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- Supreme Court rules for Black death row inmate in jury discrimination case
- Four people killed in school bus and train collision in Belgium
- Sinner receives medical attention, ends match due to injury
- US Treasury warns Oman of sanctions over potential tolls in Hormuz Strait
- U.S. to establish Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya for citizens exposed to virus
- Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
- Russia permits banks to shoot down drones and arm employees amid attacks
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Supreme Court rules for Black death row inmate in jury discrimination case
7:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Supreme Court sides with Black death row inmate who alleged racial discrimination in jury selection
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favour of Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate from Mississippi, who challenged racial discrimination in the jury selection process for his capital murder trial. The court’s decision invalidated Pitchford’s conviction, allowing for the possibility of a retrial by the state.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Pitchford’s trial did not adequately follow the Batson framework regarding jury selection. He may face a retrial in Mississippi, with the state’s prosecution previously led by Doug Evans, who has faced scrutiny for his handling of jury selection in past cases.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Pitchford v. Cain has prompted calls for a review of jury selection processes, particularly concerning the use of peremptory strikes based on race. Following the decision, Terry Pitchford can be retried, marking an ongoing scrutiny of racial discrimination in capital cases.
What remains unclear — It is not specified whether the state intends to pursue a retrial against Terry Pitchford following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Supreme Court rules for Black death row inmate in jury discrimination case
Washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who argued racial discrimination during the jury-selection process before his trial.
The high court divided 5-4 in siding with Terry Pitchford, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the three liberal justices in the majority. Kavanaugh authored the opinion for the majority in the case, known as Pitchford v. Cain.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett dissented.
The case arose from the 2004 robbery of a grocery store in Grenada, Mississippi, by two Black teenagers, Pitchford and Eric Bullins, in which the owner of the store, a White man, was killed. Bullins fired the shots that killed the owner, Reuben Britt, but because he was 16 at the time of the robbery, he was not eligible for the death penalty. Bullins was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Pitchford, who was 18 at the time, was charged with capital murder, and the state sought the death penalty.
During jury selection in Mississippi state court, then-District Attorney Doug Evans used what’s known as a peremptory strike to reject four of five potential Black jurors, which Pitchford’s defense lawyers objected to under a Supreme Court decision called Batson v. Kentucky. In that case from 1986, the high court held that prospective jurors cannot be excluded based on their race. In that ruling and in subsequent cases, the Supreme Court laid out a series of steps for how trial courts should determine whether prosecutors’ use of a peremptory strike was based on race.
Evans provided several reasons for excluding the four Black potential jurors in Pitchford’s case, arguing that one returned 15 minutes late to court from a lunch break, two others had brothers convicted of violent crimes and the fourth was similar to Pitchford in that he was young, unmarried and a father.
The trial judge accepted these reasons as race-neutral. But Pitchford’s lawyers argued they were not given the chance to rebut the prosecutors’ reasons as pretextual, as required under Batson’s three-step framework.
A jury composed of 11 White jurors and one Black juror ultimately convicted Pitchford of capital murder and sentenced him to death.
Evans also served as the top prosecutor in the high-profile case of Curtis Flowers, whose murder conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019. Evans was accused of consistently striking prospective Black jurors from the jury pool.
Pitchford first appealed his conviction and death sentence to the Mississippi Supreme Court, and then sought relief from the federal district court in Mississippi. That court ruled in favor of Pitchford and overturned his conviction.
“The trial court, seemingly eager to proceed to the case itself, quickly deemed the reasons as race-neutral and moved on,” the district court found.
That decision was reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. But in its ruling, the Supreme Court sided with Pitchford, invalidating his conviction. He can be retried by the state.
“In this case, whether due to confusion, oversight, an overly hurried jury selection process, or some other cause, things broke down, and the ordinary trial-court procedure for resolving Batson claims at step three never occurred — notwithstanding the repeated efforts of Pitchford’s counsel to pursue and preserve the Batson objection,” Kavanaugh wrote.
In a dissenting opinion, Gorsuch argued that Pitchford failed to clear the high bar for securing relief under federal law.
The court’s opinion, he said, “errs on the law and the factual record alike.” Still, Gorsuch wrote that the Supreme Court’s decision is a narrow one, applying only to Pitchford.
Four people killed in school bus and train collision in Belgium
6:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Two teenagers among those killed after school bus hit by train in Belgium | News World
Four people, including two teenagers, died in a collision between a school bus and a train at a crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, at around 8.15am local time on Tuesday. Several others were injured, and authorities confirmed that barriers were down and warning lights were active at the time of the incident.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing, as authorities have not yet released the details regarding its cause. Approximately 100 passengers were on the train at the time of the incident, while nine individuals, including seven secondary school-aged children, were on the bus heading to a special needs school.
Belgium’s transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, described the collision as “tragic” and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, while confirming that an investigation into the crash is underway. Rail operator Infrabel reported that safety measures, including functioning barriers and warning lights, were activated at the time of the incident.
What remains unclear — The cause of the collision is still under investigation.
Four people killed in school bus and train collision in Belgium
Four people have died in the collision (Picture: Dirk Waem/Belga/Shutterstock)
Four people have died after a school bus collided with a train in Belgium.
The crash, which has also left several people injured, took place at around 8.15am local time (7.15am GMT) on Tuesday at the crossing at Stationsstraat in Buggenhout.
Belgium’s transport minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, confirmed two teenagers, the bus driver and another adult died in the collision, which he described as ‘tragic’.
He said: ‘My first thoughts are with the victims, but also with those who were injured and their families.’
Images of the crash showed a vehicle, thought to be the bus, had been flipped onto its side.
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Rail operator Infrabel said barriers to stop traffic as the train passed were down, and warning lights were active when the collision took place.
It is understood that around 100 passengers were onboard the train and nine people – the driver, an attendant, and seven secondary school-aged children – were on the bus.
VRT News added: ‘The children were attending a school for special needs children.’
Belgium’s justice minister Annelies Verlinden said ‘words fail’ to describe how she felt following the news.
Police are supporting the victim’s families following the crash (Picture: Dirk Waem/Belga/Shutterstock)
In a post to social media, she said: ‘My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the victims, the children, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy today. I wish everyone much warm closeness.
‘Thank you to the emergency services and the police for their swift intervention and their sustained efforts on site. The prosecutor’s office is of course also continuing to follow up on this accident.’
According to local news outlet De Morgen, the minibus was transporting pupils to a school that offers special education, known as SEND in the UK.
The collision took place at the crossing at Stationsstraat in Buggenhout, Belgium (Picture: Dirk Waem/Belga/Shutterstock)
Police said the incident ‘mainly concerns children from secondary education.’
‘The family members are now being informed personally first,’ officers added.
‘They are currently being cared for and supported at a nearby school.’
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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Sinner receives medical attention, ends match due to injury
5:00 pm
Sinner receives medical attention, ends match due to injury
Medical Issue
Sinner received medical attention after leaving the court and was unable to continue despite minerals being added to his drink upon his return.
Sinner received medical attention after leaving the court and was unable to continue despite minerals being added to his drink upon his return.
Health Implications
Medical attention was sought after Sinner’s departure from the court, highlighting the physical demands placed on athletes during high-stakes competitions.
Medical attention was sought after Sinner’s departure from the court, highlighting the physical demands placed on athletes during high-stakes competitions.
Medical Update
“He received medical attention but was unable to continue after returning to the court.”
“He received medical attention but was unable to continue after returning to the court.”
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner crashes out of French Open after apparent struggle with heat
Sinner received medical attention and left the court and minerals were added to his drink when he returned but he wasn’t able to continue.
US Treasury warns Oman of sanctions over potential tolls in Hormuz Strait
4:01 pm
Get you up to speed: US Treasury threatens Oman with sanctions over Hormuz Strait
The United States has warned Oman of potential sanctions if it assists Iran in implementing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Washington will “aggressively target” any parties involved in this facilitation.
The US Treasury indicated that sanctions would target any entity linked to tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need for all nations to reject Iranian efforts to disrupt commerce. The situation escalated less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened military action against Oman, signalling a significant shift in US policy towards its Gulf ally.
The US Treasury has issued a stern warning to Oman, stating it will “aggressively target” any individuals or entities facilitating tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the urgency of the situation. In light of the escalating tensions, Oman has not indicated any intention to seek control over the strait, which presents potential avenues for further diplomatic engagement.
What remains unclear — It is not clear what is driving Washington’s recent posture towards Oman amid threats of sanctions and military action.
US Treasury warns Oman of sanctions over potential tolls in Hormuz Strait
News|Donald TrumpUS Treasury threatens Oman with sanctions over Hormuz Strait
A top US official says Oman should know that Washington ‘will aggressively target’ actors that facilitate tolls in waterway.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says all countries should reject ‘any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce’ [File: Abdul Saboor/Reuters]
The United States has warned that it would “aggressively” impose sanctions on Oman if it helps Iran establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying President Donald Trump’s threats against the Gulf ally.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington will “not tolerate” either country imposing fees on commercial ships in the strategic waterway.
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran and US trade attacks after Trump rejects report of Hormuz agreementlist 2 of 3Why has Trump threatened to bomb Oman, amid Iran war escalation?list 3 of 3US attacks Bandar Abbas again: Why is the port so important for Iran?end of list
“Oman, in particular, should know that the US Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved — directly or indirectly — in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized,” Bessent said in a social media post.
“All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.”
The statement comes less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened to bomb Oman, a key US ally known for its neutrality and mediation efforts in regional crises, including the war between the US and Iran.
While Iran has suggested that the governments in Tehran and Muscat could jointly manage the Hormuz Strait, Oman has not said it is seeking control over the waterway, parts of which flow through its territory.
It is not clear what is driving Washington’s recent posture towards Oman. It is highly unusual for the US to threaten sanctions and military action against a close security and economic partner.
Since the US and Israel started bombing Iran without direct provocation on February 28, Iran has closed the strait and claimed sovereignty over it.
About 20 percent of the world’s oil flowed through Hormuz before the conflict, so the Iranian blockade has put a major strain on energy supplies, sending prices soaring.
The US and Iran have been indirectly negotiating to reach an agreement for a comprehensive end to the war, and control over the Hormuz Strait has emerged as a major point of disagreement.
Trump has stressed that the strait must be a free passageway.
When asked whether he would accept joint Iranian-Omani control over the strait in the short term, the US president told reporters on Wednesday: “Nobody is going to control it. It’s international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.”
Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday that Tehran will not allow Hormuz to be a source of insecurity for the country.
“The powers that have used this passage against Iran’s security must be held accountable,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s public television.
Bagheri Kani added that Iran seeks to “establish a just order that negates hegemony and domination and strengthens trust and cooperation” in the region.
U.S. to establish Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya for citizens exposed to virus
3:00 pm
Get you up to speed: U.S. setting up Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, officials say
The U.S. is establishing a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to or infected with Ebola, according to officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The facility will support asymptomatic individuals and provide necessary care without the risks associated with lengthy transport back to the U.S.
The quarantine facility in Kenya is being established in collaboration with the Kenyan government and aims to provide immediate high-quality care for Americans exposed to Ebola. Currently, three airports in the U.S. are screening international passengers from affected regions, with additional screening planned for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport starting Friday.
The U.S. is establishing a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola, aimed at providing prompt medical care and reducing the risks associated with lengthy medical evacuations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that multiple government agencies are actively working to prevent any Ebola cases from entering the United States.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how many Americans will be housed at the quarantine facility in Kenya.
U.S. to establish Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya for citizens exposed to virus
The U.S. is in the process of setting up a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans who were exposed to Ebola or infected with the deadly illness, multiple officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to WTX US News on Wednesday.
A Trump administration official told WTX US News the facility is designed to provide access to high-quality care for Americans who would need to quickly get out of Congo and quarantine without the risks of a lengthy trip back to the U.S.
Another administration official told WTX US News the government is planning for a facility that would serve “asymptomatic individuals” who may have been exposed to Ebola, in cooperation with the Kenyan government.
The effort to set up the Kenya facility was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
American citizens will not be able to return to the U.S. until they are cleared from quarantine, CDC officials told WTX US News.
A former CDC official who previously worked on the Ebola response told WTX US News, “It would be unbelievably unethical and irresponsible to maroon Americans, given Kenya doesn’t have a proper Level 4 containment facility or much experience” dealing with Ebola.
More than 230 people in Congo are believed to have died from Ebola in the latest outbreak of the disease.
In the U.S., three airports — Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport — are screening international passengers who have recently been in Congo, South Sudan or Uganda for Ebola. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is expected to start screening international passengers Friday.
At the White House on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a meeting of President Trump’s Cabinet that multiple government agencies were working hard to contain the outbreak to where it’s currently located.
“We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” Rubio said.
The first Trump administration official said the Kenya facility will enable Americans in the region who contract Ebola to receive lifesaving care as quickly as possible without having to spend over 12 hours on a medevac flight. Treatment capabilities at the facility are expected to be able to care for the full spectrum of the disease, including critical care needs, though each case will be evaluated for forward transport for more advanced care as appropriate in order to maximize patient outcomes, the Trump administration official said.
An American doctor was infected with Ebola while working with a medical missionary organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After being evacuated, he said last week he’s feeling “cautiously optimistic” as he fights the virus at a hospital in Germany.
Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Boy, 14, found in River Thames in 11th water-related death of heatwave | News UK
The body of a 14-year-old boy was recovered from the River Thames near Donnington Bridge, Oxford, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday. Thames Valley Police confirmed the death is being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious,” marking the 11th water-related death during the recent heatwave in the UK.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed that the investigation into the boy’s death is ongoing, but it is currently classified as ‘unexplained but not suspicious’. The National Water Safety Forum indicated that the spike in water-related fatalities during the ongoing heatwave may reflect a broader trend, as hot weather typically correlates with increased drownings.
Thames Valley Police are treating the death of the 14-year-old boy found in the River Thames as “unexplained but not suspicious,” with his family informed of the situation. In response to the recent spate of water-related fatalities, the Royal Life Saving Society has issued a safety warning, advising swimmers to be cautious of cold water shock despite the warm weather.
What remains unclear — It is not clear how many additional incidents may occur as the heatwave continues.
Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
The body of a 14-year-old boy has been found in the River Thames.
Emergency services were called to an area of the river near Donnington Bridge, Oxford, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Thames Valley Police said the boy’s death was being treated as ‘unexplained but not suspicious’ and that his family had been informed.
This marks the 11th water-related death since the UK was plunged into a record-breaking heatwave late last week, nine of whom were young people.
Declan Sawyer, 15, was the first teenager to be found dead when his body was recovered from Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln on Sunday.
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That same day, a 72-year-old woman was pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Abbie Carmody-Pepper, 15, was pulled from the water at Burrow Beach in County Dublin.
On Bank Holiday Monday, a boy, named locally as 13-year-old Reco Puttock, died after being pulled from the Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Lillianna Tomlinson, believed to be 16, was pulled from the water in Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire.
A teenage boy was also pulled from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Phil Crow, 68, died trying to save his wife and granddaughter after they were swept out to sea in Cornwall.
The youngest victim was 12-year-old Junior Slater, whose body was pulled from the River Ribble on Tuesday after he ‘got into difficulty’ in the water.
On Wednesday, Cheshire Police found a body in Pickmere Lake while searching for a 17-year-old boy who went missing while swimming.
The body of another teenage boy was also recovered at Hawley Lake near Farnborough.
It comes as the UK continues to endure a record-breaking heatwave.
A spokesperson for the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) said it is too early to say whether the number of water-related deaths during this heatwave is ‘unusual’.
But the NWSF said hot weather often correlates with an increase in accidental drownings.
The spate of deaths has prompted the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) to issue a water safety warning, urging swimmers to be aware that water temperatures remain cold even in extreme heat.
They said cold water shock can make swimming and exiting the water harder.
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