembered her body in his garage and hid her remains in a car, which was then abandoned. Ms Hernandez's severely decomposed body was found in a vehicle registered to Burke on 8 September 2025, a court in Los Angeles heard. He was then arrested in April. Burke has denied murdering the teenager and pleaded not guilty to several other counts, including mutilation of human remains and child sexual abuse. During a preliminary court hearing on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office laid out evidence to the judge, who will then decide whether to proceed to trial. The court was shown bodycam footage in which Burke told sheriff's deputies, who were investigating a missing person's report in February 2024, that he had only met then-13-year-old Ms Hernandez once in person, and he did not know she was a minor. "She told me she was 18," the singer said in the video. "Everybody's telling me she was 13." During the 2024 search, the court heard that Burke said he had met Ms Hernandez online on Instagram and Discord in 2020 or 2021, had seen her once in person a few months earlier and had last communicated with her a few days before the search. He shared Rivas Hernandez's phone number with the officers and showed them photos from his phone of a yearbook picture of her and a missing persons flyer from Instagram. It comes after prosecutors filed a court brief in April, where they said Ms Hernandez was most likely killed by Burke on 23 April last year, when her cellular activity ceased. That filing alleges that Burke met Ms Hernandez, from Lake Elsinore in California, when she was 11 and began a sexual relationship with her when she was 13, and he was 18. It also alleged that Burke ordered an Uber to pick Ms Hernandez up on the night of 23 April, from her hometown to his home in Hollywood. The two were said to have exchanged messages until she arrived, after which her phone went dead. The document alleges: "Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, [the] defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out." Prosecutors also said a "significant amount" of child sex abuse images had been recovered during an investigation into Burke following his arrest on 16 April. See more from Sky News:Zelenskyy sacks Ukraine's head of armed forcesEight areas of England at risk of drought The preliminary hearing could go for several days. Burke's defence has not publicly shared its version of events, but he has denied the allegations. If found guilty, the singer is eligible for the death penalty under California law. Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they will seek it. The singer, known for his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop, gained success with his 2022 hit Romantic Homicide and last year performed at Coachella music festival.

In a letter to Andy Burnham, Mr Tice called on the new prime minister to "buy out" Thames Water's equity and debtholders for the token sum of £1 and place Britain's biggest water company into a special administration regime (SAR). He said parliament should be recalled to debate such a move, and warned: "The whole investment world must realise that while we believe in markets and competition, we will not allow the taxpayer to be shafted." Money blog: Follow the latest Mr Tice also urged Mr Burnham not to be "scared of threats of legal action by aggressive lawyers acting for the hyenas" - a reference to Sky News's revelation at the weekend that Thames Water's creditors have engaged litigation specialists to sue the government if it rejects their rescue proposal. On Tuesday, the London & Valley Water consortium, which accounts for about £17bn of Thames Water's debt, said it was confident it could deliver a plan consistent with the new PM's desire for "greater public control" of water companies. It said in a statement that it had "evaluated potential new local public control supervisory structures which can be beneficial to customers through the company's operations, designed in the public interest", and said it wanted to share details of its plans with Angela Eagle, the new environment secretary. "In addition to a new public interest supervisory structure with enhanced local representation for local authorities and regional leaders, the consortium is willing to make significant new commitments to grant greater controls and oversight to ministers, implemented through a 'Golden Share'," the consortium's spokesperson added. Mr Tice's letter claimed that Thames Water met the tests for being placed into a SAR on the basis that "it cannot meet its debts and is effectively insolvent". "It also cannot meet its operational obligations to the regulator, Ofwat," he wrote. The Reform deputy leader said that "parliament and the country are both aghast and sick of" the pay packages handed to Thames Water's bosses while the company's creditors simultaneously seek "to waive hundreds of millions in fines". Thames Water said last week that Chris Weston, its chief executive, had not received any performance-related pay for the last financial year. The L&VW consortium also rejected the charge that it was seeking environmental leniency from regulators, adding in its statement on Tuesday: "L&VW is not seeking any change to Ofwat's existing enforcement guidance or the Environment Agency's existing enforcement and sanctions policy. "No immunity from enforcement and fines under these policies will be given to the company. "The plan will create a clear path to environmental compliance as quickly as possible."

It was announced in January that the former England player and manager had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, with his family revealing he was set to begin treatment. "It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75," a statement from Keegan's family read. "The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments. "Kevin, a double Ballon d'Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. The family would like to thank Kevin's incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy." England have announced that they will pay tribute to Keegan's life before their Nations League game with Spain at Wembley in September. Keegan was considered one of the best players of his generation and enjoyed a stellar playing career, making almost 750 club appearances, lifting the First Division trophy three times with Liverpool and winning the Ballon d'Or back-to-back in 1978 and 1979 while playing for Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Seven years after his retirement, he took his first coaching role as manager of a struggling Newcastle team in February 1992. The Magpies were in danger of being relegated to Division Two but Keegan kept them up and then led them to the Premier League in his first full season in charge. Then, in 1996, he took Newcastle to within touching distance of their first top-tier title since 1927. Newcastle were Premier League title favourites for most of that 1995/96 season, at one stage being 12 points clear of Manchester United. But a dramatic collapse from Keegan's side coupled with a Sir Alex Ferguson-inspired Man Utd winning 13 of their last 15, eventually saw Newcastle finish second by four points. Late defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the run-in saw United eventually haul them in. As the pressure mounted on a beleaguered Keegan, who was desperate to deliver the title to a passionate Newcastle fanbase, his infamous "I'd love it.." post-match interview after victory at Leeds, aimed at Sir Alex, among others, unfortunately characterised his time at St James' Park. He would go on to manage England, for whom he had scored 21 goals in 63 games as a player, between February 1999 and October 2000 - resigning minutes after a 1-0 defeat to Germany in the last game played at the old Wembley Stadium. His time as national boss also saw England fail to get out of the group stage at Euro 2000, despite a 1-0 win over Germany, as defeats by Portugal and Romania piled on the pressure even before that defeat at the hands of Dietmar Hamann's free-kick four months later in the first qualifier for the 2002 World Cup. A spell at Manchester City followed, which included promotion to the Premier League in 2002 as Division One champions, but Keegan left the club in March 2005, initially announcing his retirement from football. Keegan made an emotional return to Newcastle in 2008, but only lasted eight months following tensions with the board and owner Mike Ashley. Newcastle's statement in full on Keegan's passing "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential and deeply-loved figures in our club's history. "Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters. "As a player, he brought world-class talent, ambition and belief to St. James' Park, helping to transform perceptions of what Newcastle United could be. "As a manager, he ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters hope and pride, and led a team whose style, spirit and passion captured the imagination of football fans around the world. He was so much more than an Entertainer. "Above all that, Kevin forged an extraordinary bond with Newcastle, built on the roots of his father, Joe. He understood our people. He embraced the north east with a passion that was genuine and unwavering, and in return, he earned his rightful place in the hearts of millions. "Kevin's impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him. "At this profoundly sad time, we send our love and deepest sympathy to Kevin's wife Jean, his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him. "Today, we mourn the loss of a true giant of our history, and at the appropriate moment, we will carefully consider how we shape a lasting tribute to Kevin's remarkable life and legacy. Rest in Peace, King Kev." 'Giant of the game' - Tributes come in for Keegan Alan Shearer: "My Hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss." Jamie Carragher: "RIP Kevin Keegan. One of the greatest players this country has ever produced, trophies & goals galore, double Ballon D'or winner shows he was an absolute giant of the English game. One of the most important men in making Liverpool what it is today." Liverpool FC: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary Kevin Keegan and mourn his loss. His indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will be forever etched in our history and his legacy will live on. Rest in peace, Kevin." Sir Kenny Dalglish: "Very saddened to hear of the passing of Kevin Keegan. Kevin was one of the very best players of his generation and wore Liverpool's famous number 7 shirt with great distinction. His achievements on the pitch were exceptional, but he was also a wonderful person and a genuine gentleman. "Kevin's qualities didn't stop when he finished playing. He went on to become an outstanding manager, and what he built at Newcastle United brought belief, excitement and pride back to the football club. "He gave so many people wonderful memories and his teams played the game in a way that supporters loved to watch. Football has lost one of its true greats. "My thoughts are with Jean, Laura, Sarah and all of Kevin's family and friends at this very sad time. Rest in peace, Kevin. YNWA" Eddie Howe: "Kevin was an inspiration to me as a young player and, I'm honoured to say, a friend whose guidance and support meant a great deal in recent years. "For me personally, Kevin's influence became even more meaningful when I arrived at Newcastle as manager. He showed me incredible warmth and generosity. He had already given so much to this football club, yet he immediately made me feel welcome. "What struck me most was his humility. Despite everything he achieved in the game and his iconic status here, he never sought recognition. He simply wanted to help because he cared so deeply about the club and the people within it. "It is profoundly saddening that he is no longer with us." England national team: "We are incredibly saddened by the news that Kevin Keegan OBE has passed away. Kevin earned 63 international caps and scored 21 goals between 1972 and 1982, before managing the Three Lions from 1999 to 2000. Our thoughts and condolences are with Kevin's family, friends and former clubs." Thomas Tuchel: "As a young football fan, he was the first England superstar I can remember watching growing up. "He won every honour possible and to be named the best player in the world two times was an unbelievable achievement. You only need to think how fondly he is remembered by supporters at his clubs to see what a man he was. Of course, he also had that special experience of playing, captaining and managing his country. "My thoughts are with his family and friends today, and all the fans who loved to watch him play. "I know we will pay him a full tribute when we welcome Spain to Wembley Stadium in September. We will be honouring a true hero of English football." David Beckham: "Such a sad day to hear the passing of Kevin Keegan. A man that was very kind to me and my family. Sending lots of love and thoughts to his family and friends." Southampton FC: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan. "Kevin signed for the club in 1980 as the holder of the Ballon d'Or and brought great joy to fans at The Dell and across the football world. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time." Manchester City FC: "Everyone at Manchester City is devastated to learn our former manager Kevin Keegan has passed away, aged 75. "Kevin was a transformative manager who brought optimism and vibrancy to City during his four-year spell in charge. "The promotion campaign in 2001/02 will never be forgotten, and Kevin then established us once again as a top Premier League side in the years that followed. Our thoughts are with Kevin's family and friends at this very difficult time." Former Newcastle interim co-chief executive Mehrdad Ghodoussi: "Devastated to hear about Kevin Keegan. Growing up watching football, he was one of the names that defined an era, a double Ballon d'Or winner, European Cup champion, England captain, and one of the most exciting players the game has seen. "But what he did at Newcastle was different. He turned belief into something you could feel in the stadium. King Kev wasn't just admired, he was loved, because everything he did came from the heart. Rest in peace, Kevin. Thank you for everything you gave the game." The English Football League: "The EFL is saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan. A legend of the English game, Keegan will be remembered by generations of football fans for his impact as a player and manager. Our thoughts are with his family and friends." Manchester United: "We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Kevin Keegan. A giant of English football, he was a cherished figure at the very highest levels of the game. Our condolences go to Kevin's family, loved ones and all those he inspired as a manager, player and person, on and off the pitch. Rest in peace, Kevin." Former Liverpool striker David Fairclough: "Stunned. Such sad news Kevin Keegan has passed away. Absolutely devastated to hear such awful news. So many incredible memories of KK, I'm so lucky to have spent time and shared moments that have and will last a lifetime. Heartfelt condolences and love to Jean and family. YNWA." Fulham FC: "We're incredibly sad to hear the news that our former manager Kevin Keegan has passed away. A legend of the game, Keegan led Fulham to the Football League Second Division title in 1999. He left Craven Cottage at the end of that season to focus on his duties as England manager. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy must surely be trying to restore stability to his top, warfighting team following an outbreak of self-inflicted, internecine conflict that will only benefit Russia. Ukraine war – follow the latest In the end, he had little option but to axe General Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander in chief in the wake of almost a week of unrest, including widespread street protests, against his earlier decision to remove Mykhailo Fedorov from the helm of the Ministry of Defence. There had been months of friction between Fedorov and Syrskyi, 60, with the former saying he had asked the president to fire the general but instead being forced to quit himself. The top military officer will be replaced by a younger but similarly battle-hardened – and more popular – commander called Mykhailo Drapatyi. Zelenskyy also said he had spoken with Fedorov to offer him a "prominent position" back in government. It is not clear whether this offer will be accepted, with reports that Fedorov – also well-liked and seen as an innovator and a driving force behind the evolution of drone warfare – would only return to his previous role as defence minister. Either way, Zelenskyy clearly decided he had no choice but to get rid of Syrskyi just over two years after appointing him to the position of military chief following the sacking of his predecessor, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is now Ukraine's ambassador to the UK. It is a spectacular fall from grace for a commander who had been championed for leading the defence of Kyiv in the early days of Russia's full-scale war. Syrskyi was also praised for heading a successful counteroffensive later in 2022 to retake swathes of the Kharkiv region in the northeast of the country and for devising an audacious attack by Ukraine into the Russian region of Kursk. But the commander, who learnt his trade in Ukraine's Soviet-era military, had become deeply unpopular among many of his own troops as commander in chief. 'We have come a long way' Zelenskyy paid tribute to him in a post on social media that confirmed he was being replaced. "It is a fact that Oleksandr Syrskyi delivered results for Ukraine in the defence of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation," he said. "We have come a long way; Ukraine's defence continues, and every warrior must be treated with dignity… We all want the same thing: to defeat the enemy and create the conditions – on the front line and through pressure on Russia – that would allow us to force Russia into peace. "Tomorrow, we will formalise all of these decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will be harder for Russia. Glory to Ukraine!"

Joshua Hottle confirmed the news in a tearful Facebook livestream on Tuesday, in which he used American Sign Language (ASL) as the Hottle family is all-deaf. The post was headlined: "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take", as he travelled from Texas to Maryland. Her mother, Ketsi, also shared a post in ASL which featured a selfie with her daughter as the cover photo, and wrote: "Privilege to be your mom, Kaylee Hottle." The Frederick County Sheriff's Office in Maryland said in a statement on its website that Hottle was a passenger in a single-vehicle collision in the town of Ijamsville, west of Baltimore, just before 3am on Tuesday. A 1995 Honda Accord, driven by a local man aged 19 and carrying two passengers, went off a two-lane road, and "excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision". One of the passengers "was identified as Kaylee Hottle", who was taken to a local area trauma centre, "where she was later pronounced deceased". The driver was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, while the other passenger "declined medical treatment at the scene". Hottle attended the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin, where she was a senior, and the institution paid tribute to her. The school shared a photo of her and wrote: "Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time. "Please keep Kaylee's loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together." Hottle played Jia in 2021's Godzilla vs Kong, her feature film debut, appearing alongside stars such as Alexander Skarsgard and Millie Bobby Brown. Jia, an orphaned deaf girl, formed a bond with giant great ape Kong by communicating with him in ASL. She reprised the role three years later in the sequel, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. Stranger Things star, Ms Brown, said she was "devastated" by posting a black and white picture of Hottle to her Instagram story. Over the photo, the Emmy-nominated actress wrote: "You will be deeply missed Kaylee." Read more:MAFS investigation openedTates 'to fight extradition' Marlee Matlin, who was the first deaf actress to win an Oscar for her role in Children Of A Lesser God, shared a photo on X of herself alongside Hottle. She wrote: "I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity." Hottle often spoke about the inclusion of deafness in the entertainment industry. She also appeared in several advertisements, including one promoting support for the deaf community in their pursuit of equal rights.

The Andy Burnham era is under way, and the new prime minister is kicking off with a bang - cutting VAT on electricity bills. He promised the country some "breathing space" on the cost of living, but with prices still rising will anyone actually feel better off? And is it properly funded? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine what the announcement shows about Burnham's direction of travel in government, as his new cabinet gathers for the first time. Plus, the duo unpack the biggest cabinet appointments - from John Healey as chancellor to Wes Streeting as defence secretary - after many Starmer loyalists were shown the door.

The 47-year-old hangs up his whistle following 831 games in the English, European and international game, with his final match the World Cup last-16 clash between Portugal and tournament winners Spain. Domestically, Taylor refereed in every major domestic English cup final, officiating the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals and the 215 League Cup final, as well as 432 Premier League matches. Premier League rule changes for 2026/27 seasonGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 He also served for 14 years on the FIFA international list, and was selected to represent England at both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. In announcing his retirement, Taylor suggested his decision had been fuelled by the "intense" pressure and "constant" scrutiny he faced in the role. Speaking in a statement through refereeing body Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, Taylor said: "Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant. The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career." He was publicly targeted by Roma fans at Budapest Airport in 2023 after being criticised by their then-manager Jose Mourinho following the club's Europa League final defeat by Sevilla. Last year, he revealed his family no longer came to matches he was officiating while criticising the "expectation of perfection" placed on referees and admitted he had repeatedly considered quitting the game. Commenting on the incident in Hungary, he told BBC Sport: "That's for sure the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse. "Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others. "It makes you reflect back on whether you made a mistake travelling with your family in the first place." Taylor refereed more Premier League games than anyone else in 2025/26, with his last game West Ham's final-day 3-0 win over Leeds, which was not enough to save the Hammers from relegation to the Championship. The Premier League has no set limit on retirement age for referees, with a number of officials continuing into their 50s including Neil Swarbrick and Graham Scott, who refereed in the top flight until they were 52 and 56 respectively. Premier League rule changes for 2026/27 seasonPlayers receiving treatment or assessment on the pitch must now stay off for at least one minute (previously 30 seconds).Referees will use a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Delayed restarts can result in possession/restart being awarded to the opposition.Delayed restarts can result in possession/restart being awarded to the opposition.Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field. If they exceed the limit, the replacement player must wait until the next stoppage after one minute has passed before entering.VAR can review incidents where a player is shown a second yellow card that results in a red card.VAR cannot intervene to recommend a second yellow card if one was not originally given by the referee.