Taiwan to crack down on plastic bag hoarding

Taiwan to crack down on plastic bag hoarding

2026-04-02

Conflict in the Middle East has affected the supply of petrochemical raw materials and plastic products worldwide. In Taiwan, traditional markets and wet markets have been experiencing severe shortages of plastic bags. After a Cabinet meeting, new response measures have been announced. Let’s hear from Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun.

Cheng Li-chiun
Vice Premier
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has established an industrial supply chain reporting and coordination platform, along with a dedicated hotline. If shortages or abnormal price fluctuations are found, please call the hotline. The price stabilization task force has set out four principles. First, increase upstream petrochemical raw material production. Second, prioritize supply to domestic manufacturers. Third, have midstream and downstream manufacturers both boost production and reallocate supplies. Fourth, investigate hoarding and price gouging. Yesterday, the premier inspected the restart of the No. 4 naphtha cracker. The monthly production capacity of ethylene will increase from over 60,000 tons to 79,000 tons in April. That can supply 340 million plastic bags with a size of 30cm by 30cm to downstream manufacturers. Priority will be given to domestic needs. Production capacity is expected to rise further to 90,000 tons in May.

Cheng said the government will use regional minimum pricing and special stabilization mechanisms to absorb rising oil costs. In April, prices for bottled liquefied petroleum gas and household natural gas will remain frozen. Transportation fares, including the Taiwan High Speed Rail, Taiwan Railway, MRT, buses, highway coaches, and domestic flights will also remain unchanged while conflict continues in the Middle East.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#plastic #oil #gas #gasoline #prices #costofliving #middleeast

中東動盪釀"塑膠袋之亂" 政院:嚴查囤積.哄抬

2026-04-02

近期中東局勢動盪，影響到石化原料與塑膠製品的供應，在民間的傳統市場、菜市場的塑膠袋缺貨嚴重，行政院會後有最新新因應措施。

[[行政院副院長鄭麗君]]
“經濟部已經成立了產業供應鏈通報及調控平台，也有相關的通報專線。發現缺貨，或者價格異常波動，請打專線。物價會議指示四個原則，第一，上游石化原料增產；第二，優先供應國內廠商；第三，中下游廠商增產跟調貨並行；第四，我們會嚴查囤貨跟哄抬物價。昨天院長去視察了四輕的開爐作業，乙烯的月產能，四月份中油會從6萬多公噸，增產到7.9萬公噸，可以供應中下游廠商3.4億個塑膠袋，如果以30乘30公分為例的話，優先供應給國內。(乙烯產能)5月會增加到9萬公噸。”

民生物價方面，鄭麗君表示，會透過亞鄰最低價，以及專案平穩機制，來吸收油價漲幅。四月桶裝瓦斯、民生用天然氣皆凍漲。交通相關票價，包括高鐵、台鐵、捷運、公車、客運等公共運輸，國內線航空票價，在中東衝突期間都維持不漲價。

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Bag full of unfired bullets found on Taipei sidewalk

Last Sunday, a plastic bag containing 114 unfired shotgun bullets was found on the sidewalk of Taipei’s Minsheng Community. After the police was alerted about it, they discovered that it came from a man surnamed Liu, who’d hired a private waste management company to collect discarded items from his home. It ended up out in the open, because the waste collector, another man surnamed Lee didn’t know what to do with it. On Thursday, the police concluded their investigations and filed the case with prosecutors.

Two police officers squat by the sidewalk. They were notified of this discarded plastic bag full of unfired bullets.

In total, the bag contains 114 shotgun bullets.

Wang Yu-chun
FTV reporter
We’re now on Fujin Street, where the plastic bag containing bullets was discarded—right here. A passer-by noticed the bag and found that it contained a large number of bullets. Frightened, they called the police.

Resident
Minsheng Community
I find it incredible. How can this possibly be? Because the whole Minsheng Community is very well managed.

The bullets came from the home of a man surnamed Liu, who had hired a private waste management company. His live-in domestic worker assumed that the bag of bullets was to be discarded too, so it was handed over to the waste collector, a man surnamed Lee, who was shocked to find that it was filled with unfired bullets. Not knowing what to do, Lee left it on the roadside. The police eventually tracked down Liu, who claimed that the bullets belonged to his late grandfather, who had a permit to possess a shotgun. Liu also claimed that his grandfather’s shotgun was turned in to authorities, but that he was unaware that there was still a bag of bullets at home.

Chen Yu-han
Sanmin Police Station
We’ve finalized interviews about the case in violation of the Firearms, Ammunition, and Knives Control Act, and filed it with local prosecutors.

The police has filed the case with prosecutors, with both Liu and Lee to be named as defendants.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#legal #guns #gunpossession #firearms #publicsafety

2026-04-02

Ice sculptors, florists work behind the scenes to keep hotels beautiful

The most visible hotel employees work at reception. But there’s a whole team of people working hard behind the scenes as well. Two of these hidden jobs are the florists and ice sculptors. Although they’re not public facing, these staff are essential to the decor of every event. As many hotels find it hard to hire these professionals, many are willing to hire them on as full-time employees to maintain quality.

Couples all hope for a romantic and perfect wedding. But did you know? Long before they even get to the venue, there’s a whole team of people getting ready.

Huge blocks of ice fresh from the freezer are assembled into an Eiffel Tower. Nearby, florists adjust the placement of each and every flower.

An ice sculptor focuses intently on his work, his movements precise. Lai Lung-chu has been carving ice for 30 years. He used to be a chef of Chinese cuisine, but later got a taste of fruit carving. After winning multiple gold medals, he eventually made the foray into ice sculpting.

Lai Lung-chu
Hotel ice sculptor
This special tool is specifically for carving flowers. It isn’t something you can just buy in Taiwan. It’s imported.

Using this other speciality tool is sculptor Pan Chih-hao, who only needed three minutes to make this gorgeous bouquet. After they’re finished, the sculptures need to go straight back into the freezer.

Lai Lung-chu
Hotel ice sculptor
At negative-20 degrees, it’s a very low-temperature freezer for ice sculptures. We wear heavy winter coats. In this cold, you have to step out about every half hour.

Off in this other hidden corner of the hotel is a corridor that smells sweetly of flowers.

Wu Chiung-hui
Hotel florist
This is where we work. We use only fresh flowers in this hotel. When flowers come back from meetings or banquets, we’ll keep them here. For instance, we can use the roses for their petals.

To make sure that guests only see the most beautiful flowers, there’s also this secret area.

Wu Chiung-hui
Hotel florist
I’ll take you to see the fridge. It’s around 13 to 14 degrees, like the vegetable crisper in your typical refrigerator. When we finish an arrangement, we’ll put it in here so it’ll look its best when it goes out tomorrow.

Tien Yi-hsien
Hotel HR associate
Full-time employees better understand our company culture, clients, and products. Therefore, when interacting with guests, they can more clearly understand their needs and desires. Companies certainly care about costs, and we do as well, but we believe they’re an essential investment.

You heard it straight from the management: These behind-the-scenes helpers are a hotel’s best investment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#hotels #icesculpting #icesculpture #florist #flowerarranging #wedding #banquet #oddjobs

2026-04-02

Teresa Teng’s hotel butler recalls day of her death

It’s almost 31 years since legendary singer Teresa Teng had an asthma attack and passed away in a hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Recently, the hotel butler that served her that day finally spilled it all on Chinese social media. Speaking to a RedNote influencer, the butler, Billy recalled that Teng had an asthma attack in the shower at the hotel room. She had just gotten back after exercising, and didn’t have medications within reach. Her partner Paul Quilery was also away. There was also a traffic jam on the way to the hospital, so she unfortunately missed the life-saving golden window.

Teresa Teng’s beautiful singing voice reverberates, almost 31 years on. Details of that fateful day when she passed away remain shrouded in mystery. That’s until recently, when Billy, the hotel butler that served her in Chiang Mai, gave an interview with a Chinese influencer on RedNote.

- I called the manager, and the manager told us to send her to the hospital.
- She didn’t have meds with her?
- No, she didn’t. She would’ve been okay with just one pump. But on that day Ms. Teresa Teng didn’t have easy access to her inhaler.
- But had she used it at any point that day?
- No.
- But what happened could’ve been avoided had she used it, right?
- I understand.

The legendary singer passed away on May 8, 1995 from an asthma attack in a hotel in Chiang Mai. The butler recalls that on the day she died, he had entered her room and asked her what else she wanted for breakfast. In the afternoon, Teng had returned to her room to shower after exercising. That was when she had an asthma attack. She didn’t have an inhaler within reach, and her partner Paul Quilery was also away.

- We rushed her to the hospital, but there was a traffic jam, so we missed the golden window. She could not be resuscitated at the hospital, and soon afterwards, well…
- It was really rushed. By then, she had spasms and numbness in the limbs.
- Yes, spasms and numbness. The doctor also said she hadn’t seen the doctor in a long time.

After Teng died, Billy was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the hotel. However, being unable to save the singer prompted him to learn emergency first aid skills. That way, he would be able to help should he ever run into a similar incident again.

Lin Yung-zen
Immunologist
Asthma patients could get an asthma attack anytime and anywhere, and so patients are advised to carry medications that expand the trachea at all times. Patients are especially prone to attacks when they inhale polluted air, after strenuous exercise, or when they inhale cold air.

Although Teresa Teng passed away all too soon, her music and images remain in the heart of fans worldwide.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#teresateng #celebritynews #asthma #firstaid #health

2026-04-02

Passerby calls police over art installation resembling taxi crash

Art is meant to evoke feelings in the viewer, but what if those feelings are fear that someone is drowning? That’s what a new artwork at Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts did on Wednesday evening, even causing a bystander to call the police. The art piece in question was nothing other than a taxi sinking in a lake near the museum. Police arrived at the scene and quickly realized that there was no actual danger, as the taxi was just a replica for the upcoming “Electri City” exhibition.

A taxi appears to sink in the lake outside the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, headlights still on. The shocking sight startled passersby, who called the police to report a vehicle had plunged into the water.

Officers rushed to the scene only to realize there was no emergency. The taxi in the water isn’t real, but a new art installation.

Hung Tzu-tang
Police officer
We confirmed it was not a real vehicle. Nobody was trapped inside or in danger.

At first glance, the sight is shocking, but if you get closer, you can see the license plate is 5987, a pun on “I’m an idiot” in Taigi. The light at the top of the car says “Take” instead of “Taxi.” The confusion arose as the museum was preparing for its upcoming exhibition “Electri City” this Tomb Sweeping Festival long weekend.

Huang Yen-ying
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The piece is meant to be humorous while encouraging reflection about climate change. If scenes like that become part of our everyday normal lives, will we still be able to laugh?

The exhibition is about the future and is set to transform the museum and park into a space blending technology, electricity and art. The taxi itself is entirely fake, made of fiberglass, but crafted with striking realism.

- Would you mistake it for a real one?
- Yes!

Lin Yi-wen
Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
During the exhibition, there will be signs with introductions for each artwork. We’d like to apologize for the confusion caused yesterday.

A sign has been placed next to the installation now. Though it caused a needless police dispatch, the amusing misunderstanding has only helped promote the art exhibition.

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Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Chain coffee shop acquires affordable American steakhouse

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A sliced steak gleams from a cast-iron pan. It used to be a well-known American steakhouse, but after it closed down, a chain coffee shop bought it.

For steak lovers, the restaurant offers a 20-ounce tomahawk steak that has to be ordered in advance. It also offers a variety of brunch options for under NT$200, creating a menu great for both morning and evening.

Customer
Likes steak
I think the steak here is really big and so satisfying. I like meat, so for me, eating a portion like this really satisfies my craving.

Customer
Likes brunch
The brunch meals are really big, the kind of breakfast that will really fill you up.

The chain store that bought this steakhouse has been expanding its business in recent years, moving into hot pot and bakery, and even opening a gym in 2022. Now it’s entered the restaurant market.

Huang Ming-hsien
Chain coffee shop CEO
Taiwan’s brunch market is worth tens of billions, and with young people’s spending power continuing to grow, we want to integrate brunch, American dining, and steakhouse culture. With our central factory, we have an advantage over competitors when it comes to raw material costs.

Ku Shang-chun
Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion
The food and beverage market is already close to saturation, so businesses need to expand horizontally to diversify risk. Especially with the rise of AI and IoT, the more storefronts you have and the larger your group is, the stronger your operational big data and economies of scale will be, creating a situation where the big gets bigger and the strong gets stronger.

With the coffee shop market so competitive, chain stores like this are expanding their businesses into different areas to try and remain profitable.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#coffee #coffeeshop #restaurant #foodandbeverage #industry #steak #steakhouse #brunch #American

2026-04-02