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Americans face calls to cut their energy usage as Iran war drags on. Good luck with that.

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Americans face calls to cut their energy usage as Iran war drags on. Good luck with that.


Cutting oil consumption may help combat soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war, but convincing Americans to burn less gasoline could prove difficult, according to economists. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) last week released a list of energy-conserving measures for consumers, including working from home, driving more slowly and carpooling. Because two-thirds of oil is consumed by vehicles, many of its suggestions relate to driving less, improving fuel economy or using public transportation.

“Supply-side measures alone cannot fully offset the scale of the disruption,” the IEA wrote in a March 20 report. “Addressing demand is a critical and immediate tool to reduce pressure on consumers.”

The recommendations may have a familiar ring to Americans who experienced the 1970s oil crisis, when an embargo by Middle East producers caused gas prices to surge and prompted many U.S. workers to carpool to save money. But convincing people to change their habits can be difficult — especially in the U.S., where public transportation is unavailable in many regions and electric vehicles remain generally pricier than fuel-powered cars.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil, remains blocked to most tankers. Unless the U.S. brokers a diplomatic agreement with Iran ending the war, global oil supply will be depleted for months, according to many experts.

“The single most important solution to this problem is opening up the Hormuz Strait,” IEA director Fatih Birol said when the intergovernmental agency released its recommendations. 

The conduit in the Gulf could remain impassable until May, economists with Oxford Economics estimated. At that point, about half of the pre-conflict volume of oil could start shipping again.

The Trump administration has also taken steps to try to boost oil supplies, including by releasing 172 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). But experts said such efforts alone won’t rebalance the market enough for prices to drop to pre-war levels. 

Easier said than done

Yet while reducing energy usage can save money as fuel prices soar, for many consumers that’s often easier said than done. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman told CBS News that the most effective way to reduce oil consumption is for people to change their driving habits — primarily by driving less — while acknowledging that engineering such a shift isn’t easy.

For many Americans, transportation options such as taking the bus aren’t feasible, given that many regions lack mass transit. Gas prices might need to rise even further to push workers to carpool, Krugman said. The upshot: It’s hard to quickly reduce the nation’s oil demand because there are few immediate substitutes, analysts said.

“Oil demand is, on average, highly inelastic in the short run because most end uses have few immediate substitutes — factory boilers rely on fuel oil, aircraft require jet fuel and most cars still run on gasoline,” JPMorgan global energy analyst Natasha Kaneva noted in a report.

Skip the commute?

While it may be unrealistic to expect people to stop driving, consumers can change their driving habits to save fuel, such as reducing driving speeds to improve fuel efficiency. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can improve mileage by up to 14%, according to AAA.

Krugman also pointed to a phenomenon that unfolded in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, when work-from-home mandates caused oil consumption to fall to a 25-year low, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“Look at how much oil consumption fell in 2020, and a lot of it had to do with remote work, which we could do now. A lot of commuting can be saved by having people spend one less day commuting in per week,” he said. 


For the 4.8 million households that use heating oil, another way to reduce oil consumption is to fill up their tanks only halfway, said Mark Wolfe, an energy economist and executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, an energy policy group. That would help avoid drawing down the nation’s oil supplies, 

“Just buy as much as you need. Typically in March, people might fill it up to get ready for next winter, but I wouldn’t do that now,” Wolfe said.

When is demand “destroyed”?

The reality, however, is that consumer demand for oil typically doesn’t budge unless downstream prices shoot to painfully high levels. Typically, those upstream oil costs range between $120 to $130 a barrel, said Rystad Energy oil and gas analyst Matthew Bernstein. 

A barrel of Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 3.8% on Thursday to $100.93 amid fresh signs of escalation in the Iran war. Benchmark U.S. crude climbed 3% to $93.05 per barrel. By those benchmarks, oil prices are up roughly 40% since the outbreak of hostilities on Feb. 28.

“If prices get so high that there’s less economic activity, less travel, that’s when you get demand destruction,” Bernstein said. “But we’d need to see that for a sustained period of time before it makes a difference.”  



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WWE to induct Bad News Brown into Hall of Fame

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WWE to induct Bad News Brown into Hall of Fame


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The WWE announced on Thursday that Bad News Brown will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a legacy member of the class of 2026.

Brown, whose real name is Allen Coage, will join a class that includes Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition, Dennis Rodman and Sid Eudy. He will join Eudy as a legacy inductee.

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Bad News Brown poses for a portrait circa February 1990. (WWE/WWE via Getty Images)

“From standing on the podium at the 1976 Summer Olympics to the center of the ring at #WrestleMania IV, Bad News Brown was a fierce competitor with an attitude to match,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque wrote on X. “For his accomplishments in combat sports and contributions to @WWE, it is a pleasure to announce his induction into the 2026 Legacy Class of the #WWEHOF.”

Before he stepped into the squared circle, Brown was a judo competitor. He won a bronze medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and took home two gold medals in the Pan American Games in 1967 and 1975 respectively.

WWE’S BAYLEY HIGHLIGHTS RISING INDIE WRESTLER NIKKI BLACKHEART AMID POTENTIAL MOVE TO COMPANY

Bad News Brown looks on

Bad News Brown looks on at Miami Arena on Aug. 9, 1990 in Miami, Florida. (WWE/WWE via Getty Images)

He started his professional wrestling career with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and would perform there multiple times between 1977 and 1992. He was with the World Wide Wrestling Federation and Stampede Wrestling before he got his big run in WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation).

Brown was known for keeping a straight or tense look. He had feuds with Randy Savage and had a major match at WrestleMania VI against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

He continued to work in independent promotions after his career with WWE was over.

Brown never won a championship in WWE. However, he was inducted into the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007 and was a four-time Stampede North American heavyweight champion.

Bad News Brown holds a trophy

Bad News Brown celebrates with the battle royal trophy during WrestleMania IV at Trump Plaza on March 27, 1988 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (WWE/WWE via Getty Images)

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He died in 2007 from a heart attack. He was 63.



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‘Gas station heroin’ banned in another state amid nationwide crackdowns

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‘Gas station heroin’ banned in another state amid nationwide crackdowns


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A dangerous substance dubbed “gas station heroin” continues to alarm medical professionals, with more states making moves to restrict or ban tianeptine.

Fourteen states have officially classified the tricyclic antidepressant as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Connecticut is the latest state to crack down, officially banning the sale and use of the substance starting on Wednesday.

HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE AVAILABLE IN STORES ACROSS THE NATION

Tianeptine, which can produce euphoria in higher doses, can be more potent than morphine and addictive opioids, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Some countries have taken steps to restrict how tianeptine is prescribed or dispensed, and have even revised the labels to warn people of its potential addictive qualities.

Tianeptine can be more potent than morphine and addictive opioids. (iStock)

Misuse of tianeptine can cause severe adverse health effects, including respiratory depression, severe sedation and death, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Some companies market the drug as an aid for pain, anxiety and depression, or as a means of improving mental alertness in a pill, powder, salt or liquid form.

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The products are typically sold at convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops and online retailers, and go by names like Tianaa, ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus and TD Red.

people in line at gas station counter

Connecticut is the 15th state to classify tianeptine as a Schedule I controlled substance. (Markus Scholz/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said in a press release that the schedule change is a necessary step to combat addiction.

“With false marketing that led consumers to believe these are safe products, and with candy-like flavor options, these substances posed a clear threat to those battling substance-use disorder and our youngest residents,” she added.

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The Nutmeg State also added Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), 7-hydroxymitragynine, Bromazolam, Flubromazolam, Nitazenes and Phenibut to the schedule classification.

Earlier this month, FDA Commissioner Martin Makary penned a letter sounding the alarm on what he called a “dangerous and growing health trend.”

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“I am very concerned,” Makary wrote. “I want the public to be especially aware of this dangerous product and the serious and continuing risk it poses to America’s youth.”

New York-based Robert Schwaner, M.D., vice chair of system clinical affairs at Stony Brook Emergency Medicine, told Fox News Digital that the FDA has never approved tianeptine as a dietary supplement.

Tianeptine

“As with heroin and other opioids, significant mu-opioid receptor stimulation ultimately results in a loss of respiratory drive and subsequent cardiac arrest.” (Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office)

“The euphoria at low doses is primarily due to increased serotonergic activity from its serotonin reuptake effects. With increasing doses, the mu-opioid receptor stimulation may become lethal,” said Schwaner. “As with heroin and other opioids, significant mu-opioid receptor stimulation ultimately results in a loss of respiratory drive and subsequent cardiac arrest.”

Schwaner said he believes the substance requires national regulation due to its addictive qualities. 

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“Acting at the same receptor as opioids, tianeptine has the potential for an individual to develop tolerance, subsequent dependence and withdrawal from its use,” he cautioned.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.



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Elon Musk’s X advertising boycott lawsuit dismissed by US judge

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Elon Musk’s X advertising boycott lawsuit dismissed by US judge



US District Judge Jane Boyle said the company had failed to show it had suffered any harm under federal competition laws.



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London police officer filmed in crowd intimidating Al Jazeera journalists

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London police officer filmed in crowd intimidating Al Jazeera journalists


Metropolitan Police says it is reviewing footage of incident and reporters must be able to work ‘without intimidation’.

An off-duty British police officer was involved in an incident that saw a group of North London residents surround and “intimidate” Al Jazeera journalists reporting on a suspected arson attack, the Metropolitan Police force has confirmed.

In an email to Al Jazeera on Thursday, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force was “aware that an off duty serving Met special constable was involved in the altercation”.

“The matter has been referred to the Department of Professional Standards for assessment,” the spokesperson said.

The incident occurred on Monday in the Golders Green neighbourhood of North London, at the scene where a suspected arson incident occurred, the spokesperson said.

Four volunteer ambulances operated by a local Jewish charity had been set on fire in the area early on Monday, British media outlets reported. Two men in their 40s were arrested on Wednesday in relation to the attack, police said.

Video footage circulating on social media showed a group of men, including several wearing Jewish yarmulkes, shouting at a crew of Al Jazeera journalists to leave the area.

One of the men, who was wearing a yarmulke and a grey hooded sweatshirt, can be seen telling an Al Jazeera crew member in Arabic: “Get out of here, you donkey, you dog.”

That man was identified as a Metropolitan Police officer by local news outlet Declassified UK.

The incident drew condemnation online, with observers expressing support for Al Jazeera and the freedom of the press.

In its statement to Al Jazeera, the Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Thursday that the force was aware of the footage showing a “verbal altercation between local residents and journalists”.

“Freedom of the press is important, and journalists must be able to do their job without being subject to intimidation or harassment,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that while officers intervened at the scene, “there was an extended period where the journalists were put in a difficult situation, which led them to leave the area”.

“Officers on duty in the area have been asked to be alert to any similar altercations in the coming days. We will be reviewing the footage to identify whether any offences were committed,” the spokesperson said.



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The herb linked to better memory, lower anxiety and Alzheimer’s protection

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The herb linked to better memory, lower anxiety and Alzheimer’s protection


Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), the aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean, has long been treasured in kitchens around the world. But beyond its culinary charm, rosemary is also gaining recognition for its impressive health benefits, especially when it comes to brain health, inflammation and immune function.

Research suggests rosemary may even hold promise in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia worldwide.

Historically, rosemary has been linked to memory and mental clarity. In ancient Greece and Rome, students and scholars used rosemary in the hope of sharpening concentration and recall.

Modern science is finding there may have been something in this: in one study, people who inhaled rosemary’s scent performed better on memory tasks compared to those in an unscented environment.

So, how does rosemary work on the brain? There are several mechanisms at play.

Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) is the aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean (Getty/iStock)

For starters, rosemary stimulates blood circulation, including to the brain, helping deliver more oxygen and nutrients, which may improve mental clarity. It also has calming properties; some studies suggest its aroma can reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Lower stress can mean better focus and memory retention.

Rosemary contains compounds that interact with the brain’s neurotransmitters. One such compound, 1,8-cineole, helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical essential for learning and memory. By preserving acetylcholine, rosemary may help support cognitive performance, especially as we age.

Another bonus? Rosemary is packed with antioxidants, which help protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress – a major factor in cognitive decline.

Rosemary is rich in phytochemicals, plant compounds with health-enhancing effects. One of the most powerful is carnosic acid, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that helps shield brain cells from harm, particularly from the kinds of damage linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Research suggests rosemary may even hold promise in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease
Research suggests rosemary may even hold promise in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease (Getty/iStock)

In 2025, researchers developed a stable version of carnosic acid called diAcCA. In promising pre-clinical studies, this compound improved memory, boosted the number of synapses (the connections between brain cells), and reduced harmful Alzheimer’s related proteins like amyloid-beta and tau.

What’s especially exciting is that diAcCA only activates in inflamed brain regions, which could minimise side effects. So far, studies in mice show no signs of toxicity and significant cognitive improvements, raising hopes that human trials could be next.

Researchers also believe diAcCA could help treat other inflammatory conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Beyond brain health

Rosemary’s benefits could extend well beyond the brain. It’s been used traditionally to ease digestion, relieve bloating and reduce inflammation.

Compounds like rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid are known for their anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body. Rosemary may even benefit the skin – a review suggests it can help soothe acne and eczema, while carnosic acid may offer anti-ageing benefits by protecting skin from sun damage.

About the author

Dipa Kamdar is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Kingston University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Rosemary oil also has antimicrobial properties, showing promise in food preservation and potential pharmaceutical applications by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi.

For most people, rosemary is safe when used in food, teas or aromatherapy. But concentrated doses or extracts can pose risks. Consuming large amounts may cause vomiting or, in rare cases, seizures – particularly in people with epilepsy.

There’s also a theoretical risk of rosemary stimulating uterine contractions, so pregnant people should avoid high doses. Because rosemary can interact with some medications – such as blood thinners – it’s best to check with a healthcare provider before taking large amounts in supplement form.

Rosemary is more than just a kitchen staple. It’s a natural remedy with ancient roots and modern scientific backing. As research continues, particularly into breakthrough compounds like diAcCA, rosemary could play an exciting role in future treatments for Alzheimer’s and other chronic conditions.

In the meantime, adding a little rosemary to your life – whether in a meal, a cup of tea, or a breath of its fragrant oil – could be a small step with big health benefits.



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Roblox is changing online safety with AI

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Roblox is changing online safety with AI


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If you’ve ever wondered how platforms keep up with millions of users at once, this is where things get real. Roblox has over 144 million daily users. That scale creates a massive challenge. Harmful content does not always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes, it is the combination of things that creates the problem. Now, the company is rolling out a new system designed to catch exactly that. But first, it helps to understand what Roblox actually is.

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MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN ALLEGEDLY USED ROBLOX CURRENCY TO SOLICIT EXPLICIT CONTENT FROM KIDS UNDER 10
 

Roblox rolls out a new AI system that analyzes entire scenes in real time to detect harmful content across its platform. (Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

What is Roblox

Roblox is an online platform where people can create, share and play games built by other users. Instead of being a single game, it is a massive ecosystem of user-generated experiences that range from simple obstacle courses to complex virtual worlds.

What makes Roblox different is how much control users have. Players are not just consuming content. They are constantly creating it in real time through avatars, text and interactive environments. That constant creation is exactly what makes moderation more complex.

A smarter way to spot harmful content

Most moderation tools look at one thing at a time. A message. An image. An avatar. That approach can miss the bigger picture. Speaking exclusively with CyberGuy, Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, explained the shift clearly:

“We already moderate all of the objects in a virtual world, but how they come together and interact has long been a challenge. Our new real-time multimodal moderation system looks at an entire scene simultaneously from the user’s point of view – including 3D objects, avatars, and text – capturing all of these elements together in a specific moment to assess whether the combination of content types breaks our rules.”

This is called multimodal moderation. Instead of analyzing pieces in isolation, it looks at everything together in real time.

Why older systems were missing the problem

Here is the issue platforms have faced for years. Something can look harmless on its own. But when combined with other elements, it can become harmful or violate rules.

Kaufman puts it this way: “Traditional AI moderation systems, which moderate one object at a time, can lack context and miss combinations that could be problematic in ways that the individual items are not. This model understands the relationship between different objects and how they come together to catch nuanced violations that standard filters may miss.”

That missing context is exactly what bad actors have been exploiting.

What this new AI actually catches

This system focuses on scenarios that previously slipped through. Think about games where users can draw freely or customize avatars. A drawing alone might seem fine. An avatar alone might seem fine. But together, they could create something inappropriate.

Kaufman explains how the system handles that: “The system can detect combinations of objects that may violate our community standards. For example, some games allow free-form drawing. This real-time multimodal moderation system would look at the drawing, avatar, and 3D setting together and assess it holistically, in order to catch and shut down servers with violating content.” 

Right now, the rollout is already targeting problematic avatars and inappropriate drawings.

LOUISIANA SUES ONLINE GAMING PLATFORM ROBLOX FOR ALLEGEDLY ENABLING CHILD PREDATORS
 

A child plays Roblox on a laptop.

Roblox officials say the new system aims to proactively protect children while maintaining gameplay for compliant users. (Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

The scale is bigger than you think

This is not a small tweak. It is operating at a massive scale. Roblox says it is already shutting down about 5,000 servers per day for violations.

Kaufman says that reflects the reality of the platform: “With 144 million users connecting and creating on Roblox every single day, our safety systems must be as agile and dynamic as our creators themselves.”

He also adds an important reality check: “No system is foolproof against bad actors, so we are committed to doing our best to stay ahead of those attempting to bypass safety protocols, and we are working to scale this new multimodal system to capture and monitor 100% of playtime.”

What changes for everyday Roblox users

If you or your kids use Roblox, this system will likely work in the background without you noticing. But it changes how quickly harmful behavior gets stopped.

“When problematic behavior repeatedly occurs in a single game instance, this new system is designed to automatically detect and shut down those specific servers in real time, greatly reducing the number of users who might be exposed to that behavior.”

That last part matters. Instead of shutting down an entire game, it targets only the problem.

“By targeting only the violating server rather than the entire experience, we can help prevent violations from reaching more users while allowing well-intentioned players to continue their sessions uninterrupted.” 

What this means for parents

For parents, this is a big shift toward proactive safety. Instead of waiting for reports, the system acts in real time.

Kaufman explains: “We want parents to know that we aren’t just reacting to reports – we are proactively building some of the most sophisticated AI moderation systems in the world to help protect their children in real time.”

There is also an important layer of protection during gameplay: “We can now evaluate a combination of problematic text, 3D drawings, or avatar movements in real-time and shut down that specific server immediately – often before a child ever encounters it.”

Still, Roblox stresses that technology alone is not enough. “No system is perfect, and we encourage parents to talk to their children about online safety.”

Ways parents can help keep kids safe

Even with advanced AI moderation, a few simple steps can help you stay one step ahead and keep your child safer online.

1) Talk about what your child is doing online

Ask what games they play and who they interact with so you stay involved.

2) Encourage reporting anything that feels off

Remind your child to report behavior that seems inappropriate or uncomfortable.

3) Check privacy and safety settings together

Review account settings to limit who can chat or interact with your child.

4) Set clear boundaries for gameplay

Agree on rules around screen time and which types of experiences are allowed.

ROBLOX CEO RESPONDS TO SCRUTINY OVER CHILD SAFETY: ESTABLISHING THE ‘GOLD STANDARD’ FOR SAFETY
 

The exterior of the Roblox headquarters is shown.

Roblox targets nuanced rule-breaking by analyzing avatars, text and environments together instead of in isolation. (JasonDoiy/Getty Images)

How Roblox avoids false positives

One concern with any AI system is getting it wrong. Roblox says it is actively working to improve accuracy over time.

“We have a continuous evaluation loop set up to measure false positives from the multimodal moderation system, and we are training the system with that feedback to help it catch those types of examples in the future.”

User feedback also plays a role. “Our creators and users are often the ones to spot new trends emerging… This type of reporting is the most effective way for users to help protect the community.”

AI plus human oversight still matters

Even with automation, humans are still involved.”We already use a combination of AI and a team of safety experts to review content uploaded to the platform before it is ever shown to users.”

The new system adds another layer, not a replacement. “This real-time multimodal moderation system is an additional layer and is fully automated in its evaluation of the entire scene.”

What about privacy and fairness?

Any system this powerful raises questions about privacy and overreach. Roblox says it is limiting how data is used: “Our systems and processes are designed so that data collected for safety is used only for safety purposes.”

On fairness, the company points to ongoing training and transparency: “We are focused on ensuring our safety systems are both highly effective and fair.”

They are also giving creators more visibility: “We have introduced a new chart in the creator dashboard that allows developers to see exactly how many of their game’s servers have been shut down.”

Where this is heading next

This system is just getting started. One future focus is detecting recreations of real-world events that may cross the line.

Kaufman explains why context matters here: “Standard filters might see a specific building or a line of text in isolation and not recognize a violation. However, real-time multimodal moderation can understand the relationship between an environment, the way avatars are interacting within it, and the accompanying chat.”

There is also a push to go beyond shutting down servers: “We’re working on ways to identify specific bad actors so we can remove them without disrupting the experience for the vast majority of our well-intentioned players.”

Kurt’s key takeaways

This is a major shift in how online platforms approach safety. Instead of reacting after something goes wrong, Roblox is trying to stop harmful behavior before most users ever see it. That is a big promise, especially at this scale. At the same time, it highlights a deeper question about the future of online spaces. As AI becomes more involved in moderating behavior, the balance between safety, fairness and freedom will only get more complicated.

So here is the question worth thinking about: If AI is now deciding what crosses the line in real time, how much control are we comfortable handing over to it?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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From Instagram talaq to ‘Divorce’ perfume and rapper romance: Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra’s fearless reinvention as a single mom

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From Instagram talaq to ‘Divorce’ perfume and rapper romance: Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra’s fearless reinvention as a single mom



If you thought royal life was all about silent smiles and strictly following the rules, Sheikha Mahra is here to completely shatter that illusion. The modern life princess, the daughter of Dubai’s ruler isn’t just a princess by title—she’s a self-made mogul who’s proved that you can lose a husband and find your voice (and a $300 million empire) in the process.



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Woman tells of six-year wait to receive Premium Bonds after father’s death

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Woman tells of six-year wait to receive Premium Bonds after father’s death


A woman has told how it took nearly six years to receive £2,000 in Premium Bonds from NS&I after her father died.

Tracy McGuire-Brown, from Newbury in Berkshire, said she had a “very long and drawn-out” experience dealing with NS&I, eventually receiving what she was entitled to last month.

She said her father died in 2020 and “after he died, obviously there were a lot of affairs to sort out and we knew he had some Premium Bonds”.

The 61-year-old said NS&I was contacted several times but initially said there was no such account, “even though we gave all the details and more and explained the situation”.

“Finally in 2024, we started to get some movement that there was an account and eventually they said yes there was and then it started.”

She told the Press Association she sent various documents by post, adding “there would be weeks in between” and “still it went on”.

The former care home manager said she eventually received a letter suggesting that before the money was used she should pay off any debts or funeral expenses. She added: “My father had been dead five years by then, I just found that was the final insult.”

After complaining, she received £150 “to say sorry for all the expenses that I’d had, but that doesn’t cover the distress, the time, you know, and it was £2,000, we weren’t talking hundreds of thousands… it was just ridiculous, it was a horrible time”.

She added: “Really, should it be that difficult, that awful and that much of a trial?

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“It’s just frightening, really. To make it so difficult and so insensitive is just appalling, I think.

“The weeks that passed by in between and the hoops that you had to jump through.

“Even when you have got all the information and you give them all the information, my experience was appalling… to the extent that I definitely would not invest in Premium Bonds now.

“And that’s a shame… when you are dealing with the bereavement of a close relative, to have this just keep going on, it just rakes stuff up as well, you just want to sort it, that’s all.”

She highlighted continuity issues in the process when she was speaking to NS&I staff, “so if you did get to speak to someone you had to explain everything again and again and again, just really bad”.

On Thursday, it emerged that NS&I, which is backed by the Treasury, is preparing to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds after failures meant that bereaved families were missing out on savings pots.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell said NS&I has reviewed more than 34 million customer records.

He said: “That work is ongoing, but it points to a maximum of around 37,500 customers with up to £476 million in deposits being affected.

“Three-quarters of cases relate to the period between 2008 and 2025.”

He said this number is likely to fall “but while it represents less than 0.2% of NS&I’s customers, it is still far too many”.

NS&I has said families, beneficiaries and deceased customers’ estates do not need to take immediate action and it will contact estates that are affected and publish further information for the beneficiaries of those estates.

An NS&I spokesperson said: “We recognise that dealing with bereavement can be challenging and would like to apologise to anyone who has not received the customer service from NS&I that they should expect, particularly at such a sensitive time.”



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Drone food delivery launches in New Jersey

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Drone food delivery launches in New Jersey


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You place a food order, check your phone, and instead of a driver pulling up, a drone lowers your meal to your front yard. That scenario is already playing out in the Garden State. But before you get too excited, this is still a limited test.

Grubhub just launched New Jersey’s first drone-powered food delivery pilot, and it is getting plenty of attention. The three-month program kicked off on March 18 in Green Brook, just a few miles from Middlesex. If you live within about 2.5 miles of the location, you may be able to try it yourself.

Even better, you will not pay anything extra to choose the drone option.

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YOUR DOORDASH ORDER MIGHT ARRIVE FROM THE SKY AS DRONE DELIVERIES TAKE OFF
 

Grubhub launches a three-month drone delivery test in New Jersey, offering faster drop-offs with no added cost. (Grubhub)

How the drone delivery program works

The program is based out of Wonder’s Green Brook location, which operates a multi-restaurant kitchen. That means your order can come from one of 15 different food concepts, all prepared in the same place.

Here is how it works step by step:

  • You order through the Grubhub app
  • You select drone delivery if you are eligible
  • Your food is prepared and secured by trained staff
  • A drone flies it along a pre-approved route
  • The order is lowered safely to the ground using a tether

You can track everything in real time, just like a regular delivery. It feels familiar, but the final step looks very different.

Why this could be faster than your usual delivery

Timing matters when you are hungry. That is where drones may have a real advantage. Unlike drivers, drones do not deal with traffic, stoplights or parking. They fly directly to your location using optimized flight paths.

Grubhub says deliveries should arrive faster than traditional methods. While that will vary based on conditions, the goal is simple. Less waiting, more eating. This test will help the company see if that promise holds up in real neighborhoods.

AIR TAXIS IN THE US COULD LAUNCH THIS SUMMER
 

A Grubhub drone sits in a parking lot outside of the Wonder building.

New Jersey residents within range can order food by drone, with real-time tracking and tethered drop-offs. (Grubhub)

The tech behind the delivery drones

The program uses the DE-2020 drone from Dexa, a company that specializes in autonomous delivery systems.

This is not a hobby drone. It is a fully automated aircraft built for commercial use.

Key features include:

  • FAA-certified operations for safety and compliance
  • Secure communication systems during flight
  • Controlled drop-off using a tether system
  • Pre-planned routes to reduce noise and disruption

Before each flight, crews check that food is packaged and secured properly. That step helps prevent spills or issues mid-air. In short, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than a simple takeoff and landing.

We reached out to Grubhub, and a spokesperson shared the following statement:

“Our partnership with Dexa represents a major step forward in Grubhub’s commitment to delivery innovation,” said Abhishek “PJ” Poykayil, SVP of customer delivery operations at Wonder and Grubhub. “By connecting Grubhub’s marketplace expertise, Wonder’s innovative mealtime platform, and Dexa’s expansive drone technology, we’re proud to introduce a faster and more efficient way for New Jersey diners to experience food delivery without compromising safety or reliability.”

We also reached out to Dexa for more insight into the technology behind the program. CEO and founder Beth Flippo shared the following with CyberGuy:

“At Dexa, we’re proud to be powering the underlying autonomous technology that enables this new generation of on-demand delivery. Our partnership with Grubhub brings together their industry-leading logistics network with our advanced autonomy platform, which is designed to safely navigate complex environments, optimize real-time routing, and operate reliably without the need for continuous human intervention. This is a meaningful step toward a future where autonomous systems are woven seamlessly into everyday life, from delivering food and goods to supporting transportation, infrastructure and critical services. As consumers continue to expect faster, more efficient and more sustainable options, autonomy will play a central role in meeting those expectations at scale.”

FORGET DRONES, THIS STREET-SMART ROBOT COULD BE FUTURE OF LOCAL DELIVERIES
 

A drone flies above a building with a sign that reads "Wonder."

Autonomous drones designed by Dexa deliver meals from a central kitchen, bypassing traffic in a new suburban pilot program. (Grubhub)

Why companies are pushing drone delivery now

This move is not random. It is part of a bigger shift in how companies think about delivery. You and I want speed, convenience and reliability. At the same time, businesses want to reduce costs and scale faster. Drone delivery sits right in the middle of that.

It removes many of the delays tied to traditional delivery. It also opens the door to new models, especially in suburban areas where distances are manageable.

We are already seeing this play out in other parts of the country. Companies like Wing, backed by Google’s parent company Alphabet, have been testing and expanding drone deliveries for food, retail and small packages in select U.S. markets.

This New Jersey test is another step in that direction, and it shows how quickly the space is evolving.

What this means to you

Even if you are not in Green Brook, New Jersey, this still matters. Here is why:

You may get faster deliveries

If this works, shorter delivery times could become the new normal.

You could see more delivery options

Apps may soon offer choices like driver, robot or drone depending on your location.

It could change delivery costs

Right now, there is no added fee. In the future, pricing models may shift based on speed and demand.

Your neighborhood may see more drones

That raises questions about noise, safety and privacy that communities will need to address.

This is not only about food. The same technology could expand to groceries, retail and even medical supplies.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

It is easy to see drone delivery as some sort of cool experiment. But something bigger is starting to take shape right above us. For the first time, the sky is becoming part of everyday delivery. Today it is takeout. Tomorrow it could be groceries, last-minute essentials or even urgent supplies. If this technology proves reliable, and we get comfortable with it, the way you get what you need could change faster than you expect. So the next time you hear a faint buzz overhead, you may want to look up. It might not be a plane. It could be your dinner on the way. The real question is not if drones will become part of daily life. It is how soon you will be tracking one to your doorstep.

Would you trust a drone to deliver your next meal? Why or why not? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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