The parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister, marking a historic milestone in a political environment long dominated by men. Takaichi rises to the role after her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, resigned amid political turmoil following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s electoral losses and the collapse of its longstanding coalition with the Komeito Party. To secure her position, Takaichi brokered a coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (“Ishin”), shifting the governing bloc further to the right and underscoring the new administration’s ideological direction. Known for her conservative and nationalist views, Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage, female imperial succession and separate surnames for married couples, despite championing women’s leadership in rhetoric. Her political agenda includes boosting defense spending, revising Japan’s pacifist constitution and strengthening ties with the United States, though these moves raise concern in neighboring countries such as China and South Korea. Economically, she is a proponent of expanded government spending, seeking to extend the stimulus-led approach of former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and tackling Japan’s prolonged stagnation and inflationary pressures.  Nevertheless, Takaichi begins her term in a fragile position as her coalition lacks an outright majority and must work with other parties to pass legislation, while public skepticism remains high and international scrutiny looms.

The Colombian government recalled its ambassador to the United States after President Donald Trump called President Gustavo Petro “an illegal drug leader” and threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian exports and suspend financial aid, escalating tensions linked to recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean. The strikes, which targeted vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, resulted in multiple deaths and drew condemnation from Bogotá, with President Gustavo Petro denouncing the actions as unilateral and a violation of Colombia’s sovereignty. Petro stated that one of the attacked vessels belonged to “a humble family” with no ties to the National Liberation Army (ELN), contradicting U.S. claims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Ambassador Daniel García-Peña was recalled for consultations on Petro’s orders and has returned to Bogotá, where the government is assessing further diplomatic measures. Colombia’s foreign ministry pledged to seek international backing, highlighting the country’s decades of cooperation in anti-narcotics operations and its commitment to political independence. The United States remains Colombia’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 35 percent of exports and a significant share of foreign investment. However, Washington has yet to provide details on which tariffs or aid programs may be affected, leaving uncertainty over the potential economic consequences of the dispute.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate cease-fire following intense fighting along their shared border, according to statements issued by both sides during talks in Doha, Qatar. The negotiations were mediated by Qatar and Turkey and represent the first major diplomatic effort since the resumption of one of the worst periods of violence between the two neighbors since the Taliban came to power in Kabul. During the Doha talks, Pakistan’s Defense Minister announced that the cease-fire "has been finalized" and that more detailed discussions are scheduled for 25 October in Istanbul, Turkey. The Taliban spokesperson said the parties agreed on a “complete and meaningful cease-fire” and that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used by groups attacking Pakistan. The clashes erupted after Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harboring militant groups that launched attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide strike near the border on 17 October which killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13. Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan’s border regions in response, a step Kabul condemned as targeting civilians, though Afghan forces have been directed not to retaliate so the negotiations could proceed.

At around 6:30 p.m. local time, vehicle exploded outside Mall del Sol, across from the Sheraton Hotel in northern Guayaquil. The explosion killed one person, widely reported to be a cab driver, and wounded several others. Surveillance footage captured the vehicle bursting into flames before it detonated, sending shock waves through nearby shops and restaurants and shattering windows in the vicinity. Shortly afterward, authorities discovered a second vehicle rigged with explosives near the site. That device did not go off and was neutralized by bomb-squad personnel. Officials described the bombs as professionally constructed rather than crude improvised devices, and they treated the attack as an intentionally violent act by criminal elements. Emergency services quickly cordoned off the area, evacuated nearby buildings, and carried out controlled detonations while gathering forensic evidence. The U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil issued a security alert warning people to avoid the area until investigations and safety operations concluded. Guayas provincial and national officials condemned the attack, characterizing it as terrorism, and pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Congress unanimously voted to remove President Dina Boluarte shortly after midnight, and within an hour swore in Congress chief José Jeri as the new president. The move came amid mounting public anger over escalating crime rates and corruption allegations, including the so-called “Rolexgate” scandal over Boluarte’s luxury watch collection. Lawmakers had summoned Boluarte on 9 October 2025 to defend herself, but she failed to appear, triggering a rapid impeachment process. Her approval ratings had sunk to between 2% and 4%, as she faced accusations of illicit enrichment and responsibility for lethal crackdowns on protests in support of her ousted predecessor. Jeri, a 38-year-old from the conservative Somos Peru party who became Congress president in July 2025, vowed to launch a “war on crime,” declaring that criminal gangs on the streets were the main enemy. Protests and celebrations erupted outside Congress and the Ecuadorian embassy; some speculated Boluarte might seek asylum. In a farewell address at the presidential palace, she warned that the Congressional vote had major implications for Peru’s democratic stability.