Vatican to mediate

Venezuela’s socialist government and opposition have announced surprise talks to deal with a worsening political standoff since the suspension of a referendum drive to remove unpopular President Nicolas Maduro. The two sides will meet on the Caribbean island of Margarita on Sunday, mediated by the Vatican, regional bloc Unasur and three former heads of state, after Maduro met with Pope Francis, who urged him to alleviate Venezuelans’ suffering during a brutal economic crisis. Past talks between the bitterly polarised sides have led to little progress. The opposition says Maduro is an inept autocrat who must leave office before the crisis worsens, while the former bus driver and union leader vows not to be pushed out by what he calls a power-hungry elite seeking a coup. The opposition is calling for nationwide protests tomorrow as Venezuela’s third year of recession has many people skipping meals due to widespread food shortages and spiralling prices. Foes say Maduro has veered into dictatorship by sidelining the opposition-led congress, jailing critics and then leaning on compliant judicial and electoral authorities to stop the referendum. conveyor belt after a raft they were in flipped on the Thunder River Rapids ride yesterday. Six people were in the raft at the time of the accident yesterday afternoon, and police confirmed that four adults died. The theme park said it was working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident, with its focus and priority being with the families of those involved.