The government shutdown enters its second week with no negotiations underway, as President Trump threatens permanent layoffs. The impact of the shutdown is spreading to the skies, where staffing shortages have forced some air traffic control towers to close and ground flights across the country. And former FBI Director James Comey appears in court to face felony charges, a case driven by pressure from President Trump.
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p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Russell Lewis, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas
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p class=”readrate”>We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women returned to winning ways with a dominant 4-0 victory over Topik Academy, climbing to fifth place in the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership.
The win, played on Tuesday at Mpira Stadium, was a strong statement of intent from the Blantyre-based side, who had endured a mixed start to the season.
The game, initially set for Saturday, was postponed to Tuesday after Topik Academy failed to travel in time due to transport challenges. Despite the delay, Bullets approached the fixture with intensity and focus, fully aware that a victory was vital to reignite their top-four aspirations.
From kickoff, the home side seized control of the game. Midfield general Carol Mlenzo dictated play with poise and precision, while forward Chikondi Mgodi tormented the visiting defenders with her speed and direct runs.
Head coach Maggie Chombo-Sadik, eager to inspire consistency in her team, made a smart tactical switch early in the first half bringing in youngster Louria Yiannakis for Florida Safilodi in the 18th minute.
The substitution added creativity and width to Bullets’ play, allowing them to stretch Topik’s defensive line and dominate possession.
The pressure soon paid off in the 34th minute. A well-measured long pass from Shalon Dzimau found Mgodi in space and she calmly beat the offside trap before finishing past the advancing goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
Moments before halftime, Mgodi’s explosive run was halted inside the box by Joyce Chanza, resulting in a penalty. Captain Mlenzo converted confidently from the spot to double the lead, sending Bullets into the break with a 2-0 advantage.
After the restart, Bullets showed no signs of slowing down. Their fullbacks joined the attack with precision, and the midfield pressed relentlessly. Topik Academy’s attempts to counter were neutralized by a disciplined backline led by Thandiwe Mvula.
In the 73rd minute, Mgodi dazzled again on the right flank, dribbling past two defenders before cutting the ball across for Vanessa Issa, who made it 3-0 with a simple tap-in.
Substitute Patricia Mwafulirwa nearly made it four moments later when her curling effort struck the crossbar but Bullets continued to press forward with purpose.
As fatigue crept into Topik’s defense, Mgodi turned provider once more, assisting the final goal to seal a comprehensive 4-0 win.
After the match, Bullets coach Maggie Chombo-Sadik praised her players’ renewed focus and hunger
“The girls worked really hard today. We still missed some chances but our overall performance was solid. We’ll fix small mistakes and continue to build on this momentum,” she said.
Topik Academy assistant coach, Kelvin Bwayala, acknowledged the defeat but remained optimistic about his side’s learning curve.
“We need to correct some mistakes we saw today. Experience was our biggest challenge. The girls tried their best, but we’ll go back to training and keep improving,” said Bwayala.
With this win, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women rise to fifth place on the standings with 10 points from six matches, signaling a strong recovery in their campaign.
In contrast, Topik Academy, based in Northern Region, remain bottom of the table in 10th place, having lost all six of their matches without a point so far a reflection of the steep learning curve for the new side in Malawi’s competitive women’s football scene while Silver Strikers Ladies are league leaders with 18 points from six matches.
UPDATE — 10/7/25 at 8 p.m. ET: Ed Sheeran has reacted to Taylor Swift’s explanation as to why he found out about her engagement online.
During Swift’s Monday, October 6, appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the pop star cleared the air regarding why Sheeran didn’t learn about her and Travis Kelce’s engagement from her and before their viral social media post.
“I have a perfect explanation … he doesn’t have a phone,” Swift said, noting that Sheeran doesn’t have a cellphone that works and they don’t communicate via text message. “I’m going through my texts and being like, ‘Who have I texted within the last month in my life?’ And he just wasn’t there.”
Swift explained that if she wants to get in touch with Sheeran you have to send him an email to arrange a video call.
“You have to email him. If you want to set up a FaceTime, he has to find an iPad. They have to give it to him like he’s a child that you give the iPad to,” she quipped. “This is one of my absolute favorite people on the planet. When the news came out, I was like, ‘We forgot to call Ed! Oh no!’ He’s like family. I love him. But he doesn’t have a phone.”
After Swift’s explanation went viral, Sheeran commented on the clip via TikTok, writing, “Hello from allotted iPad time, this is factual.”
Original story below:
Ed Sheeran is keeping up with all the new changes in his friend Taylor Swift‘s life, just like Us.
During an interview with Andy Cohen before his SiriusXM’s Small Stage Series concert in New York City on Wednesday, September 24, Sheeran, 34, revealed he hasn’t gotten an early preview of Swift’s upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl. When asked how he found out about Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, Sheeran gave a one-word answer.
“Instagram,” Sheeran replied, much to Cohen’s surprise.
“You didn’t even get a DM in advance?” Cohen, 57, asked, to which Sheeran said, “No.”
Sheeran also noted that he hasn’t received a save the date yet for the couple’s wedding.
Swift, 35, officially announced her 12th album during an appearance on Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast in August. Weeks later, the twosome nearly broke the internet by announcing their engagement after two years of dating.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨,” read the caption of a joint Instagram post on August 26.
Ed Sheeran sits down with Andy Cohen for SiriusXM’s Small Stage Series at Irving Plaza on September 24, 2025 in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SiriusXM
While save the date cards may not be in the mail yet, a source exclusively told Us Weekly this month that Swift and Kelce, 35, are “in the very early planning stages” for their big day.
“There is no venue or location set yet,” the insider added, noting that the wedding is “likely going to be early next year.”
According to the source, Swift is “having so much fun researching venues and locations” while in the “ideation phase” of wedding planning. The couple also want to ensure their celebration is “more intimate.”
“They don’t want to have a big, over-the-top wedding with a ton of people. It will be private with friends and family, not a ton of celebrities or random people,” the source told Us, describing Swift and Kelce as “down-to-earth and normal” despite their fame. “It will be meaningful, and they will be surrounded by people who are special to them.”
Plenty of fellow musicians round out Swift’s inner circle, including Sheeran, whom she first worked with on the song “Everything Has Changed” from her 2012 album, Red. The dynamic duo have multiple collaborations under their belts, and in summer 2024, Sheeran joined Swift on stage at Wembley Stadium in London during The Eras Tour.
Sheeran recently shared rare insight into his friendship with Swift on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, revealing in April that the twosome typically see each other “four times a year.”
When they do cross paths, Sheeran said he and Swift have “proper sit down, six-hour catch-ups,” adding, “I think that’s a really nice way to do it.”
Sheeran also reminisced on when he opened for Swift on the Red Tour and the time the pair spent with each other in Nashville. “We used to fly to and from the gigs together and do all sorts of [stuff],” he recalled. “I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months.”
While Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are cordial following their divorce, they have no plans to rekindle their relationship.
“They are not getting back together but are in a great place and are able to communicate better and have a friendship,” multiple sources tell Us Weekly of Lopez and Affleck’s current dynamic. “It took a lot of time for them to get to this place.”
Affleck and Lopez, 56, publicly reunited for the first time since finalizing their divorce during the Monday, October 6, premiere of Lopez’s new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, in which she stars. The pair were all smiles as they posed together for photos on the red carpet. Affleck and Lopez were also seen sharing a laugh before going into the screening.
Lopez stunned in a custom, earth-toned floral Harris Reed dress. Her hair was pinned back above her neck to show off her dainty earrings. She completed the look with HASSANZADEH jewelry. Affleck opted for a blue suit coupled with a white button-up.
According to one insider, Affleck made an appearance at the Kiss of the Spider Woman premiere because of his behind-the-scenes involvement on the project.
“There is nothing going on between them. He went because he’s a producer,” the source explains.
Affleck’s production company, Artist’s Equity, which he founded with pal Matt Damon, produced the film adaptation of the Broadway musical. At the event, Affleck spoke to Extra about what drew him to the project.
Jennifer Lopez, Ben AffleckAurora Rose/Variety via Getty Images
“[Matt Damon] and I started this company and part of that was to finance movies,” he told the outlet. “And I didn’t want to just make movies that were obvious or that everyone else was going to make. We really care about artists taking risks and really want to bet on great artists, so as a financier and producer of the movie, this was exactly the kind of thing that we want to do with our movies. Give people the opportunity, let them show the world how magnificent they are.”
Affleck also gushed about his ex-wife’s “amazing” performance.
“She worked enormously hard,” he said. “You get to see, like, all of her many gifts, she’s somebody that grew up watching, you know, classic musicals.”
Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in 2022 after calling off a previous engagement decades earlier. In August 2024, Lopez filed for divorce after two years of marriage. The exes settled their divorce earlier this year.
Last month, Lopez opened up about what it was like to juggle filmingKiss of the Spider Woman and her marriage woes.
“It was hard not to think about stuff, but it was, like, the best and the worst of times. Every moment on set … I was so happy. And then … back home, it was not great,” she explained during a September appearance on CBS Sunday Morning. “But you get through it and, you know, honestly, I have to say, it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it changed me. It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow … become more self-aware. I’m a different person now than I was last year.”
Yungblud’s apparently a big Swiftie … because he came out with a full-throated defense of Taylor Swift’s music during an interview with Bill Maher. The rocker was on Bill’s “Club Random” podcast when the conversation turned to Taylor … with…
Hailey Bieber’s Rhode empire is thriving — and she’s proving she can sling skincare any way she pleases … even if that means flaunting it in a bikini. Peep these cheeky shots — Hailey dropped a sizzling IG dump, flashing her bronzed bod…
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the vandalism and alleged looting of property at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, describing the incident as “a shameful act that undermines the dignity of Malawi’s state institutions.”
In a strongly worded statement posted on his official Facebook page, Kabambe condemned the destruction and theft of government property reportedly discovered during an inspection of the presidential residence.
The inspection revealed missing items including TV sets, gym equipment, air conditioners, chandeliers and household utensils, among others.
Kabambe said such acts must not be taken lightly, emphasizing that they reflect deep moral decay and poor management of public resources.
“This is not just about broken property it is about broken trust. Those responsible must face justice regardless of their political affiliation,” said Kabambe.
He further demanded that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and its leader, President Lazarus Chakwera, publicly address the matter and apologize to the nation, arguing that Malawians deserve transparency on how state property could be vandalized under government watch.
Kabambe also called for the establishment of a special forensic investigation to determine the extent of the damage, identify all missing assets and ensure that those responsible pay for the losses incurred.
Meanwhile, the MCP leadership has remained silent with no official response issued as of press time.
The alleged vandalism at Kamuzu Palace has raised broader concerns about asset management, security lapses and the state of maintenance of public properties that fall under government control.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) has been awarded a Universal Postal Union (UPU) grant totalling over $200,000 to support the enhancement of mail security systems and digital transformation efforts nationwide.
The Universal Postal Union is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector’s primary forum for international cooperation.
Speaking after confirmation of the funding, the Postmaster General Angel Banda, said the support marks a significant milestone in MPC’s ongoing transformation and its commitment to delivering secure and efficient postal services to all Malawians.
“This grant is a timely and strategic investment in the modernisation of our operations. It will strengthen our mail security infrastructure and enhance our ability to safeguard the integrity of the postal system, both locally and internationally. We are grateful to the UPU for recognising our efforts and reaffirming its confidence in Malawi’s postal sector,” said Banda.
She outlined that the funding will also contribute directly to the implementation of the Turnaround Strategy (TAS) MPC’s blueprint for organisational reform and digital transformation.
“Mail security is a crucial component of our Turnaround Strategy. As we modernise and digitise our operations, this grant will enable us to invest in the technology and capacity required to meet global postal standards and deliver better services to Malawians,” said Banda.
The Postmaster General also commended MPC staff for their dedication, citing the international recognition the Corporation has earned in recent years, including being the first English-speaking African country to receive the UPU’s silver medal for mail security.
“The over $200,000 in funding comprises a $170,000 mail security grant and an additional $40,000 ICT equipment grant, both secured through MPC’s strengthened international partnerships.”
“This milestone further positions MPC as a forward-looking postal operator committed to innovation, reliability, and service excellence,” said Banda.
The grant comes a few days before the commemorations of the World Postal Day on October 9.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Leading alcoholic beverage producer in the country, Castel Malawi Limited has challenged its stakeholders to prioritize transparency and sustainable business practices in their daily operations.
The call was made during a stakeholder engagement meeting held on Monday in Blantyre, bringing together Castel Malawi employees, suppliers, and distributors to share ideas and strengthen collaboration across the company’s value chain.
According to Castel Malawi Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Linda Kolomba, the meeting was designed to deepen trust and open communication between the company and its key partners.
“It was an interaction meeting where we wanted to engage with our stakeholders so that we can share our expectations in our business conduct. Some of the key topics discussed ranged from procurement, legal, human resources, corporate social responsibilities and whistleblowing and tip-off mechanisms, among others,” said Kolomba.
Kolomba emphasized that the initiative is part of an ongoing effort by Castel Malawi to ensure effective communication and address operational challenges collaboratively.
“We just want to create an environment where the company and its stakeholders communicate effectively. The engagement meetings form part of Castel Malawi’s proactive efforts to foster collaboration and sustainable growth across our operations,” she said.
One of the participants, Phocus Muhire, Managing Director of A & L Investments and a distributor of Castel products, praised the engagement for providing clarity on partnership expectations.
“This engagement gave us a better understanding of what is expected of us as distributors and what our customers expect from us. It also helped us reflect on our responsibilities as managers of different entities,” said Muhire.
Apart from Castel Malawi the meeting also featured presentations from Quality Health Safety Environment (QHSE), Labour Rights Organisation (LARO), and Deloitte, who shared insights on compliance, labour rights, and responsible business conduct.
Similar engagements will also be conducted in the Central and Northern Regions within the week.
……Citizens demand accountability as reports of looting and damage tarnish the Presidency’s image
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Fresh reports from the State House have ignited public outrage following revelations of widespread damage and alleged looting that reportedly began around September 16, 2025.
Malawians are expressing disbelief that such destruction could occur within the nation’s most guarded and symbolically important residence of power.
The State House is more than just a presidential residence—it stands as a reflection of Malawi’s dignity, order, and leadership before the world.
When reports of vandalism and property damage surfaced, the public’s initial reaction was one of shock, disappointment, and disbelief at how such negligence could go unchecked.
Many have pointed fingers at President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration, demanding clear answers on who was responsible for the mismanagement and how such a breach could happen under its watch.
Observers believe this incident underscores a deeper issue of weak supervision, moral decay, and poor institutional discipline within government circles.
Some analysts suggest that the situation may also signal internal frustrations or breakdowns in leadership within the corridors of power.
Regardless of the underlying reasons, the alleged looting and damage have cast a dark shadow over the image of the presidency and raised concerns about the government’s seriousness in safeguarding public property.
Malawians are calling for transparency, accountability, and firm action to ensure that those behind the destruction face justice and that similar incidents never occur again.
As the country gears up for the 2025 general elections, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that leadership must begin with responsibility, integrity, and respect for the nation’s institutions.
