The Atlantic
Contributing writer to The Atlantic, where he formerly oversaw the China Channel blog; former international affairs correspondent with the International Business Times in New York City
PROFILE
Matt Schiavenza
Guest
FROM Matt Schiavenza
To the Point
Terrorism: Global and Local The massacre of 17 people at Charlie Hebdo wasn't last Wednesday's only terror attack and it wasn't the deadliest either. The same day, a terrorist bomb killed 20 in the capital city of Yemen. The day before that, a 10-year-old girl blew up herself and 19 others in Baga, in northern Nigeria. That's where Bokko Haram is said to have killed as many as 2000 civilians just three days before. But there's been little news coverage of those horrific incidents. Nobody's apologizing for saturation news coverage of what happened in Paris, but are the western media missing the big picture?
To the Point
Alibaba Goes Public Tomorrow’s opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange will be rung by Chinese multi-billionaire Jack Ma, the owner of Alibaba. He’s expected to set off the biggest Initial Public Offering in American history. But, whatever the stock price, investors won’t actually be getting a piece of the company. Chinese law says foreign investors cannot actually own any part of a Chinese company. That, of course, is what Alibaba is. So, tomorrow’s investors will be getting something different. Matt Schiavenza is with the International Business Times in New York City.
To the Point
The Challenge of Getting the Truth about China During Vice President Joe Biden's recent visit to China, he complained to the highest officials about the treatment of western reporters. After weeks of anxiety for some two-dozen western reporters, the Chinese government is renewing some press passes. Yesterday, Bloomberg News said its reporters' finally had been granted the annual renewal of their press cards. The New York Times says the same for some, but not all, of its staff in China. Visas will probably follow. But one veteran of 18 years may never return to the country, and others have now been warned. We hear what they've gone through. When stories about human rights and income inequality leak to Chinese audiences, they threaten the power of Communist Party leaders. Will western news agencies now censor themselves? Will the crackdown make it harder than ever to learn about the world's second-most powerful nation?
To the Point
New Leadership in China China's leadership change is a two-week process that began with praise for the work of the past year by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. But outgoing President Hu Jintao then listed the multitude of problems that face his successors. Unsustainable development, gaping income inequality, corruption, pollution and dominant state-owned enterprises that stifle innovation are just some of the issues mentioned by Hu. Has he been a failure? That's a question raised by Matt Schiavenza in The Atlantic magazine.
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To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?