current affairs 25 October 2021 (In English)

24 October - United Nations Day

24 October - World Polio Day

Theme - One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio – delivering on our promise of a polio-free world!

24 October - World Development Information Day

24 October - International Day of Diplomats

DRDO Successfully flight-tests High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target "ABHYAS".

• Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully flight tested the High-Speed Expandable Aerial Target (HEAT)-Exercise from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha on October 22, 2021.
• The exercise has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a DRDO laboratory for the Indian Armed Forces.
• The aerial vehicle exercise can be used as an aerial target for evaluation of various missile systems.

Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation wins the Earth Heroes Awards 2021.

• Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation has received the Earth Guardian Award instituted by NatWest Group.
• The eight winners of the award were honored through a virtual ceremony by the UN Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Flora Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero.
• These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India.
• They are part of an initiative that recognizes the efforts of individuals and institutions working to mitigate climate change by conserving and conserving biodiversity in India.

HDFC Bank, Mastercard, DFC, USAID launch $100 million credit facility.

• HDFC Bank, Mastercard, United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a $100 million credit facility for MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in India.
• The credit facility is part of USAID's Global Women's Economic Empowerment Fund initiative and its COVID-19 response in India.

Ramnath Krishnan has been appointed as the Managing Director and Group CEO of ICRA.

• Ramnath Krishnan has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of rating agency ICRA.
• He replaces N Sivaraman, who resigned with immediate effect on October 23, 2021 citing personal reasons.
• Gurgaon-based ICRA is an entity owned by global rating agency Moody's Corporation.

Barbados elected Sandra Mason as its first president, who replaced the British Queen as head of state.

• Barbados has elected Sandra Mason as its first president as part of its plan to become a republican nation and remove Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
• Mason, who is the current governor-general of the country, will take office from 30 November 2021.
• November 30, 2021 marks the 55th anniversary of Barbados's independence from Britain and on the same day the country plans to abolish its monarchy and become a republic.
• It was on 30 November 1966 that Barbados became an independent state and Commonwealth realm, with the Queen being Elizabeth II.