Michael Kovrig breaks his silence

Plus, the looming threat of the “super pig,” Toronto’s indie theatre boom and picking the perfect clementines [Get This Offer]( --> [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning, and apologies for the late arrival this morning; we had a technical issue that blocked us from deploying this until now.  MUST READS Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images TWO MICHAELS [Michael Kovrig says he’s not a spy despite Michael Spavor’s reported claims]( Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig is breaking his silence over recent reports that fellow detainee Michael Spavor is threatening to sue the Canadian government. The pair suffered a nearly three-year detention in China from 2018-2021, Stephanie Levitz writes. Spavor’s reported forthcoming case cites Kovrig’s “covert intelligence work,” [contradicting the widely maintained position that their incarceration was a retaliatory move against Canada](. Erik Marmor/Getty Images ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR [How Day 1 of the Israel-Hamas hostage-prisoner swap unfolded]( In the early hours of the fragile, four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, eruptions of joy rang out as families reunited. The early ledger: 13 Israelis traded for 39 Palestinians — all women and children — plus a separate deal for 10 Thais and one Filipino hostage. Much-needed aid has also been allowed to enter Gaza. As Allan Woods writes, for many, [it’s been “the first good reason to thank a God of any form or faith” since the war began](. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry NATURE [Canada’s wild “super pig” population is primed to explode; Ontario might be on boar-owed time]( Canada is dangerously high on the hog. A hybrid of domesticated pigs and Eurasian wild boars, the feral hogs are insatiable, indiscriminate eaters — to the tune of $2.5 billion in annual crop damages in the U.S. alone. University of Saskatchewan professor Ryan Brook tells Kevin Jiang their environmental impact is akin to a bomb going off. [Here’s why Canada’s prairies are a cautionary tale for Ontario](. Giovanni Capriotti/For the Toronto Star CULTURE [Inside Toronto’s indie movie theatre renaissance]( Toronto’s independent repertory theatres, like Roncesvalles’ Revue, Bloor West’s Paradise and the Beach’s Fox, are in the midst of a post-pandemic renaissance. Surprisingly, insiders tell Corey Atad that it’s largely younger moviegoers leading the charge to revisit old classics like 1974’s “Chinatown” (or modern bombs like 2019’s “Cats”). [Please grab your seat; Toronto’s indie theatre boom has just started](. Cristina Quicler/AFP via Getty Images SPORTS [“It all kind of happened really fast” for Marina Stakusic, Canada’s latest teen tennis star]( It’s been a life-changing month for Mississauga’s Marina Stakusic. Entering 2023’s Billie Jean King Cup as largely unknown, the 18-year-old rewarded her coaches’ trust with a series of statement wins, helping Canada win the title for the first time, Mark Colley reports. [Here’s what you need to know about the newest star on Canada’s tennis scene](. BUY THIS Richard Lautens/Toronto Star For many Canadians, December means peak clementine season. Jake Edmiston gets to the root of [how connoisseurs pick the perfect crate](. Thanks for reading, and sorry again for the late edition. 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_204421), and I will see you back here tomorrow. BLACK FRIDAY SALE Now only $39.99 for 1 year [Get This Offer]( --> 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](