FEATURE/Captain Taiwan: Chen Chieh-hsien and his glorious return to Japan

"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.