Prelims Focus 23rd April 2025

Bullseye Galaxy

In News: South Africa’s Sterkfontein Caves, part of the Cradle of Humankind, have reopened to the public after 3 years.

• It is nearly 2.5 times the dimensions of the Milky Way and can evolve right into a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) galaxy in the future.
• It has 9 rings, a rare function for galaxies and the unique structure is assumed to have formed after a blue dwarf galaxy passed through it 50 million years ago, growing fuel ripples that caused the formation of rings.
• The Bullseye Galaxy’s contemporary ring shape can be a transitional phase, and over billions of years, these rings may fade, leaving at the back of a GLSB galaxy. 

Pope Francis

In News: Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church has passed away and India has announced a 3-day state mourning, as a mark of respect.

• • Pope Francis was the 266th pope, in a lineage dating back to Saint Peter in 30 CE. 
  • He assumed the papacy in 2013, taking over from Pope Benedict XVI.
  • Pope Francis turned into the primary non-European pope in more than a millennium and the first Latin American pope. 

• Office of Pope

• • • In Christianity, there are 3 fundamental branches — Catholic, Protestant, and (Eastern) Orthodox.
    • And among them, the Pope is the highest religious leader of Roman Catholics.
    • The papacy oversees the Holy See, the valuable governing frame of the Church and Vatican City.
    • The Ring of the Fisherman, the Pope’s signet ring bearing the seal of his papacy, is damaged to symbolise the stop of his rule.

• Election of Pope

• • The College of Cardinals, the Church’s most senior officials worldwide, chooses the pope. 
  • Within 15-20 days, cardinals under age 80 arrive from all over the world to participate in the papal conclave, the secret election process to determine a successor.
  • A candidate needs to acquire a two-thirds majority of votes to be elected.
  • In India, 4 cardinals are eligible to vote in a papal conclave.

Exercise Desert Flag-10

In News: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively participating in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a major multinational air combat drill held at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates from April 21 to May 8, 2025. 

• The IAF has deployed its MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft for this exercise, which is hosted by the UAE Air Force.
• Exercise Desert Flag-10 includes contingents from 12 countries, such as Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UAE, UK, and the US, alongside India. 
• The exercise aims to conduct complex and diverse fighter engagements, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among some of the world’s most capable air forces.
• The exercise enhances interoperability between the IAF and other participating air forces, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening military cooperation.
• It provides a platform for realistic combat scenario training, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and large force employment, thereby improving war-fighting skills and operational readiness.

Earth Day 2025

In News:  Earth Day 2025 is celebrated on April 22, marking the 55th anniversary of this global environmental event. 

• The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet,” which emphasizes the urgent need to unite around renewable energy to triple clean electricity generation by 2030. 
• The campaign calls for collective action from individuals, businesses, governments, and communities to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and preserve ecosystems through education, advocacy, and mobilization.

Key points about Earth Day 2025:

• It involves over one billion people in 192 countries, highlighting its global reach and impact.
• The focus is on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro-electric, tidal, and geothermal power to create a sustainable and equitable future.
• Activities include Earth Action Day events, environmental education, reducing plastic consumption, tree planting, global cleanups, and promoting sustainable fashion.
• Earth Day 2025 also features webinars and educational programs, such as the American Geosciences Institute’s webinar on “The Science of Net Zero Buildings”.

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