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.

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.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are quietly stepping into the spotlight, with hints they may play future roles in the Sussexes’ newly rebranded charity, Archewell Philanthropies.

The organisation, originally launched as the Archewell Foundation in 2020 following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal duties, has now marked its five-year milestone with a fresh name and a subtle family-forward message. 

To mark the occasion, the charity released a celebratory video reflecting on its work over the past five years and fans were treated to a rare on-camera appearance from Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. 

The siblings featured alongside their parents during a recent visit to Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, offering a glimpse into the Sussexes’ hands-on approach to community work.

In the heartwarming footage, Archie is seen earnestly scooping ingredients from a mixing bowl while Lilibet watches attentively from the counter. 

Archie opted for a bright yellow long-sleeved top, while Lilibet stole the scene in a sweet tartan dress, her flame-red hair styled in a Rapunzel-like plait that eventually came loose as she busied herself in the kitchen.

According to Archewell, the family visit focused on preparing and packaging meals for people experiencing food insecurity. 

Our Big Kitchen LA, a community-run nonprofit, typically produces around 70,000 meals for schools, shelters, senior centres and local organisations.

When it comes to parenting, Prince Harry and Meghan have made kindness a non-negotiable family value and Archie and Lilibet are clearly getting the message early.

Back in 2022, Meghan offered a rare glimpse into their hands-on approach during an interview with The Cut, when she invited journalist Allison P. Davis along for Archie’s school pick-up. 

The moment captured everyday lessons with lasting impact. “If Archie forgets to say please or thank you, Meghan gently reminds him that manners matter,” Davis wrote.

At one stoplight, Meghan was seen retrieving a brand-new backpack from the car boot and asking her security team to pass it to an unhoused man nearby. 

The Sussexes, Davis noted, explain to Archie that some people live in big homes, some in small ones, and others are temporarily without one at all. 

The family even prepares care kits stocked with water, peanut-butter crackers, and granola bars to give out.