Your Friday Briefing: The Titan sub’s “catastrophic implosion”

By Justin Porter

Good morning. We’re covering the fate of the Titan submersible and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings at the White House.

The Titan experienced a ‘catastrophic implosion’

All five people aboard the submersible that disappeared on Sunday were believed to be dead, the U.S. Coast Guard said yesterday, ending a dayslong rescue effort that gripped much of the world. A debris field from the vessel, called the Titan, was found about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic and was “consistent with a catastrophic implosion,” the Coast Guard commander said.

Stockton Rush, the chief executive of OceanGate, was piloting the submersible. The four passengers were a British businessman and explorer, Hamish Harding; a British-Pakistani businessman, Shahzada Dawood, and his teenage son, Suleman; and a French maritime expert, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who had been on over 35 dives to the Titanic wreck site.

Officials said they would continue to investigate and document the scene, but they were unable to answer questions about the prospect of recovering the bodies of the victims. “This is an incredibly unforgiving environment down there on the sea floor,” Rear Adm. John Mauger said.

He said that it was too early to tell when the vessel imploded but that remote operations would continue on the sea floor.

Years of concern: Leaders in the submersible craft industry warned for years of possible “catastrophic” problems with the vehicle’s design. They also worried that OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the Titan, had not followed standard certification procedures.

Modi brushes aside reporters’ questions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was welcomed yesterday at the White House with a 21-gun salute at the start of a pomp-filled state visit. He also answered questions during a news conference, most likely for the first time in his nine years as prime minister.

Standing next to President Biden, Modi responded by brushing aside concerns over crackdowns on dissent and the treatment of minorities under his government, saying there is “no question of discrimination” and that “democracy is in our DNA.”

Modi’s remarks were in line with what his government usually says when facing criticism. His government has hounded opponents in a way that has raised fears of an authoritarian turn in India. But it’s vanishingly rare for Modi himself to directly field live questions from the press, our South Asia bureau chief, Mujib Mashal, writes.

Biden and Modi announced a range of initiatives to advance cooperation in technology, energy and military hardware but revealed no movement on points of friction between their countries, most especially Ukraine. India’s stance on the war has led to it becoming a leading buyer of Russian crude oil.

Addressing a joint session of Congress, Modi was greeted by a standing ovation and chants of his name, as he went on to emphasize the bond between India and the U.S. He will later be honored at a state dinner among celebrity guests. Follow our updates here.

The big picture: The U.S. is trying to draw India closer, as the urgency for improved relations has intensified amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and Washington’s rising tensions with China.

Defecting to America’s right

Conservatives in the U.S. have long warned that liberal economics and cultural politics would drive the country toward leftist authoritarianism. But until two years ago, they had never had an ally quite like Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector who has become a right-wing media star.

Recently, Park claimed that America is on a path similar to that of North Korea, comparing calls to dismantle racism in U.S. math instruction, for instance, to the lessons she received as a child in North Korean schools.

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Katsushika Hokusai was one of the most influential figures in European modern culture, but he never set foot there. A few years after his death in 1849, his woodblocks started to flutter over the ocean. A new kind of art emerged: born in Tokyo, spanning the whole world.

Our critic at large Jason Farago reviewed an exhibition of his works in the U.S. showing how Hokusai inspired a tidal wave of followers, including Gauguin and Lichtenstein.

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ARTS AND IDEAS

Motos in Martinique

On a warm evening on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, the rumbling of hundreds of motorcycles filled the air as riders popped up on one wheel, stood up on their bikes, and brushed their hands along the ground, all while zooming along at top speed.

Completely exhilarating, and potentially illegal on some streets, rides like this — known as barodes — are banned, and can be punished by a year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine. But that hasn’t stopped a vibrant culture from developing around motorcycles, scooters and other vehicles used to navigate an island with limited public transportation.

“I don’t think about anything,” a 22-year-old rider said. “It’s a feeling of freedom. It’s a moment when you only think of yourself, no one else.”

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

Korean barbecue-style meatballs bring the flavors of caramelized meat without a grill.

The new season of “And Just Like That …” promises the return of beloved figures from the franchise’s past.

Six writers explore some of the most influential works of L.G.B.T.Q. literature.

How much do you know about the menstrual cycle? Take our quiz to find out.

Play the Mini Crossword, and a clue: Spiny succulent (five letters).

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

That’s it for today’s briefing. Mariah Kreutter will be here to write the briefing on Monday. See you next time. — Justin

P.S. Read about The Times’s first-ever citizen science project, in which we encourage readers from around the world to go birding.

“The Daily” is on why experts were worried about the Titan long before it disappeared.

You can reach Justin and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

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