Good morning. Western intelligence agencies are assessing what a Canadian accused of spying at NATO may have accessed during internships at several major institutions. Plus, a health-care hiring boom in Alberta and Ontario is propping up Canada's job market — but experts warn that doesn't necessarily mean better patient care. And, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party could be on the verge of taking state power.
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(Nepal army/The Associated Press)
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2 trapped workers rescued from hydropower tunnel 9 days after Nepal floods
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Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel Friday, raising hopes of reaching a dozen others believed to be trapped nine days after catastrophic floods devastated towns and swept away villages.
What's happening: The two men were rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A construction site. The rescued workers were Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha’s office said in a statement.
Nepalese army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet said one of the survivors told rescuers that more people were still alive inside the tunnel.
– This section compiled by Andrew Davidson |
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press; icn-rcc.ca)
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What did she see? The intelligence scramble to retrace an accused spy's footsteps
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Western intelligence agencies are examining what a Canadian intern accused of espionage may have accessed during placements at NATO and other major institutions.
What's happening: Biwei Zhang was arrested in Belgium in July on suspicion of espionage and communicating with a foreign criminal entity. A CBC News investigation suggests she previously worked at Statistics Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency and the World Trade Organization. CSIS says it is co-ordinating a federal damage assessment, while European agencies are reviewing what information Zhang may have seen and whether others were involved.
Why it matters: Investigators are looking beyond how Zhang received security clearance to determine whether sensitive information, systems or infrastructure were exposed. Experts say an insider with legitimate access can be especially difficult to detect, particularly if working with outside hackers or handlers. Belgian authorities have not said who Zhang allegedly spied for, though European media reports have pointed to China.
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Health-care hiring has propped up Canada's job market. Will patients see a difference?
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A hiring boom in Alberta and Ontario health care is helping drive national job growth, but experts say more hiring does not necessarily mean better care for patients.
What's happening: Alberta and Ontario have added more than 100,000 health-care jobs since the early stages of the U.S. trade war, while employment growth elsewhere has been much weaker. Since March 2025, health care and social assistance added nearly 133,000 jobs nationwide — more than all other sectors combined. Much of that growth has been concentrated in hospitals and services for seniors.
Why it matters: Economists say the surge makes Canada's overall labour market look stronger than it otherwise would. But health policy experts caution that not all new jobs are front-line positions, and higher spending does not automatically improve access or outcomes. Ultimately, they say, the test will be whether patients see shorter waits and better care.
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