Amazon-owned Ring announced a new video encryption system Wednesday called TAKE, short for Throw Away the Key Encryption, which the company says will become the default privacy standard for all Ring customers worldwide once fully rolled out, beginning in phases this September.

According to Ring, TAKE is designed to deliver stronger default privacy protections for the company’s video doorbells and home security cameras while still preserving the intelligent features customers rely on, including Smart Alerts, a balance the company says its previous end-to-end encryption option could not offer without sacrificing certain functionality.

Ring’s videos have already been encrypted both while traveling to the cloud and while stored at rest, according to the company. TAKE adds an additional layer of control by using unique, rotating encryption keys for each video. A copy of those keys is temporarily held inside what Ring describes as a secure enclave within the cloud, a protected environment the company compared to a sealed vault that grants Ring access to the key only under strict, limited conditions tied to the specific intelligent features a customer has activated on their account. Once those features have processed the video, Ring says it discards and permanently deletes its copy of the key. From that point forward, only the account holder, along with any trusted Shared Users they have specifically chosen to enable, retains access to the keys needed to view the video on their own enrolled devices, such as a phone, tablet or computer.

Ring described the system using a household analogy to illustrate how the new encryption approach functions in practice. The company compared TAKE to house keys: the company that manufactures a lock does not keep a copy of the key for itself, a homeowner might give a spare key to a close friend or family member they trust completely, and if a handyman needs access to fix something, the homeowner lends a key only for the duration of the job before getting it back. According to Ring, TAKE operates on that same underlying principle, with the account holder retaining the master key to their videos and deciding who receives access to a spare, and for what specific purpose.

The new system builds on privacy protections Ring first introduced in 2021, when the company became the first major smart home security provider to offer customers full end-to-end encryption, or E2EE, as an optional setting for those seeking the highest available level of video privacy and control. That E2EE option will remain available going forward as an alternative to the new default TAKE system, according to Ring. Under E2EE, only a customer’s specifically enrolled devices ever gain access to their encryption keys, a design that limits certain functionality; because access is restricted so tightly under E2EE, Shared Users and various cloud-based features are not supported under that setting, though core functions including live view, playback and direct video sharing continue to work seamlessly.

Under the new arrangement, every Ring customer will receive stronger encryption protections by default once TAKE fully rolls out, according to the company, while customers who want an even higher level of control can continue opting into the existing E2EE setting instead. Ring said customers will be able to manage their encryption settings at any time directly within the Ring app, adjusting those settings on a per-device basis and switching between the two encryption options as their needs change.

The announcement arrives alongside a broader hardware update from Ring. According to the company, Ring is also introducing 4K video support for battery-powered video doorbells for the first time, alongside three new 2K doorbell models that expand high-resolution video recording capability across both battery-powered and hardwired doorbell products.

Ring framed the TAKE rollout as part of an ongoing, continuous approach to privacy and security development rather than a one-time initiative. The company said it remains focused on listening to customer feedback regarding privacy priorities and continuing to develop new features and protections in response to those concerns as its technology and product lineup continue to evolve.

According to Ring, TAKE will roll out to customers in phases beginning in September, with the company indicating the system will ultimately become the default encryption standard applied to all Ring customers globally once that phased rollout is complete. The company has published a white paper detailing the technical specifics of the new encryption upgrade and has directed customers seeking additional information about how their video content is protected to visit Ring’s dedicated privacy page.

The introduction of TAKE reflects broader industry-wide attention to privacy and data security within the connected home security camera market, a sector that has faced periodic scrutiny in recent years over how companies handle and protect sensitive video footage captured inside and around customers’ homes. By introducing a system designed to combine stronger default encryption with continued access to cloud-based smart features, Ring appears to be positioning TAKE as a middle-ground option between standard cloud storage, which typically grants the company broader technical access to stored video, and full end-to-end encryption, which restricts cloud-based functionality more significantly in exchange for maximum customer control over video access.

As the phased rollout of TAKE begins in September, Ring customers can expect the new encryption standard to gradually become the default setting applied across their devices, with the company emphasizing that customers will retain the ability to adjust their specific encryption preferences at any time through the Ring app as the new system becomes more widely available across the company’s global customer base.

President Donald Trump’s new national emergency declaration could restrict U.S. purchases and imports of certain foreign-made power grid equipment and potentially force utilities and infrastructure operators to replace equipment already in service as the administration moves to address national security risks to the electric system.

Under an executive order signed Wednesday, the Energy Department can prohibit the acquisition, importation, transfer or installation of foreign-produced bulk-power equipment if officials determine the transaction involves a covered foreign entity and poses an unacceptable security risk.

The order goes further for equipment already operating on the U.S. grid. The energy secretary can require foreign-manufactured or operated equipment to be identified, isolated, monitored, secured, disconnected, replaced or removed, potentially requiring utilities and other infrastructure operators to make changes to existing systems.

Those provisions could carry financial and operational consequences for the power sector, although the order does not estimate potential costs or identify which equipment or vendors could ultimately be affected.

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The power transmission infrastructure and switchyard at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The administration said the restrictions are necessary because foreign-produced equipment could contain vulnerabilities, including digital backdoors capable of providing remote access to critical infrastructure. The White House also argues that reliance on foreign suppliers leaves the U.S. vulnerable to equipment shortages caused by trade disruptions or other supply shocks.

The stakes have increased as artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing and defense production drive greater demand for reliable electricity, according to the order.

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President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The equipment potentially covered spans major pieces of grid infrastructure, including transformers, generators, battery energy storage systems, grid-connected inverters, turbines and industrial control systems, as well as associated software, firmware and remote-access capabilities.

The order directs officials to weigh reliability and safety, the availability of secure replacement equipment and continuity of essential service before requiring equipment to be isolated, disconnected, replaced or removed. The Energy Department can also phase in compliance.

The order does not impose a blanket ban on all foreign-made grid equipment. Restrictions depend on Energy Department determinations involving covered foreign entities and national security risks, and the department can establish a list of pre-qualified equipment and vendors.

The Energy Department has 120 days to publish implementing rules or regulations as needed, providing the power industry with a clearer picture of which suppliers and equipment could face restrictions.

Workers assemble transformers at a factory in Neijiang, China, on July 31, 2026. President Donald Trump’s executive order gives the Energy Department authority to restrict certain foreign-produced bulk power equipment that officials determine poses a (Tang Mingrun/VCG via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Trump is also directing the federal government to reconsider how it purchases energy infrastructure. Within 180 days, the energy secretary must recommend changes to federal procurement rules aimed at addressing national security risks and prioritizing U.S.-manufactured energy infrastructure in federal procurement.

That provision could have another business impact, shifting some federal demand away from foreign suppliers and toward domestic manufacturers as Washington seeks to secure the equipment underpinning an increasingly power-hungry U.S. economy.

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Microsoft has opened pre-orders for its Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console and matching special-edition controller, marking the 25th anniversary of the Xbox brand with a translucent green design inspired by the original console.

The full package, referred to as the Xbox 25th anniversary collection, carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $899.99 in the United States. Regional pricing varies, with the United Kingdom listed at £759.99. The console ships with the matching controller and includes a full-game digital download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Launch is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2026.

In an official statement, Microsoft said: “Beginning today, some of XBOX’s most dedicated fans will be invited via email to pre-order the XBOX 25th anniversary collection. Tomorrow, Thursday, August 27 at 7 a.m. PDT, all players in select markets can visit the XBOX site or participating retailers for an opportunity to pre-order while supplies last. The XBOX 25th anniversary collection launches on November 13, 2026, for an MSRP of $899.99 USD. Pricing varies by market, and players can check their local Microsoft Store or authorized retailers for region-specific pricing and availability. Pre-orders are limited to one XBOX 25th anniversary collection per customer.”

The console features a translucent OG Green shell with tributes to Xbox history and individual numbering via unique engraving on each unit. Internally it is based on the current Xbox Series X hardware with 1TB of storage. The included Halo: Campaign Evolved is described as a faithful yet modernized remake of the original campaign that launched with the first Xbox in 2001.

A matching Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition is available separately for $79.99 in the United States, £74.99 in the United Kingdom and €79.99 in Europe. The controller is scheduled to launch on Oct. 20, 2026, and pre-orders for it began earlier. It adopts the same translucent green aesthetic and incorporates design details that reference the original Xbox controller.

Pre-order access is staggered. Selected long-time customers received email invitations starting Aug. 26 for early ordering. Broader availability begins Aug. 27 at 7 a.m. PDT through the official Xbox website and participating retailers in select markets. Microsoft has emphasized that supplies are limited and that purchases are capped at one console package per customer.

The announcement came during Microsoft’s Xbox presentation at Gamescom 2026. The Series X25 was first revealed earlier in the year as part of anniversary celebrations. Microsoft has positioned the hardware as a collector’s item that celebrates 25 years of the platform rather than a next-generation performance upgrade.

Reaction among players has focused on the price point. The $899.99 cost exceeds that of the standard Xbox Series X, reflecting the limited-edition design, packaging and included software. Some observers noted that the premium aligns with other anniversary or special-edition consoles released by major platforms in recent years. Others questioned the value relative to the underlying hardware specifications, which remain those of the existing Series X.

Microsoft has previously taken steps to limit scalping on high-demand releases, including purchase limits and verified-customer priority windows. The one-per-customer restriction and early access for dedicated fans are consistent with those efforts. Availability is expected to be tight, particularly in the initial days of the general pre-order window.

Halo: Campaign Evolved forms a central part of the package. The remake updates the original campaign while preserving core gameplay and story elements that helped establish the Xbox brand. Including the full game at no additional cost adds tangible software value to the hardware purchase.

The controller’s earlier October release allows players to obtain the anniversary aesthetic ahead of the console itself. It is expected to function with existing Xbox Series X and Series S systems as well as compatible Windows PCs, following standard Xbox Wireless Controller compatibility.

Regional pricing and exact retail partners will vary. Microsoft directs customers to check local Microsoft Store pages and authorized retailers for availability and final costs, which may include taxes or additional fees depending on location. Pre-orders in some markets could open at slightly different local times corresponding to the 7 a.m. PDT global window.

The Series X25 arrives at a time when Microsoft continues to support the current generation of Xbox hardware while developing future platforms. The anniversary edition does not alter the core technical specifications of the Series X and is intended primarily as a commemorative product. Collectors and long-time fans form the primary audience, though the included game may broaden interest.

Microsoft has not disclosed production quantities. The combination of individual numbering, limited pre-order windows and one-per-customer rules indicates a controlled release designed to reach dedicated players first. Secondary-market prices for similar limited consoles have historically risen above retail after sell-outs, though outcomes depend on overall supply.

Players interested in the package are advised to prepare accounts and payment methods in advance of the Aug. 27 general opening. Those who received early-access emails can complete purchases immediately. The separate controller offers a lower-cost entry point for fans seeking the anniversary design without purchasing the full console set.

The Xbox 25th anniversary collection represents Microsoft’s formal hardware tribute to a quarter-century of the brand. With confirmed pricing, release dates and pre-order details now public, attention turns to how quickly the limited stock will be claimed once broader ordering begins.

Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the Middle East’s most important digital entertainment markets. Intriguingly, betting is part of the new landscape.

Searches and engagement around Saudi Arabia online casinos reflect a growing demand that is developing alongside the country’s wider digital entertainment boom.

Operators of these platforms are licensed in other jurisdictions, which presents the Saudi Arabian government with an economical conundrum.

Online Gambling Interest Has Increased Dramatically

The Blask Index measures how much attention people in a particular country give to gambling brands.

It indicates how much attention online casino and betting platforms are receiving, and the latest figures point to a noticeable increase in interest amongst Saudi Arabians.

The figures show a notable jump in gambling interest across Saudi Arabia at the end of 2025, rising from around 484,900 in October to 889,200 in November and then to 1.37 million in December.

That shows interest in gambling more than doubled between October and December, before dropping earlier this year to about 597,500 by March.

However, it was still around 79.4 percent higher than the previous year. The huge December spike did not last, but overall interest was still stronger than it had been previously.

A temporary spike can sometimes be linked to a particular event, marketing campaign or change in consumer behaviour.

However sustained year-on-year growth suggests that a larger audience is becoming aware of these platforms and looking for ways to access them.

The figures also indicate which operators are attracting the most attention. According to the data, 1xBet recorded the highest annual player spend at 165,580, followed by GrandPashaBet at 154,240 and Baji at 104,220.

These three brands accounted for almost 39% of total brand awareness among Saudi users and were associated with estimated combined betting volumes exceeding $480 million.

Saudi Arabia Is Building a Gaming Powerhouse

The rise in gambling interest in Saudi Arabia is happening against the backdrop of something much larger.

The country is trying to become one of the world’s leading forces in gaming and eSports, and it is putting significant money and resources behind that goal.

The Kingdom’s official policy has been very clear about where it wants this industry to go.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in video games, eSports, digital entertainment and related technology as part of its effort to diversify the economy beyond oil.

The National Gaming and eSports Strategy has set ambitious targets for the country to become a global gaming hub by 2030.

The government wants the sector to create more than 39,000 jobs, contribute roughly SAR 50 billion to the economy and help produce more than 30 internationally successful games.

A major part of this push comes from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The PIF has invested in game developers through Savvy Games Group, and their $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely was one of the most significant moves.

The Kingdom’s ambitions have become even more obvious through its involvement with Electronic Arts.

A consortium led by the PIF recently completed its $55bn acquisition of the company behind major franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield and The Sims.

It’s one of the biggest transactions in the history of the video game industry and emphasises Saudi Arabia’s determination to become a major force in global gaming.

Growing Demand Does Not Mean Regulation Is Coming

The fact that the data points to a growing interest in gambling doesn’t mean that Saudi Arabia is any closer to changing their policy.

Saudi Arabia still prohibits gambling, and there is currently no official system for licensing online casinos or betting websites.

The government is concentrating on investing in video games, eSports, technology and digital entertainment as part of its broader economic transformation.

The Blask figures show a gap between official policy and some aspects of customer behaviour.

While the government is investing billions of dollars into gaming and eSports, some internet users are simultaneously showing interest in offshore gambling platforms.

This is possible because the internet gives people access to international platforms even when those services are not available domestically.

While the figures suggest some demand for online gambling, they don’t indicate that the government intends to respond by changing its laws.

The fall in the Blask Index after its December 2025 peak is another reason to be cautious, as it could mean that some of the increased interest was temporary.

However, the reported 79.4% year-on-year increase suggests that the underlying audience is still larger than it was previously.

The bigger picture is that Saudi Arabia’s approach to gaming is clearly long-term. PwC has estimated that the country’s gaming and eSports sector could contribute around $13.3 billion to the economy by 2030.

The amount of sugar a baby consumes during their first two years of life may have measurable effects on their health decades later, including a reduced risk of several cancers and a longer estimated lifespan, according to a new study that took advantage of a unique natural experiment created by Britain’s wartime food rationing.

The study, published in the journal PNAS in early August, examined health outcomes among 64,761 people born in Britain between 1951 and 1956, a period when sugar and other common foods were still rationed to prevent shortages in the years following World War II. Using data from the long-running UK Biobank study, researchers compared health outcomes among adults who spent their first 1,000 days of life under sugar restrictions with those born after the rationing program ended.

Researchers focused specifically on that first-1,000-day window because it spans from conception until a child’s second birthday, a relatively brief but critical period in early development during which food preferences and taste patterns begin to form, meaning a person’s earliest food environment can shape health outcomes that persist well into adulthood.

Among adults who spent their first 1,000 days under sugar rationing, researchers found a notably lower risk of several types of cancer compared with those who were not exposed to the restrictions. Those exposed to early sugar rationing showed a 69% lower risk of liver cancer, a 52% lower risk of prostate cancer, a 41% lower risk of lung cancer, a 40% lower risk of rectal cancer, and a 36% lower risk of breast cancer.

Beyond cancer risk, researchers also found evidence that early sugar rationing was associated with slower biological aging. The study measured telomeres, the protective caps found at the ends of chromosomes that have been linked to longevity in previous research, and found that adults exposed to sugar rationing during infancy had longer telomeres than those who were not exposed. Based on that difference, researchers estimated the exposure was associated with an increase in life expectancy of slightly more than two years.

The study also identified lasting behavioral differences tied to early sugar exposure. Researchers found that adults who had experienced sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days continued to consume less sugar, eat smaller portions and maintain healthier, more varied diets more than 50 years later, suggesting the early dietary environment may have shaped long-term eating habits and food preferences well into late adulthood.

This is not the first study to draw on data from Britain’s wartime and postwar sugar rationing period to examine long-term health effects. According to The Hill’s coverage of the research, a separate recent study using the same underlying UK Biobank data found that people exposed to sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days were significantly less likely to develop anxiety and depression in adulthood. Earlier studies relying on the same historical natural experiment have also identified lower risks of chronic disease, reduced odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and better cardiovascular health outcomes among those exposed to sugar restrictions during early infancy, building a broader body of evidence pointing toward meaningful, long-lasting health effects tied to early-life sugar exposure.

Despite the consistency of these findings across multiple studies using the same dataset, researchers involved in the new PNAS study cautioned against overinterpreting the results as definitive proof of direct causation. The study was observational in nature, meaning researchers compared outcomes between two naturally occurring groups, those born before and after Britain’s rationing program ended, rather than conducting a controlled experiment in which sugar intake was directly and randomly assigned to different infants. As a result, the researchers noted the findings demonstrate a strong association between early sugar exposure and later health outcomes, rather than conclusive proof that limiting sugar during infancy directly causes the improved health outcomes observed decades later.

Britain’s historical rationing program offers researchers a rare and valuable natural experiment precisely because it affected an entire population uniformly and for a defined period of time, rather than reflecting individual families’ voluntary dietary choices, which are typically influenced by socioeconomic status, education level and other confounding factors that can complicate efforts to isolate the specific effects of early sugar consumption in more conventional observational nutrition studies. Sugar rationing in Britain began during World War II and continued for several years afterward as the country worked to stabilize its food supply, with sugar remaining among the last rationed items to be lifted in the mid-1950s.

The consistent pattern of findings across multiple independent studies using the UK Biobank’s rationing-era data, spanning cancer risk, biological aging, mental health outcomes, chronic disease risk, and cognitive health, has added to a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that the earliest years of a child’s life, particularly the specific 1,000-day window from conception to age two, may represent an unusually consequential period for shaping long-term health trajectories through diet and other early environmental exposures.

While the new findings are unlikely to translate directly into formal public health recommendations given the observational nature of the underlying data, they add further weight to existing public health guidance from organizations including the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics, both of which have generally recommended limiting or avoiding added sugars during infancy and early childhood, citing broader concerns about childhood obesity, dental health and the establishment of long-term dietary habits, independent of the specific cancer and longevity associations identified in this newest research.

As researchers continue mining the UK Biobank’s unique wartime rationing data for additional insights into how early-life nutrition shapes long-term health, the consistency of findings across this growing body of research is likely to keep drawing scientific interest in better understanding the specific biological mechanisms, whether related to metabolic programming, gut microbiome development, or other pathways, that might explain how sugar exposure during a child’s first 1,000 days could produce measurable health effects persisting more than half a century later.