US Coast Guard addresses conclusion, next steps in Titan submersible's deadly implosion

The U.S. Coast Guard is holding a press conference Sunday afternoon to discuss its response to the missing Titanic tourist submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions.

Rear Admiral John Mauger is expected to discuss the conclusion of the search and the rescue aspects of the response and provide information on how the marine board of investigation will be conducted. 

The Coast Guard’s update in the saga comes three days after debris from the Titan submersible was found roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters after a days-long search involving multiple agencies across three countries. 

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The Polar Prince left Newfoundland towing the ill-fated Titan on June 16. There were 41 people on board — 17 crew members and 24 others — including the five-man team. The 20,000-pound submersible imploded on its way to tour the Titanic wreckage, killing all five on board. 

Authorities from the U.S. and Canada have begun the process of probing the cause of the underwater implosion and are grappling with questions of who is responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. The Navy is continuing to support the U.S. Coast Guard as operations continue.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Putin’s weakness exposed despite end of Wagner Group revolt: Former NATO commander

The cracks in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "rotten regime" are being exposed as armed Wagner Group mercenaries briefly turned against their benefactor and marched against Moscow, a former NATO commander said Sunday.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis said during an appearance on MSNBC’s "The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart" that the short revolt shows "enormous weakness" in more than just Russia’s military, whose failure, he says, has been on full display over the course of the war with Ukraine.

"What is now on display are the cracks in [the Russian] political establishment running all the way up the spine of the country," Stavridis said.

The march on the capital led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the late-night deal that eventually halted it has raised questions over Putin’s reputation as a leader who is willing to ruthlessly punish anyone who challenges his authority. Under the terms of the agreement, Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus but will not face prosecution and his forces won't either.

BLINKEN: WAGNER MARCH RAISES ‘PROFOUND QUESTIONS’ AS ‘MORE CRACKS EMERGE IN THE RUSSIAN FACADE’

That may open the door for others who are unhappy with Putin’s two-decade grip on power, especially after his ill-fated invasion of Ukraine.

"If you are a dictator, the worst thing you can show the world is that kind of weakness," the retired admiral said.

Stavridis said the cracks appearing in Putin’s regime have him concerned about Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which he called "the real highway to the danger zone."

US SPY AGENCIES HAD INTEL IN MID-JUNE WAGNER CHIEF PRIGOZHIN WAS PLANNING ARMED ACTION IN RUSSIA: REPORT

"If we see continuing chaos, a real breakdown of the Russian security system, a breakdown of control from the Kremlin, I think that job one is to figure out how to secure or participate in securing those nuclear weapons."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday was asked about potential concerns regarding the security of Russia’s nuclear weapons.

"We always prepare for every contingency," Blinken said during an appearance on CBS’s "Face the Nation."

"We haven’t seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture," he added. "There hasn’t been any change in ours. But it’s something we’re going to watch very, very carefully."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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