Flight path
How long does it take to build a runway?
— 33 years (at least) in the case of Heathrow’s third runway, first consulted on by Gordon Brown’s government in 2007, but which is not expected to be open until 2040 at the earliest.
— 17 years in the case of Gatwick’s second operational runway, which involves the current emergency runway being moved 40ft to the north. Proposed in 2013 by Gatwick airport and approved by the government this week, it could be in service by 2030.
— 90 days in the case of Tegel airport, Berlin, work on which started 5 August 1948, during the Berlin Airlift. It was open for operations on 5 November.
Put to the Test
Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird, who has died aged 92, was a fixture of the English summer between 1970 and 1996. Has any other umpire officiated in more Test matches than his 66?
Aleem Dar (Pakistan) 145
Steve Bucknor (West Indies) 128
Rudi Koertzen (South Africa) 108
Daryl Harper (Australia) 95
Rod Tucker (Australia) 95
Richard Kettleborough (England) 93
David Shepherd (England) 92
Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) 92
Source: cricinded.com
Wing span
How have wild bird populations fared since 1970? Numbers showing ‘strong decrease’; ‘weak decrease’; ‘weak increase’ and ‘strong increase’:
Farmland birds 5; 7; 4; 0
Sea birds 1; 4; 2; 0
Woodland birds 8; 5; 4; 2
Upland birds 1; 6; 4; 3
Wintering waterbirds 0; 4; 7; 16
Source: Defra
First aid
Which countries received the largest amount of bilateral aid from Britain last year?
Ukraine £270m
Afghanistan £192m
Ethiopia £182m
Syria £158m
Somalia £143m
Yemen £142m
Sudan £141m
West Bank/Gaza £138m
Nigeria £138m
South Sudan £132m
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