so the idea, once you got the genome, you can start trying to design has decided which target things which are specific to the genome of this particular organism. and don't have the knock on effects for other insects, for example, in the environment. all the more and everything we're covering right here, al jazeera dot com, has plenty of analysis that it takes you behind the headlines as well. and on day now on main story this hour, a scientist at the center of iran's nuclear program has been assassinated near the capital to her on the vehicle. carrying out there was ambushed by the gunmen in the city of upside, if he died later in hospital. iranian officials, including the foreign minister mohammad javad, zarif suspect israel was behind the attack, but haven't provided evidence. the u.s. actually general antonio, the terrorists has restraint it to go at

1st. the car carrying him was shot at about 15 seconds later. i mistimed pickup truck that was loaded with explosives blasted about 15 to 20 meters away from his call, inflicting wounds on him that led to his death. said fayed has more on this from tahrir on. the defense minister said to me has been speaking and now he has shed some more light. on the incident, he said the gunman opened fire around 10 to 15 seconds later a bomb exploded, which was on back on the back of a truck and then the gunfire. continued there was an exchange of gunfire, not too of most in fuckers are these gods were injured. he was also injured. he was taken to hospital but died a short while later. now we're also hearing from falls news agency, which is the 7th official news agency here that one of the gods was also killed in our other top stories ethiopia's government denies the prime minister has rejected talks with 2 grain leaders. 3 african union, special envoys met abie ahmed in addis ababa. he told them he'd only speak to

representatives operating legally in the region. a day ago, the army was ordered to move in on to graze regional capital mccallum. thousands of indian farmers have marched on the capital, need delhi after 3 days of breaking through police barricades on state borders. they want the government to repeal laws that could end guaranteed prices for their produce. and then in france, the president emanuel says, a video showing police in paris, beating up a black music producer is unacceptable and shameful. the incident has resulted in an investigation on the suspension of the 4 offices. it's also sparked outrage towards a police force already under scrutiny. for heavy handed tactics, that's it for myself and the team here in don, there will be back again tomorrow. counting, the cost is up. next. i care about how the engagement with the rest of the world. i cover for impulse national security. this is a political here's what are we telling

a good story that you did in taking place there while you were there? this is counting the cost on al-jazeera. your look at the world of business and economics this week. president, xi extends his grip across china and hong kong. taiwan could be next, navy and trains missiles on the country. what will the u.s. response be? also this week, a failed decades old policy of unfettered, free market economics want next for chile, as the people redefined the economy to eliminate inequality, class tax, the rich argentina starts a debate on who should pay for the pandemic before the question. many countries are

starting to ponder. china is tightening its grip on hong kong new laws imposed by beijing disqualified for lawmakers for being unpatriotic. that prompted 14 pro-democracy lawmakers to quit as president. she is consolidating his power, scrapping a 2 term presidential limit. he's crushed voices opposed to him and has taken a firmer grip on the autonomous region of detaining millions of wiggers in hundreds of internment camps. and she may not be done yet, is next focus could be the island nation of taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. she has gone as far as saying it's inevitable requirement for the historical, rejuvenating of the chinese nation. but just how feasible is this, when, according to the south china morning, post china has deployed its most advanced hypersonic missiles to its south east

coast as it prepares for a possible invasion. that's because taiwan's president saying, when has refused to accept the one china principle, it's moved more marines closer to taiwan and held invasion drills. despite the pandemic, china has increased its military spending by 6.6 percent this year, as it sees every increasing threats. china has build the world's biggest navy, a fleet of $350.00 warships to stake its claim to the south china sea. that's raising concerns in washington, which is pledging to counter and expand its warship fleet from 293-2350 5. president trump, for his part agreed last chance to sell a 100 harpoon antiship lascelles worth $2400000000.00 to taiwan. but also sold one point $8000000000.00 worth of land attack mobile missiles. it's all part of taiwan's hedgehog strategy to resist an invasion. president elect joe biden hasn't

expressed a view on taiwan yet, but he has assured japan the u.s. would help defend the disputed senkaku islands, which beijing claims to the trump administration has signed a 5 year economic deal with taiwan. despite objections from china, the deal falls short of a full blown trade deal. well, joining me now from singapore is in chongqing. he's the associate professor of political science at the national university of singapore. good to have you with us . so china's being quite assertive when it comes to hong kong, when it comes to the we will taiwan be next. might it be facing an invasion? i think an invasion is probably a bit a bit far off at this point in time. but certainly, china will be putting on more pressure on china. one, we've been seeing increased military activity, an increase in the frequency of flights, milledge of military aircraft in the,

in one sort of balance air defense identification zone and also a round one crossing the median line. these are efforts, i think, to put more pressure on taiwan to suggest to its government and people that they should not behave in ways that the p.r.c. doesn't like. has china legal, the ability right now to do an invasion if it wanted to some point to things like the number of landing craft and say in my view, one thing to point the missiles and fly more across all the key components. i'm missing, right? so an all out invasion, i think it's going to be challenging and it's going to be challenging for several reasons. one of course is the logistical capability of lining crop of aircraft to support an invasion force is of course, the weather. and the time straight to the seas that can be a bit unpredictable. getting large amounts of people and material across can be

a bit tricky. and of course, crossing that expensive want to would mean that, you know, these vessels could be picked off from the town on site. so there's a high amount of risk. i don't think it's that feasible for china to do at this moment because an invasion is, i think quite an extreme measure. the lots of, of the course of measures that china can possibly take that don't get into the asian territory. however, much more assertive beijing months to be taiwan would be much of an international backlash. so i think it depends on how the clash happens. if beijing engine has a situation where it looks like the townies side is being really egregious or excessive, then perhaps they'll be less of a backlash. or if the chinese side does something that is on its own accord, that is highly unacceptable. and the eyes of the international community, meaning to say that if taiwan, you know, actually decided that it wanted to decline dependence right away. that it wanted to

act in ways that provoke the p.r.c. actively without, without you know, having reason to do so. but short of those, and i think those are very unlikely scenarios because taiwan has a leadership that is pretty common. seems to know what it's doing. so in that send that whatever response to trying to caution, especially if it gets increase of his he's excessive. i think that would be a mortgage national backlash. how much of it would there be whether that has an effect on changing china's course of action, i think remains to be seen. but i think in general, there is going to be a lot more resistance and happiness to a chinese excessiveness, but we haven't seen the u.s. president like joe biden take a position yet on taiwan. why? i think what we've seen him do is to talk about his, its proxies in terms of people who lincoln,

who was the presumptive secretary of state, talk about increasing ties and improving relations with taiwan. so presumably that is reflective of his position. the reason why president biden elect biden himself has not come across, i suppose, is because he does not think that the taiwan issue needs to be put on a priority. it doesn't have to be, but at the focus of u.s. foreign relations right now. and of course, we also know that his focus is his declared focus is on the pandemic. it's on fixing the u.s. economy, so he probably doesn't want other issues i want included to get in the way of that primary agenda. while we've seen taiwanese buying more u.s. weapons, president from giving taiwan these critical weapons. this is all polly guess of taiwan's hedgehog strategy and perhaps trying to get as much as they can out of the

current u.s. administration. so the talent side has been trying to increase its defensive capability for while this current tranche of weapons sales, you know, it's, it's come up at a time where, how it has been faced, facing increasing pressure from china. i mentioned the military activity from the chinese side. so in that sense, it makes it's, you know, it's quite clear that the tolerance i would want to up its ability to be a hedgehog, to be able to at least impose costs that are pretty heavy on china. should china choose to be well rested? i mean, the whole idea of all for the tell inside is to make an invasion, make any sort of course of attempt difficult such that there's always going to be an element of doubt in the minds of the chinese dissing me because that would cause them to hold back, right? so this current round of sales, you know, feeds into that strategy, given the fact that china has upped the ante on its on its side. so it's surprising

the u.s. is selling weapons to taiwan. the u.s. still doesn't have a full blown trade deal with taiwan. i think this gets him pot to the administration's general reticence and sensitivity to, you know, opening up mall more trade deals. so actually, for the trauma administration, this is already, i think, pretty significant step right. it's not a done through with new trade deals. it's renegotiated existing ones. so that's on the trouble ministrations on the other. i think there's also recognition that the u.s. public is not as ready to be more open economically at this point in time. so i think in terms of the economic relationship with time on that trade arrangement is probably as far as feasible, what outgoing administration goes as far as probably the u.s. public can stomach. well, the time being, of course,

taiwan is still very interested in getting a free trade agreement, and i suppose those negotiations will continue, and we may see something later down the line in the biden and ministration. always been good talking to you. thanks so much. thank you it all began with students protesting about a hike in metro fares, but it's mushroomed into something much bigger long before ronald reagan and margaret thatcher, chile was a test bed for unfettered free market economics or neo liberalism, under the right wing dictatorship of all gusto pinochet, that experiment in the 1970 s. was continued by democratic governments from 990 to the present day. pinochet's rule was an economic failure posted to ship the economy has performed better than its neighbors, but it has failed to address inequality, access to pensions, health care and education were left to the free market. the people finally got to

vote on the constitution, the outcome, a landslide, to scrap the charter in favor of more government intervention in the state. so what now? well, there's a long way to go before the people of chile see any change or joining me now via skype from london is nick latin america economist at capital economics. good to have you with us. so chill, there's been this 6 steps, success rather story for developing countries for so long. what's gone wrong? well, i think if you look at chile over the last few decades it's, it's been a regional performer in latin america in aggregate sounds. but i think one of the issues is that, and all of the citizens of enjoying those gains in the economy. i think there was a sense among many of the citizens that the benefits only went to those of the top . and that's why we saw those mass protests last year calling to reduce inequality and provide better public welfare provisions for things like education and health

care. so i think even though in aggregate the economy's done well, possibly those towards the bottom end of the distribution haven't been able to enjoy as much. so when you look at those people on the streets, as you said, that basically does that vindicate what economists like. joseph stiglitz have been saying that neo liberalism has undermined democracy for the last 40 years. that trickle down economics hasn't worked. i think it depends on whether we look at an absolute or. 'd relative sense? i mean, i'm not sure those have moved our party over the last 40 years, but these, you know, the broad free market principles because the economy was growing fairly well. and so most people are in a better position and they were say, 40 years ago. but if you look at overdose of sense, then income inequality has widened and there's a feeling amongst those at the bottom that they've seen others and their wealth and

income massively escalate. whereas in a right of sense those so the average person, it's maybe not increased as much. so i don't think it's necessarily fair to say that, you know, liberalism has just totally fail is probably just been more of a case that it hasn't done enough in insurance to certain benefit. everyone right now it is a long process of changing the constitution. right? yeah, so there's still a long way to go. so we had the referendum last month where she lands voted to have a new constitution. as part of that vote, they are also elected to have their new constitution drafted by a constituent assembly normal citizens, rather than a mix of citizens and current politicians. and that constituent assembly will be elected in april. and that assembly will then have to draft

a new constitution and there have to be a 2 thirds guarantee for any clause that goes in to a new constitution. and that process will take about a year, and then the new charter will be put to another referendum in 2022 for the people to vote. and it's only at that stage where there may be a new political system in chile. so we're looking at years before we know exactly what the people want, those then thing on the horizon that we can say, that's probably one of the changes that's going to be introduced. i think the main thing we could see is a shift towards greater state intervention in the economy. ok. money that was my children's pensions, education, health care? yeah, exactly. so a lot of the protests that we saw last year. 'd were calling for things better, public welfare provision for health care, education, pensions, and it looks like the state level papers are all in or 3 parts of in all of those

sectors. you know, and that could be a positive for the economy. i think for education and health care in particular, if it means that there's more good quality and widespread provision of health care and education that could boost the potential of the economy. if it means that there's a more, more knowledgeable, more educated and healthier workforce. but there is, there is, of course, a risk that the state sector goes too far and if they venture into other areas of the economy where this, perhaps a better left to the private sector, there's a risk there could crowd out the more productive private sector. so at this stage, it's probably too early to say whether that be a good or a bad thing for the economy. so was about finding the balance is no, well, there will be any need for spending to increase, right? but the government does have some room to maneuver right with debt 30 percent of

g.d.p. . one thing that she hasn't favors that it's deposition is very low, especially compared to others in latin america. and so we've already seen a minox quite substantial stimulus during the crown of us and ek, but the 12 percent of g.d.p. on things like wage subsidies schemes for example. and it looks like and the latest budget have said that they're going to continue keeping spending fairly high over the next few years to try and stimulate the economy because they're, the public finances came into a crisis in pretty good shape or right. thanks so much for your thoughts and analysis on that may kill that. thank you. argentina's congress is debating a bill seeking to raise billions of dollars from the super rich. the one off taxes meant support families who've been hit hard by the pandemic. today's about reports from one of silence argentina's tax by and how it

should be sliced and made an economic crisis has become food for lively discussion . and when a site is and no for the 1st time deputies are set to debate imposing a wealth tax on arjun times who have over $2000000.00 in assets. thousands took to the streets outside congress to show support for the new tax and the government of out of the family. we are seeing a very delicate situation in argentina with people struggling to find food, people who have lost their jobs. so opposing a tax on wealth is necessary for the tax under discussion would amount to 2 percent for individuals with assets worth more than $2500000.00 and scale up to us, much as $525.00 old from wealthy citizens holding their fortunes outside the country. argentina is desperate for funds as the coronavirus than demick has had a devastated impact in the economy. poverty rates are close to 50 percent,

but commercial chambres in the country warning that a wealth tax in this context could have an impact on potential investors who already see the country as a negative for business. several more time nationals are fleeing the south american nation, claiming that doing business in argentina is complicated and unprofitable. volatile politics, price and currency controls and state interventionism are part of doing business., here. the law is being debated as argentina begins discussing with the i.m.f., how to pay over $40000000000.00 in debt that i says, the opposition will vote against this kind of taxes per recession. it's not a tax that will promote investment. on the contrary, the problem is how this tax is being discussed and the public protests by the government, which it's a climate against business, there was no discussion. the only intention is to show that they are champions of

the poor when they are giving in to the austerity measures demanded by the i.m.f. and the us. but president of the, for member said the new tax is meant to aid public coffers to cope with a pandemic of funding that we are living in terms of where solidarity years to be the role in congress. we see the debate on wealth tax. what is being debated is whether those who have more can express in terms of him agency in solidarity with the rest of the country. i difficult times for argentina, years of recession and inflation and the impact of the pandemic have left millions in need. finding balance between providing aid and stabilizing the economy is seen as crucial to help the country leave its economic troubles behind. as the promise of vaccines sends stocks to record highs, some governments are already thinking about how they're going to pay for the cost

of the pandemic. but is it premature when the recovery isn't expected to kick in until late 2021 at best? let's get some analysis from jamil after director of investment strategy, a german fin, tech company, nagger good to have you with us. so governments are looking at a range of things from like tax increases to austerity measures. is this the right thing to do? do you think? absolutely not. similarly, livelihoods been impacted by this, were that stupid jobs, like ones, other unfortunate circumstances from this pandemic. and even by lots of governments that just now accept, we are still in the early stages of the contents of the economic rescue plan. so it would be very premature to be moving any kind of out of this money. but to me, let me jump in and be the devil's advocate for these governments. if they've got bills to pay, they've got bills to pay. what are they supposed to do? so government center that's stuck between a hockey rink. going to happen because if they kick the can down the road,

it could be impacting future generations. for example, this millions of millions of people, young school, kids who have not been at school for many months and they do not want them to be impacted potentially 10 years, not at the same time. one that is hundreds of millions of people who are still going through forms of patches from this economic a personal, actually it's insensitive to be doing this now. and the vaccine has not been approved yet, nor has it been rolled out, distributes it, and prove that it's going to work for a mass amount of people globally. so what the government centered have to do. and what's happening right now is that hands are tied around for folks because jet debt to g.d.p. has increased to 362 percent this year just to get some figures on that done. but it starts this year on 320 percent. so over the past ninth's 10 months, it's grown in some forms of the and other government, such not to condemn, have not spent this much money into governments since wartime. civil talking about, the early and mid 1940, s. . and yet this economy specifically the u.k.,

it's still the worst impacted by this pandemic across all industrial and g 7 nations that give some kind of appetite towards what this style. and that has been the big problem. but essentially it until we get back to a recovery that has a flat road, we know the vaccine works. we know that things can slowly, slowly and gradually get back to normal. because the moment we've had done, we've gone and we've had a transfer like situation essentially until we get on a straight road. we don't know how successful this is going to be. and that's why we have to get back on stuff before we can decide to say how we're going to begin to pay that money back. of course that has to be paid back its current conversation, but it's not a solution that has to be so today. so i think a of a, of all the i.m.f. is saying they're saying wait until the, the recovery becomes really well established. i definitely do not only with the, i.m.f. but on the world, central banks to what the i meant,

the surface that this pace of recovery is going to be uneven. it's not the kind of narrative to say that every economy is going to go through different situations such as they have already, and i doubt it. but the federal reserve chair, which is the u.s. central bank, drew. it's going to say that when does a condom it does get back on to an even folks in the normal will be different to what it was before. listen to be a huge group of people which include employees isn't a cause business. this is also going to include many sectors that are going to continue to need support, and that means by support. they need to have more government aid money to help more stimulus the needs of the most interesting measures. and actually the nudge in the direction right now is that government still has a influential roams of play to do mole a buddha for the economist to get back. because one of the lessons from the global financial crisis, i know we don't talk about some of those 13 years ago. but one of the lessons was that actually the governments of not me fast enough. that's why the recovery took as long as 10 years or so. we were still talking about it even before this pandemic

. now this pandemic, we might get a who, by 2021 and some sort of lexi, but we certainly do not want to be talking about it 5 years or so from now, which is why for the next one, yet the support has to remain in place. hopefully by 2020 to 2023 and action bank and then be put into place as well. so how to get this debt issue back under some sort of assisting. i drove it to about 20222023 the readies bumpy vaccines. haven't been approved yet. other markets getting ahead of themselves and all this optimism. i said prices are always the 1st things to price up again very early and i'm going to use that comment at the i.m.f. . it may just recently, the disconnect between asset prices is basically means global markets. and the real economy is tremendous. it's even larger now than it already was that we can have this year. and that's where we were before there was a big discrepancy based essentially markets believe that destruction going to be approved in days and weeks and i'll be fingers crossed. that's to be the case. but

i also believe that things are going to be very, very quick innocent of a sudden recovery. but you also felt the same thing at the beginning of the 1st wave of we were in that interim period. megan, where things were starting to be reopened up. but that they did not take into account there would have to act and that would rock restrictions to come into place once again. so as a place, as a prices always do this, but it does not mean that the economy is justified in the right place. the disconnect is tremendous. all right, always good to have you. thanks so much to me and thank you. and that's our show for this waiver. remember you can get in touch with us via twitter. use the hash tag, a.j. c.t.c. . when you do more drama, say about counting, the cost of al-jazeera don't know is our address. there's more for you online at al-jazeera dot com slash the thing saying it will take you straight to our page, which has individual reports, links and entire episodes for you to catch up on. that's it for this edition of

counting the cost time sami's. they banned from the whole team. here for now, it's goodbye news and al-jazeera is next coded. 19 is a public health crisis that has been compounded by capitalism, navigates the big questions raised by the global pandemic. how is the system based on private ownership of profit? the world in a ton of us, capitalism is the pandemic. so much of the exploited to protect the people for the profit episode, one of the full hail the meltdown on his era. the past, past boss travels the roads of mexico, raising ecological creative solution to the country's most remote demonstrated courts in the struggle for

a better speech. past passed by half of the viewfinder latin america seen on outages. there are a wrong, severe revenge. after a prominent new kid scientist is killed in an ambush and says it suspects israeli involvement. and i will tell you this is al jazeera live from doha. also coming up. if europe is prime minister meets with african leaders, but rejects international office to mediate the conflict in the tape where region between government and regional forces. i have a lot of my confrontation in iraq between supporters.