Entertainment
Venezuela interim leader sacks industry minister allied with ousted president Maduro
- 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.
Brooklyn Beckham made his feelings clear over special birthday tributes from his parents, David and Victoria Beckham.
On March 4, the former English footballer and his famous designer wife sent a message of peace to their now estranged son with heartfelt birthday wishes.
Brooklyn, who turned 27 this year, must be surprised upon receiving a public nod from his parents following his bombshell allegations against his family.
David and Victoria shared heartfelt childhood photos of their eldest child, accompanied by emotional messages.
“27 Today Happy Birthday, Bust. We love you x,” David wrote. Whereas, Victoria said, “Happy 27th birthday, Brooklyn, I love you so much.”
But now, it seems that Brooklyn hit at his parents’ hearts with a brutal response.
While completely ignoring birthday greetings from David and Victoria, the aspiring chef reshared a birthday post made by his beloved wife, Nicola Peltz.
Nicola shared a loving photo, featuring herself and Brooklyn from his intimate birthday party. The couple was seen smiling at the camera, seemingly sending a message to the Beckhams that they ‘got each other.’
Harry Styles has candidly spoken about marriage plans and wanting to start a family in a recent interview.
The 32-year-old Grammy winner, who has just marked his comeback to spotlight after a three-year break, started making headlines last year for his rumoured relationship with The Batman star Zoe Kravitz.
The duo was first spotted holding hands in September 2025 while strolling around in Brooklyn, New York. After that, the two had been photographed multiple times together in Rome as well.
Amid all these speculations, Styles just made a statement confessing that he wants a “family.”
In conversation with Zane Lowe, the Watermelon Sugar hitmaker opened about having serious conversations to himself during his hiatus about how he wants his life to be in five years and how to make changes to aim those goals.
“I don’t want to be the guy who’s on his own but was like, ‘Oh, I really did it”, said Harry.
The former One Direction singer claimed, “I want to be fulfilled, and I want to be in great relationships with people. I want to have great friendships with people. I want a family. I want these things.”
He further admitted that while assessing his life, he also realized that he would have to make some changes to create space for all those things to happen.
Styles said, “It just allowed me to go like, ‘OK, what do I have to do to create space to allow these things to happen?’ I can’t just expect them to just happen to me.”
Harry Styles, Zoe Kravitz Romance Heats Up:
Reportedly, Harry and Zoe’s relationship is quite more than just a “casual” romance.
Not just that, the rumoured couple has also received approval from Kravitz’s father Lenny, who think that they are a “great match.”
Styles latest statement has heated up the speculations of his romance with Kravitz, leaving many people to think if they will be hearing wedding bells soon.
Cruz Beckham gave a special nod to his father David by honouring him with a Manchester United football shirt as he took his The Time For Your Love tour to the city on Wednesday.
For the unversed, Sir David, who was knighted by King Charles last November, played for the team for 12 years.
However, he made sure to support his son as he watched his 21-year-old son and his band, The Breakers perform on stage at The Deaf Institute alongside former player Nicky Butt.
Just hours earlier, David, Victoria, Cruz, and Romeo sent birthday wishes to Brooklyn with Instagram posts to mark his 27th birthday.
The public olive branch came six weeks after Brooklyn made his bombshell statement stating he had no wishes to reconcile with his father.
As for style, David donned a cream beanie as he joined Manchester United star Nicky and his best friend David Gardner.
Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, who has been travelling around the UK with the band, was also present at the show.
Jackie, meanwhile cut a stylish figure in a furry brown jacket and denim jeans.
However, Victoria and Romeo missed the show as they are currently in Paris for the city’s Fashion Week.
Sharing childhood photos of Brooklyn, David used his childhood nickname for his son, Buster, as he wrote ’27 today. Happy Birthday Bust. We love you x’
Minutes later Victoria shared the same photo and wrote ‘happy birthday Brooklyn, we love you so much’. She then uploaded a photo of herself laughing with her son with a string of love hearts.
Cruz, meanwhile, shared a sweet throwback of Brooklyn holding him as a baby and wrote: ‘I love you’.
The young musician has been carving out his music career and currently is in the middle of his UK tour with his band, Cruz Beckham And The Breakers, performing at King Tuts in the city.
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