How Trump's return could be a disaster for Canada

Plus, a rising death toll in Israel and Palestine, private mortgages and more [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. Irrespective of turkey, pumpkin pie and all the fixings, the Star’s Editorial Board writes that [Canadians have much to be thankful for](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images middle east [The death toll hits 1,100 as Israel retaliates, attempting to dislodge Hamas from Gaza]( Two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, Israeli forces are still working to drive members of the militant group from southern towns. Israel has reported at least 700 deaths while Palestine’s death toll has surpassed 400 — with thousands more injured, the Associated Press reports. Furthermore, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group are claiming to have abducted more than 130 Israelis in their bid to orchestrate a prisoner swap. [Here’s how the situation has developed since yesterday](. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images politics [A second term for Donald Trump could be “an absolute disaster” for Canada]( Despite his litany of criminal charges, Donald Trump remains the frontrunner for the Republican Party’s nomination for president, setting up a possible rematch with Joe Biden in next fall’s general election. Sources tell Alex Ballingall that Ottawa is not actively preparing for the possibility of Trump’s return to office — and that’s a huge mistake, according to Bruce Heyman, the former U.S. ambassador to Canada. [Here are the challenges and threats experts say Canada must start anticipating immediately](. Lance McMillan/The Star refugees [When Toronto’s shelters turned refugees away, churches opened their doors — now donations are drying up]( When Dominion Church International first welcomed refugees on July 17, parishioners expected they would only stay a few nights. Months later, more unhoused guests arrive every day, Emily Fagan reports. A pastor at a partnering church says it costs at least $13,000 a day to house and feed the refugees, and the city has contributed just $150,000 — enough to cover about 11 days. [With no long-term solution in sight and donations tailing off, organizers fear the harsh reality that winter brings](. Ramon Ferreira/Toronto Star photo illustration real estate [Thinking of taking out a private mortgage? You should probably look elsewhere]( Once a tool on the financial fringe, a red-hot housing market has Canadians increasingly turning toward private mortgage lenders to finance their home purchases, Joshua Chong reports. However, compared to traditional mortgages, the private route carries massive risk — especially for those unable to pass a big bank or credit union’s stress test to begin with. [Still, experts say there are some would-be homebuyers that should consider the benefits of a private mortgage](. Richard Lautens/The Star courts [How a retired cop learned his friend was the killer in two 40-year-old cold cases]( When Joseph George Sutherland invited Randy Cota to his home last November, nothing had prepared the retired OPP officer for what happened next: Sutherland confessed to his fishing buddy that he raped and murdered two women in Toronto in 1983 — and the police appeared to be rapidly closing in. In the wake of two shocking guilty pleas this week, [Cota walks Betsy Powell through the final moments of Sutherland’s “quiet, kind of nice” life as a free man](. UP CLOSE Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck The Toronto Raptors tipped off the Darko Rajaković era in style, earning the first-time head coach a 112-99 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings in Vancouver. [Doug Smith recaps how the bench boss’ new offensive philosophy paid off on Sunday](. plan THIS Mikita Karasiou/Unsplash Although composed mostly by Croatia but with slivers Italy and Slovenia, locals say the Istrian peninsula has a distinct culture all of its own, Tim Johnson writes. With Croatia recently joining the Schengen zone, [there’s never been a better time to road-trip through the region](. Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_201276), and Manuela will see you back here tomorrow. 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]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](