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  • Google adds Gemini AI audio to Docs for better accessibility

    Google adds Gemini AI audio to Docs for better accessibility

    Available on select Workspace plans, Google’s Gemini AI audio strengthens Docs’ role as a productivity tool and challenges rivals like Microsoft’s Office Copilot.

    Google has introduced a new feature in Docs that allows Workspace subscribers to turn written documents into audio using its Gemini AI assistant.

    The tool produces natural-sounding voices, offers playback controls such as pausing and rewinding, and even highlights text as it is read. The rollout marks a step toward transforming Docs from a simple text editor into a multimedia platform that serves both accessibility and productivity needs.

    Available under the Tools menu, the feature caters to auditory learners, professionals on the move, and users with visual impairments.

    Gemini provides several AI voice options and synchronises narration with text, offering an audiobook-like experience that could change how people review drafts, collaborate remotely, or proofread reports.

    The audio tool is limited to select Workspace plans, including Business, Enterprise, and Education, reflecting Google’s strategy of tying advanced AI functions to premium tiers.

    Analysts believe the integration could encourage organisations to upgrade, especially as Google seeks to keep pace with rivals such as Microsoft, which has similar Copilot features in Office.

    Looking ahead, experts suggest Gemini’s audio capabilities could expand to real-time translation and interactive playback.

    By weaving audio into Docs, Google strengthens its position in the growing competition over AI-powered productivity while pushing for more inclusive and efficient workflows.

    Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

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  • Explained: Why Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Really Vanish From ICC ODI Rankings? ICC Reveals Real Reason | Cricket News

    Explained: Why Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Really Vanish From ICC ODI Rankings? ICC Reveals Real Reason | Cricket News

    In a startling turn of events that left cricket fans scratching their heads, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed a technical glitch after Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli briefly disappeared from the latest ODI batting rankings. The incident, which unfolded on August 20, 2025, sparked intense speculation across social media, with fans questioning whether it was a deliberate update, a system error, or a sign of impending retirement for India’s premier ODI duo.

    Also Read: Team India’s Probable Playing XI In Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill-Abhishek Sharma To Open, Jasprit Bumrah Returns To Lead Bowling Attack, Sanju Samson Benched

    The Mysterious Disappearance of India’s Icons

    Just a week prior, Rohit Sharma was ranked No.2, while Virat Kohli occupied the No.4 spot in the ICC ODI rankings. Shockingly, the August 20 release did not feature either player within the top 100. Social media erupted with #RohitSharma and #ViratKohli trending worldwide, as fans and cricket analysts debated the cause of their sudden absence. The ICC quickly addressed the issue, admitting, “There was an error in our rankings tables today, but it has been rectified.”

    Despite the glitch, neither player has retired or become inactive in ODIs. Both remain crucial members of India’s ODI squad, having played pivotal roles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the UAE. Rohit Sharma’s match-winning innings in the final helped India secure their first ICC ODI trophy in a decade, while Virat Kohli excelled during the group stages, expertly navigating spin-friendly pitches at the Dubai International Stadium.

    Rankings Update and Its Implications

    Before Wednesday’s glitch, Rohit Sharma’s 756 rating points placed him just behind Shubman Gill, who leads the ICC ODI batting charts with 784 points. Virat Kohli held 736 points in the fourth spot. Following the mistaken update, Babar Azam moved up to No.2, leaving only Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer as the Indians in the top 10 ODI batter rankings.

    Cricket experts highlight that such technical errors, though rare, can create unnecessary panic among fans. “Both Rohit and Kohli have been consistently performing at the highest level,” said a former selector. “This is clearly a system glitch, and rankings will soon reflect their rightful positions.” Accordng to Hindustan Times, an ICC spokesperson admitted the mistake, “There was an error in our rankings tables today, but it has been rectified.”

    Social Media Buzz and Fan Reactions

    The disappearance of two of India’s most prolific ODI players triggered a wave of online chatter. Fans speculated wildly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), raising concerns about a potential oversight or miscommunication from the ICC. Memes, polls, and threads dissected every angle—from hypothetical retirements to technical flaws—demonstrating the fervent following both players command.

    The ICC has yet to update its official website with the corrected rankings, leaving enthusiasts eagerly awaiting confirmation. Given the duo’s recent performances and active status, it is expected that the rankings will soon reflect their actual standings, restoring normalcy in the ODI charts.

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  • Wall Street stocks from analyst calls like Nvidia

    Wall Street stocks from analyst calls like Nvidia

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  • Plant-based diet linked to lower risk of multimorbidity

    Plant-based diet linked to lower risk of multimorbidity

    In a large-scale multinational study involving over 400,000 women and men aged 37 to 70 years from six European countries, researchers from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (France) and the Kyung Hee University (Republic of Korea), investigated dietary habits and disease trajectories. The comprehensive data analysis shows that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases. The study has been published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

    The study used data from two large European cohort studies, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study and UK Biobank. Based on data from six European countries (Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark), the researchers provide further evidence that plant-based dietary habits can influence the development of multimorbidity. Results from the UK Biobank, for example, showed that adults with a higher adherence to a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk of multimorbidity compared to those with a lower adherence.

    You don’t have to cut out animal products entirely. Shifting towards a more plant-based diet can already have a positive impact.”


    Reynalda Córdova, study lead and nutritional epidemiologist 

    The study also examined differences in the risk of multimorbidity between middle-aged and older adults. Higher adherence to a plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity in both adults younger than 60 years and in those aged 60 years or older. Multimorbidity describes the occurrence of two or more chronic diseases in one person and is a growing health problem worldwide, particularly among adults 60 years and older.

    Lower risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease

    The results: A stronger adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of cancer, cardiometabolic disease (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), and multimorbidity, both in adults under 60 and those over 60. “Our study highlights that a healthy, plant-based diet not only influences individual chronic diseases but can also reduce the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases at the same time, in both middle-aged and older people,” Córdova summarized.

    “The results show how important a predominantly plant-based diet is for our health and thus reinforce the new Austrian dietary recommendations, which emphasize plant-based food with a low proportion of animal-based foods. A co-benefit of a plant-based diet are lower greenhouse gas emissions and land use,” adds Karl-Heinz Wagner form the University of Vienna, co-author of the study and president of the Austrian Society for Nutrition.

    Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes have a positive effect

    A healthy plant-based dietary pattern included for example, a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and vegan sausages or burgers and a lower intake of meat and meat products. The findings suggest that a diet consisting mainly of healthy plant foods and small amounts of animal-based foods can contribute to maintaining health into older age.

    The authors conclude that dietary guidelines, public health measures, and interventions should consider that a diet primarily composed of plant-based foods with small amounts of animal-based products may help prevent multimorbidity related to cancer and cardiometabolic diseases.

    The study was led by Reynalda Córdova (University of Vienna) and Jihye Kim (Kyung Hee University, South Korea).

     

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Córdova, R., et al. (2025). Plant-based dietary patterns and age-specific risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases: a prospective analysis. The Lancet Healthy longevity.

    doi.org/10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100742 .

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  • Oil firms as investors await next steps in Ukraine peace push – Reuters

    1. Oil firms as investors await next steps in Ukraine peace push  Reuters
    2. Crude and gasoline inventories fall, distillates rise, EIA says  TradingView
    3. WTI rises to near $62.50 on US Oil stock drop, Ukraine-Russia talks in focus  Mitrade
    4. US Total Crude Oil Stocks Decline in Week Ended Aug. 15  MarketScreener
    5. Oil Steady as Industry Report Points to Shrinking US Stockpiles  Bloomberg.com

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  • Can Tom Pidcock become a GC contender at La Vuelta?

    Can Tom Pidcock become a GC contender at La Vuelta?

    Tom Pidcock targeting a Grand Tour podium

    In December 2024, it was announced he would be leaving Ineos, despite signing a five-year contract in 2022, and shortly afterwards, a three-year deal was struck with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. The decision raised more than a few eyebrows as Q36.5 are a UCI ProTeam, meaning they compete at the second-highest level of pro road cycling, just below WorldTour teams. But from his results this year, Pidcock may have been vindicated.

    In his first race for his new team, the 26-year-old claimed his first GC triumph at the AlUla Tour. He then finished third overall at the Vuelta a Andalucia, second in the Strade Bianche, and 16th in the Giro d’Italia general classification standings. He also won the MTB cross-country European Championship title and the Andorra World Cup race.

    Now, with Q36.5 being awarded a wildcard place at the Vuelta, Pidcock has chosen to skip the MTB Worlds in September – and another potential battle with his old rival Mathieu van der Poel – to see if he can take the next step in his development and challenge for a Grand Tour podium place.

    “It’s a shame, because I would have loved to race, especially to battle Mathieu, but I want to focus more on the road and we’re building up our team,” Pidcock told De Telegraaf. “So it makes sense for me to ride the Vuelta.

    “Getting on the podium would be amazing, but winning a Grand Tour is the hardest thing in the world for me. I know what it’s like to win a one-day race, but a Grand Tour? That’s a different story.

    “My time trial still needs to improve a lot, but maybe I can aim for a top 10.”

    A podium place may seem unlikely, but then again, Pidcock likes nothing better than beating the odds.

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  • Breakingviews – Influencers have defences against an AI onslaught – Reuters

    1. Breakingviews – Influencers have defences against an AI onslaught  Reuters
    2. What the rise of AI influencers could mean for the creator economy  Spectrum News
    3. Influencers have defences against an AI onslaught  TradingView
    4. The Explosive Rise of AI Influencers on Social Media  Techgenyz
    5. The AI Revolution: How a New Generation of Virtual Personas is Driving a Multi-Million Dollar Market  iHeart

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  • Walmart recalls potentially radioactive shrimp sold in 13 US states | Walmart

    Walmart recalls potentially radioactive shrimp sold in 13 US states | Walmart

    Walmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states because federal health officials say it could have potential radioactive contamination.

    The US Food and Drug Administration asked Walmart to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp from stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia.

    The products could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said.

    “If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” FDA officials said in a statement.

    The risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low”, said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.

    Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, testing, reactor operations and accidents. It’s widespread around the world, with trace amounts found in the environment, including soil, food and air.

    The level detected in the frozen breaded shrimp was far lower than FDA intervention levels. However, the agency said that avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could lead to health problems over time.

    The FDA is investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and products processed by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods of Indonesia. US Customs and Border Protection officials alerted FDA that they found Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to US ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia.

    FDA officials collected several product samples and detected contamination in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp. The shipping containers and products were denied entry into the US

    However, the FDA then learned that Walmart had received potentially affected products imported after the first detection, from shipments that did not trigger contamination alerts.

    Walmart immediately recalled the products, a company spokesperson said. They include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1 and 8005539-1, all with best-by dates of 15 March 2027. The shrimp was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Consumers should discard the products or return them to any Walmart store for refund.

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  • WIT Acquires Tally Gamification Platform To Bolster Real-Time Engagement Capabilities

    NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — WIT, a global leader in digital gamification, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Tally Platform, a pioneer of real-time audience engagement solutions. This strategic move strengthens WIT’s global market position, expands its technological capabilities, and opens new avenues for growth across a broad range of industries.

    By integrating Tally’s real-time technology, WIT further enhances its ability to deliver high-impact engagement solutions to its network of more than 200 partners globally. The acquisition also propels WIT’s expansion into new markets and enriches its renowned suite of digital activations to create a uniquely powerful end-to-end offering for brands to capture more first-party data and maximize revenue.

    “This acquisition is more than a milestone – it accelerates us toward our vision of redefining how brands connect with their audiences,” said Vaidhy Murti, CEO of WIT. “By combining Tally’s real-time technology with WIT’s best-in-class activation platform, we’re unlocking a new era of immersive, insight-driven experiences that transform audience engagement and drive unparalleled value for our partners.”

    Bradley Vettese, CEO, Tally, who has joined WIT as Chief Growth Strategist added: “The fusion of Tally’s technology into the WIT gamification platform takes an already market-leading offering to the next level – I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the team to support growth, and further demonstrate the power of the enhanced platform.”

    With this acquisition, WIT reinforces its commitment to innovation, cementing its role as the frontrunner in digital gamification and brand activation globally.

    About WIT

    WIT offers a digital gamification platform that powers some of the most exciting, turnkey experiences in sports and entertainment. WIT’s immersive experiences elevate marketing efforts, enhance brand partnerships, capture first-party data and drive revenue. Partners include 200+ iconic brands, including numerous venues, sports leagues and teams across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, MLS, NWSL, and NCAA.

    Learn more by visiting WIT’s website and LinkedIn.

    About Tally Technology

    Tally Technology is a provider of real-time audience engagement technology that allows businesses to engage their audience in innovative ways through live polling, interactive games, and more. Tally’s platform enhances customer experiences by fostering greater interaction and participation, making it an ideal solution for live events, marketing campaigns, and digital activations.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Jonny Clegg
    Vice President, Marketing
    WIT
    Email: [email protected]

    SOURCE WIT

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