Daily News Descriptions

1.Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)

Why in the news?

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹3 lakh on Sriram’s IAS, a coaching institute, for publishing a misleading advertisement.
The institute, in its advertisement, had made claims of 200 plus selections in UPSC Civil Service Exam 2022.

About Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA):

It is a statutory body established by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Its objective is to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.
Composition:
- It has a Chief Commissioner as head, and only two other commissioners as members, one of whom will deal with matters relating to goods while the other will look into cases relating to services.
It is empowered to::
- Conduct investigations into violation of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution,
- Order recall of unsafe goods and services,
- Order discontinuation of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements,
- Impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.
Its nodal ministry is the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
Significance of CCPA:
- It acts as a watchdog and a deterrent against unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, defective goods and services, etc. It can take preventive as well as punitive action against any violation of consumer rights.
- It provides speedy and effective relief to consumers without requiring them to approach the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CDRCs). It can order the recall of goods or withdrawal of hazardous services; pass cease and desist orders against false or misleading advertisements; impose penalties on manufacturers or endorsers or publishers of such advertisements; direct payment of compensation to consumers; etc.
- It enhances consumer awareness and education by issuing guidelines, advisories, notices, etc. on various consumer issues. It also undertakes consumer advocacy activities by representing consumers before the CDRCs or other authorities or forums.
- It promotes fair competition and transparency in the market by ensuring compliance with the provisions of the act and other laws relating to consumer protection. It also fosters consumer trust and confidence in the market.

Other steps taken to strengthen consumer protection framework:

The National Consumer Helpline has been set up to provide guidance and assistance to consumers on various issues. It also registers complaints and forwards them to the concerned authorities or agencies for redressal.
The Consumer App has been launched to provide a platform for consumers to access information, lodge complaints, track status, etc. It also provides features such as a consumer handbook, product recall alerts, consumer news, etc.
The Online Consumer Mediation Centre has been established to provide online mediation services for resolution of consumer disputes. It also provides training and capacity building for mediators and stakeholders.
The Grahak Suvidha Kendras have been set up to provide physical access points for consumers to avail of various services such as filing complaints, obtaining information, seeking guidance, etc.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has launched its e-filing portal to enable the online filing of complaints and appeals before it. It also provides online case status, cause lists, judgments, etc.

2.Shiveluch Volcano

Why in the news?

The Shiveluch volcano, one of Russia’s most active volcanoes has erupted, spewing plumes of ash 5 km into the sky over the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula and briefly triggering a “code red” warning for aircraft.
It began sputtering shortly after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Kamchatka’s east coast.

About Shiveluch Volcano:

It is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Kamchatka, having erupted at least 60 times in the past 10,000 years.
It has two main parts:
- Old Shiveluch, which tops 3,283 m.
- Young Shiveluch, a smaller 2,800 m. peak protruding from its side.
  - Young Shiveluch lies within an ancient caldera – a large crater-like basin that likely formed when the older part underwent a catastrophic eruption at least 10,000 years ago.
It has been continuously erupting since August 1999, but occasionally undergoes powerful explosive events, including in 2007.

Kamchatka Peninsula:

It lies in far eastern Russia, between the Sea of Okhotsk on the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea on the east.
It is one of the world’s most concentrated areas of geothermal activity, with about 30 active volcanoes.
It is about 1,200 km long north-south and about 480 km across at its widest.
It is one of the largest peninsulas in the world.
It is about the size of New Zealand.
About 300,000 people live on the peninsula. The population density is one of the lowest in the world, at less than a person per sq. km.
It faces a severe climate with prolonged, cold, and snowy winters and wet, cool summers.
The Kuril island chain runs from the southern tip of the peninsula to a short distance from Japan's northern Hokkaido Island.

Kuril island chain:

It stretches north across the Pacific Ocean from the Japanese island of Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
Four islands, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories are the subject of a 60-year-old dispute between the two nations.

3.Libya

Why in the news?

The Central Bank of Libya, in a statement posted on social media, said it was suspending all operations after a bank official was abducted in the capital Tripoli.
It called for an end to these practices and blamed unlawful parties that threaten the safety of employees and the continuity of banking sector work.

About Libya:

It is a country located in North Africa.
It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north.
It shares its borders with:
- Egypt to the east
- Sudan to the southeast
- Chad and Niger to the south
- Algeria to the west
- Tunisia to the northwest
Its capital city is Tripoli, located on the country's northwestern coast.
Other major cities include Benghazi, Misrata, and Sabha.
The city of Leptis Magna, a Roman archaeological site, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Libya was under the Ottoman empire for centuries and became an Italian colony in the early 20th century. After World War II, Libya gained independence in 1951 and became a monarchy under King Idris.
It possesses significant oil reserves, making oil exports a crucial component of its economy. However, political instability and conflicts have often disrupted oil production and exports.

Ottoman Empire:

This Islamic powerhouse reigned over a sizable portion of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for more than 600 years from 1299 to 1922.
At its height, the Ottoman Empire included the regions of Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Some of Arabia, and a considerable amount of the North African coastal strip.

4.Oder River

Why in the news?

Poland has taken steps to contain the spread of toxic golden algae in the river Oder’s tributary system to prevent a pollution crisis.
Hydrogen peroxide has been pumped in at the junction of the Gliwice Canal and the Klodnica river, helping to reduce the algae by over 90%.

About Oder River:

It is a river in east-central Europe.
It is second only to the Vistula River in discharge and length.
It is Poland’s second-longest river.
It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland.
It constitutes the boundary between Poland and Germany before reaching the Baltic Sea via a lagoon north of the Polish city of Szczecin.

Poland:

It is located in Central Europe.
Its capital is Warsaw.
It is bordered by:
- Lithuania and Russia to the northeast
- Belarus and Ukraine to the east
- Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south
- Germany to the west
It also shares marine borders with Denmark and Sweden.
It is central and northern regions bordering the Baltic Sea are part of the flat Central European Plain, but its southern section is hilly and mountainous.
The country has a 770-kilometer coastline that stretches from the Baltic Sea's coasts in the west to the Gulf of Gdansk in the east.
The seashore shoreline is rich in sand dune fields or coastal ridges, and it is indented by spits and lagoons, most notably the Hel Peninsula and the Vistula Lagoon, which is shared with Russia.
The Vistula, Oder, Warta, and Bug rivers are Poland's longest.
The country also has one of the greatest lake densities in the world.
Lake Hacza is the deepest, measuring 108.5 meters.

Golden Algae:

These are also called chrysophytes, chrysomonads or golden-brown algae.
These are a large group of algae, found mostly in freshwater.
These are also commonly used to refer to Prymnesium parvum, which causes fish kills.

5.Leptospirosis

Why in the news?

With Kerala receiving heavy rain and several areas witnessing waterlogging this monsoon, there has been a steady rise in the number of leptospirosis cases and related deaths.
As many as 113 people have died of the bacterial infection so far this year, the highest in the state in the past five years.

About Leptospirosis:

It is a potentially fatal zoonotic bacterial disease.
It is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans, or Leptospira.
It is more prevalent in warm, humid countries and both urban and rural areas.
It is a contagious disease in animals but is occasionally transmitted to humans in certain environmental conditions.
Its carriers can be either wild or domestic animals, including rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
Its cycle of transmission begins with the shedding of Leptospira, usually in the urine of infected animals.
According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, infected animals can continue to excrete the bacteria into their surroundings for a few months, but sometimes up to several years.
It may occur in two phases:
- Its first phase includes symptoms of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea. The patient may recover for a time but become ill again.
- The second phase is more severe. The person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis.
It can be treated with antibiotics.

Zoonotic diseases:

These are a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
These diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that can be carried by animals and then transmitted to humans through various means.