Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam

11 June, 2014

First session of 16th Lok Sabha

• The first session of the 16th Lok Sabha adjourned sine die after the adoption of the motion of thanks to the President’s address.

• With very little disruption of proceedings, all the business listed for this short session was transacted on schedule. This included the swearing-in of the newly election members, the election of Speaker and adoption of the motion of thanks.

Subsidised seeds

• Shortage of seeds is staring in the face of the farmers ahead of kharif season in Srikakulam district, notwithstanding the tall claims by the government on making seed distribution a smooth affair.
• It is estimated that over 1.5 lakh quintals of seeds of all varieties are needed for the farmers who cultivate 2 lakh hectares in 38 mandals. But the government is unlikely to supply the seeds in the required quantity, with the shortage of supply by the AP Seeds and other organisations.
• The supply for the kharif season is expected to be around 49,000 quintals this time of which around 33,000 quintals have been sent to the 67 sale points set up at various places in the district.

‘Better Together’ campaign

• The ‘Better Together’ campaign, which wants Scotland to remain within the United Kingdom, has landed the biggest endorsement that any popular movement could hope for.
• J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, is Scotland’s very own international celebrity with a name that resonates in all parts of the globe. A Scot who wears her patriotism on her sleeve, her firm “No thanks” (the slogan of the Better Together campaign) to the Yes campaign’s promise of an independent Scotland has given the Better Together campaign a much needed shot in the arm.
• Ms. Rowling has also announced a donation of £1 million to the campaign.
• There are less than 100 days left for the referendum on Scottish independence.

Russia’s ‘gas discount’

• Ukraine’s Prime Minister has rejected a Russian proposal to sell Ukraine gas at a discount, insisting that the contractual price be lowered.

• Russia had insisted that cash-strapped Ukraine pay about 2 billion dollars to settle its gas arrears, but Ukraine now has until 0800 GMT .

• Russia upped the price to 485 dollars after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March, saying that a previous discount hinged on the lease agreement for its Black Sea Fleet stationed on the peninsula.

• The gas talks in Brussels are being watched closely across Europe as Russia has threatened to shut down gas shipments to Ukraine. Such an action would threaten a large source of supplies to Western Europe, which happened in 2009.

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