Page 2 - Explained Desk News Today

IFFCO gas leak: How dangerous is ammonia? Ammonia is stored for industrial use in liquid form under high pressure or in gaseous form at low temperature, as was the case in the IFFCO unit where the accident took place. Written by Avaneesh Mishra , Edited by Explained Desk | Lucknow | December 24, 2020 8:24:56 pm Two persons died and several took ill in a major ammonia gas leakage at the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit at Praya...

“There are strong indications that the new legislation is desirable and will bring in much-needed market reforms in the over-regulated farm sector. As on date, there is no contrary evidence that the new proposals will adversely affect farmers in the long run. There is no justification for a minimum support price regardless of demand and supply. No one would think of assuring a pharmaceutical company a minimum price for essential medicines that it produces, irrespective of whether the quantity...

What about public transport, auto and cab operations? According to the guidelines, the movement of long-distance night bus, trains and flights are also permitted. “To and fro movement of taxis and auto are permitted for dropping or pickup of people to or from bus stops, railway stations and airports. The movement will be allowed on displaying valid tickets,” the order said. Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus will operate normally, BMTC PRO confirmed. TS Latha, public relations...

Explained: Delhi govt’s proposal on nursery admission, and the response Nursery and kindergarten are meant for children to learn to interact with the outside world independently. But with classes moving online due to Covid-19, should children begin schooling so early? Written by Mallica Joshi , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: December 24, 2020 8:47:40 am Kindergarten students at a school in Delhi. (Express Photo: Abhinav Saha, File)...

Explained: Why Israel’s controversial nation state law is being challenged in Supreme Court Israel is scheduled to hold its fourth elections in two years after the country’s two main parties in its unity government failed to meet a deadline in a dispute over government budgets. Updated: December 24, 2020 4:09:37 pm Informally known as the ‘nation state law’, the ‘Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People’ is one of the 14 Basic Laws or const...

Explained: Why Trump’s pardon to Blackwater contractors is controversial In the weeks leading up to his exit from the White House, President Donald Trump has issued a slew of controversial pardons. Who are the Blackwater contractors, and why were they jailed for the Nisour Square massacre in Iraq? Written by Rahel Philipose , Edited by Explained Desk | Vasco | Updated: December 24, 2020 4:17:53 pm From left: Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty, Nicholas Slat...

What is a municipal bond? A municipal bond is a kind of debt instrument where investors offer loans to local governments. They are issued by civic bodies for specific projects and usually have a 10-year tenure. The ULB pays the annual interest on the bonds to the investor at the decided rate. The difference between a bank loan and a municipal bond is that any institution can secure a bond only if it has favourable credit ratings. The bond helps raise funds from the stock market. The bond also i...

Explained: How would a Kamal Haasan-Rajinikanth alliance fare in Tamil Nadu? Ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Kamal Haasan has proposed the idea of an alliance with Rajinikanths new party. Why do some BJP leaders endorse this idea? And why do their fans oppose it? Written by Arun Janardhanan , Edited by Explained Desk | Chennai | December 23, 2020 11:26:53 am Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. (File Photos) As Tamil Nadu is heade...

Cairn wins arbitration ruling against India in tax dispute: What is this case? Like Vodafone, this dispute between the Indian government and Cairn also relates to retrospective taxation. Written by Aashish Aryan , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: December 29, 2020 9:09:19 am Worker cycles by machinery at Cairn India, Oil and Gas exploration plant at Barmer in Rajasthan. (Photo via Bloomberg) The Permanent Court of Arbitratio...

Explained: Who is Bharat Ramamurti, on Biden’s National Economic Council? US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Indian-American Bharat Ramamurti as Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NEC). Who is he? Updated: December 23, 2020 9:48:54 am Bharat Ramamurti is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School.(Twitter/@BharatRamamurti) On Monday, US president-elect Joe Biden named Indian-American Bharat Ramamurti as Deputy Director of the Na...