The date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing hearing has been confirmed.
Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week – but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this – citing, among other things, the rapper’s own admissions of previous violent behaviour.
Image: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in court after the verdict was delivered. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
The charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment.
After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date.
Combs joined the call but did not make any comment.
Any sentence will include credit for time already served – which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place.
During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura.
Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise – but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend “Jane” for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters.
Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old’s team described it as “the victory of all victories”.
In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Combs had received a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the more serious charges.
“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” he said.
Ahead of sentencing, Combs’s lawyers will file their recommendations by 19 September, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later.
Prosecutors previously said the rapper could face about four to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has suggested a two-year sentence.
It is “Liberation Day” III – the third tariff deadline set by Donald Trump.
From today, countries without bilateral trade agreements face reciprocal tariffs – ranging from 25% to 50% – with a baseline of 15% to 20% for any not making a deal.
He has delayed twice, from April to July and from July to August, but hammered this date home in his trademark caps-on style: “THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!”
“Will not be extended” for anyone but Mexico, it seems. The country secured a 90-day extension at the last minute, with Mr Trump citing the “complexities” of the border.
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By close of business on the eve of deadline, he had a handful of framework deals – some significant – including the UK (10%), the EU, Japan and South Korea (15%), Indonesia and the Philippines (19%), Vietnam (20%).
On the EU agreement, which he struck in Scotland, the president said: “It’s a very powerful deal, it’s a big deal, it’s the biggest of all the deals.”
But what happened to the “90 deals in 90 days” touted by the White House earlier this year?
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The short answer is they were replaced by letters of instruction to pay a tariff set by the US.
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Amid of flurry of late activity, the US played hardball with major trading partners like Canada.
“For the rest of the world, we’re going to have things done by Friday,” said US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick – the “rest of the world” meaning everyone but China.
There is, apparently, the “framework of a deal” between the world’s two largest economies, but talks between Washington and Beijing are continuing.
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In terms of wins, he can claim some significant deals and point to his tariffs having generated an impressive $27bn (£20.4bn) in June, not bad for a single month.
But the legality of the approach is under siege – with the US Court of International Trade ruling that the “Liberation Day” tariffs exceeded the president’s authority, with enforcement paused pending appeal.
The deadline has stirred the pot, forcing a handful of deals onto the table. Whether they stick or survive legal scrutiny is far from settled.
But the playbook remains the same – threaten the world with trade chaos, whittle it down, celebrate the wins, and pray no one checks what’s legal.
Two senior US officials will visit Gaza later today, amid growing concerns about the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will inspect a food distribution site – and report back to the president immediately.
Our US correspondent David Blevins says the visit “is not unprecedented but is highly unusual … due to obvious security concerns and political sensitivities”.
He added: “I think it reflects the growing concern there is here in the United States about the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe.”
Image: Steve Witkoff met Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday. Pic: US embassy in Jerusalem
Aid workers on the ground have warned that a “politically manmade famine” is taking place in the territory.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, told The World With Yalda Hakim that “more and more people will continue to die” unless there is urgent change.
Donald Trumphas expressed frustration at the lack of aid reaching Palestinians and has repeatedly blamed Hamas– but US government analysis has found no evidence that the militant group is systemically stealing supplies.
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He told reporters yesterday: “It’s terrible what’s occurring there. People are very hungry, you know.
“The United States gave $60m … for food. And, it’s a shame because … I don’t see the results of it. Part of the problem is Hamas is taking the money and they’re taking the food.”
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Kids are ‘dying silently of hunger’
On Thursday, Mr Witkoff arrived in Israel and held discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu– the first meeting between the pair since both Israel and the US withdrew their negotiating teams from Qatar a week ago.
At the time, he claimed that Hamas “shows a lack of desire” to reach a truce.
Under heavy international pressure, Israel has paused fighting in parts of Gaza and airdropped food – although the volume of supplies remains far lower than what aid organisations say is needed.
Image: Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped in central Gaza. Pic: AP
While more aid trucks have entered Gaza, nearly all the lorries are stripped of their cargo by crowds of Palestinians desperate for food, or looted by armed gangs.
The alternative food distribution system run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has also been marred by violence.
Doctor Tom Adamkiewicz, a paediatrician working at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, told Sky News that the majority of the hospital’s patients have signs of malnutrition – and “many children are passing out literally during the day and injuring themselves”.
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Separately, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul also arrived in Israel on Thursday on a two-day trip that will also take him to the occupied West Bank.
Germany, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, has been increasingly critical. Mr Wadephul warned that Israel is “increasingly finding itself in a minority position”.
But he stopped short of moving towards recognising a Palestinian state, something his allies France, the UK and Canada have vowed to do in Septemberif certain conditions are met.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s prime minister has called on the EU to “freeze” its trade agreement with Israel – with Ulf Kristersson describing the situation in Gaza as “utterly deplorable”.
After visiting Gaza, Mr Witkoff will travel to Russia. He has held extensive talks in Moscow with Vladimir Putin in the past.
The US president has given his Russian counterpart until 8 August to reach a deal to halt the fighting in Ukraine, or else he will impose economic sanctions.
Heavy rain and floods are hitting parts of the US east coast, causing flight cancellations and leaving drivers stranded in cities including New York.
A total of almost 50 million people in the US are under flood watches, and states of emergency have been declared in New Jersey and New York City, with state workers being sent home early.
Airports in NYC, New Jersey and Philadelphia all reported significant flight delays and cancellations as the severe weather arrived on Thursday.
Flights leaving all three of New York’s largest airports are delayed, and all inbound flights are being held until conditions improve, Sky’s US partner NBC News reports.
Planes have also been grounded at airports in Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland.
A major highway in the New York borough of Queens was closed in both directions, with traffic cameras and social media posts showing vehicles stranded in deep water.
Officials in New York have warned that heavy rain could also flood parts of the subway and basements.
People living in basements have been urged to move to higher floors and New Yorkers are being asked to avoid travel until Friday afternoon.
The commuter rail system into suburban Long Island suspended trains on one of its busiest lines as officials pleaded with people to stay at home.
“Stay home this evening unless it’s absolutely necessary for you to go out,” Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman told Long Island residents.
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Tornado warnings were also in place in New Jersey, and while no twisters were reported, more than 6,000 electricity customers have been left without power.
In some parts of Pennsylvania, National Weather Service warnings said there could be up to three inches of rain in just one hour, and a downpour flooded the streets of Reading.
Up to four inches of rain have fallen in parts of Maryland and Washington DC, and the heavy rain is continuing, NBC reports.
Flood and severe thunderstorm watches are in effect for parts of Pennsylvania until Friday, with four to six inches of rain possible in some areas.