1. A Quiet but Powerful Voice in Rome: Why Malta’s Speaker Stepped Forward When Carmelo Abela took his seat among the parliamentary leaders gathered in Rome, he carried with him more than just Malta’s official position. He carried the weight of a small nation that has always understood the value of being heard in a crowded room. The occasion was the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Council of Europe, a meeting that brought together speakers and parliamentary delegations from 46 member states, along with partners and neighboring countries. It was the kind of diplomatic gathering where formal…

Saturday lunchtime kick-offs have a way of sneaking up on you, but this one deserves your full attention before the day properly begins. Everton host Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium at 12:30 today, with two sides locked on ten points from six games, separated only by goal difference and occupying fifth and sixth place respectively. It is the kind of fixture that feels like a genuine early-season marker, not a glorified friendly between two teams still finding themselves. Everton arrive with an unbeaten record and a growing reputation for awkwardness, while Chelsea bring goals, excitement and a defence that has…