
John Tory's eyeing a return to city hall + Internal data shows wide gaps in pregnancy rates at fertility clinics
Good morning. This is the Wednesday, June 18 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.
It looks like we're in for an extra-hot start to summer in Toronto. Here's what you need to know.
And here's the latest on John Tory's potential return to city hall, what data reveals about Ontario fertility clinics, and why a Toronto man is stranded in Iran.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
DON'T MISS
John Tory is weighing a city hall comeback
Insiders say Tory is eyeing a 2026 mayoral run. Here's what we know.
Edward Keenan: Could we see Olivia Chow vs. John Tory in next year's Toronto mayoral race? Here's what it might look like
Mayor John Tory steps down from office after admitting he had relationship with staffer
Internal data reveals stark contrasts in pregnancy rates at fertility clinics
Here's what the data — which patients don't have access to — reveals about clinics' success rates.
Disturbing errors at Ontario fertility clinics destroy couples' baby dreams years after province abandoned oversight plans
This Toronto man is stranded in Iran
Hossein Khodabakhsh travelled to Tehran to visit his sick mother. Now he's stuck.
The Latest: Israel strikes Tehran for a sixth day as Iranian casualties rise
WHAT ELSE
French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Tuesday.
LUDOVIC MARIN AFP via Getty Images
World leaders were unable to convince Donald Trump to sign a joint G7 declaration of support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take questions from international journalists.
Donald Trump said Canada will get a 'much better deal' if it becomes the 51st American state.
David Olive: National unity is at stake in the war of wills between Carney's energy dreams and Smith's pipeline populism.
This formerly homeless man is teaching kids how to heal from trauma — with improv.
The cop who assaulted Brampton teen Chadd Facey is set to be sentenced today.
A gang of 'stupid criminals' allegedly tried to steal a car from Doug Ford's driveway.
Meanwhile, Ford voiced support for a man who allegedly shot a gun to ward off attempted carjackers.
Eglinton Crosstown LRT train operations have been transferred to TTC. Here's what comes next.
A real estate investment firm bought an aging, 'luxury' apartment building in midtown. Here's what happened next.
Wine sales at the LCBO fell as U.S. imports to Canada plunged 94 per cent.
Shellene Drakes-Tull: Here's why that crass sticker on your bumper can snowball into something darker.
POV
The Blue Jays were maligned for sending Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to the Diamondbacks. Two years later, both teams are happy with the trade.
CLOSE UP
Members of the Florida Panthers celebrate their victory over the Edmonton Oilers with a final score of 5-1 at Amerant Bank Arena Tuesday.
Mike Carlson Getty Images
SUNRISE: The Florida Panthers celebrate their second straight Stanley Cup victory. The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final last night. Here's Bruce Arthur's take on another loss for a Canadian team.
Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I will see you back here tomorrow.
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"PM Modi always likes to come to Odisha": CM Majhi on PM's declining invitation of Trump, citing prior commitment in Odisha
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 21 (ANI): Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that he politely declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump, citing prior commitment in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that the PM always likes to come to his state. 'He always likes to come to Odisha. He spoke to Donald Trump during the G7, and he invited the PM for a visit to America. PM Modi had already given us the program and told us he would come on June 20... He likes to come to Odisha, and he starts his programs with the chant of 'Jai Jagannath, '' Majhi told ANI. Speaking at an event in Bhubaneswar on Friday, PM Modi said that he had politely declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit the United States on his way back from Canada after the G7 Summit, choosing instead to travel to Odisha -- the 'land of Lord Jagannath,' which he called more important. 'At a time when Odisha's BJP government is completing one year, the people of Odisha are preparing for the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. He is our 'prerna' inspiration and 'aaradhya' worship,' PM Modi said. 'Just two days ago, I was in Canada for the G7 summit. During that time, US President Donald Trump called me and invited me with great insistence. I told the President of America, Thank you for the invitation, but I need to go to the land of the Lord. So I politely declined his invitation. Your love has drawn me to the land of the Lord,' he said. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that his government aims to make the State a USD 500 billion economy by 2036, adding that the government would cooperate with the Centre to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat. 'We will cooperate with the centre to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat... Our GDP is more than the national average... We have prepared a vision document for 2036... We aim to make Odisha a USD 500 billion economy by 2036. A double-digit growth rate is required for this,' Majhi told ANI. Majhi commended Prime Minister Modi's leadership and highlighted contributions to the state's development. 'In January, PM Modi urged the investors to participate in the Utkarsh Odisha 2025 conclave. We received proposals worth Rs 17 lakh crores in just two days, which is a record. This happened because the investors trusted you. We are working to make Odisha the industrial hub of eastern India...,' he said. On Operation Sindoor, Majhi lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stating, 'Under your leadership, the terrorist has been eliminated. Operation Sindoor was not just an operation; it was a symbol of the trust of mothers and sisters. With Operation Sindoor, India rises to a new role, one that does not bow. Earlier, people said, 'Modi hai toh mumkin hai'; now they say, 'Modi hai toh desh surakshit hai.' Under your leadership, development is touching new heights. In 11 years, all sectors have made progress, and India has become the world's fourth-largest economy.' PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore in Bhubaneswar. These projects will cover critical sectors, including drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line. (ANI)