Your Thursday Briefing: Modi at the White House

By Justin Porter

Good morning. We’re covering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the U.S. and the latest on the missing submersible.

Modi begins a state visit to the U.S.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington yesterday, beginning a state visit that the U.S. hopes will draw India closer.

Today, Modi will address a joint session of Congress and be feted by President Biden and the first lady during a state dinner at the White House. He is only the third world leader to be welcomed with a lavish state visit by the current administration.

We reached out to Mujib Mashal, our South Asia bureau chief, to tell us what to expect. His responses were lightly edited.

What are the stakes of this visit?

Mujib: For Modi, this visit is an affirmation of his transformation into a global statesman and the leader of a country that is arriving on the international stage largely on its own terms. He and his diplomats feel that India has not been given its due — for its sheer size, for its economic promise and for its cultural and technological contribution.

The fact that Biden is rolling out the red carpet — despite India’s resistance to taking a stance on the war in Ukraine and concerns over Modi’s undermining of democracy — is a testament to the U.S. view of India as an indispensable power. That is in part because of India’s economic rise, but also because of geopolitics. As the U.S. finds itself increasingly clashing with China, India can have a pivotal role to play in “checkmating” Beijing.

What does Modi want from Biden?

Modi wants defense and technology cooperation, particularly to draw American investment and technology. India’s military remains deeply dependent on Russia for supplies, and New Delhi has been looking to increase domestic manufacturing and diversify its sources. But, more important, Modi wants a larger say for India on the international stage, including at the United Nations Security Council, and a convergence of interests with the U.S. can help with that.

What does Biden want from Modi?

Beyond drone sales and expanding trade and technological ties, Biden is looking to keep India close as U.S. leadership of the old global order is increasingly tested. The excitement in expanding relations with India comes after a long and cold history, where each side mistrusts the other. Over the past decades, the two have expanded relations, particularly in building defense ties from near scratch. The recent impetus is as much because of India’s growth as it is because of factors external to it, particularly America’s China conundrum.

Read more: Why is Modi so popular in India? He uses an old-fashioned radio show to soften his image.

The search for the Titan focuses on undersea noises

A Canadian surveillance plane detected “banging sounds” in 30-minute intervals on Tuesday and again yesterday in the remote part of the North Atlantic where the Titan submersible disappeared over the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard said, leading search teams to focus on that area. It remains unclear whether the sounds came from the Titan.

A ship heading to the search area is carrying a robot capable of operating at the depth at which the Titanic sits, but it is not expected to reach the scene before this morning. The U.S. Coast Guard estimated that the oxygen left on the Titan would probably last for around 20 hours.

Inside the Titan: The submersible was at its maximum capacity, and it was a tight squeeze. Promotional materials showed an interior with no seats, only a flat floor passengers could sit on, and a single view port.

When hope turned to doomsday

More than 100 Pakistanis were killed when a fishing boat overloaded with as many as 750 migrants capsized last week off Greece. It was the deadliest shipwreck off the country’s coast in a decade. Locals say around 28 of those on board were from Bandli, a vibrant green stretch of valleys in the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan.

“I have not seen such a sad day in the village in my 60 years of life,” a shopkeeper in the area said. “It’s like doomsday — the village has lost so many young, hard-working sons.” Bandli has a long history of young men migrating abroad to chase a brighter future.

A gilded rescue: A $175 million superyacht responded to a distress call and helped rescue 100 survivors of the shipwreck. The captain offered dry clothes and water to the migrants, some of whom, he said, “were in a bad way.”

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Final Fantasy, the role-playing video game franchise developed by Square Enix, made a name for itself in the 1990s for telling deep, epic stories with huge casts. But after 35 years, some of the series’ more recent entries have missed the mark.

With its latest installment, Final Fantasy XVI, which will be released worldwide today, Square Enix is trying to right those wrongs and perhaps solve the franchise’s “Star Wars” problem: the difficulty of satisfying the expectations of a dedicated fan base while also attracting new audiences.

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ARTS AND IDEAS

7 great walks in 7 great cities

Seeing a new place on foot is one of travel’s great pleasures. Our writers suggest several routes to immerse yourself in a new city’s essence.

The Seoul City Wall, which stretches back to 1396, can take the whole day to walk, but the most scenic parts along its northern half can be seen in about four hours. Sydney abounds with forestlike parks, coastal walks and beaches, but the Hermitage Foreshore track has it all: grand old houses meeting lush bush, calm water and endless swimming opportunities.

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

This pasta salad has everything you could want.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach gives an abrasive edge to “The Bear,” now in its second season on FX.

We asked readers to contribute to our Pride playlist of songs that give courage and enthusiasm to come out.

Tai chi is a workout for the brain and the body.

Play the Mini Crossword, and a clue: Petty, paltry or puny (five letters).

Here are the Wordle and the Spelling Bee. You can find all our puzzles here.

That’s it for today’s briefing. See you next time. — Justin

P.S. Our technology reporter Cade Metz joined “Fresh Air” on NPR to discuss the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence.

“The Daily” is about how the war in Ukraine is forcing Germany to remilitarize.

We’d like your feedback. Send us your thoughts and suggestions to briefing@nytimes.com.

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