US Reopens Embassy in Venezuela as Relations Thaw
The United States took a step toward normalizing relations with Venezuela by reopening its diplomatic mission in Caracas, seven years after it was closed. Laura Dogu, the U.S. chargé d'affaires for Venezuela, arrived in the South American country on Saturday to oversee the reopening, according to Euronews. This move comes almost a month after a U.S. military operation deposed former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Azerbaijan Ships Russian Grain to Armenia
In a separate development, grain wagons from Russia were dispatched to Armenia via Azerbaijan on Sunday, signaling progress in the normalization process between Baku and Yerevan, Euronews reported. The shipment totaled 1,746 tonnes of grain, transported in 25 wagons. According to Euronews, a total of 285 wagons, carrying nearly 19,900 tonnes of grain, have been transported in recent months. Reopening transit routes remains a key part of the ongoing normalization efforts.
Amazon's 'Melania' Documentary Exceeds Expectations
Amazon's documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump, titled "Melania," earned an estimated $7.04 million on its opening weekend, exceeding pre-release projections of $3 to $5 million, TechCrunch reported. The documentary ranked third overall for the weekend, behind "Send Help" ($20 million) and "Iron Lung" ($17.8 million). Amazon acquired the documentary for $40 million and is reportedly spending $35 million on promotion. Despite the better-than-expected opening, TechCrunch noted that it is unlikely to make a profit in theaters.
Indonesia Lifts Ban on Grok
Indonesia lifted its ban on xAI's chatbot Grok, following similar moves by Malaysia and the Philippines, TechCrunch reported. The Southeast Asian countries initially banned Grok after it was used to generate a large number of nonconsensual, sexualized images on X, including images of real women and minors. According to analyses by The New York Times and the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Grok was used to create at least 1.8 million such images in late December and January. Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs stated that the ban was lifted after X sent a letter outlining steps for service improvements and the prevention of misuse, according to TechCrunch, citing a translation from The New York Times. Alexander Sabar, the ministry's director general of digital space monitoring, confirmed the decision.
Tesla's Rebranding Efforts
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been attempting to rebrand the company as more than just an electric vehicle manufacturer, TechCrunch reported. Musk's efforts included positioning Tesla as a sustainable energy company after acquiring Solar City in 2016, and more recently, as an AI and robotics company. However, TechCrunch noted that the majority of Tesla's revenue still comes from selling EVs. In 2025, the company generated $94.8 billion in revenue, with $69.5 billion coming from EV sales and leasing.
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