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- Bell AI data centre in Saskatchewan to expand with over $50 billion investment
- Senate returns from recess to tackle legislative priorities before midterms
- US pilot rescued in 21-aircraft operation after being shot down over Iran
- Finland joins France’s nuclear initiative to enhance European security
- Sudan’s aid network faces collapse without immediate funding, warns UN agency
- Canada’s 2026 census participation rate reaches 98.4 per cent, says StatCan
- Justice Department charges nearly 80 defendants in COVID loan fraud cases
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry featured in SNL UK sketch after UK move
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Bell AI data centre in Saskatchewan to expand with over $50 billion investment
1:00 am
Get you up to speed: Bell AI data centre in Sask. expanding, set to bring in over $50B in investment
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced a new initiative at Canada‘s first-ever national investment summit in Toronto, with Prime Minister Mark Carney present. No further details regarding the initiative have been disclosed.
The announcement was made during Canada’s first national investment summit in Toronto, highlighting the collaboration between provincial and federal leadership. No specific timeline has been given for subsequent developments related to the investment initiatives discussed.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced a new initiative to boost investment in the province during a joint appearance with Prime Minister Mark Carney at Canada’s inaugural national investment summit in Toronto. The government plans to implement strategic measures aimed at attracting foreign capital, with further details to be outlined in upcoming discussions.
What remains unclear — Details regarding the specific investment commitments made during the summit have not been disclosed.
Bell AI data centre in Saskatchewan to expand with over $50 billion investment
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe made the announcement alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney at Canada’s first-ever national investment summit in Toronto.
Senate returns from recess to tackle legislative priorities before midterms
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Get you up to speed: Senate returns for final legislative sprint ahead of midterms
The Senate returned to Washington on Monday following a five-week recess to address legislative priorities, including cryptocurrency and college sports regulation. A procedural vote on the cryptocurrency bill, known as the Clarity Act, is scheduled for Tuesday, with the legislation requiring 60 votes to advance.
The Senate is set to hold a procedural vote on the Clarity Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, on Tuesday. Additionally, the Congressional Black Caucus has expressed strong opposition to the Protect College Sports Act, citing a lack of meaningful inclusion of the perspectives of Black athletes and other stakeholders despite months of negotiations.
The Senate plans to advance cryptocurrency legislation, with a procedural vote on the Clarity Act scheduled for Tuesday, as GOP senators highlight bipartisan support efforts. Additionally, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that Congress will prioritise discussion on artificial intelligence regulations during the upcoming meeting of his caucus.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether the Senate’s cryptocurrency legislation, the Clarity Act, will secure the 60 votes needed to advance.
Senate returns from recess to tackle legislative priorities before midterms
Washington — The Senate returned to Washington Monday from a five-week recess, with several priorities to address before leaving town next month to take to the campaign trail.
After successfully pushing off a government funding fight until after November’s midterm elections, and avoiding a possible government shutdown for the time being, the chamber is now expected to turn its attention to a handful of other items — including cryptocurrency legislation and a college sports bill.
The Senate is set to hold a procedural vote on Tuesday on the crypto bill, known as the Clarity Act. The legislation would establish a regulatory framework for digital assets. But whether it can find the 60 votes needed to advance remains to be seen. GOP senators unveiled new text on Sunday, touting more than a year of bipartisan negotiations and dozens of changes as they seek to secure Democratic support.
Senate GOP leaders are also aiming to move forward on a bill regulating college athletics, including name, image and likeness rights and transfer eligibility, with a bipartisan bill known as the Protect College Sports Act. In July, the Big Ten and SEC backed the bill, which also has the backing of the White House. But some lawmakers and advocacy groups have voiced their opposition, making its path forward in the upper chamber uncertain.
Last month, the Congressional Black Caucus said it could not support advancing the legislation in its current form, saying that despite months of negotiations, the bill “has failed to meaningfully incorporate the perspectives of Black athletes, Black coaches, Black agents, HBCUs, or the Congressional Black Caucus.”
“Black athletes have transformed college athletics into one of the most successful enterprises in America,” the caucus said. “Yet the people most affected by this legislation have not been meaningfully included in shaping it.”
The Senate could also take action to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, after it expired in June. The expiration came after lawmakers had reached a bipartisan deal to extend the surveillance authority for three years. But President Trump disrupted the plans when his selection of Bill Pulte to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence rattled lawmakers.
The to-do list comes as the upper chamber would also like to see progress on the Farm bill, which didn’t advance out of the Agriculture Committee ahead of the recess amid an absence from GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who hasn’t returned to Capitol Hill since he was hospitalized in June. Senate Republicans are also expected to work to approve a series of nominees. Meanwhile, a third reconciliation push, aimed at securing funds for the Iran war, aid to farmers, along with elements of the president’s voting regulations bill known as the SAVE America Act, does not appear likely to see action in the Senate.
The House is also returning Monday after convening earlier this month following its own five-week recess. The House is set to leave town again at the end of the week, and isn’t expected to return until after the midterms. But both chambers are facing pressure to pursue regulations for artificial intelligence, as industry leaders are raising alarm bells in recent days about imposing safeguards on the industry.
A number of lawmakers voiced concern over the weekend, and some legislation, like from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on banning superintelligence, has already been unveiled to rein in the industry, while others have advocated for a so-called “kill switch.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC’s “This Week” that Congress should take “decisive action,” saying a “high priority will be action on artificial intelligence” when his caucus gathers for a meeting Tuesday. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Monday for an all-senators briefing from administration officials to discuss its actions on AI.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that Congress should resist jumping in and imposing a moratorium, while stressing corporate responsibility. But he also argued that the industry leaders should come together for a meeting at the White House, saying, “we’ve got to summon everybody together.”
“I think we need to go in a big room, close the door and sort this out,” Johnson said. “And I’ll be the one pushing it.”
US pilot rescued in 21-aircraft operation after being shot down over Iran
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Get you up to speed: US pilot shot down over Iran rescued in mammoth 21-aircraft operation | News World
A US Air Force pilot, known by the call sign Bravo, was rescued after a 21-aircraft operation following the crash of a two-seat F-15E jet, which was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile over Iran. Bravo and another pilot, Alpha, evaded Iranian forces for 48 hours, with Alpha being rescued within six hours during an operation described by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as involving intense fighting.
The operation involved 21 aircraft and was executed under high-risk conditions, as US forces engaged in intense fighting to secure the pilot known as Alpha. The mission, which resulted in Alpha’s rescue within six hours of the crash, took place after an F-15E jet was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile in a mountainous region south of Isfahan.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that the operation to rescue the pilots involved intense fighting, stating, “It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out.” The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, highlighted the risks of conducting operations behind enemy lines in daylight, asserting the decision was made to act swiftly to ensure the pilots’ safety.
What remains unclear — The exact circumstances and timeline of Alpha’s rescue operation following his initial separation from Bravo are not detailed.
US pilot rescued in 21-aircraft operation after being shot down over Iran
The US pilot known as Bravo called the rescue mission that saved him a ‘miracle’ (Picture: CBS/60 Seconds)
A US Air Force pilot has described the moment he was rescued in a 21-aircraft operation along with another soldier after their plane was shot down over Iran.
The two US troops, who are known by their mission call signs Alpha and Bravo, were ejected from the damaged plane and separated before they had to evade Iranian forces while they awaited rescue.
They landed roughly five miles apart from each other in a mountainous region south of Isfahan, with Iranian forces hunting them down.
Bravo called his survival a ‘miracle’ after he broke his back, shoulder and arm in the crash.
He hit the ground ‘somewhere between 70 and 100mph’.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes programme, Bravo said: ‘When I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
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‘So I paused, right then, and I prayed, “Lord, your will be done. But if I’m getting through this, I need help.”‘
He added: ‘I believe that it’s a testament to God’s provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn’t prevent injuries, but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive.’
The other US airman involved in the incident, Alpha, declined to be interviewed by CBS.
However, he told the broadcaster: ‘Words cannot capture how thankful my family and I are and how proud I am to serve alongside each and every one of them.’
Bravo was rescued after spending 48 hours behind enemy lines.
The two-seat F-15E jet, which costs £22million, was taken down by a shoulder-fired missile, according to CBS.
Alpha, meanwhile, was rescued within six hours in an operation that involved intense fighting, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said.
‘It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out. But they got Alpha back,’ Hegseth said.
In total, the US sent 21 aircraft into the area to bring him home.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine also told CBS: ‘Anytime you go behind enemy lines in daylight, it’s gonna be dicey.
‘But given the threat to 44 Alpha, the decision was taken to boldly go behind enemy lines in daylight to make sure that we could get to him before anybody else could.’
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Finland joins France’s nuclear initiative to enhance European security
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Finland joins France’s nuclear initiative to enhance European security
Defence Partnership
Finland formally joined a French initiative to enhance European security through forward nuclear deterrence, with a “Nuclear Steering Group” set to be established for implementation.
Finland formally joined a French initiative to enhance European security through forward nuclear deterrence, with a “Nuclear Steering Group” set to be established for implementation.
Defence Co-operation
France’s initiative now includes ten European countries, aiming to enhance regional nuclear deterrence and strategic readiness while maintaining national control over nuclear arsenals.
France’s initiative now includes ten European countries, aiming to enhance regional nuclear deterrence and strategic readiness while maintaining national control over nuclear arsenals.
Finnish Statement
“Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime,” emphasised Finnish President Alexander Stubb on X.
“Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime,” emphasised Finnish President Alexander Stubb on X.
Finland joins France’s forward nuclear deterrence initiative
Finland and France committed to deepening their defence partnership on Monday, with Helsinki formally joining a French initiative aimed at strengthening European security through forward nuclear deterrence.
In a joint statement, the two nations called the decision an “important step for European security, and for bilateral cooperation.”
“It will strengthen their partnership, and offer opportunities for strategic signalling, as well as the ability to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold,” it continued, adding that a “Nuclear Steering Group” would be set up within the next few months to “begin the implementation of this cooperation.”
In a post on X, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stressed that Finland’s “foremost priority” was still to act as part of NATO and the EU and that the French initiative would not “replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence.”
“Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime,” he added.
The United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, and Norway have already signed up to France’s initiative, which aims to deepen nuclear cooperation across Europe through joint exercises.
Under the framework, participating countries could also potentially host French nuclear-capable aircraft on a temporary basis.
Paris would, however, retain exclusive control over its nuclear arsenal, with the final decision on its use resting with the French president.
Estonia could be next
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told AFP that Tallinn was also “in discussion” with Paris over possible cooperation on the matter.
“This is not this kind of (initiative) that you just join … It needs certain capabilities, readiness and so on,” Michal told the news agency on the sidelines of the European Arctic Summit in northern Finland.
“We are under NATO’s nuclear umbrella already. And France is also backing up our independence with the troops in Estonia. So if the cooperation can be deeper in nuclear field, that probably will go so,” he added.
Since March 2017, France has maintained a military presence of around 300 troops in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the Baltic states.
Additional sources • AFP
Sudan’s aid network faces collapse without immediate funding, warns UN agency
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Get you up to speed: Sudan aid networks at risk of collapse, UN agencies warn
At least four civilians were killed and several others wounded in drone attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Damazin, the capital of the Blue Nile region. These attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, including fuel stations, according to a senior Sudanese military official.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has indicated that its operational capacity to maintain aid delivery for the remaining year is set to decline without immediate donor support, with supplies expected to be depleted by the end of September 2026. Since July 2023, IOM’s network has aided 2.8 million people, but funding for Sudan’s humanitarian efforts has halved, with the World Food Programme reporting a significant drop from $645 million last year to just $206 million this year.
The International Organization for Migration has called for immediate donor support, warning that without it, shelter and aid relief supplies could be depleted by the end of the month, jeopardising the humanitarian response in Sudan. Carl Skau, acting head of the World Food Programme, confirmed a severe funding decline, with contributions dropping from $645 million last year to just $206 million this year, limiting the capacity to provide necessary aid.
What remains unclear — The exact amount of additional funding needed to avert the collapse of Sudan’s humanitarian system is not specified.
Sudan’s aid network faces collapse without immediate funding, warns UN agency
News|Sudan warSudan aid networks at risk of collapse, UN agencies warn
Without immediate donations, shelter and aid relief supplies could be depleted by the end of the month, says IOM, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of attacks.
Published On 14 Sep 202614 Sep 2026
Published On 14 Sep 202614 Sep 2026Sudan’s aid network is at risk of collapse, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned.
Ongoing fighting, heavy rains, and continued displacement threaten to bring an “imminent end” to Sudan’s emergency relief supply via the IOM’s Common Humanitarian Pipeline, the agency said on Monday.
The ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted in April 2023 has killed more than 200,000 people, aid workers estimate, and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis. But amid a sharp cutback in global aid funding, resources are stretched.
“The entire humanitarian system could collapse within weeks if we don’t act now. Without new funding, we won’t be able to get help where it’s needed most,” said Amy Pope, IOM’s director general in a statement.
“We simply can’t turn our back on the people of Sudan when they need us most amid raging conflict, increased displacement and the impact of heavy rain,” she added.
The IOM warned that without immediate donor support, shelter and aid relief supplies are expected to be depleted by the end of the month. The operational capacity of warehouses that keep the pipeline functioning is only able to be sustained until the end of the year.
A total of 8.6 million people remain internally displaced in Sudan, with ongoing violence, floods and heavy rains continuing to damage shelters and forcing people to move, the organisation said.
IOM said its network, comprising nearly 100 national and international NGOs, has supplied aid to 2.8 million people since July 2023. However, its reach has been shrinking due to falling funds, even as needs remain at an all-time high.
The cost of keeping the IOM system running for a year to support 305,000 people is $15m, and the agency would require $42m to return to the level of aid it was able to provide in 2024.
Funding for Sudan at the World Food Programme (WFP) has also fallen, dropping by about half this year, its acting head told the Reuters news agency.
Executive Director Carl Skau said that while access had represented humanitarians’ largest obstacle in the past, now “we have [a] presence that we are not fully utilising because of the lack of funding”.
Last year, WFP received $645m in funds, but so far this year funding is only at $206m.
Meanwhile, in continued fighting, at least four civilians were killed and several others wounded overnight in RSF drone attacks on Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile region, a senior Sudanese military official told WTX News.
The official said the attacks targeted civilian infrastructure and fuel stations owned by civilians.
Canada’s 2026 census participation rate reaches 98.4 per cent, says StatCan
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Get you up to speed: Canada’s 2026 census participation was among highest ever, says StatCan
Statistics Canada reported a response rate of 98.4 per cent for this year’s census of the population. This rate is one of the highest ever recorded.
Statistics Canada reported that the census was conducted across the country in May 2026. The organisation is currently analysing the data collected to prepare for the official release of results later in the year.
Statistics Canada reported a response rate of 98.4 per cent for this year’s census, marking one of the highest rates recorded to date. The agency plans to analyse the data and release preliminary findings in the upcoming months.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how many households chose not to participate in the census.
Canada’s 2026 census participation rate reaches 98.4 per cent, says StatCan
Statistics Canada says the response rate for this year’s census of the population was 98.4 per cent, one of the highest ever recorded.
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