U.S. SAYS PREPARING TO SIGN DEAL WITH TALIBAN ON FEBRUARY 29The United States is preparing to sign a deal with the Taliban on February29, building on an agreement on reducing violence across Afghanistan,Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday."Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of theU.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," he said in a statementreleased after visiting Saudi Arabia.A week-long "reduction in violence" between the Taliban, the U.S. and Afghansecurity forces will commence shortly, Afghanistan's National SecurityCouncil spokesman Javed Faisal said on Friday.The partial truce will mark a historic step in more than 18 years ofgruelling conflict in Afghanistan and would pave the way for a deal thatcould, ultimately, see the war end.Mr. Pompeo said that intra-Afghan negotiations would begin shortly after theFebruary 29 signing, expected to take place in the Qatari capital Doha.They will "build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive andpermanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan," hesaid.The U.S. top diplomat said that challenges remain, but that progress made sofar "provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United Statescalls on all Afghans to seize this moment".RUSSIA BOOSTING TRUMP'S CANDIDACY, CLAIMS US INTELRussia is interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get Donald Trumpre-elected, US intelligence officials have warned lawmakers in a briefingthat infuriated the President, who then replaced his intelligence chief, USmedia reported.Trump erupted in anger at acting director of national intelligence (DNI)Joseph Maguire when he learned of the February 13 session with the HouseIntelligence Committee, The Washington Post and New York Times saidThursday.Maguire aide Shelby Pierson reportedly told lawmakers Russia was once againmeddling in the US election on Trump's behalf.Trump complained that the Democrats would use the information against him,the reports said.Trump announced on Wednesday he was replacing Maguire with Richard Grenell,53, the ambassador to Germany and his loyalist.Democratic congressman Bennie Thompson said that by firing Maguire over thebriefing "the President is not only refusing to defend against foreigninterference, he's inviting it." Schiff tweeted late Thursday that if Trumpwas interfering in the sharing of intelligence information with Congress, itappeared that he was "again jeopardising our efforts to stop foreignmeddling."IRAN VOTES IN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS THAT FAVOURS CONSERVATIVESIranians were voting for a new parliament Friday, with turnout seen as a keymeasure of support for Iran's leadership as sanctions weigh on the economyand isolate the country diplomatically.The disqualification of some 9,000 potential candidates, most of themreformists and moderates, raised the possibility of lower-than-usualturnout.Iran's leadership and state media urged voter participation, with someframing it as a religious duty. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casthis ballot at a mosque near his Tehran office, shortly after polls openedand urged Iranians to the polls."Anyone who cares about Iran's national interests should participate in theelection," he said. Earlier in the week, Khamenei said high voter turnoutwill thwart "plots and plans" by Americans and supporters of Israel againstIran."Enemies want to see what the results of the U.S. maximum pressure are," hesaid, referring to U.S. sanctions and pressure from Washington that havestrangled Iran's ability to sell its oil abroad, forcing its economy intorecession.Around 7,000 candidates are running in 208 constituencies for the 290-seatchamber.The election is being held at a time of growing economic hardship.SRI LANKAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE PROPOSES IMMEDIATE BURQA BANA Sri Lankan parliamentary committee on national security has proposed animmediate ban on the burqa and suspending the registration of politicalparties on ethnic and religious basis, following the Easter Sunday terrorattack that killed over 250 people.The proposals featured in a special report presented in Parliament onThursday to resolve 14 controversial issues following the April 21 Easterattack last year. The report was tabled by MP Malith Jayatilaka, ChairmanSectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, the Daily Mirrorreported.According to the report, a number of countries have already banned theburqa.The report suggested that the police should have the power to ask anyonewearing a face covering in a public place to take off such clothing in orderto establish the identity of the person.If such a request is not complied with, police should have the power toarrest the individual without a warrant, the report said.It also recommended the country's Election Commission to enact a legislationto suspend the registration of political parties on ethnic and religiousbasis.The report also said that the registration of political parties which havesome racial or religious conflict or in its name should also prohibited.Such a party should be converted into a political or non-religious politicalparty within a specified period of time, the report said.