1. Millions of mourners from around the world are in the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark Arba’een, the 40th day after martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein.
2. Iran warns against any attempt to hold Syria talks in Saudi Arabia or Jordan saying any such talks will derail political process to solve the crisis in the war-hit country.
3. Russia accuses the US of violating a nuclear arms treaty following Washington’s deployment of MK 41 vertical launching systems in Eastern Europe.