News In Brief

She's hatching something

A custodian in Portland, Maine, cleaning the mayor's office, was quite startled upon discovering, not dust - but a twig nest with a white egg under her desk. Apparently a homeless pigeon flew into an open window in Mayor Cheryl Leeman's City Hall office and got comfy, temporarily unseating the city leader. Leeman, who is working in a different office for now, has kept her window open to let the pigeon return to the nest. A second egg was later found. "I always take care of my constituents," the mayor said.

Scandinavian countries among top places to live

Norway overtook long-standing winner Canada as the world's best place to live, according to an annual United Nations assessment of countries on quality of life and living standards. The UN report ranks Norway No. 1 for the first time in a league of life expectancy, education, and gross domestic product indicators. Out of 162 countries on the list, the US ranks sixth and Great Britain 14th. Sierra Leone, Niger, and Burundi fall at the bottom of the list. The 10 best places in the world to live, according to the UN:

1. Norway

2. Australia

3. Canada

4. Sweden

5. Belgium

6. United States

7. Iceland

8. The Netherlands

9. Japan

10. Finland

- Reuters

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Monitor