The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a pandemic this week as many countries expanded travel restrictions, shut down schools and universities and clamped down on large public gatherings in a bid to contain the virus. Speaking on Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in the past two weeks the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold, and expressed deep concern about the spread of the virus. He also raised concerns about “alarming levels of inaction”. Eric Feigl-Ding, an Epidemiologist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health told UpFront that he ranks the global collective effort to contain coronavirus at B minus, C plus. “I think testing in Korea is absolutely gold standard. But testing in the United States is absolutely abysmal,” Feigl-Ding said. When asked whether some world leaders potentially have blood on their hands for failing to take action to contain the virus Feigl-Ding said “I think so”. As of March 8, South Korea had 3,500 tests per million people, the UK had 350 tests per million. In the U.S, according to figures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there had been just 5 tests per million. Feigl-Ding said the lack of testing in the U.S. in particular was a serious problem. “You need the testing to do contact tracing, who were they in contact to, locking down, isolation, and that's why without that testing and the investigative team footwork, you cannot contain this epidemic,” Feigl-Ding said. Feigl-Ding believes containment is key, and that people should keep to any quarantines that have been imposed, avoid public spaces and practice social distancing. “Unfortunately, I think in certain ways, you have to do extreme social distancing...like all the sports games, public venues. But the draconianness [sic] of China, I don't know, because they have the Wuhan lockdown, but they also have residential lockdown for 750 million,” Feigl-Ding said. In this week’s Special Interview, Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding lays out what measure he thinks need to be put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook.

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Coronavirus inaction: could leaders have blood on their hands? | UpFront (Headliner)

A year ago this week a white supremacist massacred 51 Muslims in mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in an attack that shocked the world and put the spotlight on the rise of racist attacks occuring worldwide. “The level of violence, the number of people killed, the way it was live-streamed...I think was really shocking,” said Christian Picciolini, a former Neo-Nazi who founded the Free Radicals Project, which works to de-radicalise individuals. In recent months there have been a number of attacks fueled by white nationalism in places like Germany, France and the United States. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a senior fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right says that the phenomenon is in part caused by a legitimisation of the ideology by mainstream politicians. “You do see mainstream politicians here and overseas echoing the same kind of anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic kinds of ideas or conspiracy theories,” Miller-Idris said. “And if these people feel legitimised and like they can just walk around in public or enact violence, that is a problem,” she added. Connections between violent far-right groups from various countries have been known for decades, but the rise of social media platforms and increased connectivity have facilitated the ideology spreading across borders. “When I was involved in the white supremacist movement in the U.S., from '87 to '96, we were already forging those connections in places like Germany. So I think that it's ramping up. I think that these connections overseas are starting to get more violent,” Picciolini said. “The last couple of attacks in Germany, either the live-streaming or the manifestos were in English for a reason, right?...They were designed to communicate to a larger audience and trying to speak to people outside of the country,” explained Miller-Idriss. On this week’s episode of UpFront, we discuss white nationalism with Christian Picciolini and Cynthia Miller-Idris. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook.

How big a threat is white nationalism? | UpFront (Arena)

This week on UpFront, epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding tells us why he believes it was right to declare the coronavirus a pandemic, and why governments should do more to stop the spread of it. And in the Arena, we discuss the growth of far-right nationalist movements across the world with author and former Neo-Nazi Christian Picciolini, and Cynthia Miller-Idriss, the author of Hate in the Homeland: The New Breeding Ground for Far Right Extremism.

Coronavirus: Is it too late to stop it? | UpFront

Former United States Vice President Joe Biden made a spectacular comeback this week when he swept to victory on Super Tuesday, the biggest event in the 2020 election calendar so far. Super Tuesday is the day when most voters go to the polls to pick which Democrat they want to take on President Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Fourteen states, including the most populous - California and Texas - take part. Biden's campaign to become the Democratic party nominee was on life support before Super Tuesday, lagging behind 78-year-old Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. But on the eve of polling day, presidential hopefuls Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg both dropped out of the race and announced they were backing Biden. The 77-year-old went on to surge at the polls and won a whopping 10 of the 14 states. Lindy Li, a member of Biden's outreach team, described his comeback as "incredible" and said she was inspired by Biden and his "goodness". "We haven't seen this sort of comeback in a very long time. It's truly incredible, and I think the American people are speaking and they are saying we don't want a candidate whose staff and supporters are rife with toxic individuals," Li said. But Linda Sarsour, national surrogate for the Sanders campaign, says Biden is the wrong candidate to take on Donald Trump in November. "I think he has a horrible record. He took us into a despicable war in Iraq and voted for the war in Iraq. He didn't just vote for the Crime Bill, he championed the Crime Bill, which is why we have inflated incarceration of black and brown people across the country," Sarsour said. But Li says Biden has some ambitious proposals, citing his plans to take on climate change and tough stance on gun control. "He is very, very aggressive on gun violence. Gun violence is, for me, an existential threat and I know so many voters in America feel the same way. Joe Biden is someone who helped pass the assault weapons ban, which has been shown to reduce deaths by gun violence," Li said. Sarsour says she doesn't want to "just defeat Donald Trump". "I'm tired of the status quo; I'm tired of maintaining what we have. I want healthcare. Joe Biden, right now, hasn't told me what his message [is] - what is he fighting for? What are his top policy issues other than defeating Donald Trump?" In this week's Arena, Linda Sarsour and Lindy Li debate who is the best candidate to beat US President Donald Trump.

Who can beat Donald Trump: Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden? | UpFront (Arena)

In this episode of UpFront we debate the results of Super Tuesday with Lindy Li, a member of Joe Biden's outreach team, and Linda Sarsour, national surrogate for the Bernie Sanders campaign. In the tumultuous world of Malaysian politics, Mahathir Mohamad, who governed the country for close to a quarter of a century, is out. We ask one of his former cabinet members Syed Saddiq whether Mahathir has only himself to blame. - - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

And then there were two: Bernie Sanders vs Joe Biden | UpFront

Idlib: Has the world stopped caring about Syria? We challenge a UN official on the international response to the Idlib crisis and discuss Evangelical support for Trump. 28 Feb 2020 06:20 GMT Battle for Idlib, Syria's War, Donald Trump, Christianity, Middle East In this episode of UpFront we ask the United Nation's deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis why the world is ignoring the plight of millions of civilians trapped in Idlib province. And in a special interview with Reverend William Barber we discuss why Donald Trump has so much support among white Evangelical voters in the US.

Idlib: Has the world stopped caring about Syria? | UpFront

This week, President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms went to Parliament and tens of thousands of protesters in France returned to the streets in opposition. Demonstrations have become a regular feature of Macron's presidency, during which French police have been accused of using excessive force. According to French journalists, 325 people have suffered head injuries, 25 people have lost eyes and five have lost hands during protests. La Republique En Marche member of Parliament Roland Lescure says some protesters are going to the demonstrations just to cause violence, and that is an attack on French democracy. "I'm not happy that a few of them have lost an eye or a hand, but those people are - it's insurrection. You know, they're violent. They're there to actually kick the police and that's not what peaceful democratic demonstrations should be about," Lescure said. Protesters are angry over Macron's pension plan which will turn 42 different pensions into a universal one. They say reforms will mean some people will have to work longer and retire later in life. "It's true to say that ... some of them, bus drivers, train drivers and a few of these, are probably going to be not as well off as they are today," Lescure conceded. "And yes, on every one of those reforms, you always find someone in France who is going to oppose them, but on the whole, I think we're beginning to have results. Unemployment hasn't been as low as it is today for the last 11-12 years. There's job creations, there's company creations, foreign direct investment is coming into France again," he added. This week's Special Interview, La Republique En Marche member of Parliament Roland Lescure. Follow UpFront on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJUpFront and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJUpFront/

Protests in France: Have police gone too far? | UpFront (Special Segment)

In this episode of UpFront we challenge Aung San Suu Kyi's former spokesperson on allegations of genocide in Myanmar's Rakhine state. And we debate the police response to protests in France against President Emmanuel Macron's government with La Republique En Marche MP Roland Lescure. Follow UpFront on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJUpFront and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJUpFront/

Is Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of covering up war crimes? | UpFront

In this episode of UpFront, we challenge Lencho Bati, an adviser to the office of the Ethiopian prime minister about Abiy Ahmed's controversial handling of protests and ask why the Nobel laureate is so media-shy. And we talk to two Bollywood legends about why so many celebrities in India are not speaking out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hardline brand of Hindu nationalism. Follow UpFront on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJUpFront and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJUpFront/

Is Ethiopia sliding backwards under Abiy Ahmed? | UpFront

Trump has made several false claims regarding Ukraine and the impeachment process. The president and his legal team have said Democrats never asked John Bolton to testify, Republicans were not allowed to ask questions during the House deposition and that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president “the most innocent phone call” he’s ever read. “Detractors of the president will automatically call it a lie because they want to assign the most nefarious possible intent,” Cortes said. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook.

Is there truth in Trump’s statements? | UpFront (Web Extra)

In this episode of UpFront, we challenge a close Trump ally on the President’s impeachment and acquittal, and discuss the global response to the coronavirus epidemic. And in a special interview, we discuss the worldwide impacts of the Coronavirus with China Global Television Network anchor Wang Guan. Follow UpFront on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJUpFront and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJUpFront/

Will Trump’s presidency remain tainted by impeachment? | UpFront

In this episode of UpFront, we debate tensions between the United States and Iran with former Iranian diplomat Seyed Hossein Mousavian and former US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. And in a special interview, we ask UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard about her investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and her report that suggests Mohammed Bin Salman hacked the cellphone of billionaire Jeff Bezos. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Are the US and Iran on the path to war? | UpFront (Full)

This week the US House of Representatives held a historic vote to impeach President Donald Trump. He now joins Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton as one of only three presidents to face a Senate trial. On a now infamous July 25 phone call, Trump indicated to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky that military aid and a possible meeting with the White House would be contingent on Ukraine announcing an investigation into the son of Trump's political rival and leading Democratic candidate, Joe Biden. While many saw this as a clear case of soliciting foreign help in an election, the majority of Republicans have cast doubt on whether Trump's actions are impeachable. One of those Republicans is Harlan Hill, a Trump 2020 advisory board member. "I read the transcript and I didn't find that it was offensive at all," he said, adding that he agreed with the president that it was a "perfect" call. Many Republicans say that Trump should not be impeached, claiming that nothing illegal was done. But Georgetown University constitutional law professor John Mikhail does not see it that way. "It's very clear from the history and the scholars who have looked at this very closely," he said, "that criminal conduct is neither necessary nor sufficient to constitute impeachable conduct under the Constitution." For Democrats like Tiffany Cross, co-founder of the Washington, DC news website The Beat DC, Trump's behaviour surpassed the bar for impeachable conduct. "If we are not going to impeach this president for this, what will we impeach a president for?" she said. "This is the conservation of our democracy. Our democracy has never before been tested like this." Trump's acquittal is considered inevitable with a two-thirds majority needed in the Republican-held Senate in order to remove him from office. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Lindsey Graham have stated publicly they have already made up their minds ahead of the trial. "It's really not the Republican Party anymore," said Cross. "This is like the Trump sycophant land that we're in." She added, "I think it is important for the American people to see the evidence laid out before them. I think it's unfortunate that you don't have an impartial Senate. Majority leader Mitch McConnell has said openly that he's coordinating with the White House." "I don't even think there should be a trial," said Hill. "Let's just vote. Like, let's put this on a fast track, let's get this done with. This has been all a political show." Some say Trump's acquittal could backfire for Democrats and embolden his base. "Ultimately, said Hill, "I think that this will go to the voters in 2020 and he's going to win in a landslide." Cross believes the impeachment has only hurt his campaign. "Trump's base has not grown since 2016," she said. "He has only lost people. There's nobody that looks at the past few years and says 'You know what! That Trump guy, he's onto something. I think I'm going to switch sides and get in his camp'." On this week's UpFront special, we discuss the impeachment of Donald Trump with Republican political consultant Harlan Hill, liberal commentator Tiffany Cross and constitutional law professor John Mikhail. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Can Trump survive impeachment? | UpFront

In this episode of UpFront, we challenge Nobel Peace laureate and former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos on the status of his peace deal with the FARC rebel group, and question him on his record in government. And in a special interview, we talk to scholar and human-rights activist Maung Zarni about Aung San Suu Kyi's appearance at the International Criminal Court at The Hague where she defended Myanmar against genocide accusations. For more on Upfront: https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/upfront/ - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Colombia and the FARC: Is the peace deal unravelling? UpFront (Full)

From Lebanon to Chile, from Iraq to Ecuador, there have been waves of protests across the world this year; a groundswell of anger, and all of it directed at the ruling class. Each protest movement is unique: some are demanding more democracy and greater political freedoms, while others are fuelled by anger over corruption. Among all these grievances, however, there appears to be a common underlying theme: frustration over the economy and rising inequality. Grace Blakeley, author of the book Stolen, How to Save the World from Financialisation, believes that many of the protests, particularly in Latin America, are driven by economic discontent. Blakeley argues that we are seeing cracks in the capitalist system. The problem, she says, is that corporations have become "financialised"; they are so focused on profits for shareholders that working people are losing out. "They (corporations) will do anything to boost their short-term share price, even at the expense of long-term investment and paying their workers," she says. Diego Zuluaga, a financial policy analyst at the Cato Institute, doesn't believe we are seeing a breakdown in the capitalist system and contends that people are generally better off economically. "I think we haven't had a period in the history of the world like the last 30 years in which the vast majority of the global population, even in the most deprived places, have suddenly and finally gained access to the most basic essentials and necessities. And that has been driven universally by liberalisation," Zuluaga says. In this week's Arena, we debate the state of capitalism with Grace Blakeley and Diego Zuluaga. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook.

Are we in the death throes of capitalism? | UpFront (Arena)

With the thrust and parry of rigorous debate, Mehdi Hasan cuts through the headlines to challenge conventional wisdom, highlight contradictions and uncover double standards.

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