China threatens retaliation against U.S. humanoid robot ban, says it 'severely damages' relations (LINK) — 30 July 2026

U.S. Red Cross declares crisis over blood supply shortage for second time its history (LINK) — 29 July 2026

Estonia is leading the world on sustainability: an analysis of 177 countries' green credentials put the US in 19th place and the UK in 3rd: Luxembourg 2nd, Switzerland below 10th, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) (LINK) — 29 July 2026

— Bangladesh, India, Laos and Vietnam rounded out the bottom of the list, while China occupied 129th place thanks to its continued reliance on coal for over half its energy requirements.

U.S. Boeings identified in report carried weapons, foreign mercenaries and drones for Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, UN experts find (ground news LINK) — 29 July 2026

— According to a draft report due in September, investigators detailed support from 1,500 Colombian mercenaries known as the Desert Wolves, hired by the United Arab Emirates-based firm Global Security Services Group to fight alongside the RSF. Boeing 727s were linked by Reuters to a U.S. military contractor's business network.

Russia's FSB charges Telegram founder Durov with facilitating terrorism (ground news LINK) — 29 July 2026

Rats, mice, and birds excluded from U.S. Federal Animal Welfare Act (LINK) — 29 July 2026

— Psychology Today: "We know from detailed scientific research that they have highly evolved cognitive and emotional capacities, they experience empathy, and rats laugh and like to be tickled. We know that tickling laboratory rats is good for science. What more do we need to show that these are sentient beings with rich

and deep emotional lives?"