Thursday Briefing: Sean Combs acquitted of sex trafficking

July 3, 2025

	By Justin Porter

Good morning. We’re covering a verdict in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a push to revive Gaza cease-fire talks.

Plus, pet crocodiles in Australia.

Sean Combs dressed in black is shown making a sideways glance.

Sean Combs in 2020. Mark Von Holden/Invision, via Associated Press

Sean Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking

The music mogul Sean Combs was found not guilty yesterday of the two most serious charges against him, sex trafficking and racketeering. He was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The outcome was something of a victory for Combs, who had faced a possible life sentence. He could get a maximum of 10 years each on the two prostitution charges, but the final sentence will be up to a judge.

During the eight-week trial in Manhattan, jurors heard about Combs’s prolific drug use and violence against two former girlfriends, Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified as “Jane.” Prosecutors had accused him of coercing the women into “freak-offs,” extended sex sessions with male prostitutes.

Reaction: After the verdict was read, Combs put his hands together and mouthed “thank you, thank you” at the jurors. Later, he dropped to his knees, apparently in prayer. Women’s advocacy groups expressed disappointment. Combs’s lawyers pushed for his quick release. Here’s the latest.

Details: Jurors had deadlocked on the racketeering charges on Tuesday, and the judge instructed them to continue deliberating. Yesterday, they announced they had decided to find Combs not guilty of the charge. The jury also was not convinced that the women were coerced into the sex marathons at the heart of the case.

For more: The grim testimony was not compelling enough to completely knock Combs from his perch as a powerful executive in hip-hop, our pop music critic writes. Here’s a look back at the most important moments from the trial.

Damage from Israeli strikes in central Gaza City on Friday. Saher Alghorra for The New York Times

Israel wants to resume talks with Hamas

Israel’s foreign minister said yesterday that there were “some positive signs” in the U.S.-led effort to restart intensive cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. Israel, he added, was eager for talks to resume “as soon as possible.”

The minister, Gideon Saar, spoke a day after President Trump said Israel had agreed to “conditions to finalize” a 60-day cease-fire in Gaza, which would free some of the hostages still held in the enclave.

Saar said the goal was to begin “proximity talks” soon, referring to mediation needed to flesh out the details of an agreement. Hamas said that it was considering the U.S.-backed proposal.

Context: The momentum toward new talks comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet with Trump next week in Washington, after the recent U.S. decision to join Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

A person operates a military vehicle near several trees.

A Soviet-era antiaircraft cannon operated by Ukrainian troops in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

A weapons pause deepened doubts about U.S. support for Ukraine

Ukraine yesterday summoned a senior U.S. diplomat in Kyiv for an explanation after an announcement by the Trump administration of a pause on some weapons deliveries. The suspension includes air defense interceptors and precision-guided bombs and missiles.

Officially, the decision was because of dwindling U.S. stockpiles, but a different message seemed clear: Washington is disengaging from the war. The timing is especially bad. Russia has been pounding the country every few days with assaults intended to break its air defenses. Drones are often followed by powerful ballistic missiles that only U.S.-provided Patriot missiles can intercept.

MORE TOP NEWS

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Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India, yesterday. Atul Loke for The New York Times

Dalai Lama: As he turns 90 this month, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that China would have no say in his successor. Here’s why.
Iran: The country suspended cooperation with U.N. nuclear inspectors. Iran’s main objective is to keep the world guessing about how fast it can recover from the recent attacks, David Sanger writes.
U.S.: Trump’s major policy bill faced resistance from some Republicans in the House of Representatives, leaving its fate and the timing of any final vote uncertain.
U.K.: The future of Britain’s most senior finance official was in doubt after Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to guarantee that she would keep her job.
Climate: In a blow to climate efforts, a satellite that measured methane emissions from oil and gas sites worldwide was lost.
Japan: More than 800 small earthquakes have shaken the Tokara Islands over the past two weeks.
North Korea: During an event broadcast on state TV, Kim Jong-un paid tribute to North Korean troops killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Trade and the Economy

Tesla: The company’s global car sales fell sharply in the second quarter as Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, focused on self-driving cars.
Vietnam: Trump said that the U.S. had reached a trade deal with Vietnam that would roll back some tariffs in return for opening Vietnam’s market to U.S. goods.
Japan: Negotiations between the U.S. and Japan on a tariff deal have stalled. Some say Japan misjudged Trump’s frustration over Tokyo’s policies.

Go Deeper

Investigation: A year ago, Trump’s finances were shaky. Then he began to capitalize on his comeback, especially with crypto. This is what we know about his current net worth.

SPORTS NEWS

Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon, yesterday. Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Tennis: On Day 3 of Wimbledon, Jasmine Paolini and Frances Tiafoe were knocked out by underdogs, and Taylor Fritz battled Gabriel Diallo. Follow our live updates.
Soccer: We’re bringing you our predictions for Euro 2025 — winners, top scorers, surprise story lines and more.
Hockey: Alex Delvecchio, the Hockey Hall of Fame center who played for the Detroit Red Wings, died at 93.

MORNING READ

An image of a young crocodile in a tank.

Matthew Abbott for The New York Times

In Australia’s Northern Territory, crocodiles are an ever-present danger. But they are also, in some cases, beloved pets. Sure, they might try to kill you, but they’re usually pretty relaxed and can go weeks without food. Plus, having a predator in the garden gives life a little zing. Read more about pet crocodiles.

Lives lived: Richard Boucher, a longtime spokesman for the State Department, died at 73.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Ringo Starr, in tinted glasses, clasps at the collar of a light-colored jacket.

Thea Traff for The New York Times

Beatles icon: Ringo Starr turns 85 next week and, like his surviving bandmate Paul McCartney, he never retired.
Hot collections: During the scorching heat in Paris, the men’s fashion shows prioritized lightness and wearability.
Presidential perfume: Trump is selling a $250 fragrance that he says “smells like masculinity.”
Beautiful pools: From Malibu to Tangiers, these are paradise for swimmers.

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ARTS AND IDEAS

An illustration of the facade of an apartment building. A different couple can be seen in each of its six windows. Trees and birds are in the foreground.