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I am not normally an envious man, but a photographer friend moved to the US several years ago, and when I see pictures of him flying his plane over vast Californian landscapes or down the Pacific coast, or working on his classic car in the sunshine outside his large garage, I do think ‘yeah, I fancy a bit of that’. The chief designer of the Jeep Wrangler once told me that, in winter in Michigan, he pops his snowmobile on the back of his pick-up truck, unloads it a short drive away from home and then can cruise for hour after hour on hundreds of miles of deserted track. I’m not convinced about the healthcare costs, the risk of being shot or the predilection for plastic cheese with every meal, but there are definitely things about America that I could bond with. Muscle cars with a shedload of power are another of them. Sure, we have modified cars in the UK, perhaps more diversely than ever. There’s the old cliché that ‘finance killed the scene’, but there’s still plenty going on these days. Earlier this month, there was a sold-out Reunion festival for cars of the Max Power generation, Volkswagens more than two decades old are ‘slammed’ as often as not and modifications haven’t really gone away. But it’s not quite as easy or po[CENSORED]r here as it is in the US to buy Detroit muscle and a load of hot-up parts off the shelf, then find a garage in any given town to do the work and leave you with nigh-on 800bhp of V8 to the back wheels. That’s supercar territory for executive saloon prices. But if you’re prepared to look, you will find it. In north London, that might be at Clive Sutton, that longtime purveyor of Americana, and such is its expertise and experience in the sector that it now even does the normal things, like a configurator, finance and a warranty for some of the wildest Ford Mustangs that your money can buy. Such as the one we have here, the new CS850GT. We’ve driven a few of Sutton’s Mustangs before, most recently one with a mere 800bhp. Yeah, I know: that’s barely worth getting up for. This one, then, has even more oomph – 847bhp and 665lb ft – to make what Sutton says is the most powerful Mustang offered in the UK for those who would think Ford’s own Shelby GT500 is a bit limp, with its paltry 760bhp, and a lot too left-hand drive. Highlights of the CS850’s 5.0-litre V8 include a Whipple supercharger, a vast intercooler, a dramatic-sounding active-valve exhaust system (from an even more dramatic-sounding Australian company called XForce) and some new engine management to make it all hang together. Given that Sutton makes it easy for you to tick a few boxes and hand over £115,000, this is one of the more straightforward ways to get a lot of brand-new muscly Americana. But let me introduce you to Gary Handa and his rather different tack.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58854081 China's President Xi Jinping has said that "reunification" with Taiwan "must be fulfilled", as heightened tensions over the island continue. Mr Xi said unification should be achieved peacefully, but warned that the Chinese people had a "glorious tradition" of opposing separatism. In response, Taiwan said its future lay in the hands of its people. Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China views it as a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve unification. Mr Xi's intervention comes after China sent a record number of military jets into Taiwan's air defence zone in recent days. Some analysts say the flights could be seen as a warning to Taiwan's president ahead of the island's national day on Sunday. Taiwan's defence minister has said that tensions with China are at their worst in 40 years. EXPLAINER: What's behind the China-Taiwan divide? But Mr Xi's remarks on Saturday were more conciliatory than his last major intervention on Taiwan in July, where he pledged to "smash" any attempts at formal Taiwanese independence. Speaking at an event marking the 110th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty in 1911, he said unification in a "peaceful manner" was "most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots". But he added: "No one should underestimate the Chinese people's staunch determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity." "The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland must be fulfilled, and will definitely be fulfilled," he said. Mr Xi has said he wants to see unification occur under a "one country, two systems" principle, similar to that employed in Hong Kong, which is part of China but has a degree of autonomy. But Taiwan's presidential office said that public opinion was very clear in rejecting one country, two systems. In a separate statement, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council called on China to abandon its "provocative steps of intrusion, harassment and destruction". Shortly before Mr Xi spoke in Beijing, Taiwan's Premier Su Tseng-chang accused China of "flexing its muscles" and stoking tensions. Presentational grey line China and Taiwan: The basics Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself Presentational grey line Despite the recent heightened tensions, relations between China and Taiwan have not deteriorated to levels last seen in 1996 when China tried to disrupt presidential elections with missile tests and the US dispatched aircraft carriers to the region to dissuade them. And while a number of Western countries have expressed concern at China's displays of military might, US President Joe Biden said Mr Xi had agreed to abide by the "Taiwan agreement". Mr Biden appeared to be referring to Washington's longstanding "One China" policy under which it recognises China rather than Taiwan. However, this agreement also allows Washington to maintain a "robust unofficial" relationship with Taiwan. The US sells arms to Taiwan as part of Washington's Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the US must help Taiwan defend itself. In an interview with the BBC this week, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US will "stand up and speak out" over any actions that may "undermine peace and stability" across the Taiwan Strait.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58847325 The US added a disappointing 194,000 jobs in September, as the Delta variant of coronavirus continued to drag on the economy, official figures show. The unemployment rate fell from 5.2% in August to 4.8%. There were notable job gains in hospitality, retail and transportation, while employment in education declined, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Yet with 7.7 million out of work, unemployment remained considerably higher than it was before the pandemic. The labour market participation rate was also little changed, at 61.6%, showing that many people who left the workforce during the crisis are yet to return. President Joe Biden said: "Today's report is based on a survey that was taken during the week of September 13. Not today, September the 13th - when Covid cases were average more than 150,000 per day. "Since then, we've seen the daily cases fall by more than one-third and they're continuing to trend down, and we're continuing to make progress." US economy strengthens despite Delta, says Fed Can the US tackle soaring meat prices? Used cars and food push US prices higher Economists had expected the economy to add nearer its 2021 monthly average of 500,000 jobs during September. Experts say Americans have been eating out and travelling less due to Delta and, in some cases, delaying their return to the office. The latest figures come as the US Federal Reserve is deciding whether to start withdrawing emergency support for the economy in November. Fed chair Jerome Powell has said "it would take a reasonably good" September employment report to meet the central bank's threshold for reducing its massive bond buying programme. Robert Alster, chief investment officer at Close Brothers Asset Management, said it could now delay the move. "Consumer confidence is low and the leisure, hospitality, and retail sectors continue to struggle. All hopes were pinned on a substantive recovery in hiring close to the 500,000 market consensus to get the economy back on track." But Daniele Antonucci, chief economist and macro strategist at Quintet Private Bank, said the Fed was unlikely to change course because of "one piece of data". Recent reports have shown US manufacturing bouncing back, while personal income and spending rose in August. "Unless additional downside surprises were to materialise, we think a formal tapering signal before year-end is still seen by the Fed committee as the central scenario," he said. Economic growth slows The US economy sharply contracted in 2020 but rebounded strongly in the first half of this year. But the flare-up in coronavirus infections this summer has dragged on the recovery. The Atlanta Federal Reserve estimates that gross domestic product growth slowed to an annualised rate of 1.3% in July-September - down from 6.7% in the second quarter. However, infections are falling and schools have fully reopened which is expected to enable more people, particularly women, to rejoin the labour force. Generous federal government benefits brought in during the crisis have also expired, which along with rising wages is likely to ease a lingering worker shortage. Before the pandemic hit last year, the unemployment rate was 3.5%, equating to 5.7 million out of work.

The Citroën Ami electric quadricycle will go on sale in the UK next year, with 1000 potential customers having placed a reservation just two weeks after the French firm opened its order books. Citroën also confirmed that the number of people who have formally registered their interest in buying an Ami has increased to 14,000. Potential customers were invited to place a £250 refundable deposit via a dedicated website to secure their Ami. Final pricing and specification details have yet to be announced, but reservation numbers are said to be on the rise. Citroën has also shown off personalisation options for the model, allowing customers to add decorative graphics and personalised images to make their car unique. Six Citroën-made graphics will be available when the Ami launches in the UK, including Jungle, Tutti Frutti, British Globetrotter, Camo, Tribe and Trendy. Customers based in France are able to create bespoke designs, such as go-faster flames or images of pets, from their own photos and have the graphics delivered to their home. The decision marks a significant U-turn for Citroën, as the Ami was never intended for sale in Britain. But following the reception from eager buyers and having been championed by the firm’s managing director, Eurig Druce, it has been given the go-ahead. “The response to the Ami has been overwhelming, and the momentum has just built up to a point that we can’t say no,” said Druce. “It’s not just a vehicle with a following, either; the Ami embodies one view we have of future transport, around affordability and usability. Selling it here gets those values across in a way that no marketing campaign ever could.” The Ami will only be sold in left-hand drive, but at 1390mm in width, and with strong all-round visibility due to its 2410mm length, in practice this means the driver sits only around 300mm adrift of a typical car driver. Other modifications required for sale in the UK are limited to changing the charging plug for a Type 2 fitting, plus headlight adjustments and calibration to miles per hour. It is notable not only for its quirky design and tiny footprint, but also its restricted performance, aimed only at city and short-haul use. The Ami is limited to a top speed of 28mph and has a range of just 43 miles. Drivers must have a full licence in the UK, although some European countries allow 14-year-olds at the wheel.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58170809 Ivermectin has been called a Covid "miracle" drug, championed by vaccine opponents, and recommended by health authorities in some countries. But the BBC can reveal there are serious errors in a number of key studies that the drug's promoters rely on. For some years ivermectin has been a vital anti-parasitic medicine used to treat humans and animals. But during the pandemic there has been a clamour from some proponents for using the drug for something else - to fight Covid and prevent deaths. The health authorities in the US, UK and EU have found there is insufficient evidence for using the drug against Covid, but thousands of supporters, many of them anti-vaccine activists, have continued to vigorously campaign for its use. Members of social media groups swap tips on getting hold of the drug, even advocating the versions used for animals. The hype around ivermectin - based on the strength of belief in the research - has driven large numbers of people around the world to use it. Campaigners for the drug point to a number of scientific studies and often claim this evidence is being ignored or covered up. But a review by a group of independent scientists has cast serious doubt on that body of research. The BBC can reveal that more than a third of 26 major trials of the drug for use on Covid have serious errors or signs of potential fraud. None of the rest show convincing evidence of ivermectin's effectiveness. Dr Kyle Sheldrick, one of the group investigating the studies, said they had not found "a single clinical trial" claiming to show that ivermectin prevented Covid deaths that did not contain "either obvious signs of fabrication or errors so critical they invalidate the study". Major problems included: The same patient data being used multiple times for supposedly different people Evidence that selection of patients for test groups was not random Numbers unlikely to occur naturally Percentages calculated incorrectly Local health bodies unaware of the studies The scientists in the group - Dr Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, Dr James Heathers, Dr Nick Brown and Dr Sheldrick - each have a track record of exposing dodgy science. They've been working together remotely on an informal and voluntary basis during the pandemic. They formed a group looking deeper into ivermectin studies after biomedical student Jack Lawrence spotted problems with an influential study from Egypt. Among other issues, it contained patients who turned out to have died before the trial started. It has now been retracted by the journal that published it. The group of independent scientists examined virtually every randomised controlled trial (RCT) on ivermectin and Covid - in theory the highest quality evidence - including all the key studies regularly cited by the drug's promoters. RCTs involve people being randomly chosen to receive either the drug which is being tested or a placebo - a dummy drug with no active properties. The team also looked at six particularly influential observational trials. This type of trial looks at what happens to people who are taking the drug anyway, so can be biased by the types of people who choose to take the treatment. Out of a total of 26 studies examined, there was evidence in five that the data may have been faked - for example they contained virtually impossible numbers or rows of identical patients copied and pasted. In a further five there were major red flags - for example, numbers didn't add up, percentages were calculated incorrectly or local health bodies weren't aware they had taken place. On top of these flawed trials, there were 14 authors of studies who failed to send data back. The independent scientists have flagged this as a possible indicator of fraud. The sample of research papers examined by the independent group also contains some high-quality studies from around the world. But the major problems were all in the studies making big claims for ivermectin - in fact, the bigger the claim in terms of lives saved or infections prevented, the greater the concerns suggesting it might be faked or invalid, the researchers discovered. While it's extremely difficult to rule out human error in these trials, Dr Sheldrick, a medical doctor and researcher at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, believes it is highly likely at least some of them may have been knowingly mani[CENSORED]ted. A recent study in Lebanon was found to have blocks of details of 11 patients that had been copied and pasted repeatedly - suggesting many of the trial's apparent patients didn't really exist. The study's authors told the BBC that the "original set of data was rigged, sabotaged or mistakenly entered in the final file" and that they have submitted a retraction to the scientific journal which published it. Another study from Iran seemed to show that ivermectin prevented people dying from Covid. But the scientists who investigated it found issues. The records of how much iron was in patients' blood contained numbers in a sequence that was unlikely to come up naturally. And the patients given the placebo turned out to have had much lower levels of oxygen in their blood before the trial started than those given ivermectin. So they were already sicker and statistically more likely to die. But this pattern was repeated across a wide range of different measurements. The people with "bad" measurements ended up in the placebo group, the ones with "good" measurements in the ivermectin group. The likelihood of this happening randomly across all these different measurements was vanishingly small, Dr Sheldrick said. Dr Morteza Niaee, who led the Iran study, defended the results and the methodology and disagreed with problems pointed out to him, adding that it was "very normal to see such randomisation" when lots of different factors were considered and not all of them had any bearing on participants' Covid risk. But the Lebanon and Iran trials were excluded from a paper for Cochrane - the international experts in reviewing scientific evidence - because they were "such poorly reported studies". The review concluded there was no evidence of benefit for ivermectin when it comes to Covid. The largest and highest quality ivermectin study published so far is the Together trial at the McMaster University in Canada. It found no benefit for the drug when it comes to Covid. Ivermectin is generally considered a safe drug, though there have been some reports of side effects. Calls over suspected ivermectin poisonings in the US have increased a lot but from a very small base (435 to 1,143 this year) and most of these cases were not serious. Patients have had vomiting, diarrhoea, hallucinations, confusion, drowsiness and tremors. But indirect harm can come from giving people a false sense of security, especially if they choose ivermectin instead of seeking hospital treatment for Covid, or getting vaccinated in the first place. Dr Patricia Garcia, a public health expert in Peru, said at one stage she estimated that 14 out of every 15 patients she saw in hospital had been taking ivermectin and by the time they came in they were "really, really sick". Large pro-ivermectin Facebook groups have turned into forums for people to find advice on where to buy it, including preparations meant for animals. Some groups regularly contain posts about conspiracy theories of ivermectin cover-ups, as well as pushing anti-vaccine sentiment or encouraging patients to leave hospital if they aren't getting the drug. The groups often provide a gateway to more fringe communities on the encrypted app Telegram. These channels have co-ordinated harassment of doctors who fail to prescribe ivermectin and abuse has been aimed at scientists. Prof Andrew Hill, from the University of Liverpool, wrote an influential positive review of ivermectin, originally saying the world should "get prepared, get supplies, get ready to approve [the drug]". Now he says the studies don't stand up to scrutiny - but after he changed his view, based on new evidence emerging, he received vicious abuse. A small number of qualified doctors have had an exaggerated influence on the ivermectin debate. Noted proponent Dr Pierre Kory's views have not changed despite the major questions over the trials. He criticised "superficial interpretations of emerging trials data". Dr Tess Lawrie - a medical doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth - founded the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (Bird) Group. She has called for a pause to the Covid-19 vaccination programme and has made unsubstantiated claims implying the Covid vaccine had led to a large number of deaths based on a common misreading of safety data. When asked during an online panel what evidence might persuade her ivermectin didn't work she replied: "Ivermectin works. There's nothing that will persuade me." She told the BBC: "The only issues with the evidence base are the relentless efforts to undermine it." Around the world it was originally not opposition to vaccines but a lack of them that led people to ivermectin. The drug has at various points been approved, recommended or prescribed for Covid in India, South Africa, Peru and much of the rest of Latin America, as well as in Slovakia. Health authorities in Peru and India have stopped recommending ivermectin in treatment guidelines. In February, Merck - one of the companies that makes the drug - said there was "no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19". In South Africa, the drug has become a battleground - doctors point out the lack of evidence but many patients desperately want access as the vaccine rollout has been patchy and problematic. One GP in the country described a relative, a registered nurse, who didn't book a coronavirus vaccine she was eligible for and then caught the virus. "When she started getting worse, instead of getting proper assessment and treatment, she treated herself with ivermectin," she said. "Instead of consulting a doctor, she continued with the ivermectin and got home oxygen. By the time I heard how low her oxygen saturation levels were (66%), I begged her daughter to take her to casualty. "At first they were reluctant, but I convinced them to go. She passed away a few hours later."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-58823665 The legal requirement for social distancing in bars and restaurants is to be removed. Nightclubs are also to be allowed to reopen, meaning legal restrictions on dancing in venues will be scrapped. Restrictions will be lifted from 31 October. A number of mitigations have been agreed and it is thought businesses will be asked to check for vaccine certificates, but this will not be a legal requirement. Ministers have also agreed to retain the mandatory wearing of face coverings in certain settings. It is understood ministers were advised that moving legal regulations on face coverings into guidance would lead to a 30% decline in their use. The industry had argued that social distancing requirements were damaging trade. The new rules mean people will be able to move around pubs and restaurants and to eat and drink while standing up. First Minister Paul Givan welcomed the easing of restrictions, particularly for the the hospitality sector, which he said had been hit hard during the pandemic. "I'm pleased that at the end of this month they will be able to operate in a much more sustainable and viable way," he said. Mr Givan said the sector benefitted from "a high level of adherence" to coronavirus restrictions, adding that he believed this would continue. Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was pleased progress had been made at Thursday's executive meeting, but that people should remain cautious. "We're in for an uncertain period ahead and we have to work our way through that as best we can," she said. Ms O'Neill said continuing increasing vaccination rates would also be a "crucially important" part of the executive's winter planning. 'Fantastic news' Under existing rules, social distancing of at least 1m (3ft) remains a legal requirement in pubs, bars and restaurants in Northern Ireland. From Thursday 14 October the restrictions on the number of people allowed to meet inside a home is to be increased from 15 from four households to 30 from an unlimited number of households. From that date, people attending performances at indoor venues will not have to be seated during the performance. The executive is now moving to unlock the final stage of pandemic recovery. Nightclubs will finally get to reopen on Halloween and social distancing - something we've lived with as the norm for the past 18 months - will be scrapped. It's perhaps no surprise given how that's already the case in Great Britain and the rules south of the Irish border will end this month too. But not everything is changing - face coverings will remain - a sign that for some, caution is still needed with Covid. The executive has also warned that if things begin to go in the wrong direction again, vaccine passports could then be deployed. The Department of Health will now progress work on the system after agreement with Executive Office officials - but the onus on hospitality businesses will be to prove that a mandatory scheme isn't needed. John Leighton, owner of Bennigan's Bar, Londonderry, said easing restrictions for hospitality was fantastic news, which the sector "had been waiting on for some time". He said it had been a challenging and stressful time for the sector and that the timing to ease restrictions on 31 October was particularly good for Derry's annual Halloween festival. "It means we can get back to enjoying ourselves and not having so many things to think about," he said. "We can get back to a bit more normality." Janice Gault from the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation said the restrictions which are being removed had presented "significant challenges" for businesses which were trying to become fully operational again. She said: "The industry has traded well to date and our primary focus remains the health and well-being of our staff and customers. "Winter trade, in a viable manner within a sustainable framework and without further lockdown, is our aim." In September, the executive agreed to end social distancing restrictions for shops, theatres and a number of other indoor settings. They asked some sectors to put in place mitigations including proof of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test. But this is advice and is not legally enforceable. Last week, Health Minister Robin Swann warned that a delay by the executive in agreeing a vaccine passport policy had limited options for easing more restrictions. But it is understood that there is still no firm proposal from the executive office or Department of Health for such a scheme to go ahead. Ministers also discussed a bid from Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey for £55m in funding to mitigate the end of a £20 weekly uplift for people claiming universal credit. Stormont received an extra £180m from the Treasury in September and that money has yet to be distributed. The expectation was that most if not all of that money would go on health spending. Ms O'Neill said the executive was "united with one voice in calling that [the end of the uplift] out for what it is - cruel and heartless". She said the removal of the uplift was "taking money from the hands of the people who need it most". Mr Givan said "now is not the time" to be removing the uplift. He urged Westminster to "take the right decision and reinstate this funding". However neither Mr Givan nor Ms O'Neill said whether the executive would write to the UK government again to protest against the end of the uplift.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58801462 Scientists believe they can explain why some people who catch Covid develop chilblain-like lesions on their toes and even fingers. Covid toe appears to be a side effect of the body switching into attack mode to fight off the virus. The researchers say they have pinpointed the parts of the immune system that appear to be involved. The findings, in the British Journal of Dermatology, may help with treatments to ease the symptoms. What is Covid toe? It can happen at any age, but affects children and teenagers more commonly. For some it is painless, but the rash can be extremely sore and itchy, with tender blisters and swelling. Sofia, who is 13 and from Clackmannanshire in Scotland, was barely able to walk or wear shoes when she developed Covid toe earlier this year. Over the summer, she told BBC Scotland's The Nine how she relied on a wheelchair for longer walks. Covid toes left me unable to wear shoes Covid toe and other rashes puzzle doctors The affected skin - usually the toes, but sometimes the fingers - can look red or purple. Some people develop painful raised bumps or areas of rough skin. There can also be pus. Some have it for months, others for weeks. Often, they will have none of the classic Covid symptoms, such as the persistent cough, fever and loss or change in smell or taste. Why does it happen? These latest study findings, based on blood and skin tests, suggest two parts of the immune system may be at play. Both involve mechanisms the body uses to fight coronavirus. One is an antiviral protein called type 1 interferon, and the other is a type of antibody that mistakenly attacks the person's own cells and tissues, not just the invading virus. Cells lining small blood vessels supplying the affected areas are also involved, say the investigators from the University of Paris, France. The researchers studied 50 people with suspected Covid toe in the spring of 2020, and 13 others with similar chilblains lesions that were not linked to Covid infections, because they occurred long before the pandemic began. They hope the finds will help patients and doctors better understand the condition. UK podiatrist Dr Ivan Bristow said, for most - like the regular chilblains typically seen during cold spells and in people who have problems with circulation - the lesions usually go away on their own. But some may need treatment with creams and other drugs. "The confirmation of the cause will help to develop new treatments to manage it more effectively," he said. Dr Veronique Bataille, a consultant dermatologist and spokeswoman for the British Skin Foundation, said Covid toe was seen very frequently during the early phase of the pandemic, but has been less common in the current Delta variant wave. That might be down to more people being vaccinated or having some protection against Covid from past infections. "Presentations after vaccination are much rarer," she said. Covid-related skin problems can appear quite a while after the acute infection and in people who have no other symptoms, so the link with the virus is sometimes not made, she said. The British Association of Dermatologists has a list of skin conditions that might be linked to Covid.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-58814611 A member of police staff has been issued with a gross misconduct notice over their handling of Plymouth gunman Jake Davison's application for a shotgun certificate. Davison shot and killed five people in Keyham, Plymouth, on 12 August. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the certificate was returned to Davison weeks before the killings. A second person - a police officer - has received a misconduct notice. The misconduct notice relates to the handling of two assaults in 2020 admitted by Davison. Maxine Davison, 51, Stephen Washington, 59, Kate Shepherd, 66, Lee Martyn, 43 and three-year-old Sophie Martyn, were all killed by Davison before he turned the gun on himself. The IOPC is investigating how the apprentice crane operator was originally granted a shotgun certificate in 2017 by Devon and Cornwall Police. The watchdog is also examining how Davison was handed back the weapon and certificate weeks before the shooting - having been seized after admitting the two assaults on youths in a park in September 2020. Davison was placed on a voluntary intervention programme following the assaults - an alternative to being charged or cautioned. His shotgun and licence were not seized for another three months until concerns were raised directly with the police by a member of staff working on the intervention programme. In July, Davison was given back his shotgun, which he used for clay pigeon shooting, and his certificate. The IOPC said it was investigating whether the police officer "shared information appropriately with the force Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department" regarding the violent offences, and whether they "took appropriate steps to seize the shotgun certificate, shotgun, and ammunition". The watchdog said "the serving of such notices advises individuals that their conduct is subject to investigation, but does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow". It added that it hoped to complete its investigation into Devon and Cornwall Police's decision-making in relation to Davison's possession of a shotgun and shotgun certificate, by the end of the year. David Ford, IOPC regional director, said his organisation was reviewing "a substantial amount of information gathered from Devon and Cornwall Police and elsewhere". He said: "Based on the evidence gathered so far, we have now served disciplinary notices on two individuals within the force to advise them their conduct is subject to investigation." Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Jim Nye said the force was "fully cooperating" with the investigation. He said: "We acknowledge that the IOPC has served a police officer with a misconduct notice and a staff member with a gross misconduct notice, in relation to their involvement with Jake Davison. "The force is supporting our staff through this process."

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Video title: AWW New Funny Videos 2021 ● People doing funny and stupid things Part 24 Content creator ( Youtuber ) : Vines best fun Official YT video:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58788548 The first is Aryan Khan, the 23-year-old son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was arrested on early Sunday morning for allegedly doing recreational drugs at a party. The second is Ashish Mishra, the son of India's junior home minister, who is accused of ordering his driver to plough his vehicle into a group of protesting farmers, resulting in deaths and injuries. Both Khan and Mishra have denied the allegations against them, and the two cases are not linked in any way. But the manner in which the two young men have been treated by law enforcement, and the huge media attention paid to Khan's case, has led some to question the agenda of some of the press, and accuse certain stations of trying to "tarnish Bollywood". The 'drug bust' Khan was taken off a cruise ship that was on its way from Mumbai - the city where his family live - to the tourist paradise of Goa. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which arrested him along with several others, said they were detained under laws "related to possession, consumption and sale of illegal substances". The 23-year-old was remanded into custody until 7 October. Analysts said, based on Khan's arrest papers, that the drug yield was likely so small that there was really no reason to keep him in custody. His lawyer Satish Manshinde strongly denied the accusations. He told the magistrate at the bail hearing on Sunday that Khan had been "screened twice when he boarded the cruise" and that "no contraband had been found on him" and there was "no evidence that he had consumed any drugs". Protests, runaway car and deaths The second incident involved Ashish Mishra, son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministerial colleague Ajay Mishra, after a car from their motorcade allegedly ploughed into a group of protesting farmers in Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Altogether, eight people were killed. Farm unions said two protesters died when they were run over, two others who were injured later succumbed in the hospital, and three BJP workers and the driver were beaten to death by a mob of protesters. Initial reports quoted Ashish Mishra as saying he had run through the farms and fields to escape being lynched by protesters. He later said he was not in the car at the time of the incident - a claim his father backed. It was only after protests by opposition parties and farmers' unions that the police finally opened an investigation on Monday morning and the father and the son were charged. "The reluctance and the delay by the police in lodging the complaint is inexcusable," said Vikram Singh, a former top police official from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. "The incident in Lakhimpur is much more grave as it involves loss of life, but Khan's arrest has hogged the limelight," he said. The media coverage Throughout Sunday, some TV channels feasted on Khan family's ordeal. He was photographed and filmed being escorted by the police in and out of buildings, and his "arrest memo" was shown on TV screens and shared widely on WhatsApp. Khan's arrest was described by one anchor as a "major bust of a rave party", while another demanded that the "nexus between Bollywood and drugs" be ended. Guests on these channels made unsubstantiated claims about the star son and criticised the actor and his wife for poor parenting. On Twitter, Aryan Khan's name trended along with #BollywoodDruggies and #BollyDruggiesShamingNation. But more than 24 hours after the incident in Lakhimpur, the Mishras are yet to be called to the police station for questioning, and the coverage on TV channels has been much more muted. Celebrity anchors have refrained from demanding their arrest, some have, in fact, blamed the violence on farmers (who have been protesting for a year in many parts of north India against three new laws). On Twitter, the only hashtag that trended for hours on Monday morning was the one exhorting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to "beat the farmers and protesters with sticks".

The impact of progressive changes made to CO2-based benefit-in-kind taxation and to corporation tax in the UK since 2019 has given company car drivers a pretty stark choice: either opt out of your employer's fleet scheme and into the car market first hand, or stay in and switch to a plug-in hybrid car. The legacy of those changes can already be seen in the growing po[CENSORED]rity of 'PHEV' executive cars. As those cars attract a greater following, so the number of models competing grows. There are now many more electrified executive cars than we can list in a top ten chart, ranging from sub-£40,000 affordable options to more expensive pseudo-performance models. For all of them, annual benefit-in-kind tax liability can be roughly worked out in same way: by multiplying the car's 'P11d' showroom price by its 'BIK' tax bracket, and then by your own income tax rate. A plug-in hybrid's benefit-in-kind classification, meanwhile, is defined in part by its CO2 emissions and in part by its electric-only range. So right now, for the 2021-22 tax year, the most tax-efficient cars in this list could qualify for 'BIK' at just seven per cent of their showroom value; and the least efficient, depending on individual specification, could cost as much as 14 per cent (to a typical company car driver, the difference between the two could be worth £100-a-month). Most conventionally powered executive cars, by contrast, would now qualify for BIK company car tax at 30 per cent or more As many company car drivers will have already discovered to their cost, if you want to continue paying anything like the same benefit-in-kind tax on a company car in 2021 as you have in past, the only way to do it – if you haven’t already – is to move out of a petrol or diesel car and into a PHEV. These are the cars you should be considering for that big move. 1. Mercedes C300e Having been in a period of relative stability for eighteen months or so, the plug-in hybrid executive car segment is about to go into another phase of rapid change, with fresh metal waiting in the wings to bring big improvements in real-world electric range to the class. And the first car to have hit the ground ready to lead the change is the latest 'W206'-generation Mercedes C-Class, which launches in the UK in PHEV later this year. Packing a drive battery twice the size of many of its rivals, the new C300e brings with it a claimed WLTP electric range of some 62 miles. That's enough not only to make the car particularly tax-efficient, but also to make a big difference to the saving the car could deliver for drivers who pay for their own fuel. DC rapid charging will be available as an option, at speeds of up to 55kW. The C300e's powerplant is comprised of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 127bhp electric motor, and makes 308bhp in all, in a car that can crack 62mph from rest in just 6.1sec. The car will be available in both saloon and estate bodystyles with no significant compromise to either passenger or boot space.

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