Feature

It is 2004, and a couple of giant globes roll past a fatigued Will Smith in a self-driving car in the Hollywood blockbuster sci-fi film "I, Robot."

"Originally from Taiwan and now one of California's rising young jazz artists, here is Ponpon Chen and her quintet," declared the announcer of American news program World News Now (WNN) at the conclusion of a May 9 broadcast as the credits rolled.

John Frankiv had endured a sleepless night when contacted by CNA on July 10 and had to postpone the interview by eight hours. The Russian military had attacked Ukraine with 397 strike drones and 18 missiles in the early hours of the day, and the loud explosions in Kyiv had kept him awake, Frankiv said.

Go bags filled with essentials for surviving wartime scenarios or natural disasters have soared in popularity in Taiwan recently amid American warnings to prepare them and rising fears of future military conflict.

He has won five Golden Melody Awards, the equivalent of the Grammys in the Mandarin pop world, and earned songwriting credits on albums released by Andy Lau (劉德華), Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄) and many other superstars.

Taiwan is opening a new front in its efforts to counter China's threats to its security -- the classroom -- to foster a greater sense of national identity and awareness of China's threat, but scholars warned that the approach could blur the line between education and political indoctrination.

[Editor's Note: This is part two of a two-part series examining the health and work challenges facing both legal and undocumented migrant workers in Taiwan who are pregnant or raising children, as well as the health issues affecting their children.]

[Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part series examining the health challenges facing undocumented migrant workers and their children in Taiwan.]

"A Chip Odyssey," (造山者-世紀的賭注) Taiwan's first documentary spotlighting its world-leading semiconductor industry, will premiere nationwide Friday after five years of production amid a turbulent global climate.

By Joseph Yeh, staff reporter