Seven numbers you should know this week

Here are seven numbers you should know this week to keep you up to speed.

The famous Edinburgh skyline has provided a back drop to many films

3rd best city to live in

Edinburgh has been voted the third best city to live in, making it into the top five with other Scottish city Aberdeen. These are rankings based on the 2015 Good Growth for Cities scale, which measures 10 different categories defined by the public and business as key to economic success and personal and family wellbeing.

723 minke whales spotted in Scotland

A record number of minke whales have been spotted in Scottish waters. This increase in the ocean giants could be due to either a significant increase in the local population or the mammals immigrating from elsewhere.

The latest surveys also recorded the highest annual sighting of common dolphins in more than a decade.

Where did the surveys take place? >>>

50 per cent increase in the number of seriously ill children

A Children in Scotland requiring Palliative Care report (CHiSP) has shown that there were 6,661 under-25s in 2013/14 with a life shortening condition. This is a 50 per cent increase on ten years before.

The report, funded by Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), has shown that the biggest increase is in those under the age of one.

Find out more >>>

18 years since British Airways has flown Inverness-Heathrow route

After a long absence, BA has announced it will reintroduce daily flights on the Heathrow to Inverness route.

While the route has been long gone, campaigners never stopped fighting for the route to be reintroduced. Starting May 3 2016, the “gateway to the Highlands and Islands” route will be reopened.

What has BA said about it? >>>

1.08 per cent rise in EU countries speaking Gaelic

While the majority of speakers of the Gaelic language are from Scotland - 95.6 per cent to be exact - there has been a rise in the umber of speakers who come from other European countries.

This has risen from just 0.03 per cent to 1.1 per cent over the past ten years.

Where else are Gaelic speakers from? >>>

£1.4 billion invested in Scottish real estate

Foreign investors are shunning the London market in favour of Scotland, due to the spiralling cost of property in the south.

Scottish real estate has received the highest amount of non-domestic investment in the UK – £1.33 billion – narrowly edging out south east England which attracted £1.32bn.

Where in Scotland are they investing? >>>

300 refugees expected in Scotland before Christmas

One third of the 1,000 refugees coming to the UK will be received in Scotland.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said the destination of the refugees has yet to be worked through. Pressure to admit more refugees to the UK grew after images of those fleeing Syria and other war-torn regions to reach Europe hit the headlines.

What has the government said about it? >>>