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Driven to suicide by weed: Three families share how highly-potent weed tore their lives apart

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Marijuana use has exploded across the US since a wave of legalizations kicked off a decade ago, but some parents believe the super-strength strains of today are driving children to suicide.

Figures show found the number of Americans who have marijuana in their system when they try to kill themselves is growing at an alarming 17 percent per year – and the trend is being fueled by a rise in young people.

Sonia Jimenez, from Houston, Texas, lost her son Josh, 22, to suicide in December 2021, which she believes was caused by chronic cannabis use. 

Josh started smoking and vaping the drug in 9th grade and soon formed a habit that resulted in three bouts of hospital stays for psychosis. He began seeing ‘demonic beings’ and was convinced his friends were trying to kill him.

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On average, the marijuana of today contains three times as much THC – the psychoactive compound in weed that gets users and high and causes feelings of paranoia – as the strains enjoyed 25 years ago.

And it’s easier to get than ever. You can’t walk a single block in major cities like New York, LA and Denver anymore without passing a smoke shop selling a dizzying array of highly concentrated edibles and vapes containing THC.

Joshua Jimenez died by suicide in December 2021 at the age of 22. Josh had been using marijuana since age 14 and was hospitalized three times for psychosis linked to weed

Joshua Jimenez died by suicide in December 2021 at the age of 22. Josh had been using marijuana since age 14 and was hospitalized three times for psychosis linked to weed

Joshua Jimenez died by suicide in December 2021 at the age of 22. Josh had been using marijuana since age 14 and was hospitalized three times for psychosis linked to weed

The link between recreational marijuana use and alcohol consumption was most significant among younger adults 18 to 24, though the association between the two is likely not a product of college partying.

The link between recreational marijuana use and alcohol consumption was most significant among younger adults 18 to 24, though the association between the two is likely not a product of college partying.

The link between recreational marijuana use and alcohol consumption was most significant among younger adults 18 to 24, though the association between the two is likely not a product of college partying.

A leaked document made public in January features research from the National Institutes of Health on the potency of cannabis samples seized by state and federal law enforcement from 1995 and 2021.

A leaked document made public in January features research from the National Institutes of Health on the potency of cannabis samples seized by state and federal law enforcement from 1995 and 2021.

A leaked document made public in January features research from the National Institutes of Health on the potency of cannabis samples seized by state and federal law enforcement from 1995 and 2021.

Weed vapes claim to contain as much as 99 percent THC, while traditional smokable flower, which was about four percent THC in 1995, often tops 25 percent in stores today.

And many of the products are directly aimed at children and young people, with colorfully packaged and fruity-flavored vape pens and edibles designed to look like popular candies, such as ‘Stoney Patch Kids’. 

Dr Lorraine Collins, a psychologist who specialized in substance use at University at Buffalo told DailyMail.com the wave of legalization across the US gives the false illusion that marijuana is a harmless substance without a risk of addiction.

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But many families know that to be false. Ms Jimenez told DailyMail.com that her family had some history of mental illness and ADHD, but Josh did not exhibit signs of either until around the 9th grade when he started smoking marijuana. 

After he began using weed, Josh’s grades started slipping. He also became extremely paranoid, saying that his friends had been trying to kill him, adding that he was seeing ‘some really scary stuff like dark, almost like demonic beings,’ according to his sister.

At one point, he fell asleep behind the wheel, going about 100 miles per hour, and was in a severe car crash. Another time, he fell asleep with a lit joint that burned down the friend’s house he was staying in. 

Josh’s sister Alex said he had conned money out of family members before running away in the night to California. When he ran out of money Josh’s family paid for a bus to carry him back to Texas. But he never made it home. Josh got off the bus in Pecos, Texas, and jumped in front of a train. 

His family blame the extremely potent strains of cannabis he was smoking. THC, particularly in high doses, has been associated with the development of different psychiatric disorders from depression to schizophrenia and psychosis. 

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A 2019 report published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry suggested that smoking high-potency marijuana every day could increase the chances of developing psychosis by nearly five times compared to never-users.

Kevin Bright died in 2018 after taking his own life at age 29. Kevin began smoking at the age of 15 and suffered several relapses over the years

Kevin Bright died in 2018 after taking his own life at age 29. Kevin began smoking at the age of 15 and suffered several relapses over the years

Kevin Bright died in 2018 after taking his own life at age 29. Kevin began smoking at the age of 15 and suffered several relapses over the years

David Childs was thrust into a public school mid-semester after being expelled from his small private school for buying drugs from an older student. The sudden change made his mental health worse, his father now acknowledges

David Childs was thrust into a public school mid-semester after being expelled from his small private school for buying drugs from an older student. The sudden change made his mental health worse, his father now acknowledges

David Childs was thrust into a public school mid-semester after being expelled from his small private school for buying drugs from an older student. The sudden change made his mental health worse, his father now acknowledges

Suicide rates remained around seven per 100,000 people between ages 10 and 24 from 2000 to 2007, and have climbed by 57 percent since, according to CDC data

Suicide rates remained around seven per 100,000 people between ages 10 and 24 from 2000 to 2007, and have climbed by 57 percent since, according to CDC data

Suicide rates remained around seven per 100,000 people between ages 10 and 24 from 2000 to 2007, and have climbed by 57 percent since, according to CDC data

People with certain genetic inclinations toward different psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, can also see their negative symptoms become more pronounced and disruptive.

Meanwhile, on the west coast, Bart Bright from Northern California said his son Kevin, had been self-medicating with marijuana to deal with his depression and anxiety. 

Kevin, who began smoking weed at 15, suffered a psychotic break at 18 – his first of several, according to his father – before killing himself at the age of 29.

Mr Bright told DailyMail.com that during the first episode, he saw his son sitting in their backyard, which alone was unusual. Then, he said Kevin began banging himself against the sliding glass door at the back of the house.

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Kevin entered different rehabs over the years and would get clean before eventually relapsing and starting back at one. After several relapses, Kevin took his own life in 2018 when he was 29. 

During the same year as Kevin’s death, Texas native David Childs took his own life at the age of 19 after five years of continuous cannabis use.

When he was in 9th grade, David was expelled from his private school when he was caught buying a joint from an older student on the football team.

This led him to a large public school in the middle of the semester, a difficult situation for any teenager. 

High school was a challenge for David, a devout Christian, who already had a diagnosis of ADHD. His drug use and low self-esteem was a deadly combination.

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David’s father, Dr James Childs, told DailyMail.com: ‘He started spending more time with a bad influence friend who also turned him on to some demonic heavy metal music.’

His parents enrolled David in weekly counseling sessions but they did not seem to help. His parents remarked upon the fact that their son had ‘lost his smile’ as well as all motivation to do well in school or anywhere else.

David got worse after high school graduation, holing up in his room and spending his hard-earned money from a plumbing job to buy more weed. 

On Thanksgiving 2018, David slept for most of the day before getting up and stabbing himself in the right palm. He was admitted to a mental health facility where he was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with psychosis.

After his fourth day in an outpatient mental health program, David went home and smoked cannabis in the woods behind his house. When he re-entered the house, he picked up a handgun from the family safe and shot himself in the head.

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The above shows cannabis use across American states. Twenty-one states and DC have legalized it for recreational use in addition to medicinal use, while nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes.

The above shows cannabis use across American states. Twenty-one states and DC have legalized it for recreational use in addition to medicinal use, while nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes.

The above shows cannabis use across American states. Some 19 have legalized it for recreational use, while nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes

Cannabis is relatively easy to purchase in New York City, as many stores sell the products without proper permission from the government

Cannabis is relatively easy to purchase in New York City, as many stores sell the products without proper permission from the government

Cannabis is relatively easy to purchase in New York City, as many stores sell the products without proper permission from the government 

While marijuana is legal for recreational use in New York, unlicensed shops selling highly-potent THC vapes are cropping up everywhere. But law enforcement is straining to keep up

While marijuana is legal for recreational use in New York, unlicensed shops selling highly-potent THC vapes are cropping up everywhere. But law enforcement is straining to keep up

While marijuana is legal for recreational use in New York, unlicensed shops selling highly-potent THC vapes are cropping up everywhere. But law enforcement is straining to keep up

Weed’s long-term effects on mental health is still being studied, but a series of new studies over the past few years have suggested that frequent users are up to five times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to non-users, according to data collected by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 

Just three percent of people studied who did not smoke cannabis had suicidal thoughts, but this rose to 14 percent for those with a ‘cannabis use disorder’ — a near five-fold increase. 

Just because experts have found a correlation between suicides caused by psychosis and cannabis does not mean that cannabis causes suicide. 

But as legalized weed has become more widespread in the past decade, suicide rates across the board have been increasing. 

Federal data shows the overall suicide rate increased 30% between 2000 and 2020. The rate had increased from 10.4 per 100,000 persons in 2000 to a peak of 14.2 in 2018, followed by a slight five percent decline between 2018 and 2020 to 13.5.

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The first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use were Colorado and Washington in 2012. Several states had already legalized it for medical use, though, including California in 1996, Oregon in 1998, and Maine in 1999.

Parents of the young victims believed that their children would have fit the mold for cannabis use disorder (CUD) a fairly recent diagnosis that many doctors may not recognize. 

CUD is defined as the consistent use of cannabis despite the negative effects it has on one’s health and wellbeing. 

An estimated 30 percent of marijuana users may have some degree of dependence or CUD. The problem is likely an underestimate because many people will not disclose the extent of their drug use due to stigma.

What are the health risks of marijuana?

About 48million Americans smoke cannabis at least once a year, official estimates suggest.

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Marijuana is the third-most commonly used drug in the US behind alcohol and tobacco. 

This figure is rising as states continue to legalize the drug.

21 US states have legalized the drug for recreational use for adults. 

But evidence is also growing over its health risks, particularly for young adults.

Researchers suggest it has the following negative impacts:

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  • Brain damage: It can cause a permanent loss of IQ because it hinders brain development and could even have lasting cognition effects in young adults;
  • Mental health: It has been linked to increased rates of suicide as well as psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, although it is unclear if marijuana is the cause;
  • Daily life: Surveys link it to more problems in careers and maintaining healthy relationships;
  • Driving: Those who drive under the influence have slower reactions and less coordination, research shows.

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

The changing legal landscape of the drug, including lax limitations on high-potency products sold in stores, increases the odds that a person will become addicted.

Thirty-eight states states have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes while 21 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of cannabis in adults, a major shift in the legal landscape that has produced an explosion of marijuana retail shops. 

A ‘wild west’ landscape of regulations, which vary greatly between states, has allowed the illegal market to prosper and for bad actors to infuse vapes with harmful chemicals such as fentanyl and spice that turbocharge the high as well as genetically alter crops so as to grow ultra strong strains. 

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Dr Collins said: ‘It’s not clear to me that what these teenagers are buying is just cannabis. I mean, somebody needs to test these products because as we know drug marketers are cutting cannabis with whatever they can get their hands on. It’s not unusual for fentanyl, for example, to be in the mix.

‘Unfortunately, teenagers, actually many cannabis consumers are naive about what they’re buying and have no way of verifying what they’re buying.’

The perceived positive effects of weed, such as the feelings of euphoria and relaxation, can reinforce the regular use of the drug, potentially disrupting other facets of a person’s life.

In 2016, researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the government-run National Institutes of Health, found that 2.5 percent of adults — nearly 6 million people — experienced marijuana use disorder in the past year.

In the cases of Josh, David, and Kevin, the downward spirals happened gradually and then suddenly. 

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Josh’s mother Sonia said: ‘[Cannabis] will, without a doubt, trigger psychosis and you will be stuck in this horror film, in and out of trying to figure out what to do, because it’s so different from alcohol; alcohol, you get drunk. And then you come back.’

The parents work with Every Brain Matters, an advocacy organization dedicated to educating people about the dangers that come with frequent cannabis use and how a changing legal landscape is exacerbating the problem. 

 Despite horror stories from parents who have had to say goodbye to their children too soon, marijuana has shown anecdotal evidence of helping people with mental disturbances, from mild anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder.

A 2018 report published in the Journal of Affective Disorders by researchers in Washington state found that cannabis users saw a 50 percent decline in their depression symptoms and a 58 percent decline in anxiety and stress levels after just a couple of puffs.

Repeated use of the drug does not necessarily mean those symptoms will disappear entirely in the long term. Some users who consume marijuana regularly will experience worsening symptoms.

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Another, much smaller study into the drug’s stress-relieving powers involving 42 people was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2017. Researchers from Chicago found that people who took 7.5mg of THC significantly reduced people’s emotional stress compared to a placebo dose.

But people who consumed 12.5mg saw their stress levels worsen further, suggesting that while low amounts of the drug can provide some relief, those benefits disappear when a person takes more.

If you or a loved one needs help, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. 

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Athens residents choking in clouds of Sahara dust amid unseasonably warm weather

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Athenians are choking in clouds of thick dust blown in from the Sahara along with unseasonably warm weather, weather forecasters and doctors warned on Thursday.

Issued on: Modified:

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The haze covering the Greek capital comes from southerly winds that blow dust from North Africa across the eastern Mediterranean from March to April, the head of the Greek meteorological service Theodoros Kolydas said on X, formerly Twitter.

“A typical sandstorm with a range of 200 kilometres (about 120 miles) carries 20 to 30 million tonnes of dust and sometimes as much as 100 million,” he wrote.

The city regularly experiences such sandstorms but the current one is accompanied by unusually high spring temperatures, heightening the choking effect.

Wednesday saw the highest March temperature in central Athens since 2009 — 25.3 degrees Celsius (77.5 Fahrenheit).

Further south on the island of Crete, the temperature reached 32 Celsius.

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The Greek Pulmonologists’ Union advised asthma sufferers and other vulnerable people to avoid “unnecessary movements and outdoor sports during the times of highest dust concentration”.

It warned that the dust can be mixed with pollen, bacteria and fungi, “a highly toxic mixture that is dangerous for the human body, particularly the respiratory system”.

Scientists say climate change caused by human burning of fossil fuels is raising the risk of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and droughts.

The weather service said the dust clouds were expected to dissipate from Friday.

(AFP)

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The real-life Jetsons! Futuristic European flying ‘AirCar’ that can transform from a road vehicle into a plane in under three minutes is sold to China – and flying taxis could take to British skies by 2028

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From Harry Potter to The Jetsons, flying cars have been staple features of science fiction blockbusters for years. 

But they’re slowly but surely becoming a reality, with several firms vying to be the first to launch a commercially available vehicle. 

One of those firms is KleinVision, the Slovakia-based developer of AirCar – the ‘world’s first certified flying car’ which can transform from a road vehicle into a plane in under three minutes. 

While the car is already certified to fly in Slovakia, the technology behind it has now been sold to a Chinese company, which KleinVision claims will ‘accelerate progress towards mass-market flying car manufacturing.’

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The news comes shortly after the UK government announced that flying taxis will be whizzing around British skies by 2028. 

Flying cars are slowly but surely becoming a reality, with several firms vying to be the first to launch a commercially available vehicle. One of those firms is KleinVision, the Slovakia-based developer of AirCar

Flying cars are slowly but surely becoming a reality, with several firms vying to be the first to launch a commercially available vehicle. One of those firms is KleinVision, the Slovakia-based developer of AirCar

Flying cars are slowly but surely becoming a reality, with several firms vying to be the first to launch a commercially available vehicle. One of those firms is KleinVision, the Slovakia-based developer of AirCar

Flying AirCar specs

Engine: Prototype 1 has a 160 horsepower fixed-propeller engine but Prototype 2 will be equipped with a 300 horsepower engine.

Top speed: 300km/h (186mph)

Range: 1,000km (621 miles)

Price: Not yet revealed

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AirCar is a dual-mode craft, which can reach heights of more than 8,000ft and speeds of over 100mph.

It was certified to fly in Slovakia back in 2022 after completing more than 200 take-offs and landings during 70 hours of rigorous flight testing to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.  

Now, the technology has been sold to Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company for an undisclosed amount.   

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This licensing agreement grants the Chinese company exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute flying cars using KleinVision’s technology within a ‘specific’ – yet undisclosed – geographical region. 

‘This partnership represents a significant step in our mission to expand global access to revolutionary mobility solutions and drive progress in the industry,’ said Anton Zajac, co-founder at KleinVision.

Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company is based in Cangzhou, and has already built its own airport and flight school. 

AirCar is a dual-mode craft, and can reach heights of more than 8,000ft and speeds over 100mph

AirCar is a dual-mode craft, and can reach heights of more than 8,000ft and speeds over 100mph

AirCar is a dual-mode craft, and can reach heights of more than 8,000ft and speeds over 100mph 

It was certified to fly in Slovakia back in 2022 after completing more than 200 take-offs and landings during 70 hours of rigorous flight testing to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards

It was certified to fly in Slovakia back in 2022 after completing more than 200 take-offs and landings during 70 hours of rigorous flight testing to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards

It was certified to fly in Slovakia back in 2022 after completing more than 200 take-offs and landings during 70 hours of rigorous flight testing to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards 

And the ability to use KleinVision’s technology could help the company to get ahead of its rivals. 

According to Morgan Stanley, the global market for flying cars is expected to hit $1 trillion in 2040, before jumping to a whopping $9 trillion in 2050. 

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China is on track to hold 23 per cent of the market by 2050 – second only to the US’s 27 per cent share. 

Speaking to Nikkei, Guo Liang, CEO of Chinese flying car developer Aerofucia, claimed that China’s flying car revolution will ‘surpass the electrification of cars’. 

‘The full-fledged commercialization of flying cars in China will begin in either 2025 or 2026,’ Guo said. 

While the pricing for flying cars remains unclear, Guo claims that they will quickly become more affordable than helicopters. 

‘As a new mode of low-altitude transportation, [flying cars] fares will be a third or a fifth of helicopters initially,’ said Guo. 

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‘It might be a little expensive for average people, but the costs will continue to go down.’

While the pricing for flying cars remains unclear, Guo claims that they will quickly become more affordable than helicopters

While the pricing for flying cars remains unclear, Guo claims that they will quickly become more affordable than helicopters

While the pricing for flying cars remains unclear, Guo claims that they will quickly become more affordable than helicopters

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Ex-Brexit Party MP candidate faces backlash for wrongly claiming Japan BANNED mRNA Covid vaccines because they were behind ‘soaring deaths’

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An ex-Brexit Party candidate today faced backlash for wrongly claiming Japan has banned Covid vaccines. 

Jim Ferguson, who narrowly missed out on becoming an MP in the 2019 General Election, said injections made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna were linked to ‘soaring deaths’. 

His post, linking to an article reporting on the bogus claim, was viewed millions of times. 

Shamed MP Andrew Bridgen, who was kicked out of the Tory party for comparing the vaccine roll-out to the Holocaust, shared a similar post that mentioned Japan’s non-existent ban. 

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Japan has never outlawed mRNA Covid vaccines, although the claims are widely circulating on social media among anti-vaxx groups who believe that the jabs are behind a sudden wave of deaths in the UK and beyond.

Jim Ferguson (pictured), who narrowly missed out on becoming an MP in the 2019 General Election, said injections made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna were linked to 'soaring deaths'

Jim Ferguson (pictured), who narrowly missed out on becoming an MP in the 2019 General Election, said injections made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna were linked to 'soaring deaths'

Jim Ferguson (pictured), who narrowly missed out on becoming an MP in the 2019 General Election, said injections made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna were linked to ‘soaring deaths’

In Mr Ferguson's original post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the former Barnsley East candidate said: 'Japan has just banned Covid mRNA shots for public use and called on other nations to follow suit after an official government study tied the injections to the nation¿s soaring sudden deaths.' Pictured, Mr Ferguson (second right) in May 2019

In Mr Ferguson's original post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the former Barnsley East candidate said: 'Japan has just banned Covid mRNA shots for public use and called on other nations to follow suit after an official government study tied the injections to the nation¿s soaring sudden deaths.' Pictured, Mr Ferguson (second right) in May 2019

In Mr Ferguson’s original post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the former Barnsley East candidate said: ‘Japan has just banned Covid mRNA shots for public use and called on other nations to follow suit after an official government study tied the injections to the nation’s soaring sudden deaths.’ Pictured, Mr Ferguson (second right) in May 2019

Leading doctors, experts and charities have repeatedly insisted the jabs are safe.

They have been credited with saving 20million lives in their first year of deployment alone, as well as ending the series of Covid lockdowns that crippled economies and saw families separated. 

However, like any medical product, jabs have a range of side effects that vary in how common and severe they can be. 

mRNA Covid jabs, like those made by Pfizer and Moderna, have been linked to rare reports of myocarditis — a potentially dangerous inflammation of the heart.

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The vast majority of cases were mild and resolved on their own.

Studies have also shown the risk of myocarditis, which can also be triggered by an infection like Covid, was higher from the virus than the jab.

Reacting to the claims currently sweeping social media, Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told MailOnline: ‘Some people struggle with the truth.

‘A recent study from Japan showed that the reports for adverse effects from mRNA vaccines were in line with those reported by other nations.

‘Yes, they can occur, but are rare and far outweighed by beneficial effects, especially in vulnerable people.’

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Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, said: ‘The safety and effectiveness assessments of all medicines and vaccines are based on robust and comprehensive analysis of the evidence. 

‘These assessments are carried out as standard for all vaccines and medicines licenced in the UK.

‘There is now a huge amount of evidence from multiple studies which shows that Covid vaccines, including the mRNA vaccines, are the safest and most effective way to prevent serious illness and death from Covid, and the benefits of being vaccinated by far outweigh the risks in the vast majority of people.’

In Mr Ferguson’s original post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the former Barnsley East candidate said: ‘Japan has just banned Covid mRNA shots for public use and called on other nations to follow suit after an official government study tied the injections to the nation’s soaring sudden deaths.

‘Like many other countries around the world, Japan has been battling a crisis of skyrocketing sudden and unexpected deaths since 2021. 

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‘The issue has become so dire in Japan that the country is now facing population collapse as more citizens are dying than are being born.

‘New studies in Japan have now linked the soaring deaths to Covid injections.’

mRNA Covid jabs, like those made by Pfizer and Moderna , have been linked to rare reports of myocarditis ¿ a potentially dangerous inflammation of the heart. However, the vast majority of cases were mild and resolved on their own

mRNA Covid jabs, like those made by Pfizer and Moderna , have been linked to rare reports of myocarditis ¿ a potentially dangerous inflammation of the heart. However, the vast majority of cases were mild and resolved on their own

mRNA Covid jabs, like those made by Pfizer and Moderna , have been linked to rare reports of myocarditis — a potentially dangerous inflammation of the heart. However, the vast majority of cases were mild and resolved on their own

The words of his post appear to be copied and pasted from a news story written by Prepare for Change.

X readers also tore apart Mr Ferguson’s post.

One responded to with a link to a Japanese news website which reported how the country approved another type of mRNA Covid vaccine in December. 

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Others suggested the post had misinterpreted a change to Japan’s Covid vaccine roll-out. From April, many Japanese residents are expected to have to pay for jabs.

Its Government, ‘like most around the world, still acknowledge the benefit that the vaccines bring to vulnerable people’, Professor Ball also told MailOnline. 

Blood clots caused by rare adverse reaction to the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine are known to have resulted in 81 fatalities as well as a higher number of injuries.

For context, over 50million doses of the AstraZeneca jab were used in the UK. It is not an mRNA vaccine.   

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Deadly Israeli strikes hit Gaza as fierce fighting takes place in north, south

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Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The health ministry does not report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression”.

The ministry also does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. 

Throughout four wars and numerous skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Hamas-run health ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian Red Crescent also use the numbers.

In the aftermath of war, the UN humanitarian office has published final death tolls based on its own research into medical records. The UN’s counts have largely been consistent with the Gaza health ministry’s, with small discrepancies. 

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For more on the Gaza health ministry’s tolls, click here.

(FRANCE 24 with AP) 

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Dani Alves ‘parties until 5am with friends and family at his £4.5m villa’… just days after disgraced former Barcelona player was released on bail as he appeals rape conviction

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Dani Alves reportedly spent one of his first nights of freedom partying until 5am with friends, according to Spanish media. 

The former Barcelona player was released from Brians 2 prison on Monday after 15 months spent behind bars awaiting his trial for raping a woman in December 2022. 

The 40-year-old was found guilty in February of this year and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, but Alves is in the process of appealing the verdict, and will be doing so from his own home after agreeing to a number of conditions handed out by the court.

Alves has surrended both his Spanish and Brazilian passports, and will have mandatory once-a-week visits to the court to maintain his freedom, after first paying a €1million (£850,000) bail bond. 

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But after doing so, the disgraced player was keen to make the most of life outside the prison walls, and is thought to have celebrated his father’s recent birthday in some style. 

Dani Alves is believed to have hosted family and friends until 5am days after his release from Barcelona’s Brians 2 prison

The former footballer has returned to his £4.5m villa in the Esplugues de Llobregat district

The former footballer has returned to his £4.5m villa in the Esplugues de Llobregat district

The former footballer has returned to his £4.5m villa in the Esplugues de Llobregat district

Alves is believed to have been celebrating his father Domingos Alves Da Silva's birthday

Alves is believed to have been celebrating his father Domingos Alves Da Silva's birthday

Alves is believed to have been celebrating his father Domingos Alves Da Silva’s birthday

As per Spanish TV program ‘This is Life’, the day after Alves was released he hosted his family and friends at his house in Esplugues de Llobregat after they had attended a dinner party in Barcelona in honour of patriarch Domingos Alves Da Silva without him. 

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After dinner, the party made their way to Alves’ £4.5m villa, with festivities thought to continue until five o’clock in the morning. 

The former defender might have been freed sooner, had he not had difficulties coming up with the money to pay his high bail. 

Alves’ lawyer Ines Guardiola has said the Brazilian has two bank accounts in Spain, one with no balance and the other with €51,000 (£44,000), with a judicial seizure of €50,000 (£43,000). 

Guardiola claimed last year that her client ‘is broke’ and has a ‘negative bank balance of £17,000’, despite reportedly once having a fortune of £47m.

Sport reported that Alves accounts in Brazil have also been blocked due to problems with his ex-wife Dinorah Santana.

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Alves, however, is expected to receive €9.2m (£7.9m) after his tax lawyer Fernando Mota won four cases against Spain’s tax agency.

The 40-year-old was released on bail after at first struggling to amass the ¿1m needed

The 40-year-old was released on bail after at first struggling to amass the ¿1m needed

The 40-year-old was released on bail after at first struggling to amass the €1m needed

His lawyer Ines Guardiola has previously claimed that he is 'broke' and has a 'negative balance'

His lawyer Ines Guardiola has previously claimed that he is 'broke' and has a 'negative balance'

His lawyer Ines Guardiola has previously claimed that he is ‘broke’ and has a ‘negative balance’

The hearing to determine Alves bail had noted the 40-year-old was set to receive ‘a large sum of money’ back from the treasury, but he has not yet received the funds.

Brazilian team-mate Neymar’s dad had been expected to help Alves pay the money to secure his freedom, but he issued a statement denying he would hand over any cash after coming under political pressure in his homeland.

Memphis Depay’s agent was forced to deny ‘fake’ claims on social media that the Atletico Madrid player had been the one to furnish Alves with the cash necessary to win his temporary freedom on Tuesday.  

‘This is fake news. It is false news, it is not true at all,’ Sebastien Ledure told Informativos Telecinco.

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Ledure also asked to ‘correct at an official level’ the claim, after it spread on social media on Monday.

Alves was convicted of raping a 23-year-old woman in the toilet of an upscale Barcelona nightclub, Sutton, over a year-and-a-half ago. 

The jail sentence he received, considered lenient by some critics, was far less than the nine years public prosecutors demanded and the 12 years Alves’ female accuser wanted if he was convicted. 

Previous attempts from the footballer to be allowed bail had been rejected by the courts largely because he was viewed as a potential fight risk, and the player’s home nation, Brazil, does not extradite citizens sentenced abroad.   

Alves was found guilty of rape and sentenced to a four-and-a-half year stay in Spanish prison

Alves was found guilty of rape and sentenced to a four-and-a-half year stay in Spanish prison

Alves was found guilty of rape and sentenced to a four-and-a-half year stay in Spanish prison

His ex-wife Santana is among those to have spoken out against Alves being granted release from prison on bail.

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‘There are times when you will have to share the table with Judas, without that taking away your peace. Well, me today,’ she wrote on Instagram.

Santana, the mother of his two children, had initially said she was standing by him and insisted he would never commit the crime he was arrested for.

The sports agent later claimed she felt she had been ‘used’ and told Spanish television: ‘For me, he doesn’t exist. For me, he has died.’

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Ukraine downs more than 25 drones in latest overnight Russian strikes

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Ukraine downed 26 drones overnight as Russia launched its latest salvo of aerial attacks, a senior Ukrainian military official said on Thursday.

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“On the night of March 28, 2024, the enemy launched a missile air strike against Ukraine using three Kh-22 cruise missiles and an Kh-31P anti-radar missile (from the Black Sea), an S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile (Donetsk) and 28 attack UAVs of the ‘Shahed-136/131’ type”, Mykola Oleshchuk, the head of Ukraine’s air force, wrote on Telegram.

“Twenty-six attack UAVs of the ‘Shahed-136/131’ type were destroyed within Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions”, he said, without providing details on the missile strikes.

Russia regularly launches air attacks on Ukraine overnight and has escalated the strikes over the past few weeks, targeting key infrastructure, including power stations, in retaliation for fatal bombardments of Russia’s border regions.

FRANCE 24’s Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv



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On Wednesday Russian strikes killed three people in eastern and southern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukraine’s allies to speed up deliveries of warplanes and air defence systems to bolster Kyiv’s air defences.

 (AFP)

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UK weather: Storm Nelson batters the country with map showing where 70mph winds, heavy rain, hail and thunder will hit as temperatures dip to 0C – and SNOW blankets parts of Wales and southern England

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According to folklore, March ‘comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’.

But the proverb has been turned on its head as Storm Nelson is set to batter the South today, bringing 70mph winds, heavy rain, hail and thunder.

Some snow even fell in parts of Devon and Wales overnight – after accumulations also built up at the other end of the UK in the Scottish Highlands earlier this week.

Officials in Devon said teams had worked ‘all night to keep the roads passable but drive with extreme care, avoid high roads and stick to main roads where possible.’ 

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The UK overnight low was -4.9C (23.2F) at the Cairngorm summit in the Highlands, while temperatures in cities including Newcastle and Inverness fell to 0C (32F). 

A wind warning has been issued for between 7am and 6pm, covering coastal areas between Land’s End and Brighton, where the worst of the conditions are expected.

Snow this morning at Pontrhydfendigaid in Ceredigion, Mid Wales, near Aberystwyth

Snow this morning at Pontrhydfendigaid in Ceredigion, Mid Wales, near Aberystwyth

Snow this morning at Pontrhydfendigaid in Ceredigion, Mid Wales, near Aberystwyth

Snow falls over properties in South Wales near the Brecon Beacons this morning

Snow falls over properties in South Wales near the Brecon Beacons this morning

Snow falls over properties in South Wales near the Brecon Beacons this morning

Snow covers a car parked in the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in Mid Wales this morning

Snow covers a car parked in the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in Mid Wales this morning

Snow covers a car parked in the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in Mid Wales this morning

The Traffic Wales North & Mid social media account tweeted this picture of snow this morning

The Traffic Wales North & Mid social media account tweeted this picture of snow this morning

The Traffic Wales North & Mid social media account tweeted this picture of snow this morning

TODAY: Wet and windy conditions are expected to hit many parts of Britain throughout today

TODAY: Wet and windy conditions are expected to hit many parts of Britain throughout today

TODAY: Wet and windy conditions are expected to hit many parts of Britain throughout today 

The weather system has been named Storm Nelson by Spanish meteorologists in what could be seen as an ironic gesture about Britain’s victorious vice admiral as it heads for our shores. 

It is the UK’s first named storm since January but the 11th of the current season, which began in September.

Today’s weather warning, issued by the UK Met Office, predicts road, rail, air and ferry disruption, as well as cuts to electricity and mobile phone networks.

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Forecasters added: ‘There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.’

Russ Young tweeted a photograph of snow falling on a residential road in Devon overnight

Russ Young tweeted a photograph of snow falling on a residential road in Devon overnight

Russ Young tweeted a photograph of snow falling on a residential road in Devon overnight

One social media user tweeted this photograph of snow in Plymouth, Devon, overnight

One social media user tweeted this photograph of snow in Plymouth, Devon, overnight

One social media user tweeted this photograph of snow in Plymouth, Devon, overnight

Another social media user posted a photograph of snow falling overnight in Devon

Another social media user posted a photograph of snow falling overnight in Devon

Another social media user posted a photograph of snow falling overnight in Devon

Snow falls in Devon overnight today as the UK experiences severe weather conditions

Snow falls in Devon overnight today as the UK experiences severe weather conditions

Snow falls in Devon overnight today as the UK experiences severe weather conditions

Describing the weather, the Met Office said: ‘A deep area of low pressure will bring a spell of very windy weather to parts of southwest and then southern England on Thursday.

‘Gusts of 50 mph are expected quite widely, while some exposed coastal spots may experience gusts of 60 to 70 mph, with large waves also likely.

‘The strong winds will be accompanied by heavy, squally showers with the possibility of hail and thunder in some locations.

‘Hail won’t fall everywhere but where it does it can quickly make road surfaces slippery, while surface water and spray are likely to worsen travel conditions rather more widely.’

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TODAY: The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow, wind and rain in the UK today

TODAY: The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow, wind and rain in the UK today

TODAY: The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow, wind and rain in the UK today

STORM NELSON: A map by Spanish weather service Aemet showing the low pressure system

STORM NELSON: A map by Spanish weather service Aemet showing the low pressure system

STORM NELSON: A map by Spanish weather service Aemet showing the low pressure system

Further north, a separate band of cloud and showery rain will bring damp conditions before clearing this afternoon – followed by more rain later as Nelson moves north-eastwards.

The Met Office added that showers are due to continue into Good Friday, when it is due to be bright and breezy.

Forecasters said showers are due to become ‘more scattered on Saturday and Easter Sunday’ when it should ‘feel warmer in the sunny spells and lighter winds’.

Temperatures in southern England on Easter Sunday could reach highs of 15C (59F) – warmer than the Spanish capital Madrid, which is due to be cool and showery with temperatures of just 10C (50F) on Easter Sunday. 

GOOD FRIDAY FORECAST: Showers and breezy conditions for Britain this Friday with 14C highs

GOOD FRIDAY FORECAST: Showers and breezy conditions for Britain this Friday with 14C highs

GOOD FRIDAY FORECAST: Showers and breezy conditions for Britain this Friday with 14C highs

GOOD FRIDAY: The Met Office has warned of 'unsettled' weather for much of Europe this week

GOOD FRIDAY: The Met Office has warned of 'unsettled' weather for much of Europe this week

GOOD FRIDAY: The Met Office has warned of ‘unsettled’ weather for much of Europe this week

EASTER SATURDAY: Spain and Portugal are likely to see thunderstorms and strong winds

EASTER SATURDAY: Spain and Portugal are likely to see thunderstorms and strong winds

EASTER SATURDAY: Spain and Portugal are likely to see thunderstorms and strong winds

FRANCE: Waves crash into a lighthouse amid Storm Nelson in Les Sables d'Olonne today

FRANCE: Waves crash into a lighthouse amid Storm Nelson in Les Sables d'Olonne today

FRANCE: Waves crash into a lighthouse amid Storm Nelson in Les Sables d’Olonne today

SPAIN: Waves hit the dock and sailing school at the port in Palma de Mallorca yesterday

SPAIN: Waves hit the dock and sailing school at the port in Palma de Mallorca yesterday

SPAIN: Waves hit the dock and sailing school at the port in Palma de Mallorca yesterday

Maximum figures of 14C (57F) are expected as far north as Manchester.

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For those travelling over the bank holiday weekend, the RAC have advised drivers to ‘be on their guard’ regarding the changing road conditions.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘Drivers getting away will definitely need to be on their guard and ready to cope with rapidly changing road conditions.

‘Slowing down in the heaviest of downpours on Good Friday and Easter Saturday is a must as stopping distances will be far greater.’

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Blinken and Macron to discuss Ukraine support and Gaza war in Paris talks

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss support for Ukraine during talks in Paris next week with French President Emmanuel Macron, the State Department announced Wednesday.

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France is among the major military suppliers to Ukraine, which is facing an onslaught of Russian attacks.

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President Joe Biden’s request for billions of dollars in new US military aid to Kyiv is held up in the House of Representatives, led by the rival Republican Party.

“Secretary Blinken will meet with French President Macron to discuss support for Ukraine, efforts to prevent escalation of the conflict in Gaza and a number of other important issues,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

France has advocated for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, whereas the United States, Israel’s main ally, recently let pass a UN Security Council resolution that calls for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan.

It will be the first visit in nearly two years to France by Blinken, a fluent French speaker who grew up partly in Paris. Macron paid a state visit to Washington in December 2022.

After Paris, Blinken will head to Brussels for talks of NATO foreign ministers ahead of the alliance’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington in July.

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Blinken will also hold a three-way meeting in Brussels with EU leaders and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has been seeking to branch out from his country’s historic alliance with Russia.

Blinken and the European Union will address “support for Armenia’s economic resilience as it works to diversify its trade partnerships and to address humanitarian needs,” Miller said.

Armenia was angered last year by Russia’s failure to prevent Azerbaijan from retaking the Nagorno-Karabakh region from ethnic Armenian rebels.

(AFP)

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How dogs can be used to detect PTSD: Scientists train pups to sniff out an oncoming flashback by smelling your breath

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Their sensitive noses can detect an impending seizure, sniff out signs of Covid and even expose cancer.

Now, scientists have successfully trained two dogs to smell trauma from a person’s breath.

The researchers trained 25 dogs to sniff out the chemical signs of stress in someone’s breath. 

However, only two were skilled and motivated enough to complete the study – Ivy, a Red Golden Retriever, and Callie, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix.

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In the future the scientists think these talented pooches might be able to identify when someone is about to have a frightening flashback.

The researchers trained 25 dogs to sniff out the chemical signs of stress in someone's breath. However, only two were skilled and motivated enough to complete the study. Pictured: Ivy, a Red Golden Retriever

The researchers trained 25 dogs to sniff out the chemical signs of stress in someone's breath. However, only two were skilled and motivated enough to complete the study. Pictured: Ivy, a Red Golden Retriever

The researchers trained 25 dogs to sniff out the chemical signs of stress in someone’s breath. However, only two were skilled and motivated enough to complete the study. Pictured: Ivy, a Red Golden Retriever 

In the future the scientists think these talented pooches might be able to identify when someone is about to have a frightening flashback. Pictured: Callie, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix

In the future the scientists think these talented pooches might be able to identify when someone is about to have a frightening flashback. Pictured: Callie, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix

In the future the scientists think these talented pooches might be able to identify when someone is about to have a frightening flashback. Pictured: Callie, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix

PTSD arises from exposure to a traumatic event and can lead to debilitating symptoms that include re-experiencing the event in the form of a flashback.

Currently, service dogs are used to help patients with PTSD by alerting and interrupting when their companions are struggling with their symptoms.

By training dogs to recognise the signs of an episode from the breath alone, the scientists hope that service dogs can intervene earlier and keep their companions safe.

Researchers from Dalhousie University, in Canada, recruited 26 people who had been through some kind of trauma as scent donors for their study.

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Half of the participants had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event. 

To donate scents, the participants attended sessions where they were reminded of their trauma experiences while wearing different facemasks.

One facemask provided a calm breath sample, while the other provided a ‘target’ breath sample which was worn while they recalled their ordeal.

The dogs learned to detect volatile organic compounds in human breath that indicated a PTSD episode was imminent. This could help them intervene earlier in work as service dogs (stock image)

The dogs learned to detect volatile organic compounds in human breath that indicated a PTSD episode was imminent. This could help them intervene earlier in work as service dogs (stock image)

The dogs learned to detect volatile organic compounds in human breath that indicated a PTSD episode was imminent. This could help them intervene earlier in work as service dogs (stock image)

In the meantime, the scientists recruited 25 pet dogs to train in scent detection.

Both were trained to recognise the ‘target’ odour and were presented with a series of samples to see if they could accurately detect the stress scents.

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All humans have a ‘scent profile made up of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are determined by our genetics, age, and other variables.

Previous studies have suggested that dogs may be able to smell VOCs associated with human stress.

Scientists from Queen’s University Belfast trained dogs to detect stress in sweat and breath with an accuracy of 93.75 per cent.

However, this is the first study to show that dogs can also sniff out the chemical signatures associated with PTSD.  

First author Laura Kiroja says: ‘Both Ivy and Callie found this work inherently motivating, their limitless appetite for delicious treats was also an asset. 

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‘In fact, it was much harder to convince them to take a break than to commence work.’

During testing with donated facemasks, both dogs could discriminate between stressed and non-stressed samples with 90 per cent accuracy.  

And, in tests with pure VOC samples, Ivy achieved 74 per cent accuracy and Callie achieved 81 per cent accuracy.

Ms Kiiroja said: ‘PTSD service dogs are already trained to assist people during episodes of distress.

‘However, dogs are currently trained to respond to behavioural and physical cues. Our study showed that at least some dogs can also detect these episodes via breath.’

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Further analysis revealed that Ivy was more likely to identify participants who were feeling particularly anxious, while Callie was more likely to identify when people were feeling shame.

‘Although both dogs performed at very high accuracy, they seemed to have a slightly different idea of what they considered a ‘stressed” breath sample,’ Ms Kiiroja said.

‘We speculated that Ivy was attuned to sympathetic-adreno-medullar axis hormones, like adrenaline, and Callie was oriented to the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones, like cortisol.’

The researchers said their findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Allergy, could one day lead to trained dogs potentially interrupting PTSD episodes at an earlier stage, making their interventions more effective.

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EVs dominate the list of used models that have fallen in value most in the last 12 months

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Some second-hand cars are today worth significantly less than they would have been a year ago.

And after 2023 proved an incredibly turbulent 12 months for used electric car prices, fresh market data exclusively shared with This is Money reveals that electric vehicles (EVs) continue to dominate the list of the biggest car price fallers at the moment as a result of shrinking demand.

Of the 30 second-hand models that have plunged in value in the last year, 24 are EVs. The hardest-hit year-old example is today worth 36 per cent less than it would have been 12 months ago – which translates to a financial loss of £12,000.

Here’s what the data tells us about the biggest used price fallers…

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Which used cars have crashed in value? We reveal the 30 biggest price fallers compared to a year ago - and it's bad news if you own an EV

Which used cars have crashed in value? We reveal the 30 biggest price fallers compared to a year ago - and it's bad news if you own an EV

Which used cars have crashed in value? We reveal the 30 biggest price fallers compared to a year ago – and it’s bad news if you own an EV

Derren Martin, head of valuations at Cap Hpi, told us: ‘Values for used battery electric vehicles remain under pressure in the used wholesale market as supply continues to outweigh used consumer demand. 

‘This has been evident so far this year, as for the first quarter of 2024 values for EV’s at the benchmark profile of 3 years and 60,000 miles have reduced on average by 3.8 per cent, compared to petrol values that have increased by 3.6 per cent and diesel 2.6 per cent.’

Despite the decline, Derren is confident that EV demand ‘will rise’ in the future.

‘It is important to note that supply levels will continue to increase. As a result, the market may become more diverse, requiring a closer examination of how certain models perform due to the supply and demand dynamic,’ he explained.

‘However, it could be argued that there has never been a better time for consumers to consider purchasing a used electric vehicle, as they currently offer exceptional value. 

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‘Whether that’s in terms of comparison against an ICE [internal combustion engine] equivalent, the potential cost of ownership savings or just considering how much car you are getting for the money.’

Below, we have listed the 10 biggest price fallers in detail based on ‘nearly-new’ cars that have been out of showrooms for a year.

The figures are ranked by biggest decline in value when comparing the sale price of a one-year-old example with 10,000 miles on the clock in February 2023 and the sale price of a year-old example of that same model with the same mileage last month (February 2024).

This is therefore a measure of deflation and not depreciation (which is when a car becomes less valuable when it gets older), which is a better measure of prices falling – and showcases just how much EV values have nosedived in the last 12 months.

All the data supplied by market-leading valuations company Cap Hpi is based on dealer and auction sale prices achieved in the months in questions.

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We’ve also listed the cars from 11 to 30 that have dropped in value the most compared to a year ago.

*Own a slightly older car? Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the biggest price fallers aged three years with 30k on the clock

Biggest used car price fallers (11 to 30) from February 2023 to February 2024

11. Citroen e-C4 ELECTRIC (2020-): -30.4%/-£6,644 

12. Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life ELECTRIC (2020-): -30.1%/-£9,067

13. Mercedes-Benz EQC ELECTRIC (2019-): -30.0%/-£14,475

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14. Vauxhall Corsa ELECTRIC (2019-): -29.7%/-£5,909

15. Seat Leon HYBRID (2020-): -29.3%/-£7,038

16. Cupra Born ELECTRIC (2021-): -28.8%/-£9,314

17. Audi e-Tron Sportback ELECTRIC (2019-2023): -28.7%/-£14,345

18. Hyundai Ioniq5 ELECTRIC (2021-): -28.2%/-£10,886

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19. Volvo C40 ELECTRIC (2022-): -27.9%/-£11,921

=20. Peugeot e-208 ELECTRIC (2019-): -27.8%/-£5,975

=20. Range Rover Sport PETROL (2017-2023): -27.8%/-£18,214

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22. Mazda MX-30 ELECTRIC (2020-): -27.6%/-£5,344

23. Peugeot e-2008 ELECTRIC (2019-): -27.5%/-£6,371

24. Mercedes-Benz EQE ELECTRIC (2022-): -27.1%/-£17,171

25. Hyundai Kona-e ELECTRIC (2018-2023): -27.0%/-£6,613

=26. Skoda Superb HYBRID (2019-2023): -26.7%/-£8,975

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=26. Range Rover Sport HYBRID (2017-2023): -26.7%/-£16,575

=28. MG5 EV ELECTRIC (2020-): -26.4%/-£5,413

=28. Mercedes-Benz EQS ELECTRIC (2021-): -26.4%/-£27,625

=28. VW ID.3 ELECTRIC (2020-2024): -26.4%/-£7,393

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 Source: Cap Hpi – data based on average dealer prices achieved for 1 year old cars with 10,000 miles on the clock in February 2023 vs February 2024

=9. Range Rover Evoque HYBRID (2020-present) – DOWN 30.5%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £47,180

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £32,790

One-year price decline: -£14,390

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Year-old examples of the Range Rover Evoque P300e plug-in hybrid is today worth around £14,000 less than it would have been 12 months ago, making it one of just two non-EV models in the list of biggest price fallers compared to February 2023

Year-old examples of the Range Rover Evoque P300e plug-in hybrid is today worth around £14,000 less than it would have been 12 months ago, making it one of just two non-EV models in the list of biggest price fallers compared to February 2023

Year-old examples of the Range Rover Evoque P300e plug-in hybrid is today worth around £14,000 less than it would have been 12 months ago, making it one of just two non-EV models in the list of biggest price fallers compared to February 2023

Of the top 10 one-year-old cars worth significantly less today than a year ago, number 10 is one of just two non-EV models in the rankings. It is the Range Rover Evoque – specifically the P300e plug-in hybrid variant.

While this premium SUV can cover up to 34 miles using electric power only – granted the battery is fully charged – it also has a supplementary petrol engine.

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Its fall in value comes at a time when owners are facing sky-high insurance to cover these cars. Underwriters are currently quoting extortionate premiums in response to the ongoing concerns about organised gangs targeting Range Rovers to steal. We ran a quote on the Evoque PHEV for a 40-year-old with no convictions and over 20 years of no claims bonus and found the cheapest – and only quote under £1,000 – was £992 per annum. 

This could be a contributing factor for why used prices are on the slide.

A one-year-old Evoque P300e with 10,000 miles on the clock today is being sold by dealers across the UK for an average of £32,970. For the same model last year, prices were almost £14,400 higher at £47,180.

=9. Kia EV6 ELECTRIC (2021-present) – DOWN 30.5% 

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £46,850

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £32.550

One-year price decline: -£14,300

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The first of the big price-falling EVs in our list is the Kia EV6. While widely rated as one of the best electric models in the market, the value of a year-old example is 30.5% lower than it would have been 12 months ago

The first of the big price-falling EVs in our list is the Kia EV6. While widely rated as one of the best electric models in the market, the value of a year-old example is 30.5% lower than it would have been 12 months ago

The first of the big price-falling EVs in our list is the Kia EV6. While widely rated as one of the best electric models in the market, the value of a year-old example is 30.5% lower than it would have been 12 months ago

Kia’s svelte electric family hatchback has won plenty of plaudits since it emerged on the UK market in 2021. A combination of handsome looks, a suave interior and claimed range of up to 328 miles has made it standout against some of its mundane rivals.

But this hasn’t shielded the EV6 from pretty dramatic levels of value deflation.

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If you wanted a year-old example with 10,000 miles on the clock in February 2023, you would have needed to pay £46,850 for one. But for a 12-month-old EV6 now, you can get your hands on one for £32,550.

For owners with examples meeting the same age and mileage criteria, this means their car is worth £14,300 less now than it would have been a year ago.

8. Mercedes-Benz EQA ELECTRIC (2021-present) – DOWN 31.4% 

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £40,246

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £27,615

One-year price decline: -£12,631

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Mercedes' smallest electric SUV - the EQA - is another victim of falling demand for EVs. a year-old model today is worth 31.4% less than a car of the same age with matching 10,000 miles would have sold for 12 months earlier

Mercedes' smallest electric SUV - the EQA - is another victim of falling demand for EVs. a year-old model today is worth 31.4% less than a car of the same age with matching 10,000 miles would have sold for 12 months earlier

Mercedes’ smallest electric SUV – the EQA – is another victim of falling demand for EVs. a year-old model today is worth 31.4% less than a car of the same age with matching 10,000 miles would have sold for 12 months earlier

The EQA is currently Mercedes’ smallest electric SUV and the least expensive EV model in the German brand’s line-up. However, ringing in at a shade under £50,000 new, it’s far from what you’d call cheap. 

It does offer up to 311 miles of range on a full charge, making it pretty practical, if not a tad pricey.

If you are on the hunt for a value-busting EV, buying a ‘nearly-new’ year-old EQA makes a lot of sense right now, given the deflation in price seen over the last 12 months.

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If you wanted a year-old EQA in February 2023, you’d have needed to pay £40,246 for the pleasure. Fast-forward to last month and the average price has slipped by £12,600 to just £27,615. That’s a 31.4 per cent drop in like-for-like value.

7. Mercedes-Benz EQB ELECTRIC (2021-present) – DOWN 31.7%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £47,250

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £32,275

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One-year price decline: -£14,975

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Another Mercedes electric SUV hammered by deflation in value is the EQB, which is down 31.7% on average values for one-year-old examples 12 months earlier

Another Mercedes electric SUV hammered by deflation in value is the EQB, which is down 31.7% on average values for one-year-old examples 12 months earlier

Another Mercedes electric SUV hammered by deflation in value is the EQB, which is down 31.7% on average values for one-year-old examples 12 months earlier

The Mercedes EQB is a slightly bigger – and more expensive – electric SUV than the EQA above. 

And like its smaller sibling, a big deflation in value in the last 12 months means owners of this car are around £15,000 worse off today than they would have been trying to sell one year ago.

For a year-old example of the boxy family EV – which has a range of up to 321 miles – in February 2023, EQBs were changing hands for an average of £47,250.

But a 12-month-old model today is worth just £32,275 as prices dropped dramatically last year and haven’t bounced back yet.

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6. Land Rover Discovery Sport HYBRID (2020-present) – DOWN 32.9%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £48,867

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £32,800

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One-year price decline: -£16,067

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The biggest non-EV price faller is the Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e plug-in hybrid, with year0old used values dropping by £16,000 compared to a year ago

The biggest non-EV price faller is the Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e plug-in hybrid, with year0old used values dropping by £16,000 compared to a year ago

The biggest non-EV price faller is the Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e plug-in hybrid, with year0old used values dropping by £16,000 compared to a year ago

If you thought the deflation in price of the Range Rover Evoque plug-in hybrid in joint ninth spot was bad, the Land Rover Discovery Sport with the same P300e drivetrain has been hit harder by falling values in the last 12 months.

Owners could have expected to make £48,867 when selling a year-old example 12 months ago. But if you wanted to move on a 12-month example of the same car today, the market says you would only get £32,800.

This is a dramatic £16,000 fall in values in a period of just one year.

5. Honda e ELECTRIC (2020-2023) – DOWN 33.1%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £25,417

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £17,017

One-year price decline: -£8,400

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The Honda e was launched as a small electric car - but not a cheap one. When new, it was priced at just over £37,000. A year-old example last year was valued at just over £24,500, while today a 12-month-old version of the same vehicle with 10,000 miles last year was priced at a fraction over £17,000

The Honda e was launched as a small electric car - but not a cheap one. When new, it was priced at just over £37,000. A year-old example last year was valued at just over £24,500, while today a 12-month-old version of the same vehicle with 10,000 miles last year was priced at a fraction over £17,000

The Honda e was launched as a small electric car – but not a cheap one. When new, it was priced at just over £37,000. A year-old example last year was valued at just over £24,500, while today a 12-month-old version of the same vehicle with 10,000 miles last year was priced at a fraction over £17,000

The Honda e has to be one of the coolest looking EVs on the road. Its eighties hot-hatch boxy dimensions and a contemporary cabin make it an appealing small battery vehicle – but it does also come with its limitations.

The biggest of all is its limited range. At just 137 miles, it was expensive new for such a small car (priced just over £37,000) before it was discontinued in British showrooms at the end of last year.

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Owners who did fork out a big price on one might be regretting it now; the average sale price of a one-year-old example with 10,000 miles on the clock is down from £25,400 in February 2023 to just £17,000 last month.

An £8,400 hit translates to prices deflating by a whopping 33.1 per cent.

4. Volkswagen e-Up ELECTRIC (2013-2023) – DOWN 33.6%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £18,150

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £12,050

One-year price decline: -£6,100

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A fall in average price for a year-old VW e-Up is £6,100 in the last 12 months. While this might not sound much against other cars in this list, it represents a fall in value of more than a third

A fall in average price for a year-old VW e-Up is £6,100 in the last 12 months. While this might not sound much against other cars in this list, it represents a fall in value of more than a third

A fall in average price for a year-old VW e-Up is £6,100 in the last 12 months. While this might not sound much against other cars in this list, it represents a fall in value of more than a third 

While the Honda e above is a small EV that was sold new with a big price tag, the e-Up was more affordable as part of Volkswagen’s attempt draw in more customers.

The e-Up was discontinued last year, but cap hpi retains data on what the change in second-hand values has looked like in the last 12 months.

A one-year-old e-Up in February 2023 would have commanded a price of £18,150. But last month a year-old example with 10,000 miles on the clock was worth only £12,050.

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This £6,100 deflation is the equivalent of a loss of 33.6 per cent in value over the course of a single year.

3. DS3 E-Tense ELECTRIC (2019-present) – DOWN 34.1%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £22,096

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £14,563

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One-year price decline: -£7,533

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Given the DS3 E-Tense isn't a volume seller in the UK, its recent decline in value won't affect as many owners as some of the other cars in this list

Given the DS3 E-Tense isn't a volume seller in the UK, its recent decline in value won't affect as many owners as some of the other cars in this list

Given the DS3 E-Tense isn’t a volume seller in the UK, its recent decline in value won’t affect as many owners as some of the other cars in this list

The DS3 E-Tense is the electric version of the French maker’s DS3 compact crossover – though it’s not what you’d call a volume seller in the UK.

As such, a deflation in value of these cars should, in theory, not impact too many drivers – though you’d understandably be mad if you are one of them. 

For a year-old example of this EV in 2023, owners could expect to sell their DS3 E-Tense for just over £22,000. 

But today, a 12-month-old version of this car is valued at only £14,500, which is a massive 34.1 per cent decline in price. 

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2. Vauxhall Mokka ELECTRIC (2019-present) – DOWN 34.3%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £22,800

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £14,967

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One-year price decline: -£7,833

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The Vauxhall Mokka Electric's looks might standout against other EV rivals, but its fall in used value is very much on trend with the fuel type

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric's looks might standout against other EV rivals, but its fall in used value is very much on trend with the fuel type

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric’s looks might standout against other EV rivals, but its fall in used value is very much on trend with the fuel type

Vauxhall’s Mokka Electric is without question one of the most unique-looking electric SUVs on the market, with boxy proportions and short overhangs that’s unlike anything else on the market.

With an official range of up to 252 miles, it’s not the furthest-travelling model on a single charge, but good enough for those who aren’t regularly enduring long journeys on Britain’s motorway network.

Cap hpi’s data shows that a year-old Mokka Electric’s value is down 34.3 per cent in the last year alone, falling from £22,800 in February 2023 to just £14,967 last month – that’s a loss of just over £7,800.

But that’s still not enough to take number one spot in this list… 

1. Lexus UX ELECTRIC (2020-present) – DOWN 36.1%

Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2023: £33,250

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Avg price of 1-year-old, 10k-mile example in Feb 2024: £21,256

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One-year price decline: -£11,994

The Lexus UX 300e is the year-old used car that has suffered the most significant deflation in value over the last year, cap hpi told us

The Lexus UX 300e is the year-old used car that has suffered the most significant deflation in value over the last year, cap hpi told us

The Lexus UX 300e is the year-old used car that has suffered the most significant deflation in value over the last year, cap hpi told us

The Lexus UX 300e is the second-hand car that’s fallen in value most in percentage terms compared to a year ago.

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If you owned a year-old example of this electric SUV with 10,000 miles on the clock in February 2023, it would have been worth around £33,250.

But for those with an UX fitting this age and mileage today, average sale prices at dealers and auctions are down to £21,250.

That’s a financial loss of £12,000 over a 12-month period. Once factoring in depreciation, this compact premium EV will have taken a toll on owners’ wallets. 

What about older cars? These are the biggest price fallers for 3-year-old models with 30k on the clock 

Biggest 3-year-old (30k miles) used car price fallers from February 2023 to February 2024 
Car  Feb23 price Feb24 price £ movement % movement
Lexus UX ELECTRIC (2020-present) £26,238 £16,775 -£9,463 -36.1%
Seat Mii ELECTRIC (2019-2022) £13,350 £8,675 -£4,675 -35.0%
VAUXHALL Mokka-E ELECTRIC (2020-present) £18,963 £12,488 -£6,475 -34.2%
DS3 E-Tense ELECTRIC (2019-present) £18,033 £11,875 -£6,158 -34.1%
Land Rover Discovery Sport HYBRID (2020-present) £40,933 £27,183 -£13,750 -33.6%
Mercedes-Benz EQA ELECTRIC (2021-present) £33,100 £22,025 -£11,075 -33.5%
Honda e ELECTRIC (2020-2023) £20,100 £13,475 -£6,625 -33.0%
Kia Soul EV ELECTRIC (2014-2019) £15,650 £10,550 -£5,100 -32.6%
Range Rover Evoque HYBRID (2020-present) £38,914 £26,529 -£12,386 -31.8%
Mercedes-Benz EQC ELECTRIC (2019-present) £40,100 £27,663 -£12,438 -31.1%
Vauxhall Grandland X HYBRID (2019-present) £20,260 £14,070 -£6,190 -30.5%
Hyundai Kona Electric ELECTRIC (2018-2023) £20,192 £14,042 -£6,150 -30.5%
Citroen e-C4 ELECTRIC (2020-present) £17,817 £12,417 -£5,400 -30.3%
Vauxhall e-Vivaro Life ELECTRIC (2020-present) £25,100 £17,550 -£7,550 -30.1%
Range Rover Sport HYBRID (2017-2023) £52,740 £37,020 -£15,720 -29.8%
Vauxhall Corsa-e ELECTRIC (2019-present) £15,565 £10,925 -£4,640 -29.8%
Volvo XC40 HYBRID (2019-present) £31,450 £22,210 -£9,240 -29.4%
Seat Leon HYBRID (2020-present) £19,950 £14,094 -£5,856 -29.4%
Kia Soul EV ELECTRIC (2019-present) £23,800 £16,850 -£6,950 -29.2%
Volkswagen e-Up ELECTRIC (2013-2023) £14,250 £10,100 -£4,150 -29.1%
Range Rover Sport PETROL/DIESEL (2017-2023) £54,382 £38,736 -£15,645 -28.7%
Citroen C5 Aircross HYBRID (2019-present) £21,775 £15,550 -£6,225 -28.6%
DS Crossback HYBRID (2019-present) £24,733 £17,689 -£7,044 -28.5%
Audi e-tron Sportback ELECTRIC (2019-2023) £43,546 £31,223 -£12,323 -28.4%
Peugeot 3008 HYBRID (2019-present) £25,319 £18,281 -£7,038 -27.8%
Peugeot e-208 ELECTRIC (2019-present) £16,925 £12,229 -£4,696 -27.7%
Jaguar I-Pace ELECTRIC (2018-present) £31,292 £22,642 -£8,650 -27.7%
Mazda MX-30 ELECTRIC (2020-present) £15,913 £11,538 -£4,375 -27.5%
Range Rover Sport DIESEL (2017-2023) £53,182 £38,491 -£14,691 -27.5%
Peugeot e-2008 ELECTRIC (2019-present) £18,450 £13,379 -£5,071 -27.4%
Source: Cap Hpi – data based on average dealer prices achieved for 3 year old cars with 30,000 miles on the clock in February 2023 vs February 2024

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