World Headlines: The Ontario Liberals search for a leader takes a surprising turn

First Up

By Ashley Okwuosa

Good morning. The Memphis police chief has officially disbanded the unit that fatally beat Tyre Nichols. Here’s the latest.

MUST READS

Baderkhan Ahmad/The Associated Press

WORLD

Canada has planned for years to handle returnees from the Islamic State. Now, the plan has to work

Five or so years ago, some psychologists began preparing for the imminent return of young Canadians who left the country to join the fighting in Syria and Iraq. With a government deal in place to bring home Canadian women and children, experts will soon put their reintegration plans in motion. From looking for legal breaches to offering psychological and medical support, Allan Woods provides an in-depth look into what rehabilitation for Canadian returnees from the Islamic State will entail.

Richard Lautens/Toronto Star

PROVINCIAL POLITICS

Ontario Liberals are looking to another party for a new leader

Some veteran Ontario Liberals are calling on Green Leader Mike Schreiner to cross the floor and seek their party’s leadership, reports Robert Benzie. In an open letter to Schreiner to be released today, 39 Liberal activists plead with the Guelph MPP to consider entering their undeclared leadership contest. While Schreiner said he hasn’t seen the letter, he reiterated his desire not to run. With at least four current Liberal MPPs and MPs actively campaigning to be leader, here’s why some party members say the plea to Schreiner undermines the Ontario Liberal party.

John Rennison/Hamilton Spectator file photo

HAMILTON

Most Hamilton apartments are unaffordable to those earning less than $65,000

A new report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) found that most vacant apartments in the city were only affordable to those earning a yearly salary of $65,000 or more. CMHC deems a rental reasonable if it costs 30 per cent or less of an individual’s income. With more student renters, a jump in full-time earners, and skyrocketing mortgage rates, competition for a limited supply is forcing some tenants to spend upwards of 80 per cent of their income on rent. Fallon Hewitt explains why many are calling on the government to fix what could become an “untenable” situation for Hamilton residents.

HO/The Canadian Press file photo

BUSINESS

Dialogue co-founder Cherif Habib on virtual care and why he doesn’t want to compete with Canada’s health-care system

When Cherif Habib co-founded Dialogue, a virtual health-care and wellness platform, in 2016, seeing a care provider on a screen was still a novelty. Now, telehealth is simply a synonym for the doctor’s office. But how does Dialogue differ from other virtual providers? Habib tells Brennan Doherty that Dialogue offers benefits plans to organizations or insurance companies, who pay for subscriptions. In this Star Q&A, Habib shares how Dialogue offers flexibility for health professionals, how the recession could impact the business, and why it sees itself as a complement to the Canadian health-care system.

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BEAUTY STANDARDS

Hollywood’s wild Ozempic saga is turning into a celebrity witch hunt

Ozempic, the self-injected drug designed to treat diabetes, has become Hollywood’s latest strategy for weight loss, writes Sarah Laing. Doctors willingly prescribe it off-label even though it’s in short supply for people who actually need it. Our collective obsession with women’s appearances has led to a witch hunt over who has or hasn’t taken Ozempic, with truth-seeking hoards sniffing behind every door in L.A. While its widespread use is dangerous, so is calling out every celebrity suspected of using the drug. Here’s why both are considered two sides of a very patriarchal coin.

UP CLOSE

R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star

St. James Town Steak & Chops is ushering in a new era of business without compromising its original character. David Silverberg shares a glimpse of how the hybrid butcher/grocer, which specializes in antibiotic-free meat with a rotating menu of prepared food, has remained a fixture in the community for over 50 years.

TRY THIS

Steve Russell/Toronto Star

At the Golden Peacock on Dundas St. West, cocktails are a major part of the overall dining experience, and the drink’s menu is bursting with options and fresh takes on classic cocktails. So where do the folks known for great drinks go when they want to be taken care of? They tell Briony Smith where to find the top five cocktail bars in Toronto.

Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca, and Manuela will see you back here Monday.

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