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Putin Offers Direct Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul Without Preconditions as West Pressures for Ceasefire

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Putin Offers Direct Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul Without Preconditions as West Pressures for Ceasefire

ISTANBUL — Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed restarting direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, without preconditions, a move that follows increasing international calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and fresh threats of sanctions against Moscow if it refuses to de-escalate the war.

Speaking early Sunday, Putin invoked the failed 2022 peace talks—held in Istanbul shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion—and expressed a willingness to “restart” negotiations without demands, while still leaving room for a ceasefire to be negotiated during those discussions.

“We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine,” Putin told reporters. “We do not rule out agreeing to a ceasefire as a result of direct talks.”

The proposal came on the heels of a unified ceasefire demand issued Saturday by the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland, who warned that Moscow would face sweeping new sanctions if it did not comply with a 30-day truce starting Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump, who the European leaders consulted by phone, has also endorsed the ceasefire effort and renewed his call for “very high-level talks,” claiming the sides are “very close to a deal.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is open to negotiations, but only after Russia halts its attacks.

Putin said Russia had already initiated several ceasefire offers, including a halt on strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a 30-hour Easter truce, and a unilateral ceasefire from May 8–10—all of which Ukrainian officials claim were violated by Russian forces.

On Sunday, Putin accused Ukraine of undermining peace efforts and launching renewed attacks on Russian targets. He reiterated that Moscow seeks a “lasting peace” rather than a temporary truce that allows Kyiv to regroup and rearm. He added that he would speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about facilitating the May 15 talks.

Talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials mediated by Turkey in March 2022 failed to yield results. That proposed agreement included Ukrainian neutrality and limits on Kyiv’s armed forces, while deferring the fate of Russian-occupied regions—terms Ukraine and its Western allies rejected.

“Those who truly want peace cannot but support our proposal,” Putin said.

At a press conference in Kyiv on Saturday, Zelenskyy stood alongside European leaders, calling their presence “a very important signal” of support. In a joint statement published on the Ukrainian president’s website, the five nations called for a ceasefire “lasting at least 30 days,” saying any attempt by Russia to impose conditions would be seen as an effort to prolong the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the United States would lead monitoring efforts, with European support, and warned of “massive sanctions…prepared and coordinated” between Europe and the U.S. should Russia breach the ceasefire.

Macron was joined in Kyiv by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “This is Europe stepping up, showing our solidarity with Ukraine,” Starmer said.

Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, said Saturday the proposed 30-day truce would ban attacks on land, sea, and air, as well as on infrastructure—describing it as the first step toward ending the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Despite the ceasefire push, Russia has continued to target civilian areas. Ukrainian officials reported that shelling in the northern Sumy region killed three and wounded four on Saturday. A drone strike on Kherson also claimed one life, according to regional authorities.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv warned Friday of a “potentially significant” Russian airstrike in the coming days. The alert follows reports of a no-fly zone being imposed by Moscow over the Kapustin Yar missile complex—a move that also preceded a hypersonic missile launch last November.

Putin used Saturday’s Victory Day commemorations in Moscow to meet with foreign dignitaries, including leaders from Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and the Palestinian Authority—an attempt to project that Russia remains globally engaged despite the West’s efforts at diplomatic isolation.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Western partners are intensifying military aid and discussions on long-term security guarantees. Macron suggested that building up Ukraine’s defense capabilities and possibly deploying European forces could serve as a deterrent to future Russian aggression. However, no firm commitments were made on NATO membership, which remains Kyiv’s preferred security outcome.

While President Trump has supported a diplomatic push, he recently expressed doubt over Putin’s willingness to reach a peace agreement and signaled openness to tougher sanctions if necessary. Critics say his past suggestions that Ukraine cede territory to Russia have hampered progress.

Still, Ukraine’s European allies insist Kyiv’s fate is intertwined with the continent’s stability and have pledged continued support, regardless of Washington’s shifting position.

AP

Taylor Swift Subpoenaed in Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni Legal Dispute Over It Ends With Us

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Taylor Swift Subpoenaed in Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni Legal Dispute Over It Ends With Us

LOS ANGELES — Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed to testify in the escalating legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over their film It Ends With Us, though the singer’s representatives insist she has no direct involvement with the production beyond contributing a single song.

A spokesperson for Swift, 35, said the subpoena is being used as “tabloid clickbait” and called her inclusion in the case “a distraction from the facts.” Swift’s only link to the project, they stressed, was the licensing of her song “My Tears Ricochet.” She had no input on casting, production, or editing, and was on a global tour during the film’s development and release.

“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie. She was not involved in any casting or creative decisions,” her rep told PEOPLE. “She didn’t even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release.” The representative accused those behind the subpoena of using Swift’s celebrity to generate media interest in the case.

The film, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, has become the center of a bitter legal feud. Lively, 37, filed suit in December, accusing her co-star and director Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment, unprofessional behavior, and launching a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit in January for defamation and extortion, naming Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicity team.

Among Baldoni’s more explosive claims is that he was pressured into accepting Lively’s rewrite of the film’s script, allegedly during a meeting at Lively and Reynolds’ New York penthouse. He alleges that Swift “began praising Lively’s script,” which he interpreted as a signal to go along with the changes. Baldoni referenced a follow-up text message in which he appeared to endorse the rewrites, saying they were “so much more fun and interesting” and that he “would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor,” punctuating the message with a playful emoji.

Lively reportedly replied by likening herself to Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen, calling Swift and Reynolds her “dragons” and later referring to them as “Dance Moms level stage moms.”

Reports also indicate that actor Hugh Jackman may be subpoenaed, though sources close to the matter say neither he nor Swift have any real knowledge of the behind-the-scenes conflict. “This is smoke and mirrors meant to distract from the allegations against Baldoni,” an insider said.

The feud has spilled into pop culture territory as well. Baldoni claims Reynolds mocked him in Deadpool & Wolverine through a sanitized character named “Nicepool,” who makes pointed remarks about on-set protocols and praises a female character played by Lively for her post-partum appearance — lines Baldoni believes are thinly veiled jabs.

In her own complaint, Lively alleges Baldoni fat-shamed her after she gave birth and behaved erratically on set. The trial, which will address both lawsuits, is scheduled to begin in March 2026.

Swift, Reynolds, and Lively, who are close friends and often seen together at public events including NFL games, have not publicly commented further. Swift is also the godmother to the couple’s four children.

Gunmen Kill 30 in Southeastern Nigeria, Amnesty International Blames Biafran Separatists

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Gunmen Kill 30 in Southeastern Nigeria, Amnesty International Blames Biafran Separatists

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 30 people were shot and killed by gunmen in southeastern Nigeria’s Imo state during a brutal highway ambush early Thursday, according to Amnesty International, in one of the deadliest attacks in the region this year.

The human rights group said the attackers, suspected to be members of the banned separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), also torched more than 20 vehicles and trucks during the assault. The group issued a statement via social media platform X, urging Nigerian authorities to swiftly investigate and prosecute those responsible.

The attack unfolded around 4 a.m. local time on a major highway, where the assailants, divided into three groups, reportedly opened fire indiscriminately on travelers before setting their vehicles ablaze, police said.

Imo state police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the incident but declined to provide an official death toll, saying only that one of the gunmen was killed in a shootout with police. “A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway,” Okoye said, noting that security forces are combing nearby forests and surrounding communities for suspects.

The IPOB, which seeks independence for southeastern Nigeria’s Igbo-majority population, has been accused in previous years of orchestrating violent attacks, though it denies targeting civilians. Nigeria’s federal government has designated the group a terrorist organization.

The timing of Thursday’s massacre coincided with President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the region and came just days after IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu made a court appearance on terrorism charges in Abuja. Kanu’s continued detention has fueled tensions in the southeast, where calls for self-determination remain a politically volatile issue.

Amnesty International condemned the violence and called on authorities to uphold justice. “The Nigerian government must promptly and impartially investigate this horrific attack and ensure those responsible are brought to justice in accordance with international human rights standards,” the organization stated.

The southeast has seen sporadic unrest and targeted killings in recent years amid growing separatist sentiment. The legacy of Nigeria’s 1967-70 Biafran civil war, which claimed over one million lives, continues to shape the region’s complex relationship with the central government.

Mali Military Criticized as Armed Men Seize 2 Pro-Democracy Activists in Bamako

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Mali Military Criticized as Armed Men Seize 2 Pro-Democracy Activists in Bamako

BAMAKO, Mali — Two outspoken pro-democracy activists were forcibly taken by armed men in separate incidents Thursday after publicly criticizing Mali’s military-led government and calling for the restoration of constitutional rule, according to their families and political allies.

Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem political party, and El Bachir Thiam, a member of the Yelema party, were both seized hours apart in what relatives and opposition figures describe as politically motivated abductions.

Abba was taken from his home in Bamako by three hooded men wearing military fatigues and carrying weapons, his son told The Associated Press. “They came in a vehicle with tinted windows and no license plates,” said Alhousseini Jannatta Abba. “These men did not look like common criminals.”

Later the same day, in the town of Kati about nine miles from the capital, Thiam was also forced into a car by armed men and driven to an undisclosed location. The circumstances of both disappearances have alarmed civil society leaders and opposition politicians, who say the military regime is silencing dissent amid growing public pressure for democratic reforms.

Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, the honorary president of Yelema, demanded Thiam’s release in a video posted on social media. “We learned of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. A country is not built on gag orders,” Mara said.

The disappearances come just days after Mali’s ruling junta suspended all political party activities, shortly after the country witnessed its first pro-democracy demonstration in nearly four years. The ban is seen by critics as an attempt to consolidate power ahead of potential constitutional changes.

Both Abba and Thiam had recently appeared in media interviews, where they denounced the government’s continued delays in holding elections and demanded a return to democratic governance. Similar criticism last month led to the arrest of Mamadou Traoré, president of the opposition party Alternative for Mali, who also condemned the regime’s ties to Russian mercenaries.

Mali’s military ruler, Gen. Assimi Goita, took power following consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021. Last week, a national political conference proposed that Goita be named president for a renewable five-year term — a move widely criticized as a bid to entrench authoritarian rule.

The fate of the two activists remains unknown as their families and party members urge international attention to what they describe as a campaign of repression targeting voices calling for democracy and transparency.

FIFA Confirms Expansion of Women’s World Cup to 48 Teams for 2031, With U.S. Expected to Host

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FIFA Confirms Expansion of Women’s World Cup to 48 Teams for 2031, With U.S. Expected to Host

ZURICH — FIFA announced Friday that the Women’s World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams beginning in 2031, with the United States expected to host the historic tournament. The move will bring the women’s competition in line with the men’s World Cup, which will feature 48 nations for the first time in 2026.

The expansion is poised to reshape the format and scale of the tournament, adding approximately four more cities and stadiums to the 2031 hosting plan. FIFA officials also hinted that the event could stretch beyond the United States to include venues in Mexico or other parts of the CONCACAF region.

The announcement follows FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s recent remarks that only one candidate had submitted bids for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cups — the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. FIFA is expected to formally confirm both host nations next year.

Brazil is set to host the final 32-team edition of the Women’s World Cup in 2027, using eight stadiums in eight cities. By contrast, Brazil used 12 cities when it hosted the 2014 Men’s World Cup, and the upcoming men’s tournament in 2026 will utilize 16 stadiums across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

FIFA said the expansion to a 48-team, 104-game tournament will “significantly broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.”

The Women’s World Cup has steadily grown in scope over the last decade. The 2011 edition in Germany featured 16 teams, followed by 24-team formats in Canada (2015) and France (2019). In 2023, Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the first 32-team women’s tournament, which drew global acclaim and record attendance.

Despite early concerns that expanding too quickly would lead to lopsided matches, the 2023 edition was widely viewed as a competitive success. FIFA cited that all confederations recorded at least one win and five different confederations sent teams to the knockout stage — a sign of the tournament’s growing parity.

The largest margin of victory in 2023 was a 7-0 win by the Netherlands over Thailand, a marked improvement from the U.S.’s 13-0 rout of Thailand in 2019.

Infantino called the 2023 tournament a “new standard for global competitiveness” and said the expanded format in 2031 will continue that momentum.

The global players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the expansion plan but urged FIFA to prioritize “inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning” in the rollout. The Netherlands-based union emphasized the need for improvements in labor conditions and long-term development at all levels of the women’s game.

“It is critical that the global development of women’s competitions goes hand in hand with improved labor conditions and the advancement of players,” FIFPRO said. “This is the only path to true sustainability, expansion, and progress.”

In recent years, FIFA has introduced stronger contractual protections for players and coaches related to pregnancy and parental leave, signaling a growing commitment to athlete welfare in the women’s game.

Judge Rejects Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Claim of Racial Bias in Federal Sex Trafficking Case

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Judge Rejects Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Claim of Racial Bias in Federal Sex Trafficking Case

NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday rejected Sean “Diddy” Combs’ argument that prosecutors targeted him because of his race, denying a bid to dismiss charges in his sprawling racketeering and sex trafficking case just days before the start of his high-profile trial.

In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs’ legal team failed to produce evidence of racial bias or intent in the Justice Department’s prosecution. The hip-hop mogul’s lawyers had previously argued during a February hearing in Manhattan federal court that no white individual had been prosecuted under similar circumstances, calling the case “unprecedented.”

But Subramanian dismissed the claim, ruling that the severity of the allegations — which span two decades from 2004 to 2024 and involve a wide-ranging criminal enterprise that allegedly enabled Combs to sexually abuse women — was sufficient to justify the federal charges, regardless of the defendant’s race.

“It’s the severity of what Combs allegedly did — not his race — that mattered,” Subramanian wrote.

The judge also denied a motion to suppress evidence and addressed accusations that government actions — including search warrant executions, press statements, and the decision to deny Combs the chance to surrender voluntarily — were designed to humiliate the 55-year-old music executive. However, Subramanian found no proof that any of those measures were racially motivated or out of step with standard practices applied to defendants of other races.

“There is no evidence that racial bias played a role in the Government’s actions,” he wrote, further noting that Combs failed to demonstrate the prosecution team was responsible for any alleged leaks to the media.

The ruling comes just three days before opening statements are set to begin in a trial expected to last up to two months. Final jury selection is now scheduled for Monday, after Subramanian delayed proceedings out of concern that jurors might reconsider their participation over the weekend. One potential juror who expressed concern about her “well-being” in an email Thursday was excused.

Combs, who was present in court Friday, has pleaded not guilty to a range of felony charges, including racketeering, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and sex trafficking. He has been held without bail at a Brooklyn federal detention facility since his arrest in September 2024.

Prosecutors allege that Combs used his celebrity status and wealth to orchestrate a criminal enterprise that systematically abused women. The federal indictment includes disturbing claims that the artist, at times, choked, kicked, dragged, and even dangled victims from balconies. One recurring detail is the alleged staging of so-called “Freak Offs” — drug-fueled orgies in which women were forced to perform sex acts with male sex workers while Combs recorded them.

A crucial piece of evidence is hotel surveillance footage from 2016 that shows Combs physically assaulting a longtime girlfriend in a Los Angeles hallway. The video, aired last year by CNN, drew national outrage. Combs later issued a public apology, saying: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”

Defense attorneys maintain that all sexual encounters were consensual and argue that the government is criminalizing behavior among adults. They acknowledge Combs struggled with substance abuse but say he has undergone treatment.

If convicted on all charges, Combs could face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and possibly spend the rest of his life behind bars.

9 Dead After Residential Building Collapses in Moroccan City of Fez

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9 Dead After Residential Building Collapses in Moroccan City of Fez

FEZ, Morocco — A condemned residential building collapsed in the northern Moroccan city of Fez, killing nine people and injuring seven others, local authorities said Friday, prompting renewed scrutiny over enforcement of safety regulations in older urban structures.

The multi-story building, located in the densely populated Al-Hassani district, came crashing down late Thursday night. According to a local government spokesperson, several of the injured sustained serious wounds, and a search-and-rescue operation remained ongoing Friday for any possible survivors trapped under the rubble.

In a statement provided to Agence France-Presse, officials confirmed the building had previously been classified as structurally unsound and marked as at risk of imminent collapse. Authorities had issued an evacuation order to its tenants prior to the incident, though it remains unclear how many residents were still inside at the time.

As a precaution, neighboring homes have been evacuated, and emergency personnel continue to assess the structural safety of surrounding buildings.

The collapse has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Morocco’s urban safety protocols, particularly in aging districts where infrastructure is often neglected or left to deteriorate despite official warnings.

Fez, a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site, includes a mix of ancient architecture and densely packed residential neighborhoods, some of which face growing pressure from unregulated development and a lack of modernization.

Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims. An investigation into the cause of the collapse and compliance with the evacuation order is underway.

South Africa Slams U.S. Refugee Plan to Resettle White Afrikaners Under Trump Order

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South Africa Slams U.S. Refugee Plan to Resettle White Afrikaners Under Trump Order

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The South African government has strongly condemned a controversial U.S. plan to resettle white Afrikaners as refugees, calling it a politically charged move designed to challenge the legitimacy of the country’s post-apartheid democracy.

The backlash follows reports that the Biden administration may begin receiving white South African migrants as early as next week. Documents obtained by CBS, the BBC’s U.S. media partner, describe the resettlement of Afrikaners as a “priority” for President Donald Trump’s administration, though the White House has not officially confirmed the timeline.

In a statement issued Friday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the U.S. effort is “entirely politically motivated” and appears to be aimed at undermining South Africa’s constitutional democracy. Authorities in Pretoria added that while they will not block the departures of those accepted into the program, they have requested firm assurances from Washington that the individuals selected have been fully vetted and face no outstanding criminal charges.

South Africa also rejected the notion that the country’s white minority is being subjected to systemic racial persecution. “Crime statistics do not support the claim that any particular racial group is being deliberately targeted in farm attacks or violent crimes,” the statement read.

The Trump administration has defended the move, citing allegations of racial discrimination against Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers who have historically held economic and political power in South Africa. In a February executive order, Trump described the group as “victims of unjust racial discrimination” and opened the door for their admission under U.S. refugee protocols — despite a broader freeze on global asylum claims.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that they are conducting interviews with prospective migrants and are prioritizing those who claim to be victims of racial bias. However, the spokesperson declined to provide a start date for the resettlement.

Among those expected to arrive in the initial cohort are 54 Afrikaners, according to internal documents obtained by CBS. The group is expected to land at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, where U.S. officials have reportedly scheduled a press event to mark the arrival.

The Trump administration has also repeatedly accused the South African government of forcibly seizing land from white farmers without compensation — a claim Pretoria has vigorously denied. Officials in Johannesburg maintain that any land reforms under discussion are lawful, measured, and intended to address long-standing disparities from the apartheid era.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a South African-born adviser to Trump, has amplified allegations of a “genocide” against white farmers in his former homeland. His statements, often echoed by far-right media outlets, have drawn sharp criticism from South African leaders.

South African officials again highlighted the irony of the Trump policy, noting the contradiction in prioritizing a historically privileged group while denying asylum to migrants from less affluent regions. “It is ironic that the U.S. is opening its doors to a group that remains among the most economically advantaged in our society,” the foreign ministry stated, “while refusing vulnerable asylum seekers from other parts of the world.”

U.S. Navy Unveils ‘Game-Changing’ Supersonic Rocket Built on 1960s Technology in Coastal Launch Demonstration

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U.S. Navy Unveils ‘Game-Changing’ Supersonic Rocket Built on 1960s Technology in Coastal Launch Demonstration

POINT MUGU, Calif. — In a powerful show of military innovation and force, the U.S. Navy has successfully launched a cutting-edge supersonic missile built on propulsion technology dating back to the 1960s. The missile test, carried out off the California coast, marked the first time the Navy launched the experimental Solid Fuel Integral Rocket Ramjet (SFIRR) from an unmanned vehicle, signaling a potential breakthrough in long-range precision warfare.

The test launch took place over the Point Mugu Sea Range and was confirmed Thursday by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD). The SFIRR missile, described as “game-changing” by Navy officials, was deployed from a BQM-34 aerial target drone, hitting supersonic speeds moments after ignition.

While the SFIRR propulsion concept stems from Cold War-era research, its modern application reflects advanced updates in avionics, fire control, and aerodynamic design. The technology utilizes a solid-fuel air-breathing ramjet system that compresses incoming air using the vehicle’s high-speed forward motion — eliminating the need for complex liquid fuel systems and reducing overall weight.

Michael Smith, a NAWCWD spokesperson, emphasized the operational benefits of the test. “Launching the missile from an unmanned vehicle can allow warfighters to safely engage targets from greater distances,” he said in a release. “This kind of rapid prototyping, going from concept to demonstration in just 12 months, is critical to preserving our warfighting edge.”

Abbey Horning, product director of NAWCWD’s Advanced Concepts, Prototyping and Experimentation Office, said the successful demonstration represents more than just a nod to retro technology. “We’re not just revisiting an old idea; we’re refining and modernizing it to fit today’s mission,” Horning said. She added that the propulsion system will ultimately deliver “greater range and speed” to U.S. forces.

The ramjet’s reduced complexity — thanks to solid fuel — means lighter systems that can accommodate larger payloads and maneuver more effectively. Horning underscored SFIRR’s appeal as a cost-effective, reliable option tailored to meet the Navy’s evolving battlefield requirements.

Ephraim Washburn, deputy director for energetics at NAWCWD, compared the advancement in ramjet propulsion to the evolution of automobiles. “We’ve been driving cars since the early 1900s, but that doesn’t mean we stopped improving them,” he said. “Solid fuel ramjet technology had significant investment in the 1970s and 1980s, but we’re making it a modern propulsion solution for the fleet today.”

Calling the missile a “combat-credible technology,” Washburn said the Navy continues to enhance the SFIRR’s range, endurance, and targeting systems to ensure it meets operational demands.

The high-profile launch comes as the United States continues to maintain its position as the world’s most powerful military, according to Global Firepower’s 2025 rankings. The test serves as both a technological milestone and a strategic signal — reaffirming America’s commitment to maintaining its edge in global defense.

the-sun.com

Sean Combs Admits to ‘Domestic Violence’ in Relationship, Lawyer Tells Federal Judge

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Sean Combs Admits to ‘Domestic Violence’ in Relationship, Lawyer Tells Federal Judge

NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lead attorney admitted in court Friday that the hip-hop mogul engaged in “domestic violence” during a past relationship, marking a pivotal shift in the defense strategy as Combs faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges in federal court.

During a hearing related to jury selection, attorney Marc Agnifilo told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs’ legal team will acknowledge there was physical abuse between Combs and a woman identified as “Victim-1” in the government’s indictment. The defense, Agnifilo said, plans to argue the violence was mutual.

“We are admitting domestic violence,” Agnifilo stated plainly in court. “There was hitting on both sides, behavior on both sides.” He added that the dynamic is relevant to the prosecution’s allegations of coercion, a central claim in the sex trafficking charges against Combs.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. He has denied all allegations of sexual abuse, maintaining through his attorneys that the women involved consented to all sexual encounters.

Victim-1’s identity has not been publicly confirmed by prosecutors, but her accusations appear to closely align with those of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend. Ventura, an R&B singer, filed a civil lawsuit in November 2023 accusing Combs of rape and long-term physical abuse. That case was resolved privately within a day, with Combs admitting no wrongdoing.

Public attention to the allegations against Combs intensified after CNN aired 2016 surveillance footage showing the music mogul beating, kicking and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. Judge Subramanian has ruled the video admissible at trial. Combs’ legal team sought to exclude the footage, calling it “inaccurate” and “altered,” but CNN has rejected those claims, standing by the video’s authenticity.

Following the video’s release, Combs issued a public apology, calling his behavior “inexcusable” and saying he accepted full responsibility for his actions in that incident.

In a procedural development Friday, Judge Subramanian postponed the final phase of jury selection to next week, citing concerns that potential jurors may be experiencing anxiety. One individual emailed the court seeking removal from the panel due to “issues of personal well-being,” according to Combs’ attorneys.

The defense was granted a delay until Monday to begin peremptory challenges — the process by which lawyers eliminate potential jurors without stating a cause. The defense will be allowed to strike 10 jurors, while the prosecution will have six strikes. Once a jury of 12 and six alternates is finalized, opening statements will begin.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey confirmed that prosecutors plan to start with two brief witnesses, followed by a primary witness expected to dominate the first week of testimony. However, she also revealed that federal prosecutors have not been able to make contact with “Victim-3,” another accuser named in the indictment. Comey said the government will soon determine whether Victim-3 will testify.

The trial of Combs, a major figure in the music industry for decades, continues to unfold under intense public scrutiny and legal complexity.

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