Comino Development Watch: ERA says 624 non-protected trees and shrubs at the Comino Hotel site will be removed (467 oleanders), with 54 protected trees also coming out; the compensation plan requires planting 540 indigenous trees and transplanting 348 more within the project area. Family Justice Reform: Malta’s Ministry for Justice and the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family published the Family Court Procedures Regulations 2026, with most provisions set to start on 1 October 2026 to make proceedings more child-centred and efficient. Research & Innovation Funding: The Nationalist Party points to Eurostat figures showing Malta allocated just €73.70 per person to R&D in 2025 (0.17% of GDP), among the lowest in the EU. Biotech & Patents: Arbutus and Genevant filed international patent enforcement actions against Pfizer and BioNTech over lipid nanoparticle technology, and received an initial $178M payment from a Moderna settlement. Health Tech Market Signal: A new report forecasts rapid growth for the IVF devices and consumables market, projecting $3.61B in 2026 and $6.58B by 2030. Local Culture & Media: Arts Council Malta awarded €2.88m across 31 audiovisual projects under its Screen Support Scheme. Fraud & Compliance: Random Consulting denies AI-generated claims linking it to an Armenian government contract, saying the facts are publicly verifiable. Climate & Space: July 2026 tied July 2024 as Earth’s hottest month on record, and a total solar eclipse on 12 August will be visible across parts of Europe.