A plant extract used in Chinese herbal remedies for arthritis, gout and inflammation has been directly linked to cancer and causes a surprising number of genetic mutations, scientists said Wednesday.

The gene signature of aristolochic acid -- derived from a vine known as birthwort -- was found in tumors from 19 upper urinary tract cancer patients from Taiwan.

Taipei zoo held a "baby-shower" party Sunday to celebrate the one month birthday of the first panda born in Taiwan as the cub continues to be a star attraction even though she has yet to appear in public.

Hundreds of children accompanied their parents to attend the party, during which a video featuring the baby panda's growth was screened. Guests were also invited to experience what it is like to feed a panda cub in an incubator using a replica.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou was mobbed by hundreds of angry mourners Sunday as he attended the funeral service for a young conscript who died after allegedly being abused by his officers.

Protestors, including relatives and sympathizers, shouted "We want truth" as Ma, protected by security guards, made his way to the funeral site at the soldier's home in the central city of Taichung.

Taiwanese lawmakers exchanged punches and threw water at each other Friday ahead of an expected vote that would authorize a national referendum on whether to finish building a fourth power plant on this densely populated island of 23 million people.

Nuclear power has long been a contentious issue in Taiwan and became more so following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011. While frequent earthquakes have led many Taiwanese to conclude that nuclear power generation constitutes an unacceptable safety risk, economic analyses suggest disruptive power shortages are inevitable if the fourth plant is not completed.

Taiwanese prosecutors indicted 18 military officials on Wednesday over the death of a young conscript who had been subjected to "cruel and abusive" punishment, in an incident that has sparked widespread anger.

Corporal Hung Chung-chiu died of heatstroke on July 4, just three days before the end of his compulsory year-long military service. His family said he was forced to do excessive exercise as punishment for taking a smartphone onto his base.

Taiwan on Monday named a civilian to head up a defense ministry that is struggling to attract recruits and facing protests over the heat-stroke death of a soldier while he was confined in a military brig.

Andrew Yang, 58, had previously been deputy defense minister and replaces Kao Hua-chu, who resigned on Monday. Premier Jiang Yi-huah announced the appointment without elaborating on the reasons for Kao's departure.

Thousands of protesters rallied in Taipei Saturday to demand justice for a corporal who died after allegedly being abused in the military, in a case that sparked anger across Taiwan.

Demonstrators, holding placards reading "Murder" and "We want the truth", gathered outside the Defense Ministry two weeks after Hung Chung-chiu died of heatstroke apparently caused by being forced to exercise excessively.

In an attempt to boost the country's low birth rate, the Taiwanese government has turned to a rather bizarre superstition, encouraging pregnant women to "share their luck" with others by distributing unused sanitary pads and tampons.

Tapping into the Taiwanese tradition, which dictates that "women can increase their chances of getting pregnant by obtaining unused maxi pads or tampons from pregnant woman to share their luck," according to the Taipei Times, Taipei's Department of Civil Affairs announced this week that it will be collecting pads and tampons from expectant moms until the end of the month. The Times reports that the donated items will distributed "to those who are in need" in August.

Typhoon Soulik battered Taiwan with torrential rain and powerful winds on Saturday that left one person dead and at least 30 people injured.

As daylight dawned, some areas were submerged by flood waters, roofs were ripped from homes, and debris and fallen trees littered the streets.

Taiwan evacuated more than 2,000 tourists on Thursday as the island braced for super-typhoon Soulik, while Japan's Okinawa warned residents that giant waves of up to 12 meters (40 feet) could pound the archipelago.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a "land warning" at 1230 GMT, a signal issued when a storm is thought to be 18 hours away from Taiwan.