■MEDICINE
Team treats Paraguayans
A medical team assembled by Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) has won acclaim in Paraguay for performing 15 artificial joint replacement procedures in the past week on Paraguayan patients. Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare told a press conference on Thursday that the team also shared its expertise with medical staff at the hospital where it worked. The ICDF medical team was composed of four orthopedic and cardiology specialists and two nurses. They arrived in Asuncion on Oct. 13 and performed the 15 joint replacement surgeries in less than 10 days.
■TRANSPORT
Bill allows water on MRT
The Legislative Yuan is screening a law amendment that would allow passengers on mass rapid transit (MRT) systems to drink water on the trains. The draft amendment to the Mass Rapid Transit Act (大眾捷運法) was presented yesterday to the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which will later move it to the legislative floor for approval if it passes the first screening. The draft amendment does not seek to lift the ban on food or other drinks on MRT trains, only on drinking water. The bill also proposed that passengers be allowed to carry caged animals on the trains.
■AGRICULTURE
Grouper study nets award
Yang Hui-lang (楊惠郎), a professor at National Cheng Kung University, has won this year’s prize in agricultural sciences presented by the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS). Yang won the prize for his outstanding achievements in the research and development of immunology, oral vaccines and prevention of viral infections in grouper aquaculture, the university spokesman said. TWAS is an international organization based in Trieste, Italy, that promotes scientific excellence for sustainable development in developing countries around the world.
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