Deal reached between Russia and Israel over southern Syria

Russia and Israel have reportedly reached a deal which will allow Syrian forces to take rebel territory in southern Syria.

The condition of the deal is for Iranian troops to not participate in the offensive, and in return, Israel will not stand in the way of any Syrian regime offensive along the Israeli and Jordanian border.

Southern Syria is of concern to the United States, which last year brokered a "de-escalation" deal with Jordan and Russia that has largely contained the war near the frontier with Israel.

Venezuela accused of crimes against humanity

The Organisation of American States has accused the Venezuelan government of crimes against humanity.

The panel of experts said the regime was involved in multiple murders and 12,000 cases of imprisonment and arbitrary detention, as well as torture, rape, political persecution and enforced disappearances.

"It is incomprehensible for the cases of torture to continue in the American continent," said Manuel Ventura Robles, the former judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.