European leaders meet with Ukraine’s president with billions in frozen Russian assets on the table as the European Union and United States impose new sanctions on Moscow. Courts could rule this week on key legal challenges to President Trump’s National Guard deployments in multiple cities. And the Pentagon press corps gets a right-wing makeover as new reporters replace legacy outlets.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
<
p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Alina Hartounian, Emily Kopp, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.
<
p class=”readrate”>
<
p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas
<
p class=”readrate”>
<
p class=”readrate”>We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Diane Laneis sharing how being a mom to her daughter, Eleanor Lambert, helped shape her performance as matriarch Ellen Taylor in new psychological thriller Anniversary.
“Once you are a parent, you don’t feel like you have to pretend as much,” Lane, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly at the film’s New York City premiere on Tuesday, October 21. “I understand the need for each generation to have its own set of identity that feels as though it cannot be understood by the previous one. So with great patience and hope as a parent, you’re going to be able to bridge the quote on quote ‘divide.’”
Lane, who shares Eleanor with first husband Christopher Lambert, continued, “But at the same time, I think every 80 years, we achieve a blind spot to our own history, which is probably why we tend to repeat it in an 80-year cycle where each generation seems surprised. And yet if you look at history, it’s not so surprising.”
Anniversary, which hits theaters on Wednesday, October 29, follows the close-knit Taylor family as they find themselves caught in the tumultuous rising movement known as “The Change.” Lane plays Ellen, a college professor who discovers that her son, Josh (Dylan O’Brien), is dating her former student Liz (Phoebe Dynevor), with whom she had a complicated past.
As the film progresses, Liz’s radical political views spawn the “Change,” which promotes a one-party government system, and the increasingly popular movement begins to threaten Ellen and her family’s lives, as well as the fabric of the nation itself. Kyle Chandler, Zoey Deutch, Madeline Brewer and McKenna Grace also star.
While speaking with Us on Tuesday, Lane explained that “nobody is untouched by the word ‘change,’” which is why Anniversary felt like an important story to tell.
“[Change] has been promised by politicians every time we have a voting cycle,” she said, noting that “the war for people’s hearts and minds and the vitriol that gets utilized” is something that the film’s director and cowriter Jan Komasa “knows a lot about.”
Owen Behan
“As a Polish citizen, his country has certainly been yanked around and survived a lot of invasive ideologies, to put it mildly,” she continued. “So I felt like we were in good hands with [him] here. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and I’m a fan of his previous work. We were his first English-speaking film, so it was an honor.”
Lane certainly has an eye for projects, as she has scored an array of Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations throughout her illustrious career. According to the Unfaithful star, there have also been “plenty” of regrets she and her friends laugh about when it comes to their choice of roles.
“You go with the flow and you roll with the punches and you say, ‘Well, next time I’ll know better,’ ” she told Entertainment Tonight in a Monday, October 20, interview. “I don’t mind making mistakes as long as I don’t lose the lesson. For actors, sometimes it’s on film forever and you’ve got to enjoy that too. It keeps you humble.”
Lane pointed to Jack, the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola film she starred in opposite Robin Williams about a boy who ages four times faster than normal, as a project that may not be critically acclaimed, but still holds a “special place” in her “library.” (Lane played Jack’s mother, Karen, in the dramedy.)
Lane credited her love for the film to Williams, who she called “a breath of more than fresh air” who “set the bar so high in terms of good energy.” (Williams died by suicide in 2014 at the age of 63.)
“He brought all of it with him,” she recalled. “So in that way, I thought that the gift was very appropriate coming from him, because he could play all the parts in all the plays.”
Anniversary hits theaters on Wednesday, October 29.
When asked whether she was “nervous” while in the air, Danielle, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly that she’s “never” nervous with Pasha, 39 — though her partner had a bit of doubt.
“There was a moment,” he interjected.
“Well, sure, when you almost dropped me on my nose during dress rehearsal,” Danielle replied after the Tuesday, October 21, episode, as Pasha confirmed the fall was “this close” to happening.
Danielle explained she waited until the floor was inches from her face before putting her hand out to cushion her face — something Pasha asked her to not repeat during the live show.
“I was like, ‘I got you, no matter what happens during the live performance,’” Pasha said. “I was like, ‘Do not touch the floor. I got you. Worst case scenario, I’m paying for a nose job.’”
Disney/Eric McCandless
For Danielle, that was all she “needed to know.”
“The only reason I didn’t want to smack the floor is because I didn’t want the expense of a nose job,” Danielle quipped. “[But] once he took that off the table …”
Danielle and Pasha wowed judgesCarrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli with their Argentine tango to Cynthia Erivo’s “No Good Deed” in celebration of Wicked night — ultimately earning their first 9s of the season.
“I’m so happy,” Danielle gushed. “All I wanted a couple of weeks ago was just like an eight, and then last week we got an eight. And I never thought that we would jump eights to get to a nine, but we did. And I just, I mean, that shock on my face up there was real. I’m so happy.”
Disney/Eric McCandless
For Danielle, Pasha is the one keeping her motivated to earn her spot in the ballroom week after week.
“He works so hard, it never stops,” she said. “He gets in the car, he starts listening to the music for the next week. He has a morning off because we have an afternoon rehearsal, he’s back in the studio choreographing for the next week. He then shows up, he’s extremely focused, he’s very present. He never lets me be like, ‘I’m not sure I can do this.’ He’s like, ‘No, no, OK, enough. Let’s go.’ And he just keeps challenging me.”
She continued, “If he’s willing to work this hard, I have to be willing to work that hard, plus, because I’m coming from such a deficit for what he knows. So I just give it all to him.”
Sometimes giving it all includes getting some bruises along the way. Danielle noted that there’s a new injury “every day,” with her hip having a “gnarly bruise” right now.
“I bruise like a peach,” she explained. “Literally, for the first two days of learning this routine, I kept saying, ‘I’m just a sack of potatoes because I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing.’ And he’s literally just swinging me around.”
She continued, “Every day there’s something new. Sometimes it’s like a shoulder, sometimes it’s a neck, sometimes it’s a hip, and sometimes it’s a hamstring. I did not realize how much I underestimated what dancers put their bodies through. And I’m like, ‘All right, if they can do it, I guess I can do it too.’”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Prove your DWTS fandom with Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv! Compete against other fans and Us editors in the Bracketology DWTS fantasy league this season to predict which pairs will make it to the finale for season 34. Get access to exclusive content, stats and a chance to win prizes. Join the league for free today!
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Lands has said all promotions followed due process and meritorious shading off allegations of favouritism and nepotism.
The clarification settles down the allegations that have been levelled against the outgoing Principal Secretary Devie Chilonga and Commissioner for Valuation and Estate Management Mickson Chiundira.
According to Ministry of Lands Director of Human Resources Management, Francisco Zimba, the ministry had a lot of unfilled vacancies for senior positions, a development that stifled delivery.
“The promotions were meritorious, we used integrity, experience and qualifications to fill in the existing gaps,” he said.
He said, for example, “Zione Malanda is qualified and served the ministry for over years and now promoted to Deputy Director.” Others who are agitating have served less than 13 years according to file records and often with reported misconducts on file while other are being investigated by other competent agencies.
Zimba added that there were no any inches of political, tribal and regionalistic inclinations when filling the vacancies.
“Every qualified Malawian regardless of region or tribe, were accorded equal opportunity, promotions were offered to those qualified individuals who passed the interviews and nothing else.
He said, “It’s necessary to mention that everyone was given equal chances, for example, file records are showing that among many who were considered Blessings Mpanga and Mr Jambo Chiziwitsano from Chiradzulu and Nsanje were promoted as Deputy Directors of Quality Assurance- heading Eastern and Souther region respectively, Anthony Nzima, from the north, is the fastest promoted from P8 to become Deputy Commissioner for Lands(Land registration) Counsel Nzati Mbeko is from Blantyre was appointed Deputy Commissioner (Legal Services), Masida Mbano from the north was promoted to Surveyor General, and was promoted, Counsel Yohane Dzowa is from Balaka, he got promoted to Deputy Director(Legal Services), Mirriam Lungu and Cynthia Chisanu from Rumphi and Ntcheu were promoted to Deputy Commissioners for Valuation and Property Databank respectively. Mr Jailosi Lungu from Mzimba and Mr Philimon Mkwezalamba from Lilongwe were promoted to Deputy Commissioners for Physical Planning (Enforcement/Planning)
Not only that but also, Mr Msukwa from Chitipa, Mrs Sarah Mzunda from Chitipa, Mr Kabambe from Thyolo, Mr Chikweni from Machinga, Mr Manzi from Mzimba and many others were promoted to the post of Chief Lands Officer, Chief Valuation Officer, Chief Estae Management Officer etc. Then many others in lower cadres were also accorded opportunity to undergo interviews at Civil Service Commission which you can go and verify. You will appreciate that it was from all the districts. Our files are open for inspection at any time.
The Ministry of Lands has been the fastest in filling gaps of vacant posts that mostly made operations hard in the past.
An inside source from the ministry hinted that more people were moved up to fill various positions and this became a direct motivation and efficiency drastically improved.
However, it was reported that management had the right to avoid those with questionable work ethics which often are those making the noise.
LONDON-(MaraviPost)-After weeks of frustration, English giants Liverpool rediscovered their form on Wednesday night with emphatic 5–1 victories in the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool’s triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt at Anfield marked their first win in 30 days, ending a worrying run that had left fans anxious and demanding a response.
The Reds delivered in style, displaying a mix of discipline, hunger and flair that reminded supporters of their glory days.
Goals came from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai a lineup of scorers that reflected Liverpool’s teamwork rather than reliance on a single player.
Despite the joy, the night wasn’t without concern, as forward Alexander Isak limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea produced a statement performance of their own, thrashing Ajax 5–1 in front of their home fans.
The game swung in Chelsea’s favor after Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor was sent off in the 15th minute, forcing the visitors to defend deep against relentless attacks.
Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Estêvão Willian, Marc Guiu and Tyrique George all found the net for Chelsea, while Ajax managed a consolation goal from the penalty spot.
The result restored optimism among the Blues faithful and reaffirmed Chelsea’s strength as reigning Club World Cup champions.
Elsewhere in Europe, AS Monaco played out a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur in a match defined by solid defending and missed opportunities.
Real Madrid edged Juventus 1–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu, Bayern Munich dismantled Club Brugge 4–0, and Sporting CP came from behind to beat Marseille 2–1.
The commanding wins by Liverpool and Chelsea sent a clear message across Europe that English football remains a force to reckon with in this year’s Champions League campaign.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Central bank, Reserve Bank of Malawi has reaffirmed its commitment to providing the necessary support to Silver Strikers FC to ensure the team’s success.
RBM Governor Dr McDonald Mafuta Mwale made the remarks after paying a courtesy visit to Silver Strikers players who are currently in camp ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League second preliminary round match against Yanga SC.
Go and win for us-Mwale in the middle
Mwale said the bank is behind the team and will provide the necessary resources to make sure that they progress in the competition.
The match will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Central Bankers will go into the game with a one goal advantage.
TMZ may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. We all know that you’re probably not getting your recommended daily serving of fruits and veggies … but now it’s easier than ever to get your green on. These…
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The MK16.5 billion tax evasion case against Mapeto David Whitehead and Sons (DWS) Limited executives and two Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) customs officers is reportedly hit snag as there is no interest from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to proceed with the matter in three years.
The accused persons including Mapeto DWS director Faizal Gaffar Latif, managing director Muhammed Gaffar, financial controller Abdul Rashid Bakali, procurement manager Yaseen Muhammad and general manager Martin Mpata.
Reports show that Mapeto Directors bribed also state not to proceed with the case while delaying the matter in court.
This comes after the High Court in October 2022 moved the case from criminal to revenue division.
The decision followed an application by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a notice issued by High Court Judge Ruth Chinangwa to have the matter tried at the High Court’s Revenue Registry.
Delivering the ruling in her chamber in that year in Blantyre in the absence of the accused persons’ lawyers, she said looking at the documents presented in court the matter needed to be tried by the High Court’s Revenue Division.
In an application filed by senior State advocate Siphosana Kajumie on behalf of the former DPP Steve Kayuni, the State said it noticed that most charges related to revenue matters.
Reads the skeleton argument in support of the application: “The present matter is an appropriate matter that should have been commenced in the Revenue Division of the High Court; hence, having noted that such was the case, the present application serves as an amendment to such anomaly as per Section 6 A (2) of the Courts Act.
But three years down the line, the case has not seen a day light in court while public resources are in the down the drain also.
When asked on update of the matter, one of the State lawyers, Modecai Msisha, said they have been always ready for the matter and will just wait for the court to set the date.
Besides Msisha, the State is also being represented by Kayuni, MRA lawyers Beatrice Mwangwela and Anthony Chungu as well as Financial Intelligence Authority legal manager Collin Chitsime.
On the other hand, the defence legal team comprises John-Gift Mwakhwawa, Pearson Wame, Fostino Maele and Fred Chipembere.
The case was committed to the High Court from the magistrates court on March 30 in 2022 following Kayuni’s decision to issue a summary procedure to have the case moved.
In May 23, 2021, MRA pounced on Mapeto DWS Limited and arrested five senior executives for multiple cases of alleged tax evasion that was estimated at MK10.8 billion before it was revised to MK16.5 billion.
Therefore, with the new leadership of President Peter Mutharika, the public expects such kind of cases to be concluded while claiming what belongs to Malawians.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s utility agencies, Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) has intensified major infrastructure expansion projects to meet customers’ water demands.
The agency is into construction of three major treatment water plants in a bid to meet 72 percent increase for water demand in the city.
LWB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sili Mbewe told the media tour on Thursday, October 22, 2025 that the construction of the new water treatment plant is expected to be completed by March next year.
Mbewe disclosed that the agency’s customer base has grown from 81,734 in 2020 to 140,588 in 2024 hence the need for expansion.
He also added that LWB has increased Kamuzu Dam’s storage capacity from 5 million to 25 million
“Once finished, it will enable the city to have adequate and clean water that matches its population growth, thereby reducing water shortages,” says Mbewe.
He therefore assured Lilongwe residents that the ongoing interruptions in water supply will soon be a thing of the past.
Mbewe observes, “One of the major causes of the recent interruptions has been power outages, which affect the operation of water pumping systems.
“We have now started installing solar-powered systems at our treatment plants to address this challenge”.
About US$25 million is used for the expansion infrastructure projects.
Sean Payton saw the not-so-subtle jab Russell Wilson made toward him on social media on Tuesday … but the Broncos head coach is adamant he wasn’t shading his former quarterback with the comments he made after Sunday’s game — insisting he was…
