Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 26 September 2021

::National::

Indian Army to organize 'Vijay Cultural Festival' in Kolkata

16 December 2021 will mark 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. To commemorate this landmark event in India's history, Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations are being organised throughout the Country.
A cultural event titled “BijoyaSanskritikMahotsav” aimed at showcasing the cultural linkages between India and Bangladesh during the war is being organised by the Eastern Command of Indian Army at Kolkata from 26 to 29 September 2021. Various cultural programs to include film screening, theatre plays, musical concerts and band performances are planned over five days at RabindraSadan and Nandan Convention Centre, Kolkata. Events of “BijoyaSanskritikMahotsav” will bring to fore the various tales of valor of Indian Army soldiers and MuktiJodhas in the various historical battles fought by these brave hearts in the 1971 war of liberation.
Lt Gen ManojPande, Army Commander, Eastern Command will inaugurate the event at RabindraSadan, Kolkata on 26 September 2021 in the presence of Veer Naaris, War veterans and prominent media, entertainment personalities and people of Kolkata.
Highlights of the event include a Fusion band display (an amalgamation of Army Pipe, Brass and Jazz Band), performances by renowned Bengali play back singers and a theatre play on 1971 Indo-Pak War by RSR Group. Attendees will also have an opportunity to witness display of vintage vehicles and equipment of Eastern Command, and guided tours of Fort William Military Station.

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::International::

US, Pakistan face off again on Afghanistan threats

The Taliban's takeover of Kabul has deepened the mutual distrust between the US and Pakistan, putative allies who have tangled over Afghanistan. But both sides still need each other.
As the Biden administration looks for new ways to stop terrorist threats in Afghanistan, it probably will look again to Pakistan, which remains critical to US intelligence and national security because of its proximity to Afghanistan and connections to the Taliban leaders now in charge.
Over two decades of war, American officials accused Pakistan of playing a double game by promising to fight terrorism and cooperate with Washington while cultivating the Taliban and other extremist groups that attacked US forces in Afghanistan.
Islamabad pointed to what it saw as failed promises of a supportive government in Kabul after the US drove the Taliban from power after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as extremist groups took refuge in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks throughout Pakistan.
But the US wants Pakistani cooperation in counterterrorism efforts and could seek permission to fly surveillance flights into Afghanistan or other intelligence cooperation. Pakistan wants US military aid and good relations with Washington, even as its leaders openly celebrate the Taliban's rise to power.
“Over the last 20 years, Pakistan has been vital for various logistics purposes for the US military. What’s really been troubling is that, unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of trust,” said US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat who is on the House Intelligence Committee. “I think the question is whether we can get over that history to arrive at a new understanding.”

::Economy::

Federal Bank partners with OneCard

Federal Bank, India’s leading Private Sector Bank announced a strategic alliance with OneCard and launched a mobile -first Credit Card that aims to provide a seamless digital experience to the young, tech-savvy population across the country.
With OneCard, Federal Bank will target the young working professionals between 23-35 years, primarily representing the millennials and Gen Z. This digitally native cohort is open to experimenting with new apps and have considerable disposable income. According to the latest report by Deloitte, millennials and Gen Z alone comprise more than 35% and 27% respectively of the Indian population. Federal Bank with its ‘Digital at the Fore and Human at the Core” mantra aims to become the Most Admired Bank of every stakeholder and with the launch of this mobile-first Credit Card, the Bank may be on its way to make in-roads to this segment.
The co-branded card powered by the slick, smart OneCard app will give the customer full control of their credit card - spends, rewards, limits, payments and more, thereby minimising human intervention. The mobile-first Credit Card offers seamless in-app on-boarding whereby the virtual card can be activated and used instantly, while the metal card is delivered to the customer in as less as 3-5 days.
As of March 31, 2021, there were 62 million credit cards in the system, which moved up to 62.4 million by the end of May. The government’s vision of a cashless society, digitalization, developments in e-commerce, and growth in POS infrastructure has encouraged the use of credit cards. Credit card spends have expanded robustly, growing at a CAGR of 25 percent from fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2021, and growth is expected to continue to reach Rs. 15 trillion in total credit card spends for fiscal 2024.

::Science and tech::

Around 23,000 years old human footprints in North America found in New Mexico

Fossilised footprints discovered in New Mexico indicate that early humans were walking across North America around 23,000 years ago, researchers reported Thursday.
The footprints were found in a dry lake bed in White Sands National Park, first spotted in 2009 by a park manager. Scientists at the US Geological Survey recently analysed seeds stuck in the footprints to determine their approximate age, ranging from around 22,800 and 21,130 years ago.
Most scientists believe ancient migration came by way of a now-submerged land bridge that connected Asia to Alaska. Based on various evidence — including stone tools, fossil bones and genetic analysis — other researchers have offered a range of possible dates for human arrival in the Americas, from 13,000 to 26,000 years ago or more.
The current study provides a more solid baseline for when humans definitely were in North America, although they could have arrived even earlier, the authors say. Fossil footprints are more indisputable and direct evidence than “cultural artifacts, modified bones, or other more conventional fossils,” they wrote.
“What we present here is evidence of a firm time and location,” they said.
Based on the size of the footprints, researchers believe that at least some were made by children and teenagers who lived during the last ice age.
The research was published Thursday in the journal Science.
Earlier excavations in White Sands National Park have uncovered fossilized tracks left by a saber-toothed cat, dire wolf, Columbian mammoth and other ice age animals. (AP) MGA MGA

::Sports::

Odisha to host Men's Hockey Junior World Cup

Bhubaneswar will stage the prestigious FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2021, after successfully hosting the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. This announcement was made in Bhubaneshwar byOdisha Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik.
The tournament will be held from 24 November to 5 December 2021 and, will feature 16 teams namely- India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.
While Odisha is also gearing up to host the 2023 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, Patnaik accepted the proposal to host the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021 starting in November. He also launched the logo for the prestigious event.
"Odisha is the hub for hockey in the country and the Odisha State Government will continue to do everything in our capacity to help the sport grow further and achieve further laurels on the world level," stated Patnaik.