KOCHI l monday l june 29, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE city EDITION Terrorist outfits using social media to raise funds, warns FATF Terrorists are increasingly using social media, instant messaging and streaming platforms to raise and move funds, the watchdog warned Digital tools make fundraising easier push for greater collaboration The rapid evolution of social media, messaging and streaming platforms has created new avenues for terror financing, the Financial Action Task Force said. Terrorists are exploiting QR codes and rotating cryptocurrency wallets to receive donations, while using encrypted messaging, disappearing content and coded language to evade law enforcement ■ ■ “No single jurisdiction or authority can address this threat alone, so we need to work together closely to prevent criminals from misusing these platforms,” FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo said The watchdog called for more robust risk assessments and greater integration of financial and digital intelligence among other measures 30 countries have included terror financing via social media in their risk assessment CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Let’s make Indian Ocean an ocean Iran attacks of opportunity: Modi in Seychelles Bahrain, Kuwait Pacts on security, extradition, maritime cooperation, digital payments, and health signed JAYA N TH JACO B @ New Delhi India extends L1,250 cr credit line to Seychelles PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India envisions the Indian Ocean as an “ocean of opportunity” where maritime security goes hand-in-hand with economic prosperity, as India and Seychelles elevated their strategic partnership by signing nine agreements, including an extradition treaty . Addressing a joint press meet with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie after the wide-ranging talks, Modi said the Indian Ocean was a shared space whose security and prosperity depended on cooperation based on mutual trust. “Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean an ocean of opportunity,” Modi said, adding that its “security sustainabili, ty and prosperity are our shared responsibility .” He said the approach formed the core of India’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. “The defence and security of India and Seychelles are integral to each other.” The two countries signed an umbrella line of credit agreement for I1,250 crore between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment of Seychelles, according to the Ministry of External Affairs Seychelles seeks Indian advanced light helicopter Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ from Seychelles President Patrick Herminie on Sunday | PMO via PTI Photo During Modi’s visit to the island nation, Seychelles requested India to provide an Advanced Light Helicopter and help establish centres devoted to cyber security and artificial intelligence there, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Sunday The two sides signed nine agreements on security, connectivity, health, agriculture, digital payments, maritime cooperation, space and capacity building. The key pact was an extradition treaty aimed at strengthening cooperation against cross-border crime. On economic cooperation, Modi said both countries would continue exploring new oppor- both countries reaffirming commitment to combating piracy drug trafficking, etc. , Earlier in the day Modi was , conferred Seychelles’ highest honour for a foreign dignitary , the Special Presidential Distinction “Guardian of the Blue Horizon”, in recognition of his leadership on sustainability, the Blue Economy, climate action and ocean governance. tunities for industry and investment while improving connectivity. “Work will also be done to enhance connectivity between India and Seychelles,” he said, adding India would share its successful experience in digital public infrastructure with the island nation. President Her minie said maritime security remained central to bilateral ties, with Messi keeps up streak, euphoria for Congo express read 40 ha of forest land reclaimed Lionel Messi continued his goalscoring ways as the final matches of the group stage saw a thrilling conclusion. A look... Sixth goal for Messi African teams in the limelight Argentina’s talisman scored directly from a free kick for his sixth goal and for a 19th strike overall at World Cups. It completed a perfect group stage for them When 10 slots were allotted to Africans, a few pundits questioned that. But Africa showed they belonged as nine of 10 nations advanced to the knockout stages. DR Congo, who won their first ever match, also advanced after beating Uzbekistan The Round of 32 : South Africa vs Canada, Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, Netherlands vs Morocco, Ivory Coast vs Norway, France vs Sweden, Mexico vs Ecuador, England vs DR Congo, Belgium vs Senegal, USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, Spain vs Austria, Portugal vs Croatia, Switzerland vs Algeria, Australia vs Egypt, Argentina vs Cape Verde, Colombia vs Ghana. Today’s matches Pleader to turn ‘respondent’ as one gets bail in ED attack case E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram In an unprecedented move, the government has decided to list now-removed district pleader T Geena Kumari as respondent when it moves the Kerala HC against the bail given to an accused in the case related to the attack on ED officers during last month’s raid at Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram. Geena was removed from the post on Sunday and additional district pleader A R Shaji was given the charge. Hareesh Kumar, the ninth accused, was granted bail after Geena informed the district court that his custody was not required as the probe was past the crucial stage. This contradicted the police stand that Hareesh’s custody was indispensable. After bail was granted, police took a stern view of Geena’s conduct and informed the government that it cannot proceed with the investigation and court proceedings with the ● More on P4 same pleader.  Brazil vs Japan 10.30 PM; Germany vs Paraguay 2.00 AM*; Netherlands vs Morocco 6.30 AM* *IST Tuesday Idukki: Paving the way for habitat restoration in one of the state’s most vulnerable human-elephant conflict zones, the forest department has taken possession of 40.07 hectares of vested forest in Chinnakkanal. Officials described it as the largest recovery of vested forest land in state. P5 2nd in nation 9L & counting: Women-led enterprises thrive in Kerala U nn i k r i s h n a n S @T’Puram From traditional societal structures to modern grassroots governance, Kerala has been at the vanguard among Indian states in terms of women’s inclusivity. Now, it is rewriting conventional rules of business by emerging as a major hub for women-led entrepreneurship. The state is home to nearly one million femaleowned establishments, according to the ‘Economic Census’ report published by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation on June 19. Accounting for over 11% of the national total of such businesses and trailing only Tamil Nadu, Kerala’s women are driving a massive economic revolution. Marking a milestone, female proprietors actually outnumber men in the state’s traditional handicraft and handloom sectors, commanding nearly 15,000 enterprises. Cumulatively, these womenled engines of growth are sustaining livelihoods for more than 1.1 million people across the state. The true backbone of this boom is fierce financial independence and unshakable stability A staggering 8.6 lakh . of these enterprises are entirely self-financed, proving that the state’s women aren’t waiting for handouts -- they are building their own empires from the Pushing The Boundaries Top states in terms of share of establishments under women entrepreneurs Tamil Nadu 13.51% Kerala 11.35% Andhra Pradesh 10.56% West Bengal 10.33% Maharashtra 8.25% 9,13,917 No. of women-owned establishments in Kerala Source: ‘Economic Census’ report of the ministry of statistics and programme implementation ground up. Furthermore, the business landscape is remarkably resilient, with over 8.2 lakh of these ventures running as perennial, year-round operations, rather than seasonal gigs. This explosive growth is backed by a powerhouse institutional support system. Grassroots initiatives like Kudumbashree have empowered millions to launch micro-enterprises. Armed with India’s highest female literacy rate, these trailblazers are no longer just participating in the economy they are actively de, fining its future, according to experts in ● More on P4 the field. after US strikes A g en c i e s @ Dubai The renewed flare-up in the Gulf showed no sign of easing on Sunday with Iran launching drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait hours after US airstrikes hit the Islamic Republic. Iran and the US have accused each other of violating the truce, straining negotiations meant to end the war that began on February 28. The US military said it had struck multiple targets in Iran at President Donald Trump’s direction, adding “Iran had a chance to honour the ceasefire agreement” but “elected not to” when its forces attacked the oil tanker Kiku with a one-way drone. I r a n’s Revo l u t i o n a r y Guards said it carried out strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation, warning any further aggression would be met with a “crushing response”. The Guards “destroyed eight important US military facilities at the A building in Bahrain damaged in Iranian drone attack | X Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait and at the Fifth Fleet naval base in Port Salman in Bahrain,” it said in a statement. Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s direct oversight sparked the crossfire and have imperilled negotiations for a lasting ceasefire. A multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Saturday that it would expand a route near Oman for both inbound and outbound traffic. Iran warned any attempt to bypass Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the US would P9 “increase tensions”.  Lawyers refuse to defend fund scam accused N a m i ta B a j pa i @ Lucknow While the Ayodhya police conducted raids on the houses of eight accused in the Ram temple donations case on Sunday several lawyers in the tem, ple town have refused to represent the accused. Sources said there is a growing sentiment within Ayodhya legal fraternity to not take up the case to defend the accused. A final decision will be taken at a general body meeting of the Faizabad Bar Association on Monday . Bar Association president Kalika Mishra said the unanimous refusal to represent the accused would be put before the general body meeting and a decision taken. Sources claimed the legal fraternity is angry over the alleged theft of offerings and has united in the demand for stern action against all eight accused. “Stern action should be taken against these accused by adopting the bulldozer policy,” senior advocate Rajendra Chaudhary said. Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said people’s sentiments were hurt by the theft of temple offerings.