The invitation for Iran to participate in talks on the Syrian conflict has been withdrawn by the UN after the Syrian opposition said it would withdraw from the conference in protest.

The Syrian National Coalition said that without Iran accepting that Bashar al-Assad needed to step down in order for the conflict to be resolved, no negotiations could be held with the country, which is arming Syrian troops and participating in the fighting.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has called for reconciliation between militant groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, who have been fighting each other for control, claiming over 1,000 lives.

An audio message by ISIS leade Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said that the opposition groups should focus on fighting the Syrian regime.

Over 10,000 Buddhist monks gathered at a conference in Burma, passing a motion that will restrict marriage between Buddhist women and men of different faiths.

The motion will be submitted to Burma’s parliament in the hope that it will become law, alongside a motion that will restrict the right of Burma’s Rohingya Muslims to vote.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, summoned a group of European ambassadors today, to complain about what he described as a ‘one-sided approach’ to Israel’s conflict with Palestine.

The meeting comes after Israeli Prime Minister, on Thursday, criticised the EU’s concern over newly announced settlements.

The California State Assembly Education Committee has unanimously adopted a bill to include education on the Armenian genocide into the state curriculum.

"When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors to complain about the incitement (they espouse) that calls for Israel's destruction?" said Netanyahu to foreign journalists on Thursday.