Intelligence officials warn russia is taking steps to interfere in the 2020 president ial campaign to help donald trump get reelected. We begin in afghanistan where an agreement thats supposed to usher in peace is to stick to facts in a few hours the taliban and the United States will begin what theyre calling a reduction of violence as of midnight if the 7 day deal does prove to be a success both sides will sign an accord at the end of the month paving the way for talks between the taliban and other afghan groups and the u. S. Has said it wants to pull its forces out of afghanistan. The u. S. Presence in afghanistan began in 2001 a month after the events of 911. 00 it launched air strikes and a Ground Invasion to remove the taliban from power more than 12000. 00 american soldiers are still in the country thousands more from the nato allies and partner countries are also there some 2400 american troops have been killed since the operation began and the u. S. Is estimated to have spent more than one trillion dollars on its mission and get more from rosslyn jordan joining us live this hour of washington rose is there an acceptable level of violence that everyone could live with because were talking about Violence Reduction here not a stop to the violence. Well thats the rub peter there is no public standard that has been set for what would constitute an acceptable level of Violence Reduction in the next 7 days and that is significant because if there isnt some level that is being met either side could say you know what were not going to sign this next agreement and certainly it is something that brings to mind whether or not this is actually a real turning point in u. S. Involvement in afghanistan yes the u. S. And the taliban have been engaging in talks over the past several years even though there was that now famous pause instituted by the u. S. President donald trump after the taliban killed a couple of american soldiers back in september but that said it would be important to know what constitutes a significant and acceptable reduction in the violence does that mean getting down to 110th of the attacks that have been happening on either side in recent months or in over several year period they dont want to say perhaps because theyre nervous perhaps about jeopardizing the start of this 7 day period of significant reduction in violence so if there is to be a deal being signed imminently because were talking about 40 years of conflict and war here which will he buy the deal being signed in a week from now the United States will want to withdrawal trump will be able i guess to be able to deliver on an Election Campaign pledge that was something he talked about before he even became u. S. President but is there a sense there that they cant pull out and create a vacuum because theyve got to have something to put in its place. Theres already that political debate here in washington about what does a u. S. Pullout from afghanistan willing look like the military has indicated that it would be comfortable having about 8500. 00 or 8600. 00 u. S. Forces still in country primarily in a train and advise role d for the Afghan Military which technically has been in charge of securing that countrys security for the past several years but there are military analysts who suggest that if the us president wanted to cut that number even lower say to a couple of 1000 or perhaps just enough 5 personnel to guard the u. S. Embassy and consulates in afghanistan that could really open the possibility of open warfare of a civil war inside afghanistan and that is something which these analysts say would be a very grave mistake so even as the trumpet ministration is trying to make good on a 2016 Campaign Promise there are those who are saying that there is a very real risk of destabilizing afghanistan even though there is a real sense here at least here in the u. S. That u. S. Troops should be pulled out of afghanistan and that the u. S. Should try to end what is now its longest ever war ok rose well talk again im sure in the meantime thank you very much irans extended polling hours in its parliamentary election but for hours state t. V. Is reporting what it calls a rush of voters parliament set to become more conservative the thousands of candidates mostly reform in stone motorists were barred from running by the Guardian Council thats irans constitutional watchdog the u. S. Responded by imposing new sanctions on members of the council accusing them of rigging the election iranian leaders have called for a high turnout as a show of unity. Millions of oh no lets talk to our correspondent joining us live from tehran before we get to that story. The turnout not looking particularly high but maybe with a little spike towards the end of voting. Yes there have extended polling hours weve been at this polling station in iran its been relatively busy throughout the day this queue is still going outside onto the streets but thats not been the case in other parts of the one we visited some polling stations which were practically empty but we were allowed to film those and thats because this is the only one that we have permission to film but people are staying away from voting because thats because some of the reformist and moderate candidates have been barred from standing by the Guardian Council as you mentioned but also the Economic Situation some people are fed up and have lost hope the country reading from economic sanctions inflation was around 40 percent last year unemployment is up and weve been speaking to people here in iran that said that the cost of living is not that theyre paying more for food theyre paying more for meat and of course there was the increase in fuel price back in november and that resulted in widespread protests across the country so people are upset people are staying away from the polls but whenever that happens whenever theres a lot voter turnout its a concern to the conservatives that tend to gain a majority and thats because the conservatives here those factions have a support base that always comes out and votes for them and it looks like they could take a majority in this coming parliament thats coming up when it comes to the impact that this might have on mr rouhani depending upon which way it goes is the result or was the result already potentially skewed because the Guardian Council said to those 70000 candidates you cannot stand. Well yes and no because yes those reformist candidates couldnt stand but also his popularity was down anyway because when the reformist came into power they made a lot of promises in regards to the economy and they havent been able to deliver on those and they did he did stake his political reputation on the 2015 nuclear deal and that was lets negotiate with the west this negotiate with the United States and well have a good result for iran now the conservative. Opposed to that deal they they all they said that the United States would have come through and thats exactly whats happened in 2018 donald trump u. S. President donald trump all did like the states out of that deal and imposed sanctions on iran so the reformists and mr rouhani president rouhani hasnt been able to deliver and people have been disappointed so his reputation has already taken a hit and especially after the downing of the Ukrainian Airline there was shock and disbelief here because people accuse the government of covering up because they spent 3 days denying that iran had shut down that Ukrainian Airline so all of these things all together has actually result could have could have had an effect on the whole to turn out and if in fact if that is the case but from what weve been seeing and hearing in some places yes the polling stations obviously even the many people and many places where its been quiet thanks very much. Millions are being urged to stay indoors as south korea becomes the country with the highest number of corona virus infections outside china the Health Authorities have announced one death and 204 cases nationwide brought reports now from the Southern City of goop. The city of daegu is at the center of an outbreak of the corona virus that has the whole of south korea worried with nearly all of the new cases of infection linked to this church a branch of the shin changi church of jesus its believed people attending services here became infected some of whom then travel to other towns and cities in south korea infecting more people daegu in the neighboring city and now the focus of a National Effort to contain the outbreak children hooked into the government will take special measures by designating. Areas and special care zones as a sudden hike in numbers of the confirmed cases have been reported from there its thought many of the new cases of infection were due to one woman member of the church who also travelled widely around daegu city before finally being diagnosed the man has ordered everyone to remain at home bringing the city of 2 and a half 1000000 to a virtual standstill special medical centers have been set up to treat the expected increase in new cases in the capital seoul preventive measures are being taken while other branches of the shin chunky church of jesus have been closed. And large scale rallies that usually take place at the weekends have been banned. With the spread of the virus we plan to take momentous measures in order to protect the elderly who are vulnerable to this contagious disease so will ban the use of public squares where many citizens gather back in daegu people anxiously wait to see if this outbreak has been contained or if this is the start of something bigger usually on a friday evening this downtown shopping going to Entertainment District would be packed with people on this evening its nearly deserted as most tuesdays stay away and wait to see what happens next rob mcbride aljazeera daegu south korea. In china several health and communist Party Officials have been sacked after more than 200 people were infected by coronavirus inside prisons cases were reported in 2 jails in the chandon and she jang provinces inmates in Prison Guards make up most of the 258 new cases reported outside the epicenter on thursday the government says preventative measures were poorly carried out still to come here on aljazeera stranded in syria more on the displaced families in desperate need of aid. The sudanese Prime Minister is a no show at courts where he was expected to be charged in connection with the murder of his 2nd wife. Hello winter seems to have set in for the eastern med and particularly for turkey this circulation of clavicles means its all spreads across the levant and once more for lebanon and for syria and iraq youve either got rain or snow depending on the height above sea level of course to the size of that weve got the onshore wind keeping things a bit cool trees from sun 11 degrees for example they are now going to get a shark being all way further south thats not the case on saturday but if youre in Northern Iraq its not like good same for Northern Syria it doesnt improve much on sunday but the detail differences differences will allow more sunshine through and actually allow the rain to come back more into northern egypt colwyn theyre coming to libya for example and that enhanced has also been happening over the last few weeks they were in taksim here makes it not very warm 15. 00 to 90. 00 degrees nice in libya that when then comes down as the hamas in which is a seasonal wind for chad just for 2 examples and picks up the dust its a persistent seasonal thing but this is looking disappointing if youre in northern egypt youre probably not that pleased. As elsewhere in the or world the grains are moving north with the sun but is a good spread now from south africa right up to well gotbaum there where rain is likely. To. Join africas largest trade and investment in the wanda i. E. T. F. Gives you access to more than 1100 exhibitors and 10000 visitors and baez and more than 5000 conference delegates from more than 55 countries participate in trade and investment deals with 40000000000. 00 u. S. Dollars as business and government come together to explore business and Networking Opportunities at the International Exhibit which will include a Creative Africa Exchange by the African Export Import Bank and the premium fatness the a. T. F. 2020 transforming africa. Welcome back youre watching all jazeera remind of our top stories so far this hour a temporary deal thats supposed to be a significant step towards peace in afghanistan as you to begin in a few hours the taliban and the u. S. Will begin what theyre calling a weeklong reduction of violence as of midnight. Irans extending its parliamentary election by 4 hours state t. V. Is reporting what it calls a rush of voters thousands of candidates mostly reformists and moderates being barred from running. South korea has announced another spike in corona virus infections bringing the National Total to 204. 00 its now the worst affected country outside china the government is imposing emergency measures. The kremlin has denied meddling claims in the forthcoming 2020 us president ial election aimed at boosting Donald Trumps chances now it comes after u. S. Media reports say intelligence officials reportedly warned members of congress at a classified briefing that russia was again interfering in american politics the Intelligence Community has long warned that moscow and other countries would seek to interfere in the vote live now to washington and our correspondent there patty cohan hi there patty so 4 years on the russians are still doing it it would appear. Well thats what the Intelligence Community told this group the House Intelligence Committee and this happened last week but right now the president is responding to that because this is been reported by both the New York Times and the Washington Post we havent been able to dependently verify this but the president is reacting to this story that the house was briefed that russia is interfering into quote the times quote it was to try and get President Trump reelected this is how he responded of course on twitter another Misinformation Campaign is being launched by democrats in congress saying that russia prefers me to any of the do nothing democrats he goes on to call it a hoax number 7 this is a president whos been treating a lot today everything from farmers to afghanistan to retreating about a Bollywood Movie that involves a homosexual couple which he retreated said great but then this is obvious other than the president and that long list of things he felt the need to respond to needed to respond to you here is why he takes great umbrage at the idea that russia helped get him elected in 2016 of the broader question in all of this is does this play into whats happening now with the director of National Intelligence so its believed that a republican member of this House Committee told the president about this briefing and that he was brought in the acting director of National IntelligenceJoseph Mcguire to ask him about it but in the last couple of days weve realized that no grier is leaving his post as d. N. I. Hes been replaced by the german Ambassador Richard or now now the question is did this play into the choir leaving we dont know if im a choir its a career intelligence professional he was in the acting position the acting position means you can only be there for 6 months so he was due to either be appointed the at the actual d. N. I. Or he was going to have to leave at the beginning of march so that could have been a factor we have been able to necessarily connect this briefing with his leaving but there are Big Questions about colonel because he doesnt have any little. 0 intelligence experience and what hes known for is being a very vocal supporter of President Trump now President Trump responded that its going to be temporary because it is a very controversial position i mean this is the person who heads up all 17 intelligence agencies to try to make sure another 911 doesnt happen so the president tweeting this is going to be temporary that they have 4 great candidates and that he will make his decision in the next couple weeks were very very close patty of course to the actual full on Election Campaign does this mean that its about discussions around the world about the u. S. President ial Election Campaign will be about allegations of russian interference. Well and that is the big question because it was came out in 2016 that the intelligence assessment was across the board they believe russia interfered using things like social media to try and so disk discord to try and discredit Hillary Clinton by hacking emails to try to get President Trump reelected so in that 4 years really not a whole lot has changed esp