News Dabba for 25 June 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from government clarification on the MEA's passport-citizenship remarks, Iran's warning against Hormuz crossings without authorisation, to Venezuela earthquakes.

Passenger stabbed to death in local train, The Hindu reports

The Hindu reports that a 22-year-old passenger identified as Mayank Lohar was allegedly stabbed to death inside a moving local train running between Churchgate and Nallasopara over an argument to keep the coach door open during heavy rain. According to police, he was allegedly attacked between Andheri and Borivali stations and succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to Shatabdi Hospital. Borivali Government Railway Police (GRP) have registered a murder case as the accused stabbed Mayank with a sharp weapon, the report says. Read the full report here.

Govt clarifies MEA's passport-citizenship remarks, Hindustan Times reports

The Centre on Thursday sought to quell controversy over whether an Indian passport can be treated as proof of citizenship, Hindustan Times reports, asserting that the position is neither new nor a recent policy shift. “It was not decided yesterday that the Passport is not a proof of citizenship. It was not even decided in the last 12 years," a government official said, adding that the legal position has existed for decades. The report says that the clarification comes a day after the ministry of external affairs (MEA), during a detailed briefing on Passport Seva Divas, said that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. Read the full report here.

Al Jazeera: Iran warns against Hormuz crossings without authorisation

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have warned against any crossings of the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation, saying vessels not complying “will be dealt with” and criticising a new route through the waterway. Al Jazeera reports that the future of the strait, a vital route for energy shipments that was effectively blocked by Iran during the more than 100-day war between the United States and Iran, is a key sticking point in negotiations between the sides. Tehran has said it plans to impose what it calls maritime service fees in the future, as opposed to tolls, while the United States argues it is an international waterway and therefore passage should not be subject to charges. Read the full report here.

India Today: Rahul Gandhi seeks relief in defamation case involving Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has filed an application before the Madhya Pradesh High Court expressing regret over a statement that is the subject of a defamation case filed by Kartikeya Singh, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, India Today reports. The development comes in a case linked to remarks allegedly made by Gandhi during a 2018 election rally in Jhabua, where he had referred to the Panama Papers leak while mentioning Kartikeya Singh’s name. The report says that the complainant has alleged that the reference damaged his reputation. Read the full report here.

Rescuers search for survivors after deadly back-to-back earthquakes hit Venezuela, BBC reports

Back-to-back earthquakes have killed at least 164 people in Venezuela, with at least 700 injured, BBC reports. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the most affected state is La Guaira, north of Caracas, where "dozens" of buildings have collapsed. In the capital, rescuers are searching through the rubble and people have been heard calling for help. As per the report, the US Geological Survey says thousands of people could have been killed in total. The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit a minute apart. The second was the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900. Read the full report here.