• Rodriguez reshuffles cabinet after US-backed transition in Venezuela.
• US pressure mounts as Venezuela drops Maduro ally Alex Saab.
• US deportation flight returns Venezuelans after Maduro ouster.

Venezuela’s interim president on Friday dismissed businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, from his post as minister of industry.

In a Telegram message, Delcy Rodriguez announced the ministry would be combined with a commerce ministry and thanked Saab — a Colombian-born Venezuelan — “for his service to the Homeland; he will be taking on new responsibilities.”

The change comes amid pressure from Washington following the January 3 US military raid that ousted Maduro.

Saab, released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States, was appointed to office in 2024 by Maduro.

He had been arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 due to an Interpol notice over accusations that he had served as a money launderer for the socialist leader.

He was subsequently extradited to the US, where he and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were charged with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela.

Saab’s dismissal is among the latest key changes to Venezuela’s government by Rodriguez since the US capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, meanwhile, said her country is starting a “true transition” to democracy and will become free with support from the United States and President Donald Trump.

Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice president Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the seizure of Maduro.

“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this will have an “immense impact on the lives of all Venezuelans” as well as around the region and the world.

“Venezuela is going to be free, and that’s going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the president, Donald Trump,” Machado said.

Her party has presented evidence that Maduro stole the 2024 election — claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.

But Trump has said that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Rodriguez so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Machado said Friday that Rodriguez is “following orders” rather than acting of her own will.

The opposition leader’s remarks came a day after US Central Intelligence Agency chief John Ratcliffe met Rodriguez in Caracas.

Ratcliffe travelled to Venezuela to “deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship,” a US administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Nobel medal

In an indication of that improved relationship, a US deportation flight carrying 231 Venezuelans landed in Caracas on Friday, the first since Maduro’s overthrow.

Trump has made cracking down on undocumented immigrants a major part of his second term, carrying out sweeping immigration raids and deporting migrants.

Machado, 58, on Thursday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to win over the US president.

“He deserves it,” she said. “And it was a very emotional moment, I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.”

It was not immediately clear if Trump — who said Friday that he and Machado will “be talking again” — kept the award following their White House lunch. The Norwegian Nobel Committee says its prizes cannot be transferred.

Trump had campaigned hard to win last year’s prize, falsely claiming that he stopped eight wars since taking office, but it went to Machado instead.

Trump and Rodriguez had their first telephone call on Wednesday and the White House said he “likes what he’s seeing” from her.

Rodriguez said, however, that her government will stand up to Washington.

“We know they are very powerful… we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said Thursday.

Rodriguez was delivering Maduro’s state of the nation address to parliament while the long-time authoritarian leader is in a New York jail facing drug trafficking charges.

By contrast, Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Maduro’s rule, was greeted by jubilant supporters in Washington.

Paramount+ has announced a new spinoff to its hit Western series, Yellowstone, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell leading the project.

Recently sharing a first look at The Madison, the streamer highlighted the character names for both of the stars.

It was noted that Michelle will play Stacy Clyburn, described as “the heart of the family”, while Kurt will appear as Preston Clyburn.

“The new series premieres Saturday, March 14th, only on @paramountplus,” revealed the caption alongside both Michelle and Kurt’s stills.

Following the Clyburn family’s story, The Madison has been described as a “heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.”

Whereas its IMDb synopsis stated: “A New York family’s life unravels after a tragedy, as they process grief while vacationing in rural Montana, exploring human connection amidst profound sorrow.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, while “the six-episode first season” of the series “will introduce the Clyburn family”, it is not yet known “if they are connected to the Duttons” — the protagonist clan from Yellowstone, led by Kevin Costner.

Meanwhile, The Madison cast additionally includes Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J. Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, and Matthew Fox.

Mickey Rourke is quickly running out of time to finance his Hollywood lifestyle by paying the back rent on his current property and he may have found just the solution.

According to sources, the once admired actor is considering writing a tell-all about the “dirt” he has on those in the business.

The news came amid the reports about his eviction and the fact that one of his staff members initiated a GoFundMe in his name, something he categorically rebuked.

While on the verge of losing his Los Angeles home, the Oscar-nominated actor’s manager Kimberly Hines set up the online fundraiser for him.

Reaching a target of nearly $100,000 in 24 hours, Mickey took to his Instagram and refused any association with the financial scheme.

“Somebody set up some kind of foundation or fund for me to donate money, like in a charity, and that’s not me, OK? If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no f****** charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my a** and pull the trigger,” he said.

Now, an insider has told Globe that the Iron Man star may come out with a tell-all to raise money because he “can be a loose cannon.”

“Mickey can be a loose cannon,” the source claimed. “The temptation to dish real dirt will be hard to resist because the more dirt he spills, the more secrets he spills — the more money he’ll make.”

It was further reported that Mickey Rourke currently owes $60,000 in back rent payments while his manager has since “secured an apartment for her client and retrieved his belongings.” Though it was reiterated that the donations will be “returned” if the actor doesn’t want them, with Hines’ main “goal” being to get him work “and claims that he’s already received four movie offers.”