The bureau said that the Thai monarch developed fever Sunday evening and his medical team diagnosed a lung infection after examining his chest and abdomen using computer-assisted X-ray diagnostic technology.

However, His Majesty the King has no cough and his doctors found no inflammation.

The medical team, administered antibiotics and intravenous fluid to the 81-year-old monarch.

The king’s fever had receded since Monday morning and his general condition is good, according to the statement.

In a world increasingly concerned with global warming, there is a growing turn towards more renewable sources of energy. Xinsheng Zheng and colleagues in China have noticed the importance of renewable fuels like biodiesel.

Current biodiesel production processes produce large amounts of waste water, and the catalysts required to speed up the chemical reactions that transform plant oils into diesel fuel cannot be reused. This new research suggests that a catalyst derived from shrimp shells converted canola oil to biodiesel more efficiently, and quickly than some traditional catalysts, and additionally can be reused.

Their study is scheduled for release in the Aug. 20 issue of ACS’ Energy & Fuels.

“‘Operation Flower’ began about three years ago. By planting flowers facing the street, more people will be keeping an eye out while taking care of the flowers or watering them,” said Kiyotaka Ohyagi, a Suginami City official.

“The best way to prevent crime is to have more people on the lookout.”

Suginami, with a population of 528,800, saw a record 1,710 break-ins in 2002.

When a neighborhood watch group found that there were fewer burglaries in buildings on flower-lined streets, Suginami decided to kick off Operation Flower and asked volunteers to plant seeds on side streets and in front of their homes.

The flowers are part of a wider crime prevention campaign. The district also has 9,600 volunteer patrollers and 200 security cameras set up in areas where there are frequent break-ins. It also emails crime information daily to residents.

The 310m Pearl River Tower is going to be off the electricity grid of China, in one of it’s most polluted cities, and will be run on a combination of wind turbines, solar panels and fuel cells. The building is expected to be finished in late 2010.

Other energy efficient features include a double-layer curtain-wall system to reduce heat absorption and slab concrete vaulted ceilings that enhance natural daylight. Chilled water will run through metal panels in the ceiling, helping to cool the building.

Hopefully China is finally waking up to the threat of global warming and can lead the world in sustainable building.

The Sri Lankan Government has announced an end to combat operations against the Tamil Tiger rebels and instructed the army to stop using heavy weapons and aerial bombardment that could harm civilians caught in the conflict zone.

A statement issued by the office of the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, last night said security forces would now “confine their attempts to rescuing civilians who are held hostage and give foremost priority to saving civilians”.

There was no explanation for the about-face but Mr Rajapaksa’s Government has been under huge pressure from overseas to halt fighting to protect civilians caught up in the conflict.