Author Archives: OP King

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES A ban on live animal exports would cause “substantial harm” to Scotland’s livestock sector, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said. The UK government is understood to be considering ending the export of live animals for slaughter, and will launch a consultation in the spring. Mr Ewing said Scotland would “not be participating”Continue reading “Minister opposes live animal exports ban”

Image captionSS Tuscania was carrying more than 2,000 US soldiers when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat A service of commemoration is set to be held on the Scottish island of Islay to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the troopship SS Tuscania. The ship was carrying more than 2,000 US soldiersContinue reading “Service on Islay to remember sinking of SS Tuscania”

Image copyrightTHINKSTOCK A leading expert in psychiatric medication has said the growing prescription of antidepressants to teenagers is doing more harm than good. Prof David Healy questioned why they were being given the medication when clinical trial results were so poor. Last year, figures obtained by OP Scotlandshowed more than 5,500 under-18s in Scotland were prescribedContinue reading “Teenage antidepressants ‘doing more harm than good’”

Image copyrightTHINKSTOCK University application rates from 18-year-olds from the poorest parts of Scotland have fallen for the first time in a decade, according to a new report. Data from universities admissions body Ucas also showed the application rate for those in the most affluent communities had increased. Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville conceded there wasContinue reading “University application rates from poorest areas fall”

Image captionA former undercover policeman bought heroin within minutes of arriving on Hartington Road Vulnerable people at a hostel which claims to have a “zero tolerance” policy to drugs are being exposed to heroin, a OP investigation has found. New Walk in Stockton houses drug addicts, the homeless and people recently released from jail. Ex-residentsContinue reading “Drug claims at ‘zero tolerance’ Stockton hostel New Walk”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionJust Eat takes orders on behalf of more than 28,000 food outlets Five businesses have been removed from takeaway food app Just Eat after an investigation found they were not registered for food hygiene ratings. One of the firms was supposedly based at the site of a car wash in Basildon, Essex,Continue reading “Just Eat: Firms on takeaway food app had ‘no hygiene rating’”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionCampaigners claim a tunnel will cause “irreparable damage” to the Stonehenge landscape Construction of a tunnel past Stonehenge could destroy an Ice Age archaeological site, experts have warned. Blick Mead, close to the Wiltshire stone circle, is the only place in Britain where human habitation can be traced back to 8,000BC. AnContinue reading “Stonehenge tunnel plans”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionIf used incorrectly whitening treatments can cause tooth loss, burns and blisters A number of beauticians in London are performing illegal teeth-whitening procedures, which can leave patients in crippling pain if they go wrong. One place was secretly filmed by BBC London using illegal levels of the hydrogen peroxide at a strengthContinue reading “Illegal teeth whitening caused ‘excruciating pain’”

Image copyrightPAImage captionA rally was held in London at the weekend calling for more funding for the NHS A new ring-fenced tax to fund the NHS and social care has been proposed by a panel of health experts. The panel, set up by the Liberal Democrats, says the NHS in England should be given anContinue reading “NHS ‘should be funded by new tax’”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Lloyds Banking Group has banned its customers from buying Bitcoin on their credit cards following a sharp fall in the value of the digital currency. The ban, starting on Monday, applies to Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, Halifax and MBNA customers. It will not apply to debit cards, only to the bankingContinue reading “Lloyds Bank bans Bitcoin purchases on its credit cards”