WASHINGTON (AP) — A planned vote to move forward with Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general appeared in doubt Wednesday as a key Republican senator demanded more assurances from the Justice Department about the settlement of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn, a crucial swing vote, called off a scheduled Wednesday meeting with Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi’s firing in April. Cornyn told reporters that the Justice Department has not adequately addressed in writing his concerns about the settlement that afforded Trump and members of his family protection from tax audits.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote for Thursday to advance Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate, but could be delayed if there’s no resolution. Another Republican on the committee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, has backed Cornyn’s position, and just one Republican holdout could sink Blanche’s prospects.

“They know what they need to do but they simply refuse to do it,” Cornyn, who lost the Republican primary in May, said of the Justice Department.

At the center of the fight is the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that included a deal to drop tax claims against the president and a now-scrapped plan to create a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate people who believe they were wronged by the Justice Department. The Justice Department said in June that it was no longer moving forward with the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” amid bipartisan outrage but officials have said the audit immunity agreement remains in place.

Some lawmakers have raised concerns that the fund could be resurrected absent a commitment in writing from the Trump administration that it is dead, especially since Trump has expressed continued support for the idea. Blanche had previously resisted requests for a formal written retraction, though he told senators at his confirmation hearing earlier this month that the administration would be willing to help craft legislation to bar the creation of the fund.

Cornyn has also demanded clarification from the Justice Department on the scope of the tax immunity deal. Blanche has said the deal covers any existing audits but does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.

“We’re been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won’t let us. It’s befuddling to me,” Cornyn said.

A person familiar with the matter said the Justice Department provided Cornyn’s office with a written proposal seeking to address his concerns around the audit immunity agreement and the fund. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about sensitive discussions surrounding Blanche’s confirmation.

___

Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

Emergency services were called to Woodhouses just before 2.45pm on Friday (July 24) after a child fell from the roof of a barn. 

The boy, who was with a group of friends at the time, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, for treatment.

Durham Police has today (July 29) confirmed that he tragically died yesterday afternoon as a result of his injuries. 

He has now been named as 12-year-old Jaxon Robert Hubery, of Bishop Auckland.

The force said: “His family would like to thank those who have given them love and support throughout the last few days.

“They are also urging other parents to keep their children away from the area.”

Police are now working alongside the Health and Safety Executive to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

 A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson previously said: “We were called to a person injured at an address in Woodhouses Bishop Auckland at 2.35pm on July 24.

“We dispatched an ambulance crew, a clinical team leader, a rapid response paramedic and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service. 

“One patient was taken to hospital by road for further treatment.”

A boy has died after climbing onto the roof of a ban with friends and falling off.

The 12-year-old – named as Jaxon Robert Hubery – plunged from the building at Woodhouses, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham last Friday.

Jaxon sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, for treatment.

Durham Constabulary has now confirmed he died as a result of his injuries yesterday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘His family would like to thank those who have given them love and support throughout the last few days.

‘They are also urging other parents to keep their children away from the area.

‘Police are working alongside the Health and Safety Executive to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.’

 A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson previously said: ‘We were called to a person injured at an address in Woodhouses Bishop Auckland at 2.35pm on July 24.

‘We dispatched an ambulance crew, a clinical team leader, a rapid response paramedic and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service. 

‘One patient was taken to hospital by road for further treatment.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Warning: Contains graphic details of alleged sexual offences and misconduct, as well as strong language

Four women have accused Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto of criminal sexual conduct, with the alleged offences having taken place when they were teenagers.

One of the women says she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom when she was 17. Another says the Hollywood star threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19, and had been unexpectedly left alone with him in a hotel room.

A third describes how she had under-age sex with the star in California when she was 17 – which would be classified as statutory rape. Leto “shrugged off” a conversation about the age of consent being 18 in the US state, she says.

The fourth woman describes being groomed by Leto, saying he abused his celebrity status by making repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16. On at least one occasion, she says he suggested they should have sex.

She was subsequently sent a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent her from talking about her relationship with Leto, which the BBC has seen. However, she refused to sign.

Four further women also say they received strange and often very sexual phone calls from Leto when they were younger.

Another woman says, when she was 14, he instructed a security guard to take her backstage at a music festival after having made a lewd comment about her chest during an autograph-signing. The girl’s mother confronted Leto, but he repeated the comment, it is alleged.

In total, 10 women have spoken to the BBC documentary – Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret – with nine of them sharing their stories publicly for the first time.

All the women say they encountered Leto between 2002 and 2016, when he was in his 30s and 40s. He is now 54.

“This was 25 years ago… he has gotten away with it,” says one of his alleged victims.

The BBC has corroborated a number of the women’s accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time. In some cases, we have also seen pictures and messages that support the women’s accounts.

Two men who worked with Leto’s band for many years also told the documentary how uncomfortable staff felt about the way Leto would interact with teenage girls, sometimes inviting them backstage to his dressing room or inviting them to the house where he was recording.

“I think everyone thought the age gap was way too big,” one says.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Jared Leto before publication, he did not respond to the allegations put to him by the BBC.

In a statement to US media, issued on Wednesday afternoon UK-time, Leto said: “I have never assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.”

Former Strictly Come Dancing Saffron Barker couldn’t hold back the tears as she spoke out about the breakdown of her relationship after moving to New York to pursue an acting career.

Saffron Barker couldn’t hold back the tears as she spoke out about the breakdown of her relationship. The influencer, 26, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, recently split from Josh Miln after two years ago and addressed the topic of their breakup on Wednesday.

The TV star initially moved to Dubai to be with Josh when they first got together but they decided to call it quits when she headed to New York to enrol in drama school.

Speaking in a new vlog posted to YouTube, Saffron said: “As you guys know, I came to New York. I came here nearly six weeks ago now, I came here for an acting school. When I first came to New York, Josh and I were still together. However, since being here, our relationship has ended.

“Obviously we were together for nearly two years but we also pretty much lived with each other for two years. And anyone that has lived with a partner will know when you live with someone it feels like you’ve been with them a lifetime.”

It was then that Saffron, who has also appeared on Celebrity Hunted and The Celebrity Circle, began to get emotional even though that was the last thing she wanted to do.

She said: “It’s very fresh it’s very new. I’ve cried way too much already. I really don’t want to cry again. If this relationship and all my relationships have taught me anything it’s probably just that I need to really focus on self love and focus on myself and do things that are going to make me happy.”

The social media star, who boasts more than two million subscribers on her YouTube channel, signed off by tearfully thanking her fans for their support and admitted she felt “really loved” by them all.

The couple appeared together several times across Saffron’s social media posts and in her YouTube videos, but, in recent days, it was reported that they were “figuring things out without each other” and “taking a break,” according to the Mail.

At the end of the clip, Saffron forced a smile and described her split as “just one of those things.” It’s thought that Josh, who is yet to speak out about the breakup, has continued his travelling abroad whilst Saffron pursues her acting dream.

Towards the end of last year, Saffron told The Mirror had she had hoped she and Josh would start a family one day. At the time, she explained: “Hopefully, just a couple more years of focusing on our careers, and then children.

“I’m very lucky because, as much as my job allows me to work from anywhere, so does his. He’s a model, signed to agencies in Dubai and America, which means he can travel everywhere and support me too. It’s really nice.”

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The authority said it was ‘proud to host groups, events and sessions by lots of different community and faith groups’

Wigan council has responded after concerns were raised by a councillor about an ‘explore Islam’ exhibition set to be held at a library next month.

The free one-day event at Wigan library on Saturday, August 15, includes a ‘celebration of Islamic culture and traditions’ with ‘hands-on activities for all the family’.

Publicity material from the library service said the day was intended for ‘meaningful conversations’ and to ‘build bridges of understanding and unity’.

Coun Maureen O’Bern, an Independent borough councillor who represents Ince, has published an enquiry she has made to Wigan council, following what she said were ‘numerous complaints’ about the event.

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She said: “People have asked if there are going to be similar days for other religions.

“I personally do not think public libraries should be promoting any religions or political parties.”

Coun O’Bern added that she would make exceptions for Christmas, Easter and St George’s day displays ‘as we are a Christian country’.

In a later post on her Facebook page she added: “If we are educating people about Islam, it shouldn’t be just a sanitised version.

“I don’t want anyone persecuted for practising their religion but I do have concerns about the increasing influence of Islam in the UK.”

Wigan council said libraries were ‘open spaces’ and ‘we are proud to host groups, events and sessions by lots of different community and faith groups’.

It is understood no council funding has been put towards the event.

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Promoting the event on its Instagram page, Wigan library service posted: “Drop in to Wigan library on Saturday, August 15 between 10am to 2pm for an exciting exhibition filled with activities for all ages. “From henna painting to interactive word hunts and ‘Try Your Hijab’ stations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“Delve into the richness of Islamic culture with informative stands exploring foundational beliefs, scientific contributions, and more.

“Engage in meaningful conversations and build bridges of understanding and unity. Don’t miss this enriching experience for the whole family.”

The event has been organised by the organisation Meet Your Muslim Neighbours.

It was established in 2004 and aims ‘to create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim communities’.

Its website states an intention to ‘foster understanding and connection across communities in the North West through exhibitions, school visits and outreach’.

The group said the ‘immersive, museum-style Islamic exhibition’ allows visitors to explore Islamic beliefs, history, culture, and everyday Muslim life through open conversation and interactive displays.

It said the exhibitions are set up community centres, libraries and other public venues ‘to bring the community directly to the public’.

A Wigan council spokesperson, said: “We are all aware of growing prejudice and division in our society, fuelled by misinformation and hatred. Wigan council is committed to tackling inequality, creating a safe, welcoming borough for all.

“Our libraries are open spaces and we are proud to host groups, events and sessions by lots of different community and faith groups, including the upcoming ‘Explore Islam’ exhibition being run by Meet Your Muslim Neighbour.

“Libraries are places to grow, learn and be part of a wider community, and these types of events can play a key role in bringing people together.”

The chances of a sequel to Pragmata are high according to Capcom, as Resident Evil Requiem surpasses another sales milestone. 

Between Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, and Onimusha: Way Of The Sword, Capcom looks set for a stellar year in 2026. 

As noted in Capcom’s latest earnings report, Resident Evil Requiem has surpassed eight million copies sold since it launched in February this year. Pragmata, meanwhile, has sold over 2.5 million copies since April, which is very impressive for a new single-player IP. 

Capcom USA’s chief operating officer, Rob Dyer, previously described Pragmata as a new IP for Capcom, implying a sequel is on the way. Now, another Capcom executive has strongly suggested a follow-up is coming at some point in the future.

As reported by Bloomberg, Capcom corporate officer, Yoshikazu Shimauchi, said Pragmata’s momentum exceeded the company’s internal expectations, attributing its success to pre-release marketing and the ‘appeal’ of its lead character Diana. 

According to the outlet, ‘Shimauchi said the likelihood of a sequel is high’ during the earnings call. 

Pragmata is a great (and crucially, original) sci-fi shooter, but there’s certainly room for improvement – especially when it comes to enemy variety and pushing its hybrid hacking and shooting mechanics even further. 

In its earnings report, Capcom specifically cites Pragmata and the success of ‘catalogue titles’ for driving up revenue and profits year-on-year. For the three months ending June 30, 2026, operating profit rose 66.9% year-on-year to 41,054 million yen (£188,561). 

If a sequel looks almost certain, when we’ll see it is a much more difficult question to answer. Capcom still hasn’t delivered a follow-up to Devil May Cry 5, despite its huge success, so that seems a far more important priority.

The studio is also aiming to release a new Resident Evil game every year, which is its big money maker right now, alongside Monster Hunter and Street Fighter. 

Capcom is perhaps also hoping Onimusha: Way Of The Sword, which launches September 4, will propel that series to major IP status as well. Based on our hands-on preview, it’s shaping up to be pretty impressive, so there’s a good chance it will.

Pragmata had a long and troubled development cycle, of over seven years, which is not too surprising given it’s a new IP. A sequel would no doubt arrive more quickly but given the state of modern game development it would still take four to five years – and so would be unlikely to appear until at least 2030, and presumably as a primarily next gen game.

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For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

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Every day on Criminal Record we bring you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Wednesday.

Body found stuffed in suitcase in Athens

A Scottish woman who was found stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in an abandoned building in Athens

The remains of 38-year-old Elisabeth Jane Ross were discovered by a homeless man on Evelpidon Street in the neighbourhood of Kypseli around 1pm on July 18.

The rough sleeper said he followed a foul smell inside the deserted building which had lain empty for two years. It is understood he saw a human limb visible from the outside of a suitcase.

READ MORE: First picture of Scottish woman found stuffed in a suitcase in Athens

Encrochat kingpin ‘Glasgowceltic’ caged

A drug kingpin will spend three more years behind bars for his role in a £300,000 cocaine deal. Paul Easdon, 38, was snared during a police probe which saw him kept under watch.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how a Renault Clio had been stopped in the city’s Sandyhills on August 2 2024. Easdon’s associate Declan Price, 29, of Ruchazie, Glasgow, got out clutching two carrier bags.

Prosecutor Vish Kathuria told the hearing: “One of them was searched and found to contain two taped blocks of cocaine. The other bag had three taped blocks of the drug. Each weighed one kilogram.”

READ MORE: Encrochat kingpin ‘Glasgowceltic’ caged for three more years after footsoldier caught in £300k cocaine deal

Monster who killed teen has freedom bid rejected

The family of a teenager who was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend claim they are being silenced by the parole board after her killer’s latest bid for freedom.

John Wilson, now 38, was given a life sentence after he ambushed 17-year-old Michelle Stewart and knifed her 10 times with a 10 -inch blade in front of her terrified friends in Ayrshire in 2008.

The fiend was released from prison in January 2025 after 16 years behind bars, despite warnings from Michelle’s family that he would reoffend. And within less than a year, he was locked up again earlier for breaching his licence conditions.

His latest bid for freedom this summer was rejected by the parole board.

READ MORE: “Monster who killed my sister was thrown back in jail – I want to tell people what he did”

Far right thug accused of being vicious bully

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A far-right thug who attended a demo to “Save Our Women and Kids” has been accused of being a vicious bully who abused his partners.

Material posted online by Caitlyn Scullion, 26, brands Alan Miller a violent brute who terrorised her as they brought up a child together.

Caitlyn posted shocking photos that show bleeding and bruising to her face and body.

And a separate post by Kerry Sweeney – a previous partner of the racist – brands him a ­hypocrite and the kind of “monster” that women need to be protected from.

READ MORE: Far right thug claiming to “Save Women and Kids” accused of being vicious bully who abused partners

Husband of woman murdered was facing domestic abuse charges

The husband of a woman murdered at a remote cottage in Renfrewshire was facing domestic abuse charges against her.

Stacy Mair, 35, was found dead in a cottage in the village of Houston at about 7.50am on Monday.

Her husband Jim Mair, 43, was also found dead at the cottage, with his death being treated as unexplained.

He had appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on July 6 charged with assaulting his wife. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed the case had been continued for further examination and he was granted bail with a condition that he did not approach or contact her.

READ MORE: Husband of woman murdered at remote cottage was facing domestic abuse charges

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We are all living in a world that heavily relies on technology. So, it’s no surprise that our penchant for prodding pads and silently scrolling has trickled down to the youngest generation.

While we might have whiled away our weekends and holidays drawing hopscotch squares on the pavement, or trying to find fairies hidden in the garden, the children of today are better on our phones than we are.

Thanks to always having a new activity at their fingertips, boredom is becoming a thing of the past. Kids today are more than twice as likely to turn to a screen when they’re bored as they are to make up a game, story, or pretend world, according to a new survey by Playmobil.

Instead of using their imaginations during play time, a quarter (28%) of kids ask for – or use – a screen to pacify boredom.

Understandably, parents are concerned. More than half (54%) admit they feel guilty relying on screens during the holidays, while 74% say they wish their child spent more time playing imaginatively. Meanwhile, 38% of children wish their parents would play with them more.

Of course, parents have to work, kids need to learn to occupy themselves, but there are certainly pockets of time throughout the day when connection can be prioritised. To encourage this, Playmobil has teamed up with children’s presenter Maddie Moate and child psychologist Dr Amanda Gummer to create a set of free prompt cards.

Designed to be used alongside toys, each card asks an open-ended question that prompts children to invent characters, solve mysteries and build adventures.

These are not only good for strengthening bonds between parents and kids, but creative play can also help with all elements of children’s development, according to the UN.

If you’re looking for toy ideas to use alongside the cards, or by themselves, we’ve rounded up some of the best screen-free and sensory toys for kids in 2026, including some recommended by Playmobil and HuffPost UK’s parenting editor.

The Art of Storytelling cards are available to download for free via the Playmobil website.