* Venezuela’s government and opposition have announced that they will resume negotiations aimed at reaching a solution to the country’s political crisis, with an easing of US sanctions reportedly being prepared in return for democratic guarantees from President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The government and the opposition coalition Plataforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD) announced yesterday that they “have decided to return to the process of dialogue and negotiation, facilitated by Norway, with the aim of reaching a political agreement in line with what was established in the memorandum of understanding signed in Mexico City on 13 August 2021.” Delegations from the government and the PUD will meet in Barbados today (17 October) to begin the dialogue process. Press reports, including from Reuters and the Associated Press, indicate that an agreement has already been reached in principle and is due to be signed later today. According to US officials cited in the press reports, this will trigger an easing of US sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector.