It’s rare for Muslims and Christians to be observing their respective months of fasting and prayer at the same time.

Muslims observed their first full day of Ramadan on Wednesday, coinciding with Ash Wednesday, which kicks off Christians’ 40-day observance of Lent.

This year marks the first such overlap in more than 30 years. Ramadan’s timing varies significantly each year based on the lunar calendar, while Lent begins in February or March, as it is observed immediately before Easter.

Chris Dowdeswell, dean of the Diocese of Calgary and incumbent priest of Calgary’s Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, says the religious events coinciding is an opportunity for unity and understanding.

“We’re both celebrating divine revelation,” he said. “That’s what the focus of both of these seasons are.”

“It’s a great opportunity to help the different faiths understand each other better,” Dowdeswell said.

Different denominations of Christianity observe Lent differently, but the season’s three core pillars are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

During Ramadan, practising Muslims don’t eat or drink between sunset and sunrise for 29 or 30 days. When the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal called iftar.

According to the latest census results from Statistics Canada, more than 44 per cent of Calgary’s population is Christian. Of those, about 20 per cent are Catholic.

Meanwhile, 7.4 per cent of Calgary’s population is Muslim, making it the city’s second-most practised religion, as well as the second-most across Canada.

“I hope this opportunity provides a springboard to some deeper connection amongst our communities,” Dowdeswell said. “It’s good to get outside of our buildings, to visit one another and to have face-to-face conversations.”

Imam Syed Soharwardy of the Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly echoed that sentiment.

“I’m very happy that this coincidence brought us together as a people of two different faiths,” he said. “Definitely, it shows how much commonality there is between Christianity and Islam. Yes, we do have differences, but there is more in common.”

The two monotheistic faiths focus on similar principles, both during these holy observances and as a whole.

“This fasting, whether in Ramadan by Muslims or in Lent by Christians, it is for the pleasure of God,” Soharwardy said.

Ramadan culminates in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, while Lent ends with Easter.

Britain’s Got Talent returns tonight for the 2026 series – but Bruno Tonioli won’t be on the judging panel.

Instead, he’s been replaced by musician, YouTuber and former professional boxer KSI on a permanent basis, after he previously appeared as a guest judge.

The former Strictly Come Dancing judge hopped, skipped, and jumped from the BBC show over to the ITV reality competition series in 2023, where he took over for David Walliams, ultimately featuring in three seasons.

Alesha Dixon has been on the show since 2012, while both Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell have been on the show since it began in 2007.

The professional dancer, 69, had never watched the Ant and Dec-helmed talent competition before he came on board as part of the panel alongside Cowell, Holden, and Dixon, but quickly found his feet. So why did he decide to leave?

Why did Bruno Tonioli quit Britain’s Got Talent?

Speaking to his followers, Tonioli confirmed that his exit was due to scheduling conflicts with Dancing With The Stars in the US, which he has been involved in since 2005.

In a statement, Bruno said: ‘After three incredible series, I’ve sadly had to walk away from a job which has opened my eyes to so much incredible talent and step down as a judge on BGT.

‘And whilst I look forward to filming a new series of Dancing with the Stars in the US, I will miss the chaos and joy that BGT brings, as well as all the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege of working with.

‘They truly are a brilliant team who make brilliant television, and I know KSI will be a fantastic judge too, as he’s already proven this year.’

Fellow DWTS judge Derek Hough joked in the comments: ‘You’re all ours. Muahahahah.’ He is also joined by Carrie Ann Inaba and hosts  Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough on the show.

Why can’t Bruno Tolioni do Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars?

Britain’s Got Talent will resume filming this year, with the next season launching on ITV in 2026. Meanwhile, the next season of DWTS starts on September 16 for season 34.

Bruno’s exit was first reported in July when The Sun shared that it was looking difficult to juggle both shows for him.

Last year, KSI stood in for Bruno for some auditions in order for him to make it over to the States for Dancing With The Stars.

This year, after auditions were rescheduled to autumn, the clash became simply unavoidable.

The departure echoes similar reasons for leaving Strictly a few years ago, after trying to balance both shows, both sides of the Atlantic became increasingly difficult.

He told Daily Mail at the time: ‘There is no animosity, it was a mutual decision with both of us saying, ‘Listen, this is not going to work like it used to.’

‘I just couldn’t do the flying anymore. I don’t know how I survived that schedule. To be honest, it’s a miracle.’

Celebrating his promotion, KSI (one of the sidemen boasting over 25 million subscribers on YouTube) said: ‘I’m so grateful and happy to be a part of the Britain’s Got Talent team for another season. I had such a good time last year, and I can’t wait to see some more top talent.

‘I’m full of energy, ready to go, and can’t wait to make this the most entertaining BGT season ever. Let’s do this.’

Not only is KSI popular among the younger demographic, but it was his golden buzzer recipient, magician Harry Moulding, who ultimately swept to victory in the latest season.

An earlier version of this article was originally published on September 3 2025.

Britain’s Got Talent returns tonight at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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The Department of Government Efficiency’s release of years of anonymous, open-source Medicaid data was hailed by former DOGE chief Elon Musk as a transparency win that will make fraud “easy to find.” But turning internet sleuthing into prosecutions could prove far harder for the Justice Department— and legally messy.

Prosecutors and privacy experts warn the leap from anonymous tips to a courtroom case runs through three choke points: patient privacy, proof standards and the uneven quality of state-reported Medicaid data.

The DOGE data will include aggregate-level information about providers, claims, and other general information, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Senior Trump administration officials have stressed that any information released will be done in accordance with federal privacy laws, in order to avoid identifying individuals or sharing private medical information. 

The release comes as the Justice Department ramps up healthcare fraud enforcement, particularly targeting schemes involving Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded programs. Its healthcare fraud “strike force” now operates across 25 federal districts and has brought charges against roughly 5,000 individuals, according to information shared with Fox News Digital.

FLORIDA EXECS SENTENCED IN $233M OBAMACARE FRAUD THAT TARGETED HOMELESS, HURRICANE VICTIMS

Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated a “historic deal” with Northwestern University on Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

But before the Justice Department can chase down new leads, it may have to sort through mountains of flawed data.

Information shared by DOGE in its early days may be imperfect due to its reliance on state data submitted through the Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System, or T-MSIS — a system that has struggled with data quality and reporting issues that vary widely from state to state. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is actively working to improve state compliance.

There are open questions as to how the federal government might seek to retroactively “claw back” Medicaid reimbursements from states, in the event fraud is detected.

Others have cautioned that investigations could be hindered by new or thorny legal challenges — including privacy concerns, statute of limitations questions and evidentiary hurdles.

The emphasis on healthcare fraud reflects a broader enforcement priority for Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who built her prosecutorial profile in Florida cracking down on opioids, drug trafficking, and so-called “pill mills.”

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are seen at the Oval Office. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

That enforcement posture has translated into expanded resources for federal prosecutors, particularly within the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit. Formed in 2007, the unit has grown in scope and funding in recent years as officials confront increasingly complex and large-scale fraud schemes.

The unit has benefited from the creation of its data analytics team in 2017 and the newly announced healthcare fraud data “fusion center” late last year. The center draws on DOJ’s criminal and fraud divisions, the FBI and outside agencies, including HHS-OIG, to leverage cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other analytics tools to more quickly identify and prosecute sweeping healthcare fraud in the public and private sectors, at a rate and scope that would have been unimaginable just years ago.

A Justice Department official with knowledge of the unit’s operations told Fox News Digital that the effort allows prosecutors to identify so-called “outlier” providers earlier.

“It’s an area of work that’s not only reactive prosecutions — but proactive prosecutions, using data analytics,” this person said. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche  and FBI Director Kash Pate, speaks during a news conference.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The new data analytics have been crucial to helping DOJ develop and prosecute widespread instances of healthcare fraud cases, as well as major prescription drug cases.   

One official pointed to the recent conviction of a California telehealth company founder and CEO who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegally prescribing and distributing roughly 40 million Adderall pills, a Schedule II controlled substance, over the internet using false and fraudulent information.

The tools the Justice Department used in that case were critical in quickly identifying the $100 million scheme.

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The Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit announced the largest-ever national healthcare fraud takedown in its history in 2025, securing an estimated $15 billion in losses and forfeitures and returning a record $560 million to the public.

MILAN — Sidney Crosby skated Saturday morning with Team Canada, but no determination has been made yet on his status for the gold medal game Sunday against Team USA, coach Jon Cooper said.

Team Canada closed its practice to reporters, so there was no chance to see what Crosby looked like on the ice or with whom he skated with.

“I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Cooper said. “We’re gonna meet tonight and have a determination of what’s gonna happen tomorrow. He won’t put himself in harm’s way and he’s not gonna put the team in harm’s way. Obviously, we’d love to have him. That determination will be made tonight.”

Cooper said Crosby will not dress in a limited role, or to serve as an inspiration, a la Victor Hedman in Sweden’s quarterfinal game.

“It’s too important,” Cooper said. “We don’t want to have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player that could be capable of helping. You never know if guys are gonna get hurt in the game. He wouldn’t want to do that either.”

He also fielded a question about whether it was allowed for Crosby to be behind the bench as a de facto assistant coach, saying he didn’t know, but it won’t happen.

Cooper did confirm that Canada will be without defenseman Josh Morrissey, who suffered an upper-body injury in the first game of the tournament.

2026 WINTER OLYMPICS

He deflected when asked whether Morrissey — who practiced fully before Canada’s preliminary-round finale against France and looked set to return — suffered a setback.

“Josh, in the end, he just wouldn’t be able to perform at what he could,” Cooper said. “We made the decision.”