STAFF at Torness Nuclear Power Station, in East Lothian, are celebrating after the peregrine falcons that nest on its roof gave birth to two chicks over the weekend.
A pair of peregrines built a nest on the roof of the power station in 2003. Staff erected a camera so they could monitor the birds’ progress without disturbance.
The first 2008 chick hatched on Saturday, and its sibling followed the next day. Tw
o more eggs are yet to hatch.
Three chicks fledged from the nest in 2003, followed by four in 2004, three in 2005, one in 2006 and two in 2007.
The peregrine falcon, which is the logo for East Lothian Council, is one of the fastest birds in the world, swooping on its prey at speeds of up to 150mph. Torness is among the 60 sites that have entered the Business Birds Challenge, the biennial competition run by the British Trust for Ornithology. More details at
www.bto.org/challenge5.4m
FACT OF THE DAYTHE number of iPhones Apple has sold around the world. America Movil SAB, the mobile phone operator controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, yesterday revealed it had signed a contract with Apple to sell the iPhone in 12 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
KILLER QUOTEIT TOOK two world wars and more than 50 years for the dollar to become the dominant currency. Now we are seeing another strong currency coming in – the euro.”
Opec secretary-general Abdullah al-Badri. Some Opec members are choosing to trade in alternatives to the dollar
BAD DAY
Switzerland UNEMPLOYMENT in Switzerland edged up for the first time in nearly five years in April, indicating that a slowdown in the economy may be starting to hit the labour market. The seasonally adjusted rate rose to 2.6 per cent.
GOOD DAY
Scottish workersGAZETTEER has always been a big fan of lunch – and so are its readers, according to a new survey. Scottish workers take the longest lunch breaks in the UK, with one-in-five Scots taking more than an hour for their déjeuner.
The full article contains 364 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
