Pacific Bio-Fields Holdings Plc said it has received approval to use 400,000 hectares of land to plant coconut trees in the Philippines to make alternative auto fuel, which it aims to sell to Japanese users in five years.

Scientists have said they had identified the toxin in a species of mushroom that killed seven people in Japan in recent years.

In an article published in Nature Chemical Biology on Monday, the researchers said they isolated the poisonous compound in the mushroom, Russula subnigricans, and confirmed its toxicity by feeding it to mice.

Power generation from renewable sources such as wind turbines, solar cells and biomass plays a small but important part in satisfying total electricity demand around the world, and is growing at an exponential rate thanks to generous public subsidies and government support.

WHAT could be the world

Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Thursday that people of Karachi would soon see relief in load shedding. He said this after signing ceremony of rental services contract of 232 MW barge-mounted Karkey Rental Power Project, a project of Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S., Turkey.

Japan has agreed to provide assistance for three projects, including Karachi Circular Railway project (KCR), sixth secondary transmission and grids project of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and New Khanki Barrage. Japan may make formal announcement in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting scheduled in Tokyo on April 17.

Japan's subsidies for home solar panels have attracted far fewer applicants than planned, industry data showed on Wednesday, underscoring the likelihood of bold government steps to promote solar power.

The electrification along the Omanthai Mankulam road had been completed at a cost of ten million rupees, a Power and Energy Ministry official said.

According to the official all the three zones of the Menik Farm had been provided with electricity at cost of Rs. Six million. Further the Ceylon Electricity Board has spent over Rs. five million to provide Padaviya hospital with electricity.