Good morning.
It's Friday and we've got something exciting to tell you. The news headlines will follow. We're delighted to announce we've launched fully interactive puzzle pages. How it works We've been listening. Many of you (including readers of this newsletter) have asked us about online puzzles, especially as lockdown has made it more difficult for some to get out and buy a newspaper. So that’s why The Scotsman yesterday launched a brand new puzzles service just for digital subscribers. Every day we’ll update our website with a set of four new games for you to sink your teeth into. Two crosswords, cryptic and quick, sudoku and a wordwheel. Sound right up your street? If you’re a subscriber to The Scotsman you’ve already got access, all you need to do is click here to play. But if you’re not, now may be the perfect time to see what a subscription is all about. For just £3 per month for the first two months you'll get unlimited access to all our stories, puzzles and fewer ads. You're under no obligations and can cancel anytime. Try us out today here. We're really keen to hear feedback on this. If you have any, please let me know - sam.shedden@jpimedia.co.uk Exclusive: How much the Trump administration pays Prestwick Back to news and our investigations, reporter Martyn McLaughlin reports The Scottish Government has been accused of turning a state-owned airport into a “petrol pump” for the Pentagon after an investigation by The Scotsman found it has received nearly £10 million from Donald Trump’s administration over the past year. A major spike in US Armed Forces refuelling at the heavily-indebted Glasgow Prestwick Airport has seen the US Defence Department’s spending nearly double over the past 18 months, reigniting criticism of SNP ministers for abandoning their principles provided there are “enough dollars on the table.” Read Martyn's full report here. Covid traces found in waste water Scientists have found fragments of coronavirus's ribonucleic acid (RNA) in waste water samples from the majority of Scotland's health board areas, according to an environmental body. The results have been shared with Public Health Scotland (PHS) and are consistent with areas known to have confirmed Covid-19 cases. Analysis: Nicola Sturgeon faced with Jason Leitch dilemma Jason Leitch is causing Nicola Sturgeon a problem. As one of the most authoritative figures thanks to his voiceovers and appearances on adverts and broadcast appearances, the national clinical director is a trusted voice of reason and scientific consensus for the public. This means what he says matters and when he speaks, people listen. For Ms Sturgeon, it will have come to no surprise following Prof Leitch’s “digital Christmas” comments that they dominated her briefing, but on the eve of her publishing her most important Covid-19 proposals since the route map in April, she was visibly exasperated. Our politics editor Scott Macnab examines the dilemma Professor Leith poses the First Minister. Stay safe, Sam Shedden |