FCRA Amendment Bill: JPC to begin scrutiny on September 18, Sanjay Jaiswal to chair panel
JPC first meeting on Sept 18 on FCRAJoin conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhat is FCRA? NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, will hold its first meeting in Parliament on September 18, with BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal as its chairman, news agency ANI reported.The 31-member committee was constituted after the Centre moved a motion in Parliament to refer the FCRA Amendment Bill to a JPC. The panel comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.The Bill was formally referred to the JPC after Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai moved a motion in the Lok Sabha.The FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and seeks to amend provisions governing the receipt and use of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and organisations in India.The government has maintained that the proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening regulation of foreign contributions and ensuring that funds are used for the purposes for which they are received.However, the Congress has opposed the Bill and demanded its complete withdrawal, arguing that the proposed changes could be used to target civil society and minority institutions.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 10:10 UTC
Houthis' coastal offensive puts Bab el-Mandeb in crosshairs; why the strait matters
Major carriers took this step previously after a series of Houthi attacks made Red Sea shipping too risky.Saudi Arabia faces a dual maritime threat. In 2026, the UN estimates that 22.3 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 18.3 million facing acute food insecurity. More than 6 million people are at emergency levels of food deprivation.A UN-brokered truce in 2022 reduced fighting but failed to deliver a lasting peace. The Houthis later expanded the conflict beyond Yemen by attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, making Yemen a key flashpoint in the wider Middle East conflict.The latest coastal offensive now adds a new dimension to the crisis. By pushing towards Bab el-Mandeb, the Houthis are moving closer to a chokepoint whose disruption could have consequences far beyond Yemen, threatening shipping, energy flows and supply chains linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 10:06 UTC
Black Axe in South Africa: Six Nigerians wanted in the US for alleged romance scams to be extradited
South African police are handing over six Nigerians wanted in the US for alleged online romance scams to FBI agents later on Friday. The group is accused of targeting over 100 women in the US and defrauding them of more than 100m rand ($6m; £5m), the South African authorities said. Those being extradited were arrested in 2021 and are believed to be members of crime syndicate Black Axe - a Nigerian mafia-style gang tied to human trafficking, internet fraud and murder. Some of their reported victims included pensioners and businesspeople "who were targeted through sophisticated online relationships used to defraud them of their money", according to South Africa's elite Hawks police unit. They would face wire fraud and money-laundering charges upon their arrival in the US, she added.
Source:BBC India/World
September 11, 2026 09:54 UTC
A quarter century after 9/11: 25 ways America's darkest day changed the world
Twenty five years since the worst terror attack on US soilHere's how 9/11 changed the world in 25 ways:1. US agencies subsequently changed how they shared intelligence, including through the creation of the Director of National Intelligence in 2004. Twenty-five years later, the argument remains unresolved.The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay became one of the most recognisable symbols of the post-9/11 security system. Social media later allowed governments, political groups and foreign actors to reach millions of people directly, often without traditional media acting as a filter. Brown University's Costs of War project estimates that the US spent or committed about $8 trillion on post-9/11 wars through 2021–22, including future obligations for veterans.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 09:46 UTC
Dating to 1898, Nipomo's oldest church served the California town for over a century; 128 years later, its owners donated it to become a museum, event venue and visitor center
Church to continue Sunday servicesHistoric building planned as 'Visit Nipomo' centreRepairs planned for 128-year-old churchDating back to 1898, Nipomo’s oldest church has been part of the California town’s community life for more than a century. John and Rebecca Prewett, who bought the building in 2015, recently donated it to the local non-profit organisation.The Dana Adobe and Cultural Center runs the nearby historic Dana Adobe, described as Nipomo’s oldest settlement and dating to 1839. It served as Nipomo’s first church and remained the main church until the 1970s, when a new Saint Joseph’s Church was built. "Last week the Adobe received the church," Corridan said. "Another key part of the plan is to create a "Visit Nipomo" centre in the building.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 09:45 UTC
In 2001, Hurricane Iris devastated southern Belize; the damage inspired Lisa Carne’s coral-restoration work, which has now outplanted over 100,000 corals
The storm severely damaged the region’s coral reefs, including those around Laughing Bird Caye. At Laughing Bird Caye National Park, coral cover fell to less than 6%, according to a Commonwealth case study. Coral fragments were grown in nurseries before being transplanted onto degraded sections of reef.The organisation uses several nursery techniques, including metal A-frames, underwater tables and cement “cookies” that provide stable surfaces for coral fragments. UNDP reported that coral cover at Laughing Bird Caye rose from less than 6% after Hurricane Iris to more than 50% by 2017. More than two decades later, the fragments she chose to see as survivors rather than remnants have become the foundation of one of Belize’s most prominent community-led coral restoration efforts.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 09:43 UTC
Las Vegas developers bought 940 acres of former federal desert for $94 million; the site is set to become a 6,000-home community with first homes expected in 2028
From federal desert to a massive residential neighbourhood6,000 homes across three villagesWhy Las Vegas is turning to federal landWhere will the $94 million go? For years, nearly 940 acres on the northern edge of Las Vegas sat as open federal desert, surrounded by some of Southern Nevada’s most striking landscapes. The project is being developed by Olympia Companies and Bruin Capital Partners, which acquired the roughly 940-acre site after a federal land transaction involving the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the City of Las Vegas. What is now largely open desert will eventually contain thousands of homes, roads, schools, parks and commercial areas. The project is also expected to generate substantial construction activity and long-term economic activity as the community takes shape.
Source:Times of India
September 11, 2026 09:39 UTC
Brics 2026: Trump shadow looms large over Delhi summit as Modi hosts Putin and Xi
The US is not a member of Brics, yet President Donald Trump's shadow will loom large over the group's summit in Delhi this weekend. But few will be as consequential as the impact of President Trump's policies. While Russia and Iran may push for the group to take a clearer stand against President Trump, the geopolitical realities within Brics are likely to make that difficult. The Gulf state, which hosts US military bases, is unlikely to support a statement that helps Tehran's cause. Kugelman says Brics has become more significant through its expansion, but that has also made consensus harder.
Source:BBC India/World
September 11, 2026 09:38 UTC