10 things you need to know today: June 26, 2023

1. Russia tries to project calm after Prigozhin's rebellion

Russian troops deployed to protect Moscow withdrew on Sunday after Yevgeny Prigozhin agreed to have his rebellious Wagner Group mercenary forces stand down. Wagner forces probably could have reached Moscow if Prigozhin had ordered them to, according to an assessment by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on NBC News' Meet the Press that the apparent coup attempt was "just the latest chapter in a book of failure that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has written for himself and for Russia." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected troops in Ukraine on Monday in a show of control in his first public appearance since Prigozhin demanded his removal.

USA Today The Associated Press

2. Coast Guard takes lead in Titan investigation

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday it is leading an investigation into the implosion of a submersible, the Titan, that was taking five people to see the wreck of the Titanic deep in the North Atlantic. All five people aboard died. "My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide," said the chief investigator, Capt. Jason Neubauer. Investigators are gathering Titan wreckage scattered about 1,600 feet from the Titanic's bow to determine what caused the submersible's destruction. The National Transportation Safety Board and Canadian authorities also are investigating, with help from France and the United Kingdom.

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Axios

3. Greek conservatives win big in parliamentary elections

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his center-right New Democracy party won national elections in a landslide on Sunday. Mitsotakis, 55, said he had won a second four-year term with "a strong mandate to move faster on the course of the big changes our country needs." New Democracy won 40.5% of the vote with nearly all the votes counted, setting it up to take at least 158 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with the main opposition party, the center-left Syriza, far behind with 18% of the vote. Mitsotakis led Greece through the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis Europe has endured since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and voters appeared eager to avoid abrupt changes in leadership.

CNN

4. Hajj pilgrimage returns to full capacity for 1st time in 3 years

About 2 million Muslims on Monday started the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, returned to full capacity this year for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020. The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, with all Muslims expected to make the five-day Hajj at least once in their lives if they are able. The Hajj unites the world's 1.8 billion Muslims in an experience that absolves sins and brings participants closer to God. The Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, maintains the holy sites and hosts the pilgrimage, a role that has become key to the kingdom's legitimacy.

The Associated Press

5. Water quality tested on Yellowstone River after train derailment

Authorities are testing water quality on the Yellowstone River near where a train bridge collapsed, causing seven rail cars holding hot asphalt and molten sulfur to tumble into the river, a spokesperson for train operator Montana Rail Link, Andy Garland, said in a statement Sunday. The accident occurred Saturday near Columbus, a town about 40 miles west of Billings surrounded by ranches and farms. The train operator is working with state and federal environmental officials on cleanup and restoration, Garland said. He added that asphalt and hot sulfur solidify quickly, so there was little danger of contamination downstream. The river flows away from Yellowstone National Park from the bridge that collapsed. The park is about 110 miles away.

The Associated Press

6. Sarah Ferguson undergoes surgery after breast cancer diagnosis

The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, is recuperating from surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis, her spokesperson said Sunday. The cancer was discovered in a routine mammogram. "She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully," the spokesperson said, and she "is now recuperating with her family." Ferguson, 63, is the former wife of Britain's Prince Andrew. She is expected to address her diagnosis in a pre-recorded interview to be released Monday on her new podcast, Tea Talk. She said in a statement she had been "symptom free" and her "experience underlines the importance of regular screening." She had the operation at King Edward VII hospital, a London private clinic that has treated senior royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

BBC News

7. Biden to announce $42 billion project to expand broadband access

President Biden plans Monday to announce a $42 billion push to expand high-speed internet access nationwide. The money will be distributed to states over the next two years to help an estimated 8.5 million families and small businesses get high-speed connections for the first time. An estimated 7% of the nation still lacks access to broadband that meets federal minimum standards. The latest spending is part of a campaign to make sure the entire country has reliable broadband by 2030. White House officials are comparing the infrastructure project to the government push to connect isolated areas to the electrical grid in the late 1930s, when 90% of farms had no electricity.

The Washington Post

8. Guatemalan vote points to run-off

Guatemalans voted for president Sunday with early vote counts indicating the election would be decided in an August run-off. Former first lady Sandra Torres, the leading candidate in a field of more than 20 hopefuls, fell far short of the 50% plus one needed to win in the first round. With nearly half the ballots counted, Torres' center-left National Unity of Hope had just 15%, followed by Semilla candidate Bernardo Arevalo, another center-left party, with 12.2%. But nearly a quarter of ballots were left blank or spoiled in a show of voter anger over the election process and disqualification of businessman Carlos Pineda, an early front-runner.

Reuters

9. 1 dies in Sweden roller coaster accident

A roller coaster in Sweden partly derailed during a ride on Sunday and sent people crashing to the ground, killing at least one person and injuring nine others, representatives of the Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm said. Police said three of the surviving victims were hospitalized with severe injuries. A spokesperson for the park said 14 people were on the ride when the front part of the coaster derailed, causing it to stop in the middle of the track with a carriage leaning over. "Something like this should not happen at Grona Land, and yet it happened," said Jan Eriksson, chief executive of the 140-year-old park. The park will be closed for at least a week so police can investigate.

Reuters

10. SZA, Beyoncé lead BET Award winners

SZA and Beyoncé led the 2023 BET Awards with three awards each on Sunday, tying for Album of the Year. SZA also took best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Video of the Year for "Kill Bill." Beyoncé took the Viewers Choice and BET Her awards for "Break My Soul." The awards, which honor the top Black performers in music, TV, film, and sports, were handed out at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. This year's event celebrated 50 years of Hip Hop, with Busta Rhymes receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chris Brown and Usher tied for best Male R&B/Pop Artist. In the film category, Disney/Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever won Best Movie. Drake, who had the most nominations at seven, won two awards.

Deadline