Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, most people have focused primarily on the epidemic, overlooking how global warming-induced extreme weather is slowly encroaching upon our daily lives. From scorching heatwaves and brutal cold snaps to torrential downpours and relentless droughts, climate anomalies once thought to occur only once in a century are now happening with alarming frequency. Nature’s fierce retaliation has even claimed countless precious lives!

In 2022, the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar—also known as the "World Cup Football Tournament" or simply the "World Cup"—concluded successfully on December 18 local time. At the moment when Argentine player Lionel Messi lifted the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy high above his head, Argentina not only secured their long-awaited third title after a 36-year wait but also etched a legendary chapter into Messi’s illustrious football career—and even into the history of the sport itself.

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand are surrounded by oceans on all sides and lie far from other continents, giving them incredibly rich ecological diversity. From towering mountain ranges to vast, open seas, both countries boast uniquely breathtaking landscapes. However, scientists now warn that plastic waste is steadily encroaching upon Australia's Great Barrier Reef—located off the country's eastern coast and designated a World Heritage site—accelerating the deterioration of its coral ecosystems. Meanwhile, New Zealand authorities have discovered that 75% of fish caught in local waters contain microplastics. These alarming signs have prompted both Australia and New Zealand to take the issue of plastic pollution extremely seriously.

Prince Holdings Corporation announced a new investment in Deluxe Technology Group Co., Ltd., a leading Taiwanese manufacturer of high-end pulp-molded packaging equipment and products, through a third-party placement of new shares. Additionally, Prince Holdings has secured global sales rights for Deluxe’s products and equipment, with exclusive distribution rights in Japan and India.

Plastic pollution and climate change are among the most pressing environmental challenges today, yet many people remain unaware of the strong link between the two. As pressure mounts to tackle climate change and demand for fossil fuels declines, plastic production has emerged as an alternative growth driver for the oil industry. In fact, oil giant BP predicts that by 2040, plastics will account for 95% of the net increase in global oil demand. Meanwhile, the industry has been actively lobbying against plastic regulations, pushing for the production of virgin plastics—and even promoting recycling as a solution to divert public attention, despite the fact that this approach fails to address the root of the problem.

Plastic has become an essential part of daily urban life, ranging from food containers and coffee cups to the countless single-use items discarded every day. Despite efforts to manage waste, significant plastic pollution continues to flow into streets, parks, and waterways, posing a threat to both humans and the wildlife that shares these spaces with us.