General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2021

Oct 2021

Oct 22, 2025

Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan's First Woman Prime Minister

Sanae Takaichi was elected as Japan's first female Prime Minister, shattering one of the world's most enduring political glass ceilings. She secured 237 votes in the 465-seat Lower House of Parliament, becoming Japan's 104th Prime Minister, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned following electoral setbacks.
Takaichi's rise not only represents a symbolic victory for gender representation but also signals a sharp ideological pivot to the right in Japanese politics, aligning closely with the legacy of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
A known conservative and a long-time member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Takaichi has modelled much of her political outlook on Margaret Thatcher and Shinzo Abe. She has consistently advocated for,
Stricter immigration policies
Traditional family values
A tougher national security stance
Reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist constitution

Rodrigo Paz Wins Bolivian Presidency

Bolivia elected a centrist senator, Rodrigo Paz, as its next President, bringing an end to nearly 20 years of continuous rule by the Movement for Socialism (Mas) party.
Paz, of the Christian Democratic Party, defeated right-wing candidate Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga in run-off election with a share of 54.6%.
A severe economic crisis and infighting within Mas, which has dominated Bolivian politics since 2006, saw many voters wanting change.
Paz said that he will end fuel shortages and address Bolivia's wider economic problems. In his victory speech, he said he would open up Bolivia to wider international investment and stimulate private-sector growth.

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary Leads Knowledge Exchange Mission to Philippines

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, led a high-level Knowledge Exchange Mission to the Philippines from October 20–22, 2025, facilitated by the World Bank.
The Indian delegation included senior officers from the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and representatives from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
The mission featured strategic engagements with key Philippine institutions such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
The visit is aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and sharing best practices in areas related to skills development, labour mobility, and data-driven policy frameworks.

Trump, Albanese Sign Critical Minerals Deal to Counter China

In a move to bolster Western supply chain resilience and curb China's dominance in critical minerals, U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a wide-ranging critical minerals agreement at their first formal summit in the White House. The agreement establishes a new $8.5 billion mineral supply pipeline, with both nations pledging $1 billion each over the next six months toward mining and processing infrastructure for key minerals like lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements, vital for defence, technology, and clean energy sectors.
The partnership outlines,
Minimum price floors for critical minerals to stabilise the market
Permitting reforms to speed up mining and processing projects
Joint efforts on geological mapping, mineral recycling, and security-based asset protection
Provisions to prevent foreign (especially Chinese) acquisitions of critical mineral assets on national security grounds

Oct 18, 2025

South Korea Kicks Off Arms Fair

South Korea kicked off its largest-ever arms fair on Friday, with firms expected to show off new unmanned and artificial intelligence-enhanced weapons from howitzers to suicide drones, as Seoul seeks to strengthen its military and pursues more global defence sales.
As per reports, a record 600 companies from 35 countries are scheduled to participate in the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025.
This year's (2025) ADEX kicked off with three days of public air shows at an air base, including flights by its newly developed KF-21 fighter jet.

Oct 13, 2025

Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit

Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh represented India at the 'Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit' in Egypt's Red Sea resort city.
The high-level meeting, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and co-chaired by US President Donald Trump, focused on bringing lasting peace to Gaza and the broader Middle East.
The summit aimed to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhanced efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability.

Oct 10, 2025

California Declares Diwali a State Holiday

In recognition of Indian culture and heritage, the State of California in the United States officially declared Diwali a state holiday. With this decision, California became the third U.S. state — after Pennsylvania and Connecticut — to grant official recognition and holiday status to the festival of lights. This move marks a moment of pride for the Indian-American community, which has played a significant role in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the United States.
The announcement came after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill introduced by Assembly Member Ash Kalra.

Oct 09, 2025

US Senate Confirms Sergio Gor as US Ambassador to India

Over a month after Sergio Gor was nominated by US President Donald Trump as the next US Ambassador to India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, the US Senate confirmed his appointment, despite the ongoing US government shutdown.
Gor was among 107 nominees confirmed by the Senate in a single en bloc vote with 51 senators voting in favour and 47 against. This quick confirmation indicates that Washington is keen to strengthen diplomatic and political interactions with India amid tensions over 50% tariffs and increased H-1B visa fees.
The other important nominee confirmed was Paul Kapur as US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, a key appointment that handles the region including India. He is equivalent to a joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Israel and Hamas Agree to Gaza Ceasefire and Return of Hostages

Israel and Hamas agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage deal, the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East.
The accord, if fully implemented, would bring the two sides closer than any previous effort to halt a war that had evolved into a regional conflict, drawing in countries such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, deepened Israel's international isolation and reshaped the Middle East.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

June GK, May GK, April GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26