10 things you need to know today: June 24, 2023

1. Wagner Group stages armed rebellion as it rolls towards Moscow

Members of the Wagner mercenary group began an armed rebellion against Russian forces on Friday, with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin pushing forward with efforts to move his troops toward Moscow. In what has been described as one of the biggest threats to Russian aggression since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Wagner forces reportedly took over the city of Rostov-on-Don, approximately 650 miles from Moscow. The city is a key military encampment for Russian operations in Ukraine, and could spell trouble for members of the Russian military who are trying to stop the Wagner offensive. The Wagner Group had previously been fighting alongside Russia in the conflict, and has been linked to a number of alleged war crimes.

The New York Times BBC News

2. Putin responds to Wagner uprising by vowing to punish leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday denounced the Wagner Group's uprising against Russian forces as "a stab in the back" that undermined efforts to overtake Ukraine. Putin said that the actions of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin — a former confidante of the Russian president — were a "betrayal" and "treason," and vowed to punish Wagner militants who did not cease their rebellion. Putin added that Wagner members should "make the only right choice: Stop taking part in this criminal activity." However, Prigozhin, in his own address, said he would not surrender because "we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit, and bureaucracy," adding that Wagner fighters were "patriots of our homeland."

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NPR The Associated Press

3. Prosecutors ask for Trump classified documents trial to be delayed until December

Special counsel Jack Smith on Friday asked a federal judge to delay former President Donald Trump's classified documents trial until December. The judge in the case, Aileen Cannon, had previously set a trial date of Aug. 14. However, in a Department of Justice filing, Smith requested that the trial be bumped back to Dec. 11, claiming that this will give federal prosecutors the additional time needed to prepare for the case. The filing noted that defense lawyers will need to obtain security clearances to review evidence, and both sides need more time to pour over the classified findings. The request is unsurprising, as a delay from the August trial date had previously been anticipated.

The New York Times The Hill

4. James Cameron says Titan submersible was ‘critically flawed'

Director and oceanographer James Cameron said Friday that the design of the imploded Titan submersible was "critically flawed." In an interview on "Good Morning America," Cameron, known for directing the film "Titanic" and also for voyaging to the deepest point in the world, Challenger Deep, said it was "only a matter of time" before a tragedy happened. The submersible imploded last weekend while on a deep-sea expedition to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, killing all five people onboard. Experts have said the unregulated and uncertified submersible was unsafe, and Cameron added that "people in the deep sea submergence engineering community warned the company that this could lead to catastrophic failure."

The Guardian Good Morning America

5. US intelligence report on Covid-19 refutes lab-leak theory

U.S. intelligence agencies have not found any evidence that a "lab leak" from China caused the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report released Friday. The report, published by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), was unable to corroborate any specific leak that may have led to Covid-19 being released from a Chinese lab. However, the report added that the origins of the virus remain unclear, and "the CIA and another agency remain unable to determine the precise origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, as both (natural and lab) hypotheses rely on significant assumptions or face challenges with conflicting reporting." The report adds to a growing list of inconclusive theories about the pandemic's origins.

CBS News Reuters

6. Greece returns to polls with conservatives eyeing landslide win

Greece is set to hold another round of national elections on Sunday, where conservatives look primed for a resounding victory at the ballot box. Based on current polls, former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks to be headed for another term in office. He was replaced by current caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas after his New Democracy party failed to gain a majority in May's voting, resulting in a snap election. Based on current trajectories, not only will Mitsotakis take back the reigns of Greece, but the election could cause significant problems for opposition parties who will struggle to maintain a united front in the next parliament due to the surging New Democracy platform.

Politico The Associated Press

7. Chris Christie booed at conservative gathering for attacking Trump

Chris Christie was booed while addressing a top conservative conference on Friday after he began criticizing former President Donald Trump. Christie, who is running for president in 2024, was speaking at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C., to try and help boost his single-digit White House bid. The former New Jersey governor told the crowd that Trump had "let us down," adding that he had "not assumed responsibility" for his mistakes and was a "failed leader." The crowd began to boo and jeer Christie, who replied, "You can boo all you want, but here's the thing, our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do."

The Washington Post

8. South Africa believes 31 miners killed during explosion in May

A methane gas explosion at a shuttered gold mine in South Africa was responsible for 31 deaths this past May, but the incident is only coming to light now, officials said Friday. The 31 people, who were described by officials as illegal miners, had reportedly all come from the neighboring country of Lesotho. Officials said the group died after an explosion in the closed Virginia mine in South Africa's Free State province. However, their demise is only being revealed now after relatives of the miners began reporting their loved ones missing. A search of the mine is still delayed because of high methane levels, but an investigation into the explosion is underway, officials said.

Reuters The Associated Press

9. At least 11 people injured after plane aborts takeoff

A Cathay Pacific jet aborted its takeoff at Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday, officials said, resulting in at least 11 injuries when passengers began evacuating the plane. Flight CX880, bound for Los Angeles, returned to the gate after a technical problem forced the crew to abort the takeoff. This led to "a precautionary passenger evacuation," Cathay said in a statement, in which passengers used five slides onboard the jetliner to disembark the aircraft. It is unclear what mechanical problem caused the takeoff to be aborted. Cathay said that 11 passengers "are being treated at the hospital with injuries sustained during the evacuation process. Our priority is to look after all affected passengers and crew."

The Associated Press

10. 1st overall NBA pick Victor Wembanyama greeted in San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs power forward Victor Wembanyama, the first overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, arrived in his new city on Friday to cheers and chants from adoring Spurs fans. Already a star without having played a single game, Wembanyama is a native of France that is widely considered one of the best basketball prospects in history. The 7-foot-5 phenom was greeted by a coalition of fans in San Antonio that had waited hours for a chance to see the Spurs' new franchise player. His plane got a water cannon salute as many people waiting to greet Wembanyama were already wearing his jersey, ushering in a new era of basketball in San Antonio.

ESPN