A federal appeals court ruled that the lawsuit filed by Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores can go to trial, rejecting the NFL’s bid to force arbitration. Flores’ attorney David E. Gottlieb joins CNN’s Jim Sciutto on The Lead to discuss the lawsuit.

Minnesota

A federal appeals court has ruled that the National Football League (NFL) can be put on trial over allegations of racial discrimination against black coaches. The lawsuit, initiated by former Miami Dolphins head coach and current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, accuses the NFL and several teams of unfair hiring and promotion practices targeting black coaches. Flores is joined by co-plaintiffs Steve Wilkes and Ray Horton in seeking equal opportunities for black head coaches.

The NFL has stated its disagreement with the ruling and plans to seek further review. The case highlights ongoing concerns about diversity in NFL coaching positions, with only four black head coaches currently among the league's 32 teams. The plaintiffs have called for reforms, including the elimination of mandatory arbitration, to increase transparency and improve equal opportunity within the league.

Coach’s racial discrimination lawsuit against NFL to proceed

In our sports lead, a federal appeals court says the NFL can be put on trial over civil rights claims that black coaches faced racial discrimination. Today's ruling allows former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores' 2022 lawsuit to go forward. Flores, who is now the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, is suing the NFL, the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and the New York Giants over allegations of racist hiring and promotion practices of black coaches. Responding to today's ruling, an NFL spokesperson says, quote, we respectfully disagree with the panel's ruling and will be seeking further review. Given the NFL season, it's about to officially kick off next month, already in the preseason. Does Flores want this to go to trial? Yes. I mean, the Mr. Flores, a very principled person, felt that he had been wronged. He and not just him, he and many other black head coaches and head coaching candidates had been wronged, had not been getting an equal opportunity. When his lawsuit was filed, there was only one black head coach in the NFL. The NFL has recognized that black head coaches had not been getting an opportunity. When they passed the Rooney rule in 2002, I guess there were only two black head coaches in a league where 70 percent of the players were black. One year after the Rooney rule, there's been no increase in the number of black head coaches and the opportunities they were provided. Today, there's only four black head coaches out of 32 head coaches. So, this is a problem that persists. And all Mr. Flores wants, he has two co-plaintiffs, Steve Wilkes and Ray Horton. All anybody wants is equal opportunity for black head coaches. Thankfully, Mr. Flores has remained in the league, and some teams have given him opportunities. He's not a head coach, and he should be. But the issue really is, how, going forward, can the league provide equal opportunities for black head coaches? And in our complaint, we laid out a number of things that the league can do to try to accomplish this and to try to advance the ball. The NFL hasn't been willing to sit down with us and have this discussion at all. One of the things that we wanted to do was do away with mandatory arbitration. Mandatory arbitration prevents internal decisions, such as hiring decisions, firing decisions, all sorts of decisions, from being shielded from public view. And we felt that that only encourages and fosters an environment where discrimination can exist. So, today, at least, we have accomplished that goal, but there's still more work to be done.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. This comes one day before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump sounded optimistic about his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Washington

Trump says he thinks Putin and Zelenskyy will make peace

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans to build another immigrant detention center, dubbing it the "Deportation Depot." The facility will be in North Florida.

Jacksonville

DeSantis announces plan to build another immigrant detention center

President Trump had a virtual call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. After the call, Zelenskyy said he told Mr. Trump that "Putin is bluffing."

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns President Trump ahead of meeting with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would ask the Republican-controlled Congress to extend federal control of Washington's city police force beyond 30 days, escalating his campaign to exert presidential power over the nation's capital.

Trump wants to extend federal control over Washington police

With just hours left to reach a deal on plastics, negotiators in Geneva were scrambling to resolve a deadlock caused by “red lines” of member countries. Nations are crafting the first global, legally binding treaty on plastics pollution at the United Nations office in Switzerland.

Geneva

Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva stall as deadline looms

At least 123 people have been killed in 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says people will be given the opportunity to leave Gaza before a planned ground offensive, but no one is being pushed out.

Israeli strikes pound Gaza ahead of planned ground offensive

America's NATO allies stood firmly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the face-to-face meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The European leaders showed a united front that there should be no peace deal without Ukraine's involvement.

Kyiv

NATO allies stand with Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must improve conditions for detainees at New York's 26 Federal Plaza, a judge ruled Tuesday.

New York

Judge rules ICE must improve conditions for detainees at NY facility

National Guard troops arrived in Washington, D.C., following President Donald Trump's deployment and federalization of local police to crack down on crime in the nation's capital.

National Guard troops arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had a "very good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, days before his scheduled Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump had 'very good call' with Zelenskyy ahead of Putin meeting

Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has approved the framework of a plan for a new offensive in Gaza. CBS News Middle East reporter Courtney Kealy has more details.

Israeli military chief approves 'framework' for new Gaza offensive

President Donald Trump said Wednesday there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to stop the Ukraine war after Friday’s summit.

Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Russia doesn't stop war

A Wisconsin woman on Tuesday was found guilty in the United Kingdom of trying to kill a man at point-blank range in 2019. Aimee Betro, 45, was part of a plot with two other co-conspirators to murder Sikander Ali, prosecutors said.

Birmingham

American woman found guilty of UK murder-for-hire plot

Record-high temperatures across Europe are fanning wildfires across the continent. Experts say a warming climate and an increase in flammable vegetation from rural depopulation are major factors.

Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán said the EU attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. He also called for an EU-Russia summit.

Brussels

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

President Trump said Monday he expects that Russia and Ukraine will "land swap" certain territories as part of an eventual ceasefire deal. Mr. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump claims 'land swapping' between Russia, Ukraine will happen

Taylor Swift confirmed her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," in a teaser for her upcoming appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast. Swift did not disclose the release date of the album.

Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take place in Alaska, with European leaders notably excluded from the talks. Until Europe can defend itself, it's not likely to be invited to a great power dialogue, experts have told Euronews.

Alaska

Europe frozen out as U.S. and Russia prepare for Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Breakdown