The US has followed Australia and the UK in easing pressure against Burma in order to encourage democratic reforms by the government.

The US treasury department announced that non-governmental organisations will now be able to carry out some humanitarian, religious and other non-profit activities.

Sanctions on sporting activities and "non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Burmese people" will also be eased.

Arab League ministers urged the Assad regime to cooperate fully with the UN's ceasefire monitors.

In a statement issued at a meeting between the Arab League and Kofi Annan (UN- Arab League special envoy to Syria), the Arab League said,

"We request the Syrian government to help observers do their job and allow transport and the ability to reach all areas in Syria, and not to impose conditions on them that prevent them from doing their job."

The UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of sending a team of upto 30 unarmed military observers to Syria, in order to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire. A further deployment of UN ceasefire monitors was expected Sunday. In a resolution, the Security Council urged the Syrian government to ensure the safety of UN staff.

However, the move comes as the Syrian government has pledged a crack down on a wave of 'terrorist attacks', stating that it could not be responsible for the safety any UN monitors unless it is involved in "all steps on the ground".

North Korea acknowledged that its recent rocket launch into orbit had been unsuccessful, on Friday. The rocket was in the air for a minute and a half, shorter than its previous launch, before exploding in midair. The debris from the rocket landed 165 km west of Seoul.

The U.S Navy, along with South Korean destroyers, have commenced a search operation to collect the debris in order to analyse the technology used by North Korea in the development of the rocket.

The UN Security Council expressed concerned over the increasing violence between South Sudan and Sudan, deeming such violence to be "a serious threat to international peace and security".

In a statement released Thursday, the UN Security Council urged both states to establish a Safe Demilitarized Border Zone and initiate a Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.

Extracts reproduced below:

"The Security Council expresses its deep and growing alarm by the escalating conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, as manifested most recently by the seizure and occupation of the town of Heglig and its oil fields in Sudan by the SPLA. The recent violence threatens to return both countries to full-scale war and the period of tragic loss of life and suffering, destroyed infrastructure, and economic devastation, which they have worked so hard and long to overcome."

British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for a suspension of EU sanctions on Burma, in recognition of its continuing democratic reforms, during the first visit by a British head of state since Burma’s independence in 1948.

Mr Cameron was speaking in Rangoon, where he met President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The prime minister stressed that an arms embargo on Burma should remain in place but it was right to suspend – not lift – other sanctions.

US President Barack Obama has approved an aid package for Syria's rebels, a US official said on Friday. The package will include communications equipment and medical supplies.

"Consistent with our longstanding efforts to support the peaceful opposition in Syria, the US is providing non-lethal material assistance to the non-violent, political opposition," the official said.

"It's likely deliveries of this assistance will increase over time."

India has overtaken China as the top customer of Iranian oil in data published by Geneva's Petrologistics.

India imported 433,000 barrels per day in the first quarter, an increase of around 23% compared ot the same period in 2011.

Meanwhile China has decreased its imports by 40.3%, buying only 256,000 barrels per day this quarter, reflecting tighter sanctions imposed on Iran by the EU and the US.

A day before his historic visit to Burma, Prime Minister David Cameron has praised Burma’s progress in implementing democratic reforms and said the UK may ease sanctions on the country.

Cameron said recent developments in Burma were welcome but he wanted to see the ground situation himself, to assess whether the progress was ‘irreversible’.

"If Burma moves towards democracy then we should respond in kind, and we should not be slow in doing that.

The first day of a tense cease fire in Syria has passed without major incidents.

The UN is currently preparing a team of monitors to assess the situation on the ground and determine whether a full mission is possible.

UN special envoy Kofi Annan said he was ‘encouraged’ but pointed out that Syria did not fully comply with the cease fire plan put forward by him.

Syria still has not removed its troops and heavy weaponry from its cities, which was supposed to be completed by Tuesday.