FIFA WC opens amid fanfare, full house Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy had the spectators out of their seats in the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City. Dancers twirled around a giant model of the World Cup trophy while fireworks went off in the historic 80,000-capacity stadium Today's matches (IST) HYDERABAD l friday l june 12, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 36 l LATE City EDITION Colombian singer Shakira performs during the opening ceremony ahead of the 2026 World Cup tie between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday | AFP (All June 13) Group D: Paraguay vs USA (6.30AM) Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (12.30AM) CBC 46101/13/0010/2627 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 All 3 missing seafarers dead J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi All three Indian seafarers who had been reported missing after the US attack on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman have been confirmed dead, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday . The tanker, carrying 24 Indian crew members, was struck by the US military earlier this week, triggering a search-and- rescue operation involving Indian and Omani authorities. In a post on X, Sonowal described the development as “deeply unfortunate”, confirming that the three crew members initially reported missing had lost their lives. “Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after two bodies were recovered,” the minister said. Calling the deaths a “profound loss to our maritime family”, Sonowal said the govern- Trump threatens to strike Iran, backs off hours later Hours after threatening to hit Iran ‘very hard’ and “assume total control” of its oil and gas, US President Donald Trump called off the strikes, claiming negotiations were “brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership” | P9 ment stood firmly with the bereaved families and would give all necessary assistance. The minister added that officials had been instructed to facilitate the immediate repa- triation of the 21 rescued crew members and ensure the swift return of the deceased sailors’ mortal remains. On Wednesday India strong, ly condemned the attack and formally lodged a protest with the US by summoning Jason Meeks, the US Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi. Meanwhile, crew members of a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel identified as MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indians, were evacuated on Thursday after the vessel came under attack off an Oman port. Etched in stone, dino story at risk of fading S i d d h a r d h a G at t i m i @ Hyderabad The dinosaurs may be long gone, but their footprints left behind are now facing a survival challenge of their own. Researchers warn that the Saligaon Tracksite in Mancherial could suffer irreversible damage in the coming years due to rising water levels, unchecked vegetation growth, weathering and human activity . While the fossils are not easily damaged, the limestone surfaces preserving them are slowly degrading. Experts warn that narrowing the window for conservation puts one of India’s most important dinosaur heritage sites at risk.  report on p2 Tap youth power for growth: PM P U S H P ITA D E Y @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked states to tap into India’s 70-crore youth population and convert this unique demographic dividend into a development dividend for the country’s progress. “Creating the right ecosystem for our youth through quality education, demanddriven skilling and employment opportunities must remain a priority. Empowered youth will be the driving force behind our journey,” he said while chairing the 11th Governing Council Meeting of Niti Aayog, attended by chief ministers, Lt governors and administrators representing 28 States and five UTs. This was the first time chief ministers of all 28 states participated in the gover ning council meeting of NITI Aayog. Governing council members also debated pushing rooftop solar energy on residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and government properties to reduce household dependence on grid electricity . Revanth asks Modi to remove Maha hurdle to Tummidihatti E x p r ess N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad As a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remains elusive, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has turned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help advance talks on the Tummidihatti Barrage and secure early approvals for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. On Thursday, Revanth met Modi in Delhi on the sidelines of the 11th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, seeking the Centre’s support for key infrastructure, education, industrial and connectivity projects. He also outlined Telangana Rising vision, which aims to CM A Revanth Reddy meets PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday transform the state into a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. Seeking support in the education sector, Revanth requested the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad.   Continued on P4 CM Urges Centre to Clear hyd Metro Phase-2 Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar to expedite approval for the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-2 project. During a meeting, Revanth said the expansion would improve mobility and ease congestion | P4