Didn’t get time to scroll through today’s top stories? Here are the key national and international headlines for Thursday, October 16, 2025 — everything you need to know, in one quick read.

Top National Headlines

1. Goa minister and former CM Ravi Naik passes away

Goa’s Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest, family sources confirmed. Naik, a senior politician, had been active in state politics for decades.

2.Stalin blames Vijay for Karur stampede; opposition hits back

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin held actor-politician Vijay responsible for the Karur rally stampede that killed 41 people, citing his delayed arrival. Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, however, blamed the government’s poor crowd management.

3. Ilaiyaraaja’s studio receives bomb threat amid spate of hoax emails

A bomb threat was emailed to composer Ilaiyaraaja’s T Nagar studio, prompting a police search. The threat turned out to be a hoax, part of a series of similar emails targeting celebrities and politicians in Chennai.

4. Andhra Pradesh to host Google’s ₹87,000 crore AI data centres

The Andhra Pradesh government approved incentives worth ₹22,000 crore to support Google’s upcoming AI data centres across Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli. The project, valued at ₹87,520 crore, is set to be one of the company’s largest global investments.

5. Supreme Court allows ‘green crackers’ in Delhi-NCR for Diwali

The Supreme Court has permitted the use of eco-friendly ‘green crackers’ in Delhi-NCR between October 18 and 21, with strict time limits to reduce pollution levels during the festival season.

6. Bhupathi’s surrender marks turning point in Maharashtra’s Naxal movement

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the surrender of senior Naxalite leader Bhupathi and 60 cadres in Gadchiroli signals the “beginning of the end” of the Naxal movement in the state. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai echoed similar sentiments, calling it a decisive blow to Naxal ideology.

9. Thane Police bust ‘cyber slavery’ racket; job seekers trafficked to Laos

Thane Police uncovered a cybercrime racket involving the trafficking of Indian youths to Laos under fake job offers, where they were coerced into cyber fraud operations controlled by Chinese syndicates. One suspect has been arrested.

10. Shubman Gill leads India to dominant Test series win over West Indies

India extended its two-decade dominance over the West Indies in home Tests, securing a commanding 2–0 series victory under the new leadership of Shubman Gill. The triumphs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi earned India 24 points — 12 for each win — helping the team retain third place in the ICC World Test Championship standings.

Top International Headlines

1. Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to 48-hour ceasefire

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced a 48-hour ceasefire with the Afghan Taliban after days of deadly border clashes in the Spin Boldak region of Kandahar. The truce was reached following a request from the Taliban regime.

2. Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga dies in Kochi

Raila Odinga, 80, former Prime Minister of Kenya, passed away in Kochi after a cardiac arrest during a morning walk. He had been undergoing Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala.

3. Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts again

Indonesia raised its volcano alert after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted twice on Wednesday, spewing ash as high as 10 kilometres and blanketing nearby villages. Authorities reported no casualties.

4. India elected to UN Human Rights Council for seventh term

India secured a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026–28 term, reaffirming its commitment to global human rights advocacy.

5. Clinton subpoenaed in Epstein case; Trump meets Argentine President

In global political developments, former US President Bill Clinton was subpoenaed in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, while Donald Trump hosted Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Budapest: Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has once again rewritten history, becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup qualifiers after netting twice in Portugal’s 2–2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday.

At 40, Ronaldo continues to defy age and expectations, scoring his 40th and 41st World Cup qualifying goals to surpass former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz, who previously shared the record with him.

From big political moves to global milestones, Thursday, October 16, 2025, brought a mix of major stories you shouldn’t miss.