Putin’s heavy crackdown on light dissent

Plus, a reporter's battle with "mild" Omicron, a food fight in the snack aisle and six ways the federal budget could impact affordable housing. [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Slap-happy stage-crasher Will Smith has been [banned from the Oscars for 10 years](. First Up is still debating whether to revoke his free email subscription. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Handout RUSSIA [Even quiet dissent is a crime in Putin's Russia]( Over 300 citizens have been arrested under post-war laws that silence Vladimir Putin's critics. One person was charged for simply holding branches painted blue and gold like Ukraine’s flag. While a food blogger likened her punishment to a badge of honour, friend of First Up Allan Woods details [the chilling effect these authoritative measures have had on Russian society](. Rene Johnston / Toronto Star OMICRON [A Star reporter puts Omicron's myth of mildness to bed]( First came the text from her friend: COVID-19 positive. Soon, the virus dragged Jenna Moon on a roller-coaster of symptoms. Some were expected, like her scratchy throat, headache, fatigue and coughs. Others were entirely strange, underscoring that every case of "mild Omicron" is different. Jenna walks us through her experience, from [the burning pain radiating in her hips to the "white noise buzzing" under her skin](. Toronto Star File Photo FOOD [The inside story about why you can't buy Doritos at Loblaws]( There’s a tense standoff in the snack aisle. When Frito-Lay, the owner of brands like Doritos and Ruffles, tried to raise its prices, Loblaw Companies Ltd. balked. Then the snack food giant cut the grocer off, Rosa Saba reports. As supply chain issues intensify and food prices rise, the grocer-supplier relationship has only gotten worse. The chips are down and [you may never find a bag of Cheetos at No Frills again](. Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star STAR EXCLUSIVE [Ensuring a bridge blockade never happens again]( Canada and its southern neighbour are securing key border crossings to prevent future disruptions, U.S. Ambassador David L. Cohen told the Star. The ambassador also said that while the "Freedom Convoy" was sparked by opposition to vaccine mandates, many top organizers harboured "a desire to overthrow the government." For more insight, plus [the one word Cohen was "authorized" to use]( to describe Canada’s use of the Emergencies Act, here’s Tonda MacCharles. The Canadian Press HOUSING [How the federal budget impacts housing in Toronto]( The new budget will see Canada build 100,000 more affordable homes, limit foreign buying and curtail house flipping. However, solving housing affordability in the GTA won’t be that simple, and expert opinions differ on how effective these measures will be. Victoria Gibson, Tess Kalinowski and Donovan Vincent outline [six ways the federal budget could affect housing costs in Toronto and beyond](. POV Bob Hepburn: [How many billions is Doug Ford spending to buy your vote]( My $395 cheque arrived in the mail this week. Althia Raj: Chrystia Freeland tightens the purse strings in a bid to be seen as a [sensible economic manager](. Rosie DiManno: It was only a game, but yesterday meant a lot after [all the Blue Jays have been through]( over the past 1,107 days. Rick Salutin: Miss the feel-good union story of the year? [Don't expect the inevitable movie to hit Amazon Prime](. Shree Paradkar: [One word in a new UN report]( offers a ray of hope in the fight against climate change. Vinay Menon: [One reader's act of kindness]( made me the third-ever owner of The Jacket — just in time for the Blue Jays opener. DRINK THIS AFP via Getty Images Conscientious connoisseurs, Carolyn Evans Hammond has your back with four great wines that’ll help you do some good. Take Rosewood Estate's Night Moves: run by a Ukrainian family, this small Ontario winery has spearheaded donations for humanitarian efforts. Here are [other bottles you can feel especially good about enjoying](. Thanks for reading. Have some Night Moves later and break out your inner Bob Seger. Still trying to lose some awkward teenage blues? Let the First Up team know how you plan to do so at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_117202), and Allan Woods will see you back here tomorrow. [The Star]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](