Fiery, head-on train crash in Greece
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Rescue crews searched Wednesday morning through twisted, smoking wreckage for survivors of a head-on train crash in northern Greece. Also in the news: Regardless of what the Supreme Court says in a series of ongoing cases, millions of borrowers will still need to recommence student loan repayments. We have the latest from the double murder trial of disbarred attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's why Congress is back to global travel – on your dime.
Now, here we go with Wednesday's headlines.
Rescue efforts ongoing after head-on train crash in Greece
Rescue workers used heavy machinery after sunrise Wednesday to start moving large pieces of two trains that collided just before midnight Tuesday, killing at least 36 and injuring at least 85, officials said. The passenger train from Athens to Thessaloniki carried hundreds of people, including many university students returning home from holiday, when it hit an oncoming freight train at a high speed. Survivors said several passengers were thrown through the windows of the train cars due to the impact. They said others fought to free themselves after the passenger train buckled, slamming into a field near a gorge, about 235 miles north of Athens. Read more
Experts say trains are becoming less safe: Situations like the one in East Palestine, Ohio, "will be more and more prevalent.''
A train carrying propane derailed near a Florida airport: Officials said no leaks were detected.
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🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent John Fritze breaks down the court’s oral arguments over President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
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Putin orders officials to tighten control of the Ukraine border
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to tighten control of the Ukraine border Tuesday after a flurry of drone attacks targeted regions inside Russia – with one drone crashing just 60 miles from Moscow. Ukraine authorities did not take responsibility for the attacks but have claimed the right to such forays to turn back Russia's invasion. Meanwhile, Putin followed through on last week's vow to suspend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the U.S., signing a bill to that effect Tuesday. Authorities have said Russia will respect the New START treaty's caps on nuclear weapons and continue to notify the U.S. about test launches of ballistic missiles. Read more
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SCOTUS signals skepticism over Biden's student loan forgiveness plan
The Supreme Court's conservative majority raised doubts Tuesday about President Joe Biden's plan to wipe out $400 billion in student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, suggesting the president overstepped his powers under the law.
In one of a series of troubling signs for the plan, Chief Justice John Roberts questioned a central premise of Biden's argument: that the president has authority to cancel student loans without explicit authority from Congress. Inside the court, the 6-3 conservative majority repeatedly returned to the idea that it is Congress that should approve such significant programs – not the president.
During the closely watched arguments, the justices prodded the Biden administration for answers about why the student loan plan was different from other emergency policies the White House attempted to implement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but were struck down.
The oral arguments do not always predict the outcome of a case, but they often give a sense of which direction a majority of the justices are leaning. A decision is expected by the end of June.
Scores of borrowers gathered in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The activists’ optimism about the prospect of debt relief came in sharp contrast to discussions happening within the court.
👉 Keep reading: Regardless of SCOTUS decision, 25 million people will have to repay student debt.
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These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.
The latest on the Murdaugh trial
One of the most high-profile true crime cases in recent history is playing out in a South Carolina courtroom. Testimony is underway in the double murder trial of disbarred attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who is charged with killing his wife and son. Murdaugh, part of a South Carolina legal dynasty, was charged with murder in connection to the shooting deaths of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty. After the shootings in June 2021, police launched investigations into two other deaths connected to Murdaugh and alleged criminal acts dating back more than a decade. Read our latest recap from the trial.
📷 Photo of the day: NAACP Image Awards 2023 📷
The 54th NAACP Image Awards honored Black excellence at Saturday night's live show from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Angela Bassett won entertainer of the year; Viola Davis won outstanding actress for the action epic “The Woman King"; “Abbott Elementary” won for outstanding comedy series and Serena Williams received the Jackie Robinson Sports Award, which recognizes individuals in sports for high achievement, along with their pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement. Read more about the ceremony and click here for more photos from the memorable night.
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Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Fiery, head-on train crash in Greece
