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October 18, 2021: National / International Current Affairs

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October 18, 2021: Current Affairs
1. Social distancing dropped for worshippers in Grand Mosque
• The Grand Mosque in Makkah operated at full capacity on October 17, 2021, with worshippers praying shoulder to shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began early last year.
• Workers removed floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the Grand Mosque, which is built around the holy Kaaba.
• `This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity, reported the official Saudi Press Agency
2. China `surprised` US with hypersonic missile test
• China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August, showing a capability that caught US intelligence by surprise, the Financial Times reported, citing five unnamed sources.
• The report late on October 16, 2021 said the Chinese military launched a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle that flew through low-orbit space, circling the globe before cruising towards its target, which it missed by 40 kilometres.
• `The test showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realised,` the report said, citing people briefed on the intelligence
3. Venezuelan president`s `ally` extradited to US
• A fugitive businessman accused of acting as a money launderer for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro`s regime was extradited on Saturday to the United States from Cape Verde, US justice officials said.
• The Justice Department said in a statement that Alex Saab was due to appear in court in Florida on Monday and expressed `admiration` to authorities in Cape Verde for their help in the case.
• Venezuela reacted furiously, suspending talks with the US-backed opposition on ending the country`s political and economic crisis
4. Iran to resume nuclear talks this week
• Iran is to resume nuclear negotiations with world powers on October 21 that were suspended in June, an Iranian lawmaker said on October 16, 2021 after a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
• The minister said that `talks with the 4+1 Group will restart on Thursday in Brussels`, Ahmad Alirezabeigul told the ultra-conservative news agency Fars after a closed-door session with Amir-Abdollahian.
• The lawmaker was referring to four UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France and Russia along with Germany.
5. Climate change a double blow for oil-rich Mideast, say experts
• The climate crisis threatens a double blow for the Middle East, experts say, by destroying its oil income as the world shifts to renewables and by raising temperatures to unlivable extremes.
• Little has been done to address the challenge in a region long plagued by civil strife, war and refugee flows, even as global warming looks likely to accelerate these trends, a conference heard last week.
• `Our region is classified as a global climate change hotspot,` Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades told the International Conference on Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
6. US likely to attend Moscow meeting on Afghanistan
• The United States appears willing to attend the Extended Troika talks in Moscow this week but is still reluctant to confirm its participation, diplomatic sources in Washington said on October 17, 2021.
• Russia`s presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said last week that the group which includes Russia, the US, China, and Pakistan will meet soon to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan.
• Although he did not specify a date, Russian officials told journalists that the meeting could be held on Oct 20.
7. Russia reports record virus cases for 4th day running
• Russia on October 17, 2021 reported a new record for coronavirus infections for a fourth day in a row, a day after the worst-affected country in Europe set a new death toll high.
• There were 34,303 new infections and 997 deaths registered in the country over 24 hours, according to the official toll. On Saturday, Russia recorded 1,002 deaths the first time daily deaths hit the one thousand mark and 33,208 new infections. The climbing Covid-19 statistics come as the nation`s vaccination drive is at a standstill and with few restrictions in place
8. Russians return after filming first movie in space
• A Russian actress and a film director returned to Earth on Sunday after spending 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS) shooting scenes for the first movie in orbit.
• Yulia Peresild, 37, and Klim Shipenko, 38, landed as scheduled on Kazakhstan`s steppe at 0436 GMT, according to footage broadcast live by Russia`s Roscosmos space agency.
• Shipenko appeared distressed but smiling as he exited the capsule, waving his hand to cameras before being carried off by medical workers for an examination
9. Zeeshan helps Oman whip debutants PNG in opening tie
• Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood grabbed Oman`s best-ever bowling figures of 4-20 to set up a crushing 10-wicket win for the hosts in their Twenty20 World Cup opener against debutants Papua New Guinea on October 17, 2021.
• Zeeshan`s haul included three wickets in one over to restrict kept PNG to 129 for nine in the Group `B` first-round match at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground outside Muscat
10. Greaves stars as Scotland stun Bangladesh in T20 World Cup
• Chris Greaves starred with bat and ball as Scotland shocked Bangladesh with a six-run win on October 17, 2021`s opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup.
• Greaves` 28-ball 45 guided Scotland to 140-9 and he then took two key wickets with his leg spin to keep down Bangladesh to 134-7 in the second first round Group `B` match of the day at the Al-Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat.
• Greaves, who had earlier rescued Scotland from 53-6 with his batting, sent back star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, for 20, and senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim, for 38 to dent Bangladesh`s chase

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