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• President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Venezuelan government, freezing its assets in the US and barring transactions with it.


• This measure is expected to be far more damaging for Venezuela's socialist government than previous sanctions.


• The move is the latest aimed at increasing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

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• Pakistani PM Imran Khan has vowed to fight India's decision to revoke Indian-administered Kashmir's autonomy, including at the UN Security Council.


• Mr. Khan said the move was in breach of international law, adding that he feared ethnic cleansing by India.


• The region remains locked down, a day after India announced the move.


• The Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, but each country controls only part of it.

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• The announcement came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected the North firing two projectiles that were likely ballistic missiles into the sea.


• North Korea said leader Kim Jong-un supervised a live-fire demonstration of newly-developed short-range ballistic missiles he said were intended to send an “adequate warning” to the United States and South Korea over their joint military exercises.

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• The formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, is an internal affair of India, and India expects other countries to avoid commenting on its internal developments, an official of the Ministry of External Affairs said.


• The Indian response came after Beijing said that ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir undermined its sovereignty.


• “The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, is an internal matter concerning the territory of India. India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise,” said the spokesperson of the Ministry.

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• The Centre’s decisions setting new terms of engagement with Jammu and Kashmir — by reorganising it as Union Territories, ending its special status under Article 370 and 35 (A) and extending to it all the provisions of the Constitution — were endorsed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a debate that lasted close to seven hours.


• The Lok Sabha approved a resolution abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and a Bill for splitting the State into two Union Territories.


• The resolution was adopted by the House with 351 members voting in its support and 72 against it, while one member abstained.

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• Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha questioned the Centre’s right to alter the status quo in Jammu and Kashmir without consulting stakeholders.


• They were discussing the Bill that bifurcates the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.

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• Union Public Service Commission will release its notification and begin its application process for National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) II, 2019 today, on August 7, 2019. The last date to apply is September 3, 2019.


• Candidates can expect the release of notification anytime before 5 pm. Once the notification is out, candidates will be able to register for UPSC NDA, NA exam (II) 2019.


• The UPSC NDA, NA Exam  (II) 2019 will be conducted on November 17, 2019.</li.

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• The Student Academic Management System (SAMS) has published the SAMS Odisha Degree Merit list 2019 for +3 Admissions on its official website. The merit list 2019, released, is for second selection.


• Here is the direct link to go to the page for checking the merit list.


• Shortlisted students can deposit admission fees online by logging in to SAMS (Student) account until August 8. The online admission of students selected in the second selection will go on till 5 pm on August 10.

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• In a first of sorts, the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday cut the repo rate by 35 basis points taking in view the “current and evolving macroeconomic situation” with concerns over slowing growth.


• The decision was taken at the third bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. Till now, the RBI has cut rates only in terms of 25 basis points, although Das had recently questioned this rationale.

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• India vs West Indies 3rd T20I at Providence Stadium, Guyana Highlights: Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 65 while Virat Kohli hit a fifty as the two batsmen effectively helped India complete a successful 147-run chase.


• Deepak Chahar was brilliant with the ball with his 3 crucial wickets in the start of the game. The collective effort helped India clean sweep the series 3-0.

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• Naaz Joshi, transsexual woman from India won the beauty pageant title of Miss World Diversity 2019 held in Port Louis, Mauritius.


• This was her third successive victory in this beauty pageant competition as she won the title previously in 2017 and 2018.

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• The Indian state-owned electric utilities company, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. has appointed Kandikuppa Sreekant as its chairman and managing director(MD) till December 31, 2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.


• He replaces Ravi P Singh (director (personnel), who holding the post of chairman &MD of the company give away the additional charge.

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• American politician,diplomat,lawyer,writer and public speaker Hilary Rodham Clinton (called as Hilary Clinton) and her daughter Chelsea Clinton are to write a book called “The Book ofGutsy Women” to honour famous women personalities.


• Some of the women included in the book are scientist Marie Curie, Activist Greta Thunberg, activist Manal al-Sharif, entertainer Ellen DeGeneres.

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• Sushma Swaraj is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is the present Union Minister for External Affairs in the government of India.


• She has served as a member of parliament for the sixth term and was the leader of opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha.


• She twice became MLA from Haryana during 1977-1982 and 1987-1990, and once from Delhi in 1998. In October 1998 she held the position of the first woman chief minister of Delhi. Her political career graph is a manifestation of her role in Indian politics.


• She held key positions both as a member of the ruling party and as that of opposition. She is a role model for many such young women who aspire to tread the path of Indian politics.