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Taiwan News Quicktake

■BIOTECHNOLOGY

First stage of park done

The first stage of the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park is complete and is expected to reach an annual output value of NT$18 billion (US$557.3 million), with more than 6,000 employees upon completion of the third stage of construction in 2013, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said yesterday. The council said 20 factories and one incubation center have already began operations at the park. Among them, Hokuto Corp, a Japan-listed company that produces mushrooms, has the largest investment at NT$430 million. Total investment in the first-stage construction area has reached NT$3.86 billion, the council said, adding that the second stage would be completed by March.



■TOURISM

Orchid castle park opens

A multi-function park named Orchid Exploration World opened yesterday in Tainan County, with management vowing to make it a world-class leisure and tourism facility. Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) and Taiwan Orchid Professional Co chairman Chang Teh-ning (張德齡) presided over the opening of the park, which was previously an orchid biotechnology production center. Su praised the local orchid industry and said he hoped the park would promote local brands on the world market by showcasing local achievements. Taiwan Orchid Professional Co, commissioned by the county government, is in charge of operating the multi-function leisure park for 12 years.



■HEALTH

Swine flu toll rises to 21

The Central Epidemic Command Center reported yesterday that A(H1N1) claimed one more life on Thursday, bringing the number of the nation’s swine flu victims to 21. The victim, the second in Hualien, was a 45-year-old man with chronic diseases, Hualien County Government’s Department of Health said. The man had long suffered from tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes and gout. He tested positive for A(H1N1) last Sunday, the bureau said. He died on Thursday. The center reported that the 20th swine flu victim was a 10-year-old girl with epilepsy who died on Friday in Taipei County. She was hospitalized on Tuesday after having a sudden bout of seizures and developing a fever at school. The hospital tried to control her seizures with emergency treatment, but did not give her the anti-viral drug Tamiflu for swine flu. The girl was declared dead on Wednesday. Only on Thursday did a test report by the Centers for Disease Control reveal that she had a severe case of swine flu.



■EDUCATION

Schools to push exercise

Based on research showing that “exercise makes people smart,” the Ministry of Education recently suggested that elementary and junior high schools reinforce requirements that students do stretching exercises in the morning. Physical Education Department Director Wang Chun-chuan (王俊權) said scientific studies — including one in the Journal of Physiology by researchers at National Cheng Kung University in May — show that exercise helps boost brain vitality. The team found spatial or aversive learning and memory of laboratory mice improved after they were pushed to run on a treadmill or wheel for one month. The conclusion was cited in a New York Time article on Sept. 16 and triggered heated debate on the Internet. Citing the report, Wang said teachers should lead students in stretching exercises 30 minutes every morning, saying the practice would enhance students’ ability to learn.


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