After the recent unsuccessful assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump while he was addressing an election rally in the state of Pennsylvania. People have drawn many parallels between the assassination plot and other historical US presidents who were targeted in the past. John F.  Kennedy and Ronald Reagan have been specially compared to Trump, following the aftermath. Let us delve into a few examples of US presidents who were victims of violence.   

Abraham Lincoln 

The 16^th President of the United States. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. The president along with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, had attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer. During the performance, Booth entered the president’s box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head at point-blank range. Lincoln never regained consciousness and passed away the following morning. His death marked a significant loss for the nation, occurring just days after the end of the American Civil War. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, offering freedom to slaves within the Confederacy, during the Civil War, a conflict over slavery. 

John F. Kennedy 

The 35^th President of the United States and one of the most famous political assassinations that the world has ever witnessed. The fact that the assassination took place in front of the public was televised live. And Kennedy was accompanied by his wife and first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, which made the incident even more tragic. Kennedy was visiting Dallas in November 1963 when he was shot and killed. His assasination was by a covert assassin carrying a powerful rifle. As the president’s motorcade passed past Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, gunfire broke out. Police discovered Lee Harvey Oswald’s sniper’s vantage point in the Texas School Book Depository. This was an adjacent building, hours after the killing. 

Ronald Reagan 

The 40^th President of the United States had experienced an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981. This attempt took place outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Here President Reagan had just delivered a speech to the AFL-CIO. While walking to his motorcade, he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd. President Reagan was rushed to George Washington University Hospital. At the hospital, he underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet and repair his lung. Despite his injuries, Reagan remained conscious and even joked with doctors and nurses before surgery.  

Theodore Roosevelt 

The assassination attempt of Roosevelt perhaps has the most similarities with Trump’s incident. Both former presidents were shot during an election campaign to return to the White House. The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912. The bullet struck Roosevelt in the chest but was slowed down by a folded 50-page speech and a metal eyeglass case in his breast pocket. He opened his coat to show the audience his blood-stained shirt and stated, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.” The would-be assassin was John Flammang Schrank, a mentally disturbed saloonkeeper.  

The Argentinian football team and the Uruguay national team were neck-and-neck. Both teams were in a tie, with each side having 15 titles under their arsenal. However, the debate regarding the best American team has been settled. Lionel Scaloni’ squad emerged victorious to bag the prestigious Copa América title for the 16^th time. This comes right after their 2022 World Cup win. La Albiceleste have established themselves as the most successful team in the competition’s history. Additionally, Lionel Messi surpasses Dani Alves, the former Brazilian right-back as the player with the most trophies in football history. Messi won his 45th senior trophy following the 2024 win.  

The long-anticipated 2024 tournament culminated in a clash between Argentina and Columbia. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami proudly hosted the final face-off between the two powerhouses of football. At the end Argentina defeated Colombia with a 1-0 win. Throughout the competition, Colombia, otherwise known as Los Cafeteros, made an impression with their attacking football style. The 90-minute game came to an end with both teams struggling to score a goal. As the nail-biting match was proceeding into extra time, the goal draught was meeting its end by the Argentinian side. With eight minutes left on the clock, Lautaro Martinez, the Inter Milan forward, scored a stunning goal. 

Additionally, much to the distress of Messi fans, their beloved Ballon d’Or winner’s injury in the second half, put him in substitution. Out off the game early due to an injury, he sobbed on the bench with a swollen ankle. However, following his win, the greatest-of-all-time gave an update regarding his condition as he took to Instagram: “The Copa América is over and the first thing I want is to thank everyone for the messages and greetings. 

However, it wasn’t only the end of the road for the 2024 Copa América season as Angel Di Maria retired from international football. After being substituted off in the 117th minute, the Argentinian right winger made his final exit from the field wearing the national colors. “The truth is I’m not happy because he had to leave that way because of his ankle problem. But finally, today, we were able to win it for him. Give him the joy he deserves. It was a great night,” Di Mario, expressing his final thoughts during a post-match interview.  

Football fans are currently celebrating this unprecedented win by the Argentinian team. However, the thirst for football content and healthy rivalry continues among sports enthusiasts. The focus has firmly shifted to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Spain was simultaneously crowned the Euro Cup winners of 2024 with a record-breaking title win. Fans are anticipating the thrilling clash between Argentina and Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Although Lionel Messi will turn 39 years old in time for the next World Cup, it seems unthinkable that the captain of Argentina will retire before 2026, given how close the competition is.  

The power of OTT platforms has dramatically transformed the landscape of Indian cinema and entertainment. With a hiking trend of popularity and widespread use in the digital streaming services industry, content has gone through several changes. In fact, these digital streaming services have changed how content is produced, distributed, and consumed. More and more users are gravitating towards these platforms due to its accessible representation, and the impact on Indian entertainment industry. The OTT industry has transcended beyond the traditional modes of viewership and has turned into a one-stop destination for all entertainment needs. Let’s read more about the impact of OTT platforms and the changes in content creation, distribution, and audience preferences: 

Evolution of OTT platforms in India: 

• Early Beginnings: The initial entry of OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in India happened around 2016. This marked the beginning of the digital entertainment industry. Furthermore, local players such as homegrown platforms like Hotstar, now Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, ALTBalaji, and MX Player soon emerged as key players.  

• Rapid Growth: The expanding user base has led to the rapid increase in the number of OTT users in India. Moreover, the content explosion has also aided the OTT sector.  

OTT platforms’ impact on content creation: 

• Diverse Storytelling: OTT players have provided filmmakers with the freedom to experiment with bold and unconventional storylines. Moreover, representation and inclusion are major wins in the OTT industry. 

• High-quality Productions: Increased budgets in the OTT industry have substantiated high-quality production and made way for talent collaborations. 

• Regional Content: Regional content on these platforms has monopolised the regional market and invested in content in various Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, and Malayalam.  

Distribution and Accessibility of OTT platforms: 

• Global Reach: International audience and Indian content on OTT have broken geographical barriers. Furthermore, this has contributed to the promotion of cross-culture exchange and popularity of Indian storytelling. 

• Convenience: The convenience of OTT platforms allows viewers to watch content at their convenience and adopt a more flexible viewership. In addition, affordable access has supported this aspect further. 

Changes in Audience Preferences: 

• Demand for Variety: Content diversity and the binge-watching culture has satisfied audience cravings. Be it a vast library of content across varying genres, or the ability to easily access this vast library, these platforms have it all! 

• Engagement and Interaction: The social media buzz created by these platforms engages the audience and improves the viewing experience. Moreover, viewer feedback allows people to tailor content for audience demands.  

Impact on Traditional Cinema: 

• Box Office Competition: The convenience and variety offered by OTT platforms have led to the preference of OTT streaming channels over traditional streaming. Moreover, hybrid release models have maximized reach and revenue. 

• Changing Production Dynamic: The competition under OTT platforms has advocated for heightened content quality and better storytelling. Moreover, the window between theatrical release and digital streaming has also shortened. 

Industry Impact of OTT platforms: 

• Employment and Opportunities: The advancements in the OTT industry have created numerous job opportunities and contributed to the overall growth of the entertainment industry. 

• Technological Advancements: Technological advancements such as HD and 4K content, and the use of data analytics to understand viewership has improved the overall quality. 

At a star-studded award event held in the T-series studio of Noida Film City, Neha Dhupia served as the chief guest and felicitated Dr. Sougat Dasgupta with the Youngest Astrologer Award. All the nominees were honored with a trophy and a certificate signed by Neha Dhupia. The event also featured several ramp walk competitions, with Neha Dhupia, celebrity makeup artist Bhumika Behl, and MD Desi Rockstar serving as the final judges.

Dr. Sougat Dasgupta, a Tripura Agartala-based astrologer, is the founder of Astroanswer. With expertise in Vastu and Astrology, he has obtained multiple Vedic science and Astrology degrees. Astroanswer provides guidance on various life issues and offers solutions through ancient Vedic sciences, including Horoscope analysis, Palmistry, Vastu Shastra application, and astrological remedies like Vedic Poojas, Yantras, Gemstones, and Healing crystals. Dr. Dasgupta also offers general and advanced predictions.

Sougat Dasgupta, a B-Tech in Bioengineering from the National Institute of Technology in Agartala has always been known for his unique astrological prediction abilities. He studied astrology at the Shree Maharashree College of Vedic Astrology and attended the Lunar Astro Vedic Academy and Magic Numbers. Dasgupta is currently working on two astrology-related books and pursuing a Ph.D. in astrology. He is also the owner of Navaratna Gemstones and has worked with Rudraksha for years. He is also a certified psychologist with expertise in behavior psychology, face reading, and graphology. Dasgupta has been a keynote speaker at prestigious educational institutions and appeared on talk shows discussing astrology.

With an honorary Doctorate for excellence in the field of astrology at such a young age Dr Sougat Dasgupta has also been felicitated by boAt’s Aman Gupta as 50 Entrepreneur of the year 2024.

With the rising pace of the urban lifestyle, increasing professional commitments, and expanding lifestyle needs, achieving a work-life balance has become challenging. Urban Indians have seen an immense shift in their lifestyle due to factors such as economic growth, technological advancements, and a competitive job market. These factors have not just affected the overall health of individuals, but also their work-life balance. In the fast-paced urban environment of India, having a moderately strict work-life balance is required. Let’s delve into the aspects weighing on our work-life balance, or rather imbalance, and how we can improve the system: 

• Unstable work hours: Many urban professionals are required to work beyond the 9-5 schedule. The overtime culture, paired with the expectation to stay late for work has established a toxic culture. This toxicity promotes the lack of work-life balance.  

• Stress of commuting: The continuous stress of commuting and traffic congestion leads to reduced personal time. More and more people have claimed that daily commute has claimed their ‘me-time’. 

• Technological connectivity: Technological advancement has fixed people on the grid. With everything readily available over our devices, and the constant need to be available, personal and professional life balance has dwindled.  

• Job insecurity: Because of high competition in the job market and job insecurity, immense pressure is laid on employees. People end up working more, for unfair compensation, which negatively impacts their mental health. 

• Social expectations: Due to the cultural norm of India, people wish to excel in their professional lives. Thus, people often end up slaving away at work instead of prioritising their health and wellbeing. 

Challenges faced due to a lack of a healthy balance: 

• Health issues: The lack of a this balance affects physical and mental health. With long hours of sedentary lifestyle and chronic stress or burnout, people often end up falling extremely sick. 

• Reduced quality of life: Limited personal time forces people to let go of their hobbies, cause strains in family bonds, and can cause distress in relationships.  

• Impact on productivity: Overworking often leads to burnout, fatigue, and reduced productivity. These factors can result in a dip in productivity and can cause more harm than good. 

• Gender disparities: Challenges to this much needed balance can often be accounted to gender disparities. Working women with families often end up bearing extra pressure. Moreover, they struggle to balance their personal and work life.  

Solutions to improve work-life balance 

• Flexible work schedules: Flexible work arrangements can allow people to unwind the right way. In addition, allowing employees to work from home or other locations can reduce commute stress and help in time management. 

• Support: For a healthy and successful balance, it is essential for organisations to provide the right support. Organisations should offer support services and encourage breaks for rejuvenation. 

• Technology management: By managing technology and establishing off-hours, can lead to a healthy environment where people are able to enjoy their personal time. Moreover, digital detoxing is another essential way to promote a healthy professional and personal life balance. 

• Health initiatives: Offering access to mental and physical health resources, can lead to more acceptance, and reduce the stigma surrounding a healthy balance. 

• Promoting work-life balance: Through the demonstration and support of your organisation’s management, a balance should be promoted. Moreover, employee feedback should also be registered to foster a positive environment. 

Artificial Intelligence or AI has revolutionised technology. As a transformative technology with the power to change trends in the world, AI has dug its feet in various sectors. Be it healthcare, agriculture, education, or finance, AI is driving innovation, creating opportunities, and setting possibilities. The current trends in AI in India are tremendous, eye opening, and nothing sort of a sci-fi dream. Let’s explore how Artificial Intelligence is taking India by a storm and what are some aspects of it: 

Current Trends in AI in India: 

When we explore the adoption of AI in India, there are five major sectors to focus upon. Healthcare, agriculture, education, finance, and e-commerce are the areas where AI is setting precedence. Be it technological advancements, or revolutionary innovation, Artificial Intelligence is changing the dynamics in India. Read more to find out how AI is affecting the various sectors: 

Healthcare 

• Diagnostics: AI-powered diagnostic tools are being utilised to detect diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, and diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, AI’s role in these areas has provided high accuracy results.  

• Telemedicine: Telemedicine or online circulation of medicine is being optimised and revolutionised by AI. This will result in a better future of the medical industry. 

• Predictive Analytics: Predictive analysis by AI is used to predict disease outbreaks and patient outcomes. Moreover, this results in better allocation of resources, and overall treatment management. 

Agriculture 

• Precision Farming: AI technologies such as drones are used for crop monitoring, soil health analysis, and weather predictions. These aspects can change the future of agriculture. 

• Smart Irrigation: AI systems are used to optimise water usage, increase output, and commodify the traditional approach to agriculture. By predicting the water needs of crops based on weather conditions, AI is revolutionising irrigation. 

• Supply Chain Optimisation: By predicting demand, AI is enhancing agricultural supply chain. Moreover, it is aiding to the overall reduction of wastage, and improving logistics. 

Education 

• Personalised Learning: Through personalised learning models, AI is being used to provide tailor-made solutions for individual students. 

• Automated Grading: AI in automated grading is ideal for providing real-time feedback, insights, and simplify the work of educators.  

• Virtual Tutors: When it comes to education, AI is employed for virtual tutors who are available 24/7. These virtual identities are always present to assist students with their queries and provide an interactive learning environment. 

Finance 

• Fraud Detection: Banks and financial institutions are using Ai to detect fraudulent practices. Moreover, AI is further employed to strengthen security systems. 

• Customer Service: AI chatbots, automated systems, and virtual assistants are streamlining customer service. Moreover, these tools are providing instant customer support, handling queries, and offering financial advice.  

• Credit Scoring: Through AI, finance bodies can assess credit ranges and how it can be awarded. In addition, this analysis enables the access to credit for individuals and businesses.  

E-commerce 

• Personalised Recommendations: When it comes to e-commerce platforms, AI is being used to analyse algorithms and provide personalised solutions. For example, most e-commerce platforms are implementing AI to understand consumer trends. 

• Inventory Management: AI in e-commerce also improves efficiency through optimised inventory management. It predicts demand and automates restocking processes, streamlining costs and workload. 

• Customer Insights: AI tools help e-commerce businesses to understand costumer needs, demands, and preferences, and then produce marketing strategies accordingly. 

Meditation and mindfulness have become the need of the hour because of our busy lifestyles. People have become more and more invested in the hustle bustle of life and are often oblivious of their health issues. Thus, it is essential for people to spend time focusing on their health. However, sole focus on physical health is not enough; mental health should also be prioritised. Paying attention to mental health and wellbeing, starts from identifying underlying reasons of poor mental health. Next, people should engage in mindfulness techniques to heal these underlying issues. Here are some of the types of meditation techniques you can do to achieve better mental health: 

• Mindfulness Meditation: This technique originates from Buddhist teachings and involves being present in the moment. Moreover, it focuses on bringing your attention back to the present moment when your mind wanders.  

• Transcendental Meditation: Developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Transcendental technique involves repeating a mantra to settle the mind. This repeated mantra is set to instil a state of restful alertness.  

• Guided Meditation: This type requires a guide or teacher to walk you through your meditation session. This step-by-step guidance allow you to walk smoothly through the meditation process. 

• Metta: Also called Loving-Kindness Meditation, Metta practice focuses on positive affirmations. These affirmations cultivate a sense of love and compassion for yourself and others. 

• Body Focus/Scan Meditation: This form of mindfulness involves paying attention to the different parts of the body and focusing your thoughts to understanding the sensations behind the different body parts. 

• Zazen: Also known as Zen Meditation, this technique focuses on the Zen Buddhist tradition of meditative thoughts. The technique involves sitting in a specific posture, such as the lotus position, and focusing on your breath while observing thoughts without attachment. 

Benefits of Meditation:  

Meditation has several benefits on the human body. Be it mental peace, physical wellness, or spiritual awakening, meditative thoughts and mindfulness can allow people to transcend from the general plane to a higher form of living. The following are some of the benefits of meditation: 

• Mental Health Benefits: This practice has immense role to play in mental health and wellness. Mindfulness is seen to reduce stress, improve anxiety management, enhance focus and instil a sense of balance, and promote emotional wellbeing.  

• Physical Health Benefits: When it comes to physical wellbeing and consciousness, there are several positive outputs. This special aspect lowers blood pressure, improves sleep and combats insomnia, manages pain and improves pain tolerance, and regulates the immune system.  

• Spiritual Benefits: The spiritual benefits of this art comprise of heightened awareness and understanding of yourself and the world. In addition, it also fosters inner calm, contentment, and connection to the higher self. 

Fast fashion, or the rapid production of inexpensive clothing catering to recent trends, is having a significantly adverse effect on the environment. While this avenue offers affordable fashion choices to customers and fulfils their needs, it comes with a huge price: the environment. The fast fashion industry has a substantial environmental impact ranging from high resource consumption, pollution, extreme waste generation, to high levels of carbon emission. The effect of fast fashion on the environment is detrimental, to say the least, and due to changing trends, it is not going to go out of practice anytime soon.  

Big corporations have not just established themselves in the industry but are adding to the adverse effects of fast fashion. Besides high resource consumption, this area is one of the leading reasons behind pollution. Keeping this in mind, it is essential for people to opt for sustainable options and implement sustainable fashion choices. The following are some of the negative effects of fast fashion:  
 
Negative effects of Fast Fashion: 

• High resource consumption such as water usage and energy consumption. The fashion industry is one of the largest consumers of water and the production of even a single cotton t-shirt can require up to 2700 liters of water. In addition, fast-fashion energy consumption contributes to the industry’s increased carbon footprint. 

• The chemicals used in treating fabrics under fast fashion add to the overall pollution levels. Moreover, washing synthetic garments releases microplastics into the waterways and these plastic particles are ingested by marine life. Thus, entering the food chain, they are potentially harming human health. 

• Since fast fashion promotes and revels in throwaway culture, the short product lifespan results in unfathomable amounts of textile waste. This waste, undeniably, ends up in landfills. Moreover, the use of non-biodegradable materials such as polyester leads to further environmental damage. 

• Fast fashion is also a huge contributor to increased carbon footprint. With the globalised manufacturing under this arena, transportation networks rely on fossil fuels. Furthermore, production emissions are also responsible for extreme climate change and fluctuations. 

• The social impact of this sector focuses on unethical labour practices and how it affects the overall lifestyle of workers. With poor labour conditions such as low wages, long working hours, and unsafe working environment, fast fashion has singlehandedly lowered the lifespan of its workers. In addition, this may seem like a social issue, it indirectly impacts environmental sustainability. Here workers often lack the means to advocate for environmentally healthy practices.  
   
    

With the digital world expanding at a rapid rate, all of us are glued to our phones. Be it social media apps such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, X, or online news portals and similar platforms, we are often stuck in a cycle of continuous scrolling. Doom-scrolling has negatively affected people, worldwide, and is still progressively worsening the overall condition of people on social media and other platforms. Thus, nowadays, it is important for people to engage in detoxing practices, and digital detoxing is the way to go!

Digital Detoxing is the act of going completely offline and ditching the overall use of our digital devices. Increasing screen time in modern times is adversely affecting our physical and mental health. It is essential for people to maintain a healthy balance between digital and offline activities to instill a sense of moderation. Here are some of the benefits of digital detoxing, and how you can actively implement it in your life: 

Tips to implement Digital Detoxing: 

The first step to implementing digital detoxing is by identifying the underlying problem to an increased screen time. Do you work at a place where you must be constantly on your phone or laptop? Do you not get time to get away from your devices? Or are you simply stuck in a loop of doom-scrolling out of boredom? It is essential for people to identify what the issue is, in order to let go of their devices. While work and professional commitments can’t be avoided, one can try to cut down on the time they spend on one’s devices, beyond work. Here are some tips you can follow to let go of your phone or laptop: 

• Engage in hobbies beyond the digital world 

• Invest in things that bring joy, such as listening to music or reading 

• Spend time with friends and loved ones 

• Set timers of use on your devices 

• Avoid using social media excessively 

• Uninstall apps which incite doom-scrolling 

Benefits of Digital Detoxing: 

There are several benefits to digital detoxing. Beyond the obvious mental health benefits, digital detoxing can also promote physical wellness. Let’s read some of the benefits of digital detoxing: 

• Reduction in stress and anxiety  

• Reduction in eye strain and headaches 

• Less mental fogs 

• More time for physical activity 

• Reduction in sedentary lifestyle 

• Improved relationship with loved ones 

• Better focus and concentration 

• More time for hobbies and creative pursuits 

The aim of digital detoxing is to start at a comfortable pace and increase it gradually. We advise you to start your journey with at least 30 minutes a day, and then up by the day. For example, when you start with 30 minutes a day, you can easily stretch it to 2-5 hours in the coming few days. However, it is also essential for you to not make this journey hard. It is imperative for people to make this act enjoyable and not as a punishment. So, happy detoxing! 

On July 15, there was a brief gunfight in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir between terrorists and security personnel. Kashmir Tigers, a covert organization of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is supported by Pakistan, took credit for the attack. The confrontation led to four Army personnel, including an officer and a police officer being executed. Helicopters and drones were brought in to find the terrorists. The incident occurred late on Monday night when the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Rashtriya Rifles troops conducted a combined cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest zone, around 55 km from Doda town. 

Authorities reported that at approximately 7:45 p.m., a search and cordon operation was started in the Desa woodland region, which is where the gunfight started. During the first twenty minutes or more of the firefight, security men were injured. Officials claimed on Monday that the injured were flown to a hospital and that their condition was listed as “critical”. They claimed that there were two to three suspected terrorists hiding in the neighborhood, which is why the operation was still ongoing. 

Following a brief gunfight, the officials reported that the terrorists tried to escape but were captured by the troops under the command of an officer, who pursued them over difficult terrain and dense forest. This resulted in another gunfight in the woods at almost nine o’clock at night. Four of the soldiers including the officer later died from their wounds, while five soldiers were left gravely injured in the fight, according to the officials. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was informed over the phone about the ground situation in Doda by General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). 

The terrorist organization “Kashmir Tigers” said in a statement that the conflict and gunplay started as the security forces began looking for the “Mujahideen. The same group had earlier taken credit for the July 9 attack on an Army convoy in Kathua. 

Concerning the armed encounter in the Dessa area of District Doda, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has voiced strong concerns. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), he wrote, “Deeply disturbed by the reports of an armed encounter in the Dessa area of district #Doda in my Lok Sabha constituency. Words fall short of condoning and condemning the martyrdom of our Bravehearts. Let all of us join to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy and, maintain peace and harmony for which Doda has always been known for.”  

Moreover, Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), stated after the incident, “Soldiers from all over the country come to Kashmir for their duty, but go back in coffins. Who is responsible for this if you say militancy has ended in the valley?”. She further claimed most casualties occurred in the last 32 months since the current DGP was appointed.