noun
current situation; state of affairs; current events
Refers to the political, economic, or social situation at a given time, often used in news and formal discussion.
時局を踏まえた政策が求められている。
Policies that take the current situation into account are needed.
彼は時局について詳しい解説をした。
He gave a detailed commentary on the current state of affairs.
Compound of 時 (time) and 局 (situation, office). The combination conveys the idea of 'the situation of the time'.