Venezuela government and opposition to begin formal talks with US support

Venezuela's interim government has announced formal talks with opposition members starting 1 August, backed by the United States, in the aftermath of deadly twin earthquakes.

• Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, and opposition leader Dinorah Figuera simultaneously announced the talks, which will involve former lawmakers elected in 2015.
• Rodríguez cited the 24 June twin earthquakes, which killed over 4,700 people, as motivation for national unity and reconstruction.
• Figuera, who returned from exile at the invitation of the US State Department, said the talks aim to strengthen the electoral system and guarantees for political participation.
• Nobel laureate María Corina Machado was not included in the talks and called a meeting of her coalition to discuss the announcement.