New Scottish independence 'taskforce' | Meet the world's most expensive sheep

The British Army is setting up 80 new Covid-19 vaccine centres across Scotland from today, it has been revealed. [View email online]( [Subscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Scotsman] Jan 18, 2021 Good morning, How was your weekend? We're back at it for another working week, bringing you some of the best Scottish news stories and features from around the nation. Before we get to that, you can support our journalism and gain unlimited access to absolutely all our stories from just £3 a month with a digital subscription. [Try us out today.]( There are no obligations once you [subscribe]( and you can cancel anytime. Army to set up 80 Covid vaccine centres in Scotland The British Army is setting up 80 new Covid-19 vaccine centres across Scotland from today, it has been revealed. The move is part of [the largest peacetime resilience operation ever undertaken by the UK armed forces.]( Nearly 100 soldiers, mainly from the Leuchars-based Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, will help health services to deliver the rollout of jabs over the next 28 days. The troops will be [split into 11 teams to support the Scottish Government](, NHS Scotland and local councils, before handing the new centres over to health workers New Scottish independence 'taskforce' An SNP plan to create a new “independence taskforce” to kickstart a grassroots campaign and prepare for a second referendum has been criticised by opposition parties for taking the focus of tackling the Covid pandemic. The brainchild of [SNP]( campaign director and deputy leader Keith Brown, who said the taskforce will “lead on strategy as the party heads towards a referendum in early stages of the next parliamentary term”. [Read more about the proposed taskforce here.]( Meet the world's most expensive sheep To be able to visit the most expensive sheep in the world, you'll need to book to go and see him. For the internationally-acclaimed ruminant, named Double Diamond, requires his home comforts year round to make sure he’s top of his game during the breeding season. With testicles stretching a whopping 36cm in circumference, the Texel tup is set to father about 750 lambs this year alone. [Read more about Double Diamond's eye-watering price tag.]( The ancient site where Picts and Vikings settled under threat Archaeologists fear that a 5,500-year-old site in the far north which was later occupied by the Picts and Vikings won't survive the Covid era. The pandemic has stopped the race [to save archaeological remains at this key site](, which are being eaten away by rising tides and storm surges. [The site holds a timeline of thousands of years of history and houses a 5,500-year-old Neolithic burial chamber](, the remains of a large and unusual high-status Iron Age roundhouse, Pictish dwellings, a smithy, and a grand Norse Hall. Thanks for reading, more stories below, [Sam Shedden,]( sam.shedden@jpimedia.co.uk [Army deploys troops to set up 80 new Covid-19 vaccine centres across Scotland]( The British Army is setting up 80 new Covid-19 vaccine centres across Scotland from today, it has been revealed. [{$escapedtitle}]( [Article Image]( [New Scottish independence 'taskforce' announced by SNP]( The SNP is planning a new “independence taskforce” to kickstart a grassroots campaign and prepare for a second referendum which it believes will be held after the Scottish Parliament elections, the party revealed today. [Article Image]( [‘This story comes to a bitter end’: Tragic death of rare Scottish wildcat kitten prompts fundraising effort]( An online fundraiser has been launched after the death of a tiny wildcat kitten in the Cairngorms on Friday. [Article Image]( [World's most expensive sheep: Meet Double Diamond who sold for £367,500 at Scottish sale]( To be able to visit the most expensive sheep in the world, you need to book to go and see him. [Article Image]( ['Kick em in the n***': Bike shop boss raging after £39,500 Highland raid]( The angry owner of a Highland bike shop targeted by a gang of thieves has urged anyone offered his stolen property by the crooks to “kick em in the n***”. [Article Image]( [Global appeal of the Bard endures with 2,500 Burns Suppers plotted on world map]( He spoke simply from the heart, his messages seemingly universal. [Dave Lewis]( [The ancient Orkney site where Picts and Vikings settled now under threat from pandemic]( Archaeologists fear that a 5,500-year-old site in the far north which was later occupied by the Picts and Vikings won't survive the Covid era. [Dave Lewis]( [The New Stone Age - the immigrants from France who changed the face of Scotland 6,000 years ago]( They came from the north of France around 6,000 years ago – and changed the face of Scotland forever. [Dave Lewis]( [Rangers boss Steven Gerrard reveals the player who 'absolute must' remain at Ibrox]( Rangers manager Steven Gerrard believes it is an “absolute must” for Steven Davis to remain at Ibrox next season. [Dave Lewis]( [Calum Hill up to first reserve for start of new season in Abu Dhabi]( A few days after he was photographed practising in the snow in Scotland, Calum Hill is close to getting the chance to start his 2021 season in the heat of Abu Dhabi this week. [Dave Lewis]( [Sackful of positives for Hearts as Alloa win brings plenty rewards]( Hearts left Clackmannanshire armed with positives after beating Alloa on a potentially-pivotal afternoon. [Dave Lewis]( [Scotland facing hooker problems ahead of Six Nations]( Gregor Townsend is due to name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday and the Scotland coach is facing a potential problem at hooker. [View more news]( You have received this email as you are opted in to newsletters from The Scotsman, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. To manage your individual newsletter preferences with us, please [click here]( and log in to your account. Alternatively you can [update]( your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive from JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, or [unsubscribe]( from all future emails. JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 11499982, having its registered address at 1, King Street, London, England, EC2V 8AU, United Kingdom. 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