The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on family members and associates of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as Washington ratchets up pressure on the Venezuelan president.

The US Treasury Department, in a statement, said it had imposed sanctions on seven people it said were tied to Maduro and his wife. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused them of “propping up Nicolas Maduro’s rogue narcostate.”

“We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs,” Bessent said.

“Maduro and his criminal accomplices threaten our hemisphere’s peace and stability. The Trump administration will continue targeting the networks that prop up his illegitimate dictatorship.”

Venezuela’s information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Maduro and his government have vehemently denied links to crime and say that the US is seeking to oust him to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

In recent months, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been ratcheting up pressure on Maduro, executing a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

It has carried out strikes against suspected drug vessels in the region, seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, and declared a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

Trump has also repeatedly said that strikes on land in Venezuela are coming soon.

Friday’s action sanctioned relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, the nephew of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores. The US says Malpica Flores was involved in a corruption plot at state oil company PDVSA. He was sanctioned by Washington last week.

His mother – the sister of Maduro’s wife – as well as his father, sister, wife and daughter were hit with sanctions on Friday.

The Treasury on Friday also extended a general license protecting Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum from creditors through February 3 that was set to expire on December 20. It was a far shorter extension than the last one the Treasury issued in June, which had a six-month duration.

Washington has protected the Houston-based company from creditors in recent years, even amid a court-organised auction of shares in its parent company, PDV Holding. The license temporarily bans transactions with a Venezuela-issued bond collateralised with Citgo equity.

A US judge in November authorised the sale of shares in the parent of Citgo Petroleum to an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, following his approval of a $5.9 billion bid from the company in a court-organised auction to pay Venezuela-linked creditors.

The sale order, which is pending Treasury Department approval, was the last major legal step to wrap a two-year auction aimed at paying up to 15 creditors for debt defaults and expropriations.

Zoe Kravitz has set off a fresh wave of speculation after being spotted wearing a ring on her wedding finger during a recent outing with Harry Styles, a detail that quickly caught the attention of fans. 

The actress was seen strolling arm in arm with the pop star in Rome, looking relaxed and affectionate as the pair enjoyed time together, with the ring adding fuel to ongoing engagement rumours that first surfaced weeks ago.

The 37-year-old actress appeared comfortable and content alongside her 31-year-old boyfriend, choosing a casual look that included a cape-style jacket and a bright purple scarf.

As spotted by The Sun, Styles kept things low-key in a long grey coat, sunglasses resting on his head, while carrying a shopping bag after a stop at a jewellery store during what appeared to be a Christmas shopping trip. 

The timing and setting only added to the curiosity surrounding the gold band on Kravitz’s ring finger.

The couple’s relationship became public earlier this year, with reports revealing they began dating casually in August after years of friendship.

An insider offered insight into why the couple seems less concerned about public attention this time around, saying, “Harry is a very private man – it’s no secret he’s dated lots of people but it’s not always so public.”

“If he wanted to, Harry knows exactly how to keep things underwraps. He’s been in this industry a long time and he knows how his fanbase reacts to things,” the source added. 

“He doesn’t take introducing the world to a new girlfriend lightly. He has thought long and hard about it but he’s prepared for the backlash because he thinks Zoe is the real deal.” 

The insider added, “It’s never easy for someone to date Harry and they’ve definitely chatted about what it will be like – and Zoe is fully on board. It’s not just a fling and them happily being snapped really shows that.”

Both stars come from recent high-profile relationships. 

Styles previously dated director Olivia Wilde, while Kravitz became single in October 2024 after ending her engagement to actor Channing Tatum.

For now, neither has commented publicly on the ring, but the subtle detail has already spoken loudly to fans watching closely.

Paul Feig went into the final stages of his latest film fully prepared for disappointment, never expecting Taylor Swift to say yes to a song he believed was too perfect to be approved. 

But to his surprise, the pop superstar not only watched the movie, she signed off on the track he had hoped for all along.

Speaking during the red carpet premiere of The Housemaid on Monday, the four-time Emmy nominee admitted he had little faith that Swift would clear the use of her 2017 Reputation track I Did Something Bad for the film’s shocking ending. 

As Feig explained, securing a Taylor Swift song is never simple. 

“Well, that’s the thing; you want to put a Taylor song in your movie, but she and her company have to approve it,” he said while discussing the editing process.

Even with that reality in mind, Feig and his team took a chance. 

“So, we were tempting with it, and we were like, ‘It’s so perfect, but she’s never gonna clear this,’” he added. 

The unexpected twist came after Swift and her team were shown the finished film. 

“Then we showed she and her people the movie, and she approved it. So, I guess she likes it. Thank you Taylor!”

The approval turned a long-shot wish into a defining moment for The Housemaid, which is now playing in theaters. 

The film’s soundtrack leans heavily into emotionally charged and recognisable music, blending Swift’s song with tracks like Lana Del Rey’s Cinnamon Girl, Renée Rapp’s Why Is She Still Here?, Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone, and Linda Ronstadt’s Tumbling Dice and Blue Bayou.

Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, the thriller stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie, a housekeeper who steps into what appears to be a flawless household run by the Winchesters, played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. 

As the story unfolds, dark secrets begin to surface.