(Image: Harper Green School)

Rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted, Harper Green continues to build on the progress it has made in recent years. The school is also celebrating another successful set of GCSE results this summer, with students achieving success across a wide range of academic and vocational subjects. Secretary of State for Education Lucy Powell MP joined students and staff at Harper Green on Results Day as they celebrated their achievements.

The school’s broad and ambitious curriculum combines academic study with a strong vocational and technical offer, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills and explore different pathways into further education, training and employment.

(Image: Harper Green School)

This includes Harper Green’s dedicated Construction Hub, which supports its Construction and the Built Environment course and was officially opened by Andy Burnham during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester. The Hub gives students hands-on experience and an insight into careers across the construction sector, alongside specialist facilities including purpose-built dance and drama studios and extensive sports facilities.

Outside the classroom, students can get involved in a wide range of activities including sport, performing arts, educational visits, student leadership and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

(Image: Harper Green School)

Headteacher Ms Heppenstall said:

“The response to our free blazer and tie initiative last year was incredibly positive, so we’re delighted to be continuing it for a second year. It’s one of the many ways we can support our families and help make the transition to secondary school as positive as possible.

“Our Open Evening is a fantastic opportunity for families to see how Harper Green continues to grow and develop, meet our staff and students and discover the wide range of opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to welcoming families in September.”

(Image: Harper Green School)

Families attending the Open Evening will be able to register for their child’s free blazer, ready for the start of Year 7 in September 2027.

To register for the Open Evening, visit www.harpergreen.net/openevening.

By WILL STEWART and ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER

Published: 11:13 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 11:30 BST, 27 August 2026

A senior Russian military officer was killed in a suspected car bomb attack on Thursday in St Petersburg.

The colonel died instantly when the blast tore apart his Chinese-made Geely car at 10am, severing his legs as he drove along Kolpinskoye Highway, according to reports. 

His wife was left fighting for her life in intensive care after reportedly suffering catastrophic injuries, including the loss of both legs.

Haunting images from the scene show the mangled wreckage of the torn-apart vehicle scattered across the cordoned-off street. 

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Russian media said the car was blown apart by an ‘improvised explosive device’.  

The victim is believed to be a 53-year-old lieutenant colonel and military pilot in the Russian Air Force and Air Defences. 

The high-ranking officer was driving out of a paid car park when the ‘bomb’ detonated, it is understood. 

Multiple Russian military figures and others linked to the war have died in car explosions, many of which have been blamed on Ukrainian secret services. 

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A senior Russian military officer was killed in a suspected car bomb attack on Thursday in St Petersburg (pictured)

Haunting images from the scene show the mangled wreckage of the vehicle scattered across the road 

Russian media said the car (pictured) was blown apart by an ‘improvised explosive device’

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There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday’s attack.

There were reports the blast occurred after the couple picked up a package from Ozon – a Russian-style Amazon giant that is currently targeted by Ukraine in drone strikes. 

Bomb disposal experts worked at the scene, while Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over the incident.

The Slavyanka district, where the car exploded, has many homes allocated to senior Russian Defence Ministry officers.

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In recent events, a Russian military officer was blown up in a bomb attack in Russian-annexed Crimea on August 13. 

A woman was later detained on suspicion of carrying out the assassination for Ukrainian special services. 

The attack came on the same day Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Britain to reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or Russia could hit UK military targets.

The warning comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham was told Britain could face Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine and to be prepared for a ‘direct response’ from Moscow.

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On Monday, the new premier swapped blueprints for the long-range Scalp missile with Moscow’s enemy in a visit to Kyiv, that would allow Ukraine to build their own weapons, rather than rely on imports.

Moscow accused the UK of ‘participating’ in his war with Ukraine and warned that their forces were intent on identifying ‘the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment’ in order to destroy them.

As such, UK security chiefs have been primed for a Kremlin attack on Britain – either towards Mr Burnham or by targeting defence sites.

Putin’s warning comes a day after CIA director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow where he issued a warning to the Kremlin not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, either by using a nuclear weapon or targeting Kyiv’s Western allies.

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The ‘just don’t do it’ advice was based on US intelligence that Russia is primed to act immediately and dramatically after its campaign on the battlefield stalled again.

Following the visit, the Kremlin hinted it was not looking for peace with the West, warning ‘it is too early to say if the deep crisis in US-Russia relations can be overcome,’ before boasting ‘Ukraine is definitely losing the war.’

Before departing No10, Sir Keir Starmer had warned Russia could launch an attack on a Nato country in the next four years, western intelligence assessments had indicated.

Putin had earlier been advised the new incumbent in No10 would be ‘softer than [Sir Keir] Starmer’ but the despot’s hopes were dashed by the PM’s efforts to fortify the UK-Ukraine military alliance in recent weeks.

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Two police officers died from head and neck injuries after their marked vehicle was hit by a car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway, an inquest opening has heard.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Today, inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned at Teesside Coroner’s Court.

In short hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said PC Blades was identified by his wife, and PC Clough by his partner.

The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for PC Blades, and neck injuries for PC Clough.

Mr Appleton said that in the early hours of August 22 there was a collision on the A66 at South Bank between a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat.

He told the hearing that ‘all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene’.

Mr Appleton said: ‘At this stage it is understood that there had been a police pursuit of the Volkswagen Passat.

‘It entered the A66 carriageway against the flow of traffic, at which stage the pursuit was aborted.

‘A short time after … the Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle, which had not been directly involved in the prior pursuit.’

Later today, inquests will open into the deaths of Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak – who were in the Passat and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police has been alerted after a fake letter claiming that asylum seekers were being moved into homes across Bexley was sent to residents.

The letter, which looked as though it came from Bexley Council’s ‘Deputy Director of Housing’, was posted through some residents’ doors before being shared online.

It falsely claimed the council was converting properties to accommodate asylum seekers under government arrangements.

Bexley Council has since confirmed that the letter is fake and referred the matter to police.

A statement from the council said: ‘We have been made aware of a fake letter posted to some homes, supposedly from our Development Management Team, titled “Neighbourhood Notice – New Residential Occupancy” and dated 24/8/2026.’

The council added: ‘We wish to make it clear that this letter is NOT from the Council and we have referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police.’

The fake notice contains a series of claims, such as that ‘young men aged approximately 19-40 years old’ would be moving into the area.

It also references cultural differences and gives residents instructions about how women and girls should dress when leaving their homes.

The letter states: ‘If they have to venture out, please make sure they are dressed appropriately so as not to tempt the men in any way. Long skirts or trousers are advised, with shoulders covered.’

Residents were also advised to keep pets indoors or consider rehoming them.

Bexley is also claimed to now be an ‘official sanctuary for asylum seekers’ who will now become the council’s ‘guests’.

Louie French, the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has hit out at the letter, saying it was an attempt to ‘scare’ residents.

‘It is concerning that someone has gone out of their way to try and scare people like this,’ he said.

‘This is now a police matter so I won’t be sharing the fake letter, but this is another reminder to question things online if they don’t sound right.

‘Sadly we now have fake letters to add to the many fake accounts on Facebook deliberately spreading misinformation in our community.’

Councillor Chis Purfield also confirmed the notice was a hoax, adding: ‘There is a letter that has supposedly been sent to residents from Bexley Council about homing asylum seekers in the area and guidelines to keep safe.

‘This is a hoax to cause panic and upset amongst you all.

‘No letter has been sent out from the housing department. Please do not entertain these scaremongering people, do not share.’

MORE: Bodycam footage shows moment suspected knife smuggler woken by police sawing through door

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Requests from the Welsh Government for control over the Crown Estate in Wales will be “given a fair hearing” when leaders of devolved nations meet in October, Andy Burnham has said.

The Prime Minister was asked by reporters if he saw merit in giving Wales’ devolved government control over the company, as the Scottish Government has, which administers the holdings of the Monarch, including the seabed where offshore wind farms are placed.

Mr Burnham replied: “I’ve called the National Economic Council for October, and one of the messages that I will want to give to all of the first ministers, but including the new First Minister of Wales at that meeting, is that No 10 North is as much at your disposal as it is at the disposal of the devolved areas of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and as requests come for further devolution, they will be given a fair hearing.

“I’m not making any commitments today because it needs to be done carefully in a proper way, but obviously, that is what devolution should be about.

“I used to do it as myself, as mayor of Greater Manchester, we would make requests and it’s proper for devolved entities to make those requests. But you know, there then has to be a process for considering the issues involved.

“So that is part of why we’ve called the meeting. But I do also want to consider where we may deepen devolution here to get the growth mission being felt in a real way in all parts of in all parts of Wales.”

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia bombarded cities across Ukraine with missiles and drones in an onslaught that began after nightfall Wednesday and continued into daylight hours Thursday, when explosions echoed around the capital Kyiv through the morning.

Ukraine is desperately short of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles that can counter Russia’s ballistic missiles, and Moscow’s fast-flying jet-powered drones have brought another challenge in the fifth year since the Russian army’s invasion.

Ukrainian officials say Russia builds up missile stocks and launches major attacks every few days, hoping to exhaust Ukrainian defenses through the sheer weight of numbers. In response, Ukraine has hit high-profile targets on Russian soil as the countries inflict mutual destruction.

Russia says attack targeted war-related facilities

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces carried out a “massive” overnight strike on targets in nine Ukrainian cities. It described the targets as military-related, including industrial facilities, oil refineries, logistics hubs and port infrastructure.

Civilian areas including apartment blocks suffered damage. The barrage killed a 78-year-old woman in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, with at least nine people reported wounded elsewhere, Ukrainian officials said.

“Russia continues to invest in missiles and in expanding its war, and that means more countermeasures are needed,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media, noting promises earlier this week by European countries to provide more air defense help.

“It is important that these (measures) are also supplemented by additional ballistic missile defense packages” through European purchases of weapons from the United States, he said.

Zelenskyy make official visit to neighbor Moldova

Zelenskyy was due to visit neighboring Moldova on Thursday to mark its national day commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Ukraine announced its independence the same year.

Russia’s neighbors in Eastern Europe are concerned its invasion of Ukraine could trigger a wider conflict, and drones flying into its airspace have fueled jitters.

Moldova’s Ministry of Defense said Thursday that five drones breached its airspace overnight, but it didn’t specify who fired them.

After razing huge warehouses in recent months belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, Ukrainian drones are now taking aim at Ozon, the country’s second-largest e-commerce company.

Ozon said its logistics facilities in the cities of Orenburg and Ufa were attacked but neither of the premises caught fire.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 09:59 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 10:39 BST, 27 August 2026

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has told Britain to reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or Russia could hit UK military targets.

The warning comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham was told Britain could face Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine and to be prepared for a ‘direct response’ from Moscow.

On Monday, the new premier swapped blueprints for the long-range Scalp missile with Moscow’s enemy in a visit to Kiev, that would allow Ukraine to build their own weapons, rather than rely on imports.

Moscow accused the UK of ‘participating’ in his war with Ukraine and warned that their forces were intent on identifying ‘the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment’ in order to destroy them.

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As such, UK security chiefs have been primed for a Kremlin attack on Britain – either towards Mr Burnham or by targeting defence sites. 

Major UK defence manufacturers participating in weapons production are believed to be stepping up their physical security and adopting measures to prevent cyber attacks. 

Putin’s warning comes a day after CIA director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow where he issued a warning to the Kremlin not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, either by using a nuclear weapon or targeting Kyiv’s Western allies.

The ‘just don’t do it’ advice was based on US intelligence that Russia is primed to act immediately and dramatically after its campaign on the battlefield stalled again. 

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Putin has told Britain to reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or Russia could hit UK military targets 

Andy Burnham with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday where the new premier handed over missile blueprints

US officials are concerned Moscow could attempt to seize Nato territory on its eastern flank within weeks, while fears are brewing of a major cyber attack.

Following the visit, the Kremlin hinted it was not looking for peace with the West, warning ‘it is too early to say if the deep crisis in US-Russia relations can be overcome’, before boasting ‘Ukraine is definitely losing the war’. 

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Before departing No. 10, Sir Keir Starmer had warned Russia could launch an attack on a Nato country in the next four years, western intelligence assessments had indicated. 

Putin had earlier been advised the new incumbent in No10 would be ‘softer than [Sir Keir] Starmer’ but the despot’s hopes were dashed by the PM’s efforts to fortify the UK-Ukraine military alliance in recent weeks.

A senior source told the Daily Mail earlier this week: ‘The question being asked is, “How long do we keep poking the bear before it bites?”

‘An attack on the UK’s defence and security infrastructure is inevitable, based on our high-profile support for Ukraine.

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‘Ourselves and the French are front and centre, and Burnham’s visit to Kyiv and his forthright stance will have been noticed at the Kremlin.

‘There had been some optimism in Moscow that he would be softer than Starmer on Ukraine.

‘That was not the case. Russia will want to make a statement, through actions rather than words. That could be a drone attack, or an arson attack. There are Russian sleeper cells in this country that could do either.’

The source added: ‘Russia is testing our security infrastructure on a daily basis… Something bigger is only a matter of time. Russia just needs to keep it low enough to avoid a military response by Nato.’

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Other sources said that Russia’s sudden withdrawal of its ambassador to London was being taken as a sign that ‘something big is coming’.

It was reported earlier this week that Britons will be urged by the Government to stock up on tinned food and bottled water in case of emergencies like extreme weather, cyber attacks or hostile state action. 

This is a breaking story, more to follow. 

Dolly Parton worked ‘up until the day she died’ on projects including an avatar show.

The legendary country singer’s passing at the age of 80 was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, prompting an outpouring of grief worldwide. 

The musician died after ‘a brief battle with cancer‘, and was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Friday, where she died four days later.

She was also dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues prior to her death, but despite her ailing health continued to work as hard as ever in her final months and was exploring new ways to tour her music, including an avatar show.

Inspired by the likes of ABBA, whose hugely successful ABBA Voyage residency has been running in a purpose-built London venue for four years, Dolly and her team were collaborating with companies that create ‘avatar performances’ shortly before her death.

Speaking just four days before her death, Dolly said that she was looking into an avatar show to ensure fans could still have access to live performances of her music, after cancelling her Las Vegas residency last year due to ill health.

‘I hate to cancel anything I’m committed to, but I just couldn’t do the shows at the level I would want them to be, and in the way that I know my fans would expect them to be,’ she explained. 

‘I definitely plan to do special performances in the future, but I won’t tour anymore like I used to. But, you know, we’ve been working with some of those companies who make those avatar performances, and we are in early stages of development on that.’

‘It is just crazy what technology can do these days. So, I’m hopin’ to launch a big show like that right here in Nashville soon. Isn’t that just wild? I’ll be like George Jones — they used to call him ‘No Show Jones’ — I won’t have to show up in person but I still get paid! Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.’

Dolly’s avatar plans came just months after the Osbourne family announced that late rocker Ozzy is to be made into an AI avatar to appear on interactive touchscreens that will be placed in yet-to-be disclosed locations in the US and UK later this year.

Dolly’s longtime manager Danny Nozell said in a statement on Wednesday that the superstar had created ‘a project roadmap’ to help guide her team on her career after her death.

‘Dolly worked up until the day she died. She loved seeing her dreams come to life and loved knowing her work brought people joy,’ Nozell said. 

‘Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come.’ 

‘As the leader of the team responsible for overseeing her legacy, we will ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfill are brought to life,’ Nozell promised fans.

‘Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact. If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it,’ he added.

Her longtime manager Danny Nozell said: ‘Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come’

The various planned projects include the avatar show, a musical documentary, a biopic, a docuseries, a scripted series and an animated series based on her Billy the Kid book franchise.

There are also a number of projects with planned release dates for this year including Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops which will celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week beginning September 13. 

Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel in Nashville has its grand opening on September 29.

Other projects include: A line of Dolly Dolls launching online on September 15; Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum’s grand opening on September 29; Dolly’s Cup of Ambition Coffee launching online September 29 and Dolly on the Holly – an upcoming Christmas-themed project and merchandise range.

Dolly’s Dog Treats are scheduled for early 2027, along with Dolly Bedding & Home Decor debuting in the third quarter of next year. 

In addition, previews for Dolly: A True Original Musical on Broadway begin in early December.

The hit show will then officially open January 19 on what would’ve been Dolly’s 81st birthday following a sold-out run in her Nashville hometown last summer.

The country legend wrote the music and book and served as producer of the rags-to-riches show helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Mandy Moore.

‘Now, this isn’t about a story about sparkle and shine on the outside,’ Dolly said in a video last month.

‘It’s about where I really come from, what I’ve lived, what I’ve lost, what I’ve loved and how I’ve found my way and told it in my own words and through the music that’s been part of me every step of the journey.’

The national treasure added: ‘Now, the musical has some of my big hits plus a lot of brand new songs that I’ve written just for the show. This really is a dream come true…and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!’

Dolly: A True Original Musical will take audiences on a journey through her life, ‘from her barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood’.

Dolly left fans one final gift with an unreleased song which is set to be released on her 100th birthday in 20 years time. The song is kept on a CD in a locked box at Dollywood 

Dolly also left fans one final gift with an unreleased song which is set to be released on her 100th birthday in 20 years time.

The song is kept on a CD in a locked box at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Tennessee. Titled ‘My Place In History,’ Dolly wrote the song back in 2015, the same year she opened the DreamMore Resort.

‘I don’t know if I want to live to be 100 or not. But you never know,’ Dolly wrote in her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics.  ‘I might, and if I do, I’m going to be at that opening.’

‘There’s no telling what music is going to be by then,’ she joked: ‘Hopefully, it will play and the whole thing ain’t rotted.’

The song is contained in a chestnut ‘Dream Box’ displayed in a glass case and also features a piece of wood from the front porch of her childhood home in Sevierville, Tennessee, where she grew up singing with her 11 siblings.

As well as planning decades of future projects, Dolly also planned the announcement of her death.

One of her nephews, Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security for many years, recorded a video at her request to release after her death.

‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ he told fans. 

‘As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.’

In total four earthquakes were recorded in Tenerife

Several earthquakes have been recorded northeast of Tenerife, including one which was strong enough to be felt by residents on the Spanish island.

According to reports from the National Geographic Institute (IGN), several earthquakes were detected on Wednesday, with magnitudes ranging from 2.3 to 3.6 on the Richter scale. The strongest tremor occurred at 6.37pm at a depth of around 34km, Canarian Weekly reports.

It was strong enough to be felt by members of the public in La Laguna. No damage or injuries have been reported.

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In total there were four earthquakes. Two of them occurred at depths of 35 and 36km, registering magnitudes of 3.0 and 2.3 respectively. The fourth earthquake was much shallower, at a depth of 16km, with a magnitude of 2.8 on the Richter scale.

According to the IGN, this particular area does not normally experience a high number of earthquakes. This indicates that the tremors are likely to be associated with tectonic activity rather than volcanic activity.

The Canary Islands do experience regular seismic activity due to their volcanic and geological setting. Many small earthquakes are detected by monitoring equipment but aren’t noticed by residents.

It’s not the first time Tenerife has been rocked by earthquakes this year. In February the island experienced a series of ‘earthquake swarms’ with more than 6,000 minor tremors recorded in 21 days.

For more of today’s top stories, click here.