The Week of October 17, 2021 by CoenM

What FORMER US SECRETARY OF STATE and Army general passed away from complications of Covid-19 at the age of 84?

Russia announced it would suspend its mission to what ALLIANCE, and strip staff at the alliance's Moscow office of its credentials? The move came after the alliance expelled 8 Russians with accusations that they were intelligence officers.

Facebook announced it would hire 10,000 new employees in the European Union to develop what VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT where people could interact for work or socially represented by 3D avatars, similar to the same-named environment seen in Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel Snow Crash?

A gang named 400 Mawozo demanded $17 million for the return of 17 US missionaries kidnapped in what COUNTRY? Gang leader Wilson Joseph later appeared in a video saying the gang could execute the missionaries if a ransom was not paid.

What EUROPEAN COUNTRY announced it would ask most workers to stay home during late October and early November to stem the rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths? The country has Europe's highest number of Covid-19 deaths - more than 226,000 - with only about a third of its population vaccinated, even with the availability of a natively-developed vaccine.

The US House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6 riot at the Capitol voted unanimously to hold what FORMER TRUMP ADIVSOR in contempt for not complying with a subpoena?

Using a new carbon dating technique, scientists were able to confirm that Vikings settled in L'Anse aux Meadows, which is in what CURRENT CANADIAN PROVINCE, at least as early as 1021?

What PERSON announced the launch of a new media group and the app TRUTH Social? While the app was intended for a November soft launch, hackers were able to access it hours after the announcement of its creation.

A prop gun fired by what ACTOR on the set of the upcoming movie Rust killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza? Reports indicate that the actor was told by an assistant director that the gun was "cold," or unloaded.

President Biden delayed the release of more papers related to the assassination of what US PRESIDENT, on the advice of the Archivist of the United States? Records pertaining to the assassination should have been released in 2017, but national security concerns and Covid-19 have led to delays.

Officials in what SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY announced the capture of Dairo Antonio Úsuga, also known as Otoniel, its most wanted drug lord and head of the Gulf Cartel? It is expected that he will be extradited to the US, where he was indicted in 2009.

What RIDE SHARING COMPANY released its first safety report, which reported over 4100 cases of sexual assault against passengers between 2017 and 2019? A larger rival company reported over 6000 cases in 2018 and 2019.