Prize laureates

Three scientists whose work helped transform immune cells into powerful
cancer treatments have been named recipients of the 2026 Tang Prize in
Biopharmaceutical Science.

Steven A. Rosenberg, Michel Sadelain and Carl H. June were recognized for
developing immunotherapies that use a patient's own immune cells to fight
cancer.

The Tang Prize committee says their work has revolutionized treatment for a
range of blood cancers and solid tumors.

In interviews ahead of the announcement, the three researchers highlighted
the importance of perseverance, unconventional thinking and a commitment to
helping patients.

They also described years of setbacks and skepticism before their therapies
eventually proved successful.

The Tang Prize is awarded every two years to honor major achievements in
fields including sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology
and the rule of law.

A Taiwan Creative Content Agency-organized pavilion will return to the Seoul
International Book Fair later this month, featuring 160 titles from 55
publishers.

Organizers say the event aims to build on the strong sales and publishing
rights deals generated when Taiwan served as the fair's guest of honor last
year.

TAICCA Chairperson Sue Wang says Taiwan's publishing industry is receiving
growing international recognition, pointing to the recent International
Booker Prize win for Taiwan Travelogue.

A number of Taiwanese authors will take part in events during the fair,
including Li Ang, Hu Mu-ching, Liglav A-wu and Lai Ma.

The Taipei Book Fair Foundation will also operate a separate pavilion focused
on cultural exchanges between Taiwan and South Korea.

The Seoul International Book Fair runs from June 24 through June 28.

In local sports news,

Houston Astros right-hander Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) and Detroit Tigers infielder
Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇) made Major League Baseball history yesterday by becoming the
first Taiwanese pitcher and batter to face each other in an MLB game.

The pair matched up twice, with Teng striking out Lee in their first
encounter before Lee responded with a base hit the second time.

Lee finished with two hits and the first stolen base of his Major League
career as Detroit defeated Houston 9-3.

Despite taking the loss, Teng recorded a career-high nine strikeouts and
became only the fourth Taiwanese pitcher to reach 100 career strikeouts in
the majors.

The Legislative Yuan has approved amendments to the Waste Disposal Act that
significantly increase penalties for illegal dumping and other environmental
offenses.

Under the changes, offenders could face up to seven years in prison and fines
of up to $15 million NT.

The law also gives authorities new high-tech tools to track waste shipments
and crack down on illegal dumping.

Penalties can be increased further if violations occur in environmentally
sensitive areas.

The amendments also give authorities greater powers to freeze assets and
recover environmental cleanup costs from offenders.

Environmental officials say the changes are aimed at strengthening
enforcement, improving waste management and supporting the development of a
circular economy.

(IG)

The head of Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office says two companies
currently suing T-S-M-C for patent infringement appear to be so-called
'patent trolls'.

T-I-P-O Director General Liao Cheng-wei (廖承威) says the two Irish firms are
seeking licensing fees or settlement payments rather than producing products
based on the patents in question.

The companies have filed a complaint with the U-S International Trade
Commission, accusing T-S-M-C of using their patented technology in chip
production.

Liao says T-S-M-C is challenging the validity of the patents through the U-S
patent review process.

He also expressed confidence in the chipmaker's research capabilities and
intellectual property portfolio.

The case remains under review by U-S authorities.

(CNA_IG)

Seven protected sea turtles have been released back into the ocean in Penghu
as part of activities marking World Sea Turtle Day today.

The turtles, including one hawksbill and six green sea turtles, had
previously been rescued after suffering injuries or becoming stranded due to
rough weather or ill health.

Officials say the animals were treated and rehabilitated before being cleared
for release at Shili Beach.

More than 100 teachers and students joined local officials to watch the
turtles return to the sea despite rainy and windy weather.

The event also included educational activities aimed at promoting marine
conservation and protecting endangered wildlife.

Officials say Penghu has cared for nearly 700 protected sea turtles since
establishing its rescue center in 1997, with more than 400 successfully
returned to the wild.

(IG)

Cancer support groups in Taiwan are urging the government to include
psychological counseling under National Health Insurance coverage.

The Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance cited research by National Taiwan
University Hospital showing that people diagnosed with cancer face a
significantly higher risk of suicide than the general population,
particularly during the first three months after diagnosis.

Advocates say the findings highlight the need for stronger mental health
support throughout cancer treatment and recovery.

While government agencies and organizations such as the "Hope Foundation for
Cancer Care" and the "Formosa Cancer Foundation" already offer counseling
services ...

... the groups say many patients do not realize help is available when they
are coping with treatment decisions and the emotional impact of a diagnosis.

They add that limited capacity, travel distance, appointment procedures and
financial concerns can all make professional support more difficult to
obtain.

(IG)

Prosecutors in Chiayi have indicted four people in connection with the fatal
beating of a homeless man near Taiwan Railway's Chiayi Station during the
Lunar New Year holiday,

The victim and the four defendants were all homeless individuals who had been
sheltering in a nearby underpass, when an altercation involving money led to
two rounds of assault.

The victim was found around an hour later, having sustained fatal blunt force
trauma to the head causing severe brain injury.

Three defendants charged with causing death by assault and one facing the
lesser charge of assault.

(NS)

A car crash near Taipei Arena caused a temporary power outage in the
surrounding area earlier today.

Police say they received reports of the crash shortly before 11 a.m.

A man in his 70s was driving westbound on Section 4 of Nanjing East Road when
he apparently became unwell and lost control of his vehicle.

The car struck a power distribution box on the median strip, temporarily
cutting electricity to nearby residences.

Authorities say no injuries were reported.

Police have ruled out both drunk and drugged driving as factors in the crash.

Investigators are continuing to determine the cause of the crash and who was
responsible.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is launching expanded services for seniors
living alone.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the program covers not only seniors
living entirely alone, but also those whose spouse living with them is also
aged 65 or above, those whose cohabitants are unable to provide care, and
those whose adult children do not live in the same county or city.

Shih says government outreach visits will be completed within two years, and
all identified individuals placed into one of four risk tiers receiving care
at different frequencies.

And services range from routine welfare check visits and meal delivery, to
emergency response device subsidies and functional assessments to connect
seniors with appropriate medical or social welfare resources.

The central government is investing $6.25 billion NT over the next two years
to expand services for elderly people living alone, as the island's
super-aged society brings a surge in older adults without nearby family
support.

(NS)

Taiwanese authorities have announced one of the country's largest drug busts
in recent years ... after seizing 280 kilograms of heroin and 354 kilograms
of ketamine.

The Investigation Bureau put the street value of those narcotics at 10.3
billion NT.

The bureau says the heroin seized exceeded the total amount confiscated over
the previous three years combined, making it one of the most significant
anti-drug busts.

It also says the operation, which took place in early December last year, was
a collaboration between Taiwan's law enforcement agencies and the U-S Drug
Enforcement Administration.

Taiwan's task force boarded the fishing vessel and seized the drugs hidden
under frozen fish, and arrested 10 fishermen onboard, including three
Taiwanese nationals and seven foreign crew members.

The bureau says the case highlights the importance of intelligence sharing
and international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

(IG)

KMT Chair Cheng Li Wen has returned from her trip to the US, and was mum upon
her arrival as to any takeaways from the trip.

When reporters asked the chair about the results of her over two-week-long
trip, Cheng just wished the crowd a good morning and thanked them.

Cheng and her delegation arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at just
past 5 this morning.

She departed for the US on the first of the month, visiting cities on both
the east and west coast.

(AH)

The Food and Drug Administration is confirming that a contaminated infant
formula in the US was not imported into Taiwan.

The product came under scrutiny after three cases of infant botulism were
reported in the US.

The US CDC found that all three affected infants had consumed the formula.

Taiwanese officials say that there are no import records for the product over
the past three years.

According to the U.S. FDA, the three illnesses began between April and May
2026.

Testing of the infant formula in question and related investigations remain
ongoing.

The winner of the 2026 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development says, the win is
both surreal and deeply humbling.

Susan Solomon remarked on past Tang Price winners, saying that they were
"amazing people that she enormously respects."

Early in her career, Solomon made the breakthrough that explained the
Antarctic ozone hole.

Her discovery paved the way for international action on climate change
through the Montreal Protocol, which phased out ozone-depleting checmicals
and demonstrated that government, scientists, and the private sector could
work together to solve a crisis.

Solomon says, she hopes young people will draw strength from the world's
successes in solving environmental problems.

She urged young people to contemplate how they could benefit the Earth's
future.

Taipei Metro is partnering with Pokémon GO to celebrate the game's tenth
anniversary and the upcoming "Pokémon GO Fest 2026".

The transit operator has transformed Xinzhongshan Linear Park into a
Pokémon-themed attraction that is now open to visitors.

A warm-up event is scheduled for June 28th at Taipei Arena Plaza, while the
main celebration will take place at Xinzhongshan on July 11th and 12th.

Visitors can complete event challenges, pick up commemorative gifts and take
photos with a giant Mewtwo display.

Taipei Metro will also begin selling a Mewtwo-themed EasyCard on July 11th.

Additional promotions and prize giveaways are planned throughout the event.

(IG)

Kaohsiung City suspended work and classes in Taoyuan District this afternoon
due to ongoing heavy rain in the area.

Many districts have received over 120 millimeters of rainfall so far today.

Local officials say landslides and traffic disruptions have affected the
district's main access roads, raising concerns about public safety.

The Taoyuan District Office is warning that mountain roads remain at risk
from falling rocks, landslides and debris flows.

Residents are being urged to avoid hazardous roads, exercise caution while
traveling and monitor the latest disaster prevention information.

(IG)

Taipei police have arrested a man accused of organizing an illegal street
racing event on Yangmingshan.

Investigators say the gathering took place on the night of May 16th, when
dozens of modified motorcycles and vehicles met before heading into the
mountain area.

Police say officers later intercepted the group and identified more than 50
participants.

Authorities allege the 20-year-old suspect used social media to promote the
event and advertise a motorcycle modification business.

He has been referred to prosecutors on charges related to public endangerment.

Police say they will increase patrols and enforcement on roads around
Yangmingshan and other known gathering spots, particularly on Friday and
Saturday nights.

Capital Financial Group is expanding parental benefits for employees ... as
part of efforts to support families and address Taiwan's declining birth
rate.

The company says it is increasing paid maternity leave from eight weeks to 12
(weeks), with the change applying retroactively to employees whose children
were born on or after June 1.

Capital Financial is also extending childcare-related benefits to male
employees who take paternity leave or paternity checkup leave.

The company says the changes are intended to promote gender equality and
encourage fathers to take a more active role in raising children.

It says the expanded benefits are part of broader family-friendly workplace
policies that include flexible work arrangements and childcare support
programs.

(IG)

An HIV-positive man in Taichung has been indicted on charges including rape
resulting in serious bodily injury.

That's after he was linked to five women with HIV infetions.

The case came to light after a health bureau identified multiple HIV-positive
individuals linked to the same person during contact tracing.

Futher investigation uncovered suspected sexual offenses, prompting referrals
to authorities.

The man allegedly used religious rhetoric to deceive and exploit the women
involved.

Authorities note that concealing one's HIV-positive status and engaging in
unprotected sex resulting in the infection of others is punishable by up to
12 years in prison.

It's not clear if the suspect in this case knew he was HIV positive when he
allegedly assaulted the women.

The indicted man was indentified by local media as a school bus driver.

An Australian man won two events at the first ever Penghu Oceanman.

Thomas Gilbert won the 5 kilometer Half Oceanman race yesterday, after taking
the 10 kilometer win on Saturday as well.

In both races, swimmers started in the Guanyiting Recreation Area in Magong,
swam into the bay, and returned, covering different numbers of laps for their
respective distances.

1450 competitiors particiated in five events yesterday, four of which were
qualifying events for the international Oceanman World Final Championship in
November.

The annual competition, originally known as the Cross Penghu Bay Swim, was
upgraded to the two-day 2026 Penghu Oceanman this year.

A total of around 2,550 athletes from 23 countries, including Japan, the
United States, India, and Malaysia, competed in the waters of Penghu Bay
during the two-day event.

The Taiwan Railway Administration has suspended service on the Pingxi line
between Jingtong (菁桐) and Shifen (十分) due to a rockfall along that route.

It made the announcement just before 1:30pm. The TRA said it has dispatched
maintenance teams to clear the rockfall, and it has arranged for a bus
shuttle service between Jingtong and Shifen.

CNA_zh_JvW

NTU researchers have identified an extinct Ice Age peacock species previously
endemic to Taiwan, filling a long-standing gap in the island's bird fossil
record.

The university said the findings are based on a well-preserved humerus fossil
donated by a fossil collector.

The researchers concluded the fossil belonged to a previously unknown
Taiwan-endemic bird species during the Pleistocene era.

They named it "Pavo miejue."

The species was larger than the Mikado pheasant, Taiwan's largest extant
endemic bird.

The researchers said Pavo miejue is the first extinct Pleistocene bird
species identified in Taiwan. The name means "extinct peacock" ... and it was
chosen to draw public attention to past extinction events.

The discovery extends the known range of the peacock and its relatives into
East Asia.

CNA_JvW

The Ministry of Education is rebutting social media posts that claim its
"School Youth Service Mobilization Preparedness Plan" is aimed at
conscripting underage students to go to war.

The ministry reiterated that the program isn't going to send students to
battlefields. Rather, it's intended to give them basic knowledge and skills
in disaster prevention, first aid, self-rescue, and mutual assistance.

Schools will be expected to support operations related to evacuation
guidance, community care and public services.

The ministry highlighted that the plan explicitly excludes military and
policing duties.

CNA_zh_JvW

An exhibition featuring gowns worn by Nymphia Wind has opened at San
Francisco's Asian Art Museum, with the Taiwanese drag artist saying he hopes
the event will help to raise the profile of Taiwan and its culture.

Nymphia Wind won the reality competition show RuPaul's Drag Race in 2024.

He attended the exhibition's ribbon-cutting ceremony and took part in a
symposium.

The artist was born in the United States and raised in Taiwan. He said his
interest in Taiwanese culture has deepened over time, adding that he has
recently been learning Indigenous handicrafts.

Nymphia Wind prefers male pronouns when out of drag and female pronouns when
describing his drag persona.

The exhibition features three of the drag artist's signature gowns, including
an iconic banana outfit, an off-white gown adorned with Taiwanese motifs
including a clouded leopard and a Mikado pheasant ... as well as a purple
dress inspired by traditional Taiwanese opera.

CNA_JvW

Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions Manager Lin Yue-ping (林岳平) says he supports
expanding the CPBL and believes Taiwan could eventually accommodate as many
as eight teams.

Lin's remarks came after TS Financial Holding Chairman Thomas Wu (吳東亮) said
that the company had internally discussed forming a CPBL franchise following
a proposal from a shareholder at the company's annual meeting.

The suggestion that "Lions" be part of the team name is due to name of Shin
Kong Group's founder.

The "shi" in Wu Huo-shi's (吳火獅) name is the character for "lion."

TS Financial Holding was created last July through the merger of Taishin
Financial and Shin Kong Financial.

CNA_JvW

Overtime hours worked by employees in two of Taiwan's key AI-related
manufacturing sectors reached record highs for April this year.

This underscores the strong demand for semiconductor chips and related
products amid the global AI boom.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says the
electronic components manufacturing sector recorded an average of 29.6
overtime hours per worker in April, the highest figure for that month since
records began 47 years ago.

Meanwhile, the computer, electronic, and optical products manufacturing
sector recorded an average of 18.1 overtime hours per worker, also the
highest April figure on record for *that* sector.

The figures suggest demand tied to AI development remains strong, continuing
to drive growth in Taiwan's export-oriented technology industries.

CNA_JvW

Health authorities are investigating a suspected dengue fever cluster at a
hospital in Kaohsiung ... after five inpatients tested positive for the
mosquito-borne disease.

A Centers for Disease Control spokesperson says the outbreak marks Taiwan's
first dengue cluster reported in a hospital since 2018.

The index case was a 78-year-old woman who was hospitalized from May 29 to
June 10. After being readmitted the following day with fever, dizziness and
nausea, she tested positive for dengue fever serotype 2.

The cluster at Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital has prompted ward
restrictions, disinfection measures and expanded screening.

CNA_JvW

Former DPP official Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) has been placed in detention over his
failure to pay 170 million NT in damages to a state-owned company in a land
scandal case.

The Taichung District Court said the 78-year-old went in voluntarily after
repeatedly failing to comply with court orders to appear for questioning.

The court ruled in favor of Taiwan Sugar Corp., granting its request for Wu
to be held in a detention facility.

In its rationale for the ruling, the court said enforcement efforts against
Wu's assets were insufficient to satisfy his debt to Taisugar ... and no
property could be found to cover it.

Under the Compulsory Enforcement Act, a court may restrict a debtor's
personal freedom and place them in detention when they fail to meet
debt-enforcement obligations.

According to the court, the initial detention period won't exceed three
months, but it could be extended to a maximum of six months if new grounds
arise.

CNA_JvW

In a show of improving relations, the Somaliland Representative Office in
Taiwan has moved to a new location in Tianmu's Diplomatic Quarter.

Somaliland's Representative -- Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal -- says the move will
improve his country's diplomatic operations in Taiwan.

Galaal also praised the progress Taiwan has made on the international stage,
despite limited recognition.

Somaliland has been a self-governing state in East Africa since declaring
independence from Somalia in 1991.

Nevertheless, it's restricted diplomatically, with much of the international
community withholding recognition of its independence.

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu said the new location
"symbolizes the staunch and cordial ties between the two nations."

TB

The US Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a defense authorization
bill for fiscal 2027. It includes a provision that would authorize the
Department of Defense to establish a war reserve stockpile program for
Taiwan.

The National Defense Authorization Act passed by an 18-9 vote ... and will
now move to the Senate floor for consideration.

Among the highlights for the Indo-Pacific region, the bill would rename the
Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative as the First Island Chain Security
Cooperation Initiative and allow the Philippines to receive assistance under
the program. The initiative would also be extended through 2032.

In addition, the bill would authorize the defense department to establish the
War Reserve Stockpile program for Taiwan and require a review of delays in US
arms sales to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Last week, the US House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the
fiscal '27 defense authorization bill, which includes up to a billion dollars
to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities.

CNA_JvW

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says real
average monthly regular wages in Taiwan rose 1.4 percent on-year from January
to April ... despite inflationary pressures.

The average monthly regular wage in the local industrial and service sectors
in the first four months of this year was just over 44,000 NT. 1.4 percent is
the fastest rate of growth for the first four months since 2020.

Before factoring out inflation, monthly wages in Taiwan were up 2.9 percent
in April, the second-highest growth rate in 27 years.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan's National Park Administration is advising hikers to stay out of the
mountains, citing slippery conditions and the potential for sudden landslides
and rockfalls in mountainous areas.

This follows a week of wet conditions and forecasts for continued torrential
rain in central and southern Taiwan until at least Tuesday.

The park administration says, "The mountains will always be there" in
advising against overeagerness among the hiking crowd.

The Central Weather Administration says the weather will start to turn around
on Wednesday.

CNA_zh_JvW