World News Roundup: US Government Funding Deal, Venezuelan Amnesty, Gaza Strikes, Waymo Funding, and Nvidia-OpenAI Relationship
Washington, D.C. - The US Senate passed a government funding deal on Friday, January 31, 2026, sending the bill to the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro proposed an amnesty law for political prisoners, and Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in multiple casualties. In the tech world, Waymo is reportedly finalizing a significant funding round, while Nvidia's CEO addressed reports of friction with OpenAI.
The US Senate approved a Trump-backed government funding bill by a vote of 71-29, according to Euronews. The bill aims to fund most of the government through the end of September, while providing a temporary extension for Homeland Security funding. However, with the House not scheduled to return until Monday, a partial government shutdown was possible over the weekend until the bill's passage. The US Congress will also have two weeks to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country, Euronews reported.
In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro introduced an initiative to grant amnesty to political prisoners detained since 1999, during the Chavista period, Euronews reported. Delcy Rodríguez, instructed the Judicial Revolution Commission to prepare the legal text for a vote in the National Assembly. The amnesty would not apply to those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, or human rights violations. Families of the prisoners are reportedly waiting cautiously for further developments.
Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 29 Palestinians on Saturday, according to hospital sources cited by Euronews. The strikes targeted locations in both northern and southern Gaza, including an apartment building and a police station in Gaza City, as well as a tent in Khan Younis. Euronews noted that this was one of the highest casualty tolls since the October ceasefire.
In the autonomous vehicle sector, Waymo is reportedly raising a $16 billion funding round, valuing the company at $110 billion, according to TechCrunch. The Financial Times reported that Alphabet, Waymo's parent company, would provide more than three-fourths of the funding. New investors like Dragoneer, Sequoia Capital, and DST Global are reportedly participating, along with existing backers Andreessen Horowitz and Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala. A Waymo spokesperson, when contacted by TechCrunch, stated, "While we don't comment on private financial matters, our trajectory is clear: with over 20 million trips completed, we are focused on the safety-led operational excellence."
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed reports of tension between his company and OpenAI, dismissing them as "nonsense," TechCrunch reported. The Wall Street Journal had claimed that Nvidia was considering scaling back its investment in OpenAI, despite a previously announced plan for Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion and build 10 gigawatts of computing infrastructure for the AI company. The WSJ also reported that Huang had privately criticized OpenAI's business strategy and expressed concerns about competitors. TechCrunch noted that the two companies are reportedly rethinking their relationship, but it does not necessarily mean cutting ties completely.
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