EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 2012 is the year of Creative Scotland, making it the perfect time to experience the country's culture and creativity for yourself.

Investigators searched Saturday for the source of a mystery oil slick off the Scottish coast that has fouled scores of sea birds. Volunteers had found at least 130 birds covered with oil, The Scotsman reported.

By DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT ALEX Salmond yesterday declared that the Pentland Firth would be "the epicentre of Scotland's future in renewable energy" as it officially became one of the country's first marine power sites.

By DOUGLAS HAMILTON AQUAMARINE Power, the Edinburgh-based marine energy company, announced yesterday that it has appointed Martin McAdam as its chief executive. McAdam joins Aquamarine from wind farm developer and operator Airtricity, where he was chief operating officer.

A PILOT was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday - to change a faulty light bulb. The plane, carrying 32 passengers from Shetland to Aberdeen, was diverted after the pilot reported a smell of burning.