Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday called on President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to reflect on its actions, after a man set himself on fire allegedly in protest against the government’s rejection of CTi News’ license renewal.
After handing a red envelop for a program host to a security guard, a 70-year-old man surnamed Sun (孫) self immolated on the steps of CTiTV Inc’s headquarters in Taipei’s Neihu District (內湖).
Sun was taken to Tri-Service General Hospital, where he was treated for third-degree burns to the face and upper body, but remained conscious, the hospital said.
Chiang wrote on Facebook that he was distressed by the news and the ridicule he saw online.
“The antagonism in society is disheartening,” he said, urging people to pray for Sun.
“We are all working together to keep the government accountable, but no matter how grieved or angry you are, you must take care of yourself,” he said.
Tsai and her administration should do some soul-searching after this incident, Chiang added.
The administration is used to using its majority to force through unreasonable policies, he said, adding that without any room for recourse, some people are being suffocated.
“Antagonism is increasing by the day,” he said. “Because of this, the means of resistance are becoming more extreme.”
Chiang called on those in power to put aside their arrogance and show respect for those with differing opinions.
The authorities must seek common consensus to “stop society from being torn apart,” he added.
Separately, civic groups called for CTi News’ coveted Channel 52 slot to be given to the public Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS), saying viewers do not need another sensationalized corporate news station.
After only three days, 10 organizations and 366 people have already signed a petition to give the channel to TBS, Taiwan Environmental Protection Union secretary-general Hsu Chu-feng (許主峯) told a news conference at the Legislative Yuan.
The union plans to keep collecting signatures until the matter is decided, he added.
Union chairman Liu Jyh-jian (劉志堅) said that many people are dissatisfied with news channels that prioritize gore, gossip and dashcam video, not to mention the political talk shows that contribute to the polarization of society.
Not all of the channels from 49 to 58 should be run by private corporations, or by operators with clear political biases, he said.
When evaluating applicants, the National Communications Commission should consider professional background, diversity of reporting, ethics and public focus to ensure that everyone is represented, Liu added.
Eight restaurants in Taiwan yesterday secured a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide Taiwan for the first time, while three one-star restaurants from last year’s edition were promoted to two stars. Forty-three restaurants were awarded one star this year, including 34 in Taipei, five in Taichung and four in Kaohsiung. Hosu (好嶼), Chuan Ya (川雅), Sushi Kajin (鮨嘉仁), aMaze (心宴), La Vie by Thomas Buhner, Yuan Yi (元一) and Frassi in Taipei and Front House (方蒔) in Kaohsiung received a one-star rating for the first time. Hosu is known for innovative Taiwanese dishes, while Chuan Ya serves Sichuan cuisine and aMaze specializes
STATS: Taiwan’s average life expectancy of 80.77 years was lower than that of Japan, Singapore and South Korea, but higher than in China, Malaysia and Indonesia Taiwan’s average life expectancy last year increased to 80.77 years, but was still not back to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic peak of 81.32 years in 2020, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. The average life expectancy last year increased the 0.54 years from 2023, the ministry said in a statement. For men and women, the average life expectancy last year was 77.42 years and 84.30 years respectively, up 0.48 years and 0.56 years from the previous year. Taiwan’s average life expectancy peaked at 81.32 years in 2020, as the nation was relatively unaffected by the pandemic that year. The metric
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) plans to ease strained capacity during peak hours by introducing new fare rules restricting passengers traveling without reserved seats in 2026, company Chairman Shih Che (史哲) said Wednesday. THSRC needs to tackle its capacity issue because there have been several occasions where passengers holding tickets with reserved seats did not make it onto their train in stations packed with individuals traveling without a reserved seat, Shih told reporters in a joint interview in Taipei. Non-reserved seats allow travelers maximum flexibility, but it has led to issues relating to quality of service and safety concerns, especially during
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Chiayi County at 4:37pm today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 36.3km southeast of Chiayi County Hall at a depth of 10.4km, CWA data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Chiayi County, Tainan and Kaohsiung on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Pingtung, Taitung, Hualien, Changhua, Nantou and Penghu counties, the data
RSS