Caracas /AFP Venezuela’s political rivals were expected to carry out more fraught Vatican-backed talks on Saturday as they struggle to stabilize a volatile country stricken by food shortages. The talks, which began late on Friday, could determine whether the sides maintain their fragile dialogue or the oil-rich South American country returns to antagonism and instability. “Progress was made on …

  Hanoi / AFP Vietnam destroyed a huge stockpile of ivory and rhino horn on Saturday, urging the public to stop consuming illegal wildlife products driving several species towards extinction. The ivory and rhino horn trade is officially banned in Vietnam, but its use in traditional medicine and for decoration remains widespread, especially among the communist country’s growing elite. It …

  AFP Candidates in Kuwait’s parliamentary elections have focused their campaigns on unpopular government austerity measures as the oil-dependent Gulf country faces financial stress due to low crude prices. Kuwait, which sits on around seven percent of the world’s proven crude reserves, has resorted to a series of measures to cut spending and boost non-oil revenues in a bid to …