World Headlines: Inside rescue efforts after a massive quake hit Turkey and Syria

First Up

By Manuela Vega

Good morning. Insiders say Justin Trudeau’s about to make his “best offer” on health funding. Here’s what we know.

Here’s the latest on the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, alleged hospital leadership abuses and the condo market.

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Rami al Sayed/AFP via Getty Images

world

An earthquake in Turkey and Syria has killed 5,000 people

Rescuers are racing to find survivors amid the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeast Turkey and Syria on Monday. Despite there being 24,400 emergency personnel on the ground in Turkey, according to the country’s disaster management agency, efforts have been spread thin by the immense scope of the damage, with nearly 200 aftershocks and temperatures below freezing, The Associated Press reports. Here’s what we know about the impact and ongoing rescue efforts.

By the numbers: Turkey’s vice president reported the death toll in the country above 3,400 with approximately 21,00 injured. In Syria, the death count has risen to around 1,600 with more than 3,600 injured.
Go deeper: Here’s how poor building infrastructure in Turkey set the stage for widespread destruction.
More: Authorities in Syria fear the death toll will continue to climb as rescuers search for survivors among metal and concrete in a region afflicted by the 12-year civil war and refugee crisis.

Metroland File Photo

health care

A probe into allegations of leadership abuses at Trillium Health Partners ended last year — and it’s still not public

In letters authored by their lawyers, an anonymous group of physicians accused hospital leaders at Trillium Health Partners (THP) of using tactics to intimidate doctors. Hospital leaders took actions that led to doctors being silenced, taking medical leaves of absence or leaving the hospital system altogether, the physicians said. As a result of the allegations, the Ministry of Health appointed an independent third-party to investigate. But where is the final report? The Star has learned it was submitted to the ministry last fall. Megan Ogilvie reports on the contradicting information about when the report will be made public.

Context: According to provincial law, the minister of health has an obligation to make such reports public.
Word from THP: In an email, a THP spokesperson told the Star the hospital organization has “not yet received, nor have been briefed on a final report.”
Go deeper: “The lack of response, and the lack of disclosure of the report, contrary to their obligations under the Public Hospitals Act, starts to raise concerns about the integrity of the process,” said a lawyer representing the physicians.

René Johnston/The Star

unreal estate

Across Ontario, the investor is taking over the condo market

A whopping 36 per cent of Toronto condos are owned by investors, according to a new Statistics Canada report. The city is headed in the direction of Manhattan, London and Shanghai, where the downtown becomes “a commercial commodity that is rented out,” one expert says. Meanwhile, some smaller markets in Ontario are seeing investors owning more than 80 per cent of condos. Across the province, almost 42 per cent of condo properties are owned by investors, Clarrie Feinstein reports. Take a look at the makeup of investment properties across the Toronto region.

Context: The data is from early 2020, before prices soared by more than 50 per cent across the country as interest rates reached historic lows.
Go deeper: “Investors also dictate what type of condo gets built, as most want something that is small and inexpensive that they can turn into short-term rentals,” one mortgage broker said. “Investors drive this ultra small product development with these tiny suites, making it difficult for families to move in and raise children.”

WHAT ELSE

A Toronto youth shelter is sounding the alarm about a feared April closure — raising questions about the futures of 130 young people.

A Liberal MP received death threats, and the suspect was arrested. Take a closer look at the hostility several federal politicians are facing.

An old problem has returned in Afghanistan: what if the Taliban asks for your hand in marriage?

An Ontario judge was wrong to rely on anti-vaccine misinformation, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

When was your last COVID shot? Inside experts’ concerns over plunging vaccine uptake.

Canada is extending and expanding work permits for Hong Kongers.

Loblaw took a defensive tone on Twitter amid a social media storm over soaring Canadian food prices.

If you really wanted to help Toronto, you’d buy a new home — or so suggests John Tory’s 2023 budget.

Council’s quest to find new taxes to pay for city expenses is eternal. So is its failure.

Toronto will see mild, wet weather this week, days after a polar vortex.

These artists brought a major wow factor to the Grammys red carpet (and you have to see Shania Twain’s look).

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake rattled New York and parts of Ontario. Residents shared videos on social media.

ICYMI

Lance McMillan/The Star

They paid top dollar for pre-construction homes at the market peak. Now their builder is selling the same models for far less.

CLOSE-UP

Steve Russell/The Star

MOSS PARK: Some residents said they were given no notice that Metrolinx would be cutting down trees this past weekend. After 61 mature trees were removed to make way for a new Ontario Line station, Moss Park area residents held a funeral.

Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I’ll see you back here tomorrow.

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