Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has broken ranks with U.S. President Donald Trump by saying the trade war with Canada needs to end.

In a 30-second campaign ad shared on social media on Wednesday, Rogers said: “Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now. As Michigan senator, I’ll bring both parties together to lower your prices.”

He also made a reference to Canadian brewing company Labatt, saying: “Drinking a Labatt and watching the Red Wings, man, it just doesn’t get any more Michigan than that.”

Though the former congressman doesn’t mention Trump by name, the ad is a clear reference to the 50 per cent tariffs Trump imposed on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods in August, as well as the retaliatory tariffs Canada imposed on U.S. products the following month.

Prices are too high and Canada is not our enemy. We need to end the tariff war — now.

In the Senate, I’ll bring both parties together to lower costs and put Michigan families first. pic.twitter.com/D5DLkBBdpn

— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) October 7, 2026

And it’s not the first time Rogers has publicly disagreed with Trump on key issues in recent weeks. Last month, he said the war in Iran needs to “end quickly” in another campaign video focused on bringing down energy costs.

In August, he cautioned that tariffs are “necessary, but are not a one-size-fits-all solution” in a press release as part of his campaign.

Trump was asked about Rogers’ latest campaign video during a press conference in the Oval Office on Wednesday. “I viewed him as saying that he thinks Canada should make a deal,” the U.S. president said .

Michigan is one of the states hit hardest by the trade war between the two countries, due to the state’s automakers ​relying on integrated cross-border supply chains. According to the Canadian government , Michigan exports $21.2 billion in goods to Canada annually, and imports $43.5 billion. It adds that 333 Canadian-owned businesses employ 40,300 workers in Michigan.

Meanwhile, Michigan has become a key battleground for the upcoming U.S. midterms and is currently considered a toss-up for the Senate race by The Cook Political Report .

Rogers is running against Democrat candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has also focused on the trade war with Canada as part of his campaign.

Responding to Rogers’ recent video, El-Sayed wrote on X: “Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike. You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.”

Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike. You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.

Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running.

Not a serious person. https://t.co/2VwgB8FNf4

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) October 7, 2026

The Democrats need to gain four more seats to win back the Senate majority in the upcoming mid-term elections on Nov. 3.

Canada’s Industry Minister, ⁠Melanie Joly, has previously been open about the fact that Canadian counter-tariffs were in part designed to “target states” and “put political pressure” on the Trump administration.

• Minneapolis mayor sends message to Canadians boycotting U.S.: ‘We don’t think of you as the 51st state’
• Map shows the U.S. states hit hardest by Trump’s trade war with Canada

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has broken ranks with U.S. President Donald Trump by saying the trade war with Canada needs to end.

In a 30-second campaign ad shared on social media on Wednesday, Rogers said: “Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now. As Michigan senator, I’ll bring both parties together to lower your prices.”

He also made a reference to Canadian brewing company Labatt, saying: “Drinking a Labatt and watching the Red Wings, man, it just doesn’t get any more Michigan than that.”

Though the former congressman doesn’t mention Trump by name, the ad is a clear reference to the 50 per cent tariffs Trump imposed on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods in August, as well as the retaliatory tariffs Canada imposed on U.S. products the following month.

Prices are too high and Canada is not our enemy. We need to end the tariff war — now.

In the Senate, I’ll bring both parties together to lower costs and put Michigan families first. pic.twitter.com/D5DLkBBdpn

— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) October 7, 2026

And it’s not the first time Rogers has publicly disagreed with Trump on key issues in recent weeks. Last month, he said the war in Iran needs to “end quickly” in another campaign video focused on bringing down energy costs.

In August, he cautioned that tariffs are “necessary, but are not a one-size-fits-all solution” in a press release as part of his campaign.

Trump was asked about Rogers’ latest campaign video during a press conference in the Oval Office on Wednesday. “I viewed him as saying that he thinks Canada should make a deal,” the U.S. president said .

Michigan is one of the states hit hardest by the trade war between the two countries, due to the state’s automakers ​relying on integrated cross-border supply chains. According to the Canadian government , Michigan exports $21.2 billion in goods to Canada annually, and imports $43.5 billion. It adds that 333 Canadian-owned businesses employ 40,300 workers in Michigan.

Meanwhile, Michigan has become a key battleground for the upcoming U.S. midterms and is currently considered a toss-up for the Senate race by The Cook Political Report .

Rogers is running against Democrat candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has also focused on the trade war with Canada as part of his campaign.

Responding to Rogers’ recent video, El-Sayed wrote on X: “Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike. You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.”

Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike. You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.

Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running.

Not a serious person. https://t.co/2VwgB8FNf4

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) October 7, 2026

The Democrats need to gain four more seats to win back the Senate majority in the upcoming mid-term elections on Nov. 3.

Canada’s Industry Minister, ⁠Melanie Joly, has previously been open about the fact that Canadian counter-tariffs were in part designed to “target states” and “put political pressure” on the Trump administration.

• Minneapolis mayor sends message to Canadians boycotting U.S.: ‘We don’t think of you as the 51st state’
• Map shows the U.S. states hit hardest by Trump’s trade war with Canada

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.

OTTAWA — The Carney government should directly target Iran’s leader and his allies with sanctions and legal action to close the “impunity gap” and to ensure that this country doesn’t become a safe haven for repression, a coalition of human rights groups and an all-party group of MPs insisted Wednesday.

Speaking on Parliament Hill on the third anniversary of the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people, the human rights advocates warned that more atrocities in Iran are likely if democratic governments don’t do more to limit the Iranian government’s power.

Irwin Cotler, a former Liberal MP and cabinet minister and now an advocate, told reporters that it’s a critical moment in the battle between human rights and the government of Iran. The government killed an estimated 40,000 protesters and critics over two days in January and has since followed with repressive techniques such as controlling mass communications and detentions, disappearances, torture, rape and more executions.

Cotler, who also faced an Iranian assassination plot for his efforts to call out the regime, said the Iranian regime’s repression tactics extend to other countries, including Canada.

Shilan Mirzaee, a democracy advocate and former political prisoner, held up a photo at the press conference of a young couple who were arrested a month ago, just a couple of days before they were to be married. He was then executed while she remains in prison.

Despite the U.S.-led attacks on Iran over the last seven months, that country is still governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and Ottawa has designated its government a supporter of terrorism.

After tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets earlier this year to protest soaring prices and a weak economy, government soldiers opened fire after demonstrators called for regime change. A widespread brutal crackdown ensued.

Less than two months later, the United States and Israel began large-scale strikes on Iranian facilities, reportedly out of concern about the advance of Iran’s efforts to build nuclear weapons. The early attacks in February killed the previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, the current leader’s father, who had ruled since 1989.

The attacks and the war, which have led to oil supply problems and rising prices, have not ended.

The advocates in Ottawa, which included the Iranian Justice Collective and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, also released a report Wednesday with 12 steps that Canada should take to counter the Iranian regime and stand up for human rights.

Beyond sanctioning the leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and other senior members of the government, the list includes:

• Passing Bill C-219, a private member’s bill to strengthen Canada’s ability to fight corruption and human rights abuses. The proposed legislation has passed second reading in the House of Commons and is now being studied by the foreign affairs committee.
• Sanctions against the “shadow” banking, shipping and other networks used to support repression. That could include using sanctions to freeze and forfeit assets to compensate victims and their families.
• Strengthen anti-money laundering efforts, including going after jurisdictions such as Hong Kong seen as money-laundering hubs.
• Support Iranians’ access to the Internet, which has been restricted by the government.

National Post

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OTTAWA — The Carney government should directly target Iran’s leader and his allies with sanctions and legal action to close the “impunity gap” and to ensure that this country doesn’t become a safe haven for repression, a coalition of human rights groups and an all-party group of MPs insisted Wednesday.

Speaking on Parliament Hill on the third anniversary of the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people, the human rights advocates warned that more atrocities in Iran are likely if democratic governments don’t do more to limit the Iranian government’s power.

Irwin Cotler, a former Liberal MP and cabinet minister and now an advocate, told reporters that it’s a critical moment in the battle between human rights and the government of Iran. The government killed an estimated 40,000 protesters and critics over two days in January and has since followed with repressive techniques such as controlling mass communications and detentions, disappearances, torture, rape and more executions.

Cotler, who also faced an Iranian assassination plot for his efforts to call out the regime, said the Iranian regime’s repression tactics extend to other countries, including Canada.

Shilan Mirzaee, a democracy advocate and former political prisoner, held up a photo at the press conference of a young couple who were arrested a month ago, just a couple of days before they were to be married. He was then executed while she remains in prison.

Despite the U.S.-led attacks on Iran over the last seven months, that country is still governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and Ottawa has designated its government a supporter of terrorism.

After tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets earlier this year to protest soaring prices and a weak economy, government soldiers opened fire after demonstrators called for regime change. A widespread brutal crackdown ensued.

Less than two months later, the United States and Israel began large-scale strikes on Iranian facilities, reportedly out of concern about the advance of Iran’s efforts to build nuclear weapons. The early attacks in February killed the previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, the current leader’s father, who had ruled since 1989.

The attacks and the war, which have led to oil supply problems and rising prices, have not ended.

The advocates in Ottawa, which included the Iranian Justice Collective and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, also released a report Wednesday with 12 steps that Canada should take to counter the Iranian regime and stand up for human rights.

Beyond sanctioning the leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and other senior members of the government, the list includes:

• Passing Bill C-219, a private member’s bill to strengthen Canada’s ability to fight corruption and human rights abuses. The proposed legislation has passed second reading in the House of Commons and is now being studied by the foreign affairs committee.
• Sanctions against the “shadow” banking, shipping and other networks used to support repression. That could include using sanctions to freeze and forfeit assets to compensate victims and their families.
• Strengthen anti-money laundering efforts, including going after jurisdictions such as Hong Kong seen as money-laundering hubs.
• Support Iranians’ access to the Internet, which has been restricted by the government.

National Post

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.

An Air Canada jet was involved in a collision with a jet from Delta Air Lines at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday morning.

The Delta plane was taxiing for departure when its left wingtip clipped the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 875, reported the LA Times .

“The Air Canada flight was being towed when it stopped short of its gate,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The pilot of the Air Canada plane can be heard telling an air traffic controller that they “felt a shudder” and asking if everything looked okay, according to audio captured by LiveATC.net. The Delta pilot informed air traffic control that they were stopping due to an “issue with the wing tip.”

The Delta flight was about to depart for Tokyo Haneda Airport, local TV news station KTLA 5 reported.

The news station obtained aerial footage of the incident via its Sky 5 Telecopter, showing that other planes were operational nearby while ground crews attended to the two aircraft involved. The footage shows part of the Delta plane’s wing dangling on the Air Canada plane’s rear stabilizer, the horizontal fin perpendicular to the tail.

#BreakingNews: A pair of planes appeared to be involved in a minor collision at Los Angeles International Airport late Tuesday morning. https://t.co/gyt1PcApjf pic.twitter.com/8BCUrYlZjc

— KTLA (@KTLA) October 6, 2026

An investigation is ongoing, according to People Magazine . A spokesperson for LAX told PEOPLE: “We are aware of an incident involving a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an Air Canada aircraft on a taxiway at LAX, not a runway. No injuries have been reported, and flights at LAX continue to operate normally. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (were) notified.”

A Delta spokesperson told People that 275 customers and 15 crew members were on board at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

People stated that Air Canada spokesperson Sean Davidson told the publication its aircraft had recently arrived from a Toronto to L.A. flight. He confirmed it was being towed to the gate when “an aircraft operated by another airline made contact with its tail.”

No injuries were reported on the Air Canada plane. The aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and repairs.

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• How 9/11 changed Canadian airport security

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

An Air Canada jet was involved in a collision with a jet from Delta Air Lines at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday morning.

The Delta plane was taxiing for departure when its left wingtip clipped the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 875, reported the LA Times .

“The Air Canada flight was being towed when it stopped short of its gate,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The pilot of the Air Canada plane can be heard telling an air traffic controller that they “felt a shudder” and asking if everything looked okay, according to audio captured by LiveATC.net. The Delta pilot informed air traffic control that they were stopping due to an “issue with the wing tip.”

The Delta flight was about to depart for Tokyo Haneda Airport, local TV news station KTLA 5 reported.

The news station obtained aerial footage of the incident via its Sky 5 Telecopter, showing that other planes were operational nearby while ground crews attended to the two aircraft involved. The footage shows part of the Delta plane’s wing dangling on the Air Canada plane’s rear stabilizer, the horizontal fin perpendicular to the tail.

#BreakingNews: A pair of planes appeared to be involved in a minor collision at Los Angeles International Airport late Tuesday morning. https://t.co/gyt1PcApjf pic.twitter.com/8BCUrYlZjc

— KTLA (@KTLA) October 6, 2026

An investigation is ongoing, according to People Magazine . A spokesperson for LAX told PEOPLE: “We are aware of an incident involving a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an Air Canada aircraft on a taxiway at LAX, not a runway. No injuries have been reported, and flights at LAX continue to operate normally. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (were) notified.”

A Delta spokesperson told People that 275 customers and 15 crew members were on board at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

People stated that Air Canada spokesperson Sean Davidson told the publication its aircraft had recently arrived from a Toronto to L.A. flight. He confirmed it was being towed to the gate when “an aircraft operated by another airline made contact with its tail.”

No injuries were reported on the Air Canada plane. The aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and repairs.

• ‘Curious’ Air Canada IT worker tried to think like a crook to trace how airport gold heist was pulled off
• How 9/11 changed Canadian airport security

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

A Canadian doctor and painter has completed the first official portrait of King Charles III wearing the formal Robe of Estate.

The painting, by Toronto-based physician and artist Suan-Seh Foo , is the first to depict a reigning British monarch wearing those garments since Sir Herbert James Gunn’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II , which hangs in Windsor Castle in England. It is also the first official portrait of Charles III to include the Orb and Sceptre alongside the Crown Imperial.

The painting was commissioned in 2024 by Arthur Joseph LeBlanc, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, on behalf of that province. Approval was received through the offices of the Canadian Secretary to the King, Canada’s senior operational member of the royal household for the monarch. It’s a position held by Donald Booth since 2019.

The portrait will be exhibited at the Stern Pissarro Gallery in London, England, from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31. It will later move to a permanent display at Government House in Halifax.

“We were just delighted to be given such a great piece of portraiture for a government house,” Christopher McCreery, Private Secretary to the current Lieutenant Governor, Mike Savage, told National Post. “So we were quite happy that it would be shown in London to highlight the connection that Canada and Nova Scotia has with the King and with the U.K.”

The oil-on-canvas portrait measures approximately eight and a half feet by six and a half feet and features a carved gold frame dating to the 18th century.

Charles III is shown wearing the uniform of the Royal Regiment of Canada, whose garrison is at Fort York Armoury in Toronto, and of which the King is Colonel-in-chief. Visible in the background is the top of the Halifax Town Clock, built in 1803 on the orders of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria and great-great-great-great-grandfather of the King.

Edward, who served as military commander of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and later as commander-in-chief of British forces in the Maritime Provinces of North America, lived in Halifax between 1794 and 1800.

Of the Town Clock in the painting, McCreery said: “Anyone who knows Halifax, the first thing they say is that’s Halifax. The clock tower is so associated with the city, and also with the Royal Family. So there’s these fun little royal connections that are woven throughout the city, and obviously Dr. Foo has woven them into the portrait as well.”

The portrait also depicts the throne of William IV, currently housed in the Throne Room at St James’s Palace. On the left of the portrait is a rudder bearing the insignia of the Royal Canadian Navy. A bouquet of Mayflowers, the official flower of Nova Scotia, can also be seen on the left of the image near the King’s hand.

Foo held a formal consultation with Ede & Ravenscroft robe makers, who provided samples of velvet, lace and gimp from coronation robes, as well as the elaborate cords and tassels used in the King’s robes. He was also briefed on the technicalities of dressing a monarch for such a ceremony. Captain Nicholas A. Lishchynsky, a member of the Royal Regiment of Canada based at the Fort York Armoury, posed in full uniform to help Foo ensure the details were accurate.

Born in Singapore, Foo is a member of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, a London livery guild dating back to the 12th century, and a Freeman of the City of London . He has previously completed two portraits of Pope Benedict XVI for the Vatican and a 2011 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that hangs in Rhodes House in Oxford. In addition to his artistic pursuits, he directs a not-for-profit clinic in Toronto treating addiction and mental health.

The Robe of Estate is different from the Robe of State in that the latter is worn by the monarch on arrival at Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony, and the former is worn during departure. The Robe of State is crimson or red velvet, while the Robe of Estate is purple silk velvet.

Foo told National Post that his first emotion on completing the painting was “relief.”

“We want to show that we are loyal,” he said of the London showing. “There are Canadians, myself included, who believe in the Crown and believe that this unites the country. We also want to tell the British that this is important, that we matter.”

McCreery said the hope is to have the portrait installed at Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, before Christmas, “so that it will be on display for the New Year’s Levy, which is one of the big events that we hold.” He’s expecting upwards of 700 people to attend.

• Quebec bill exempting legislators from swearing oath to the King to face constitutional challenge
• Seven awkward moments from Trump’s meeting with King Charles in Washington

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.

A Canadian doctor and painter has completed the first official portrait of King Charles III wearing the formal Robe of Estate.

The painting, by Toronto-based physician and artist Suan-Seh Foo , is the first to depict a reigning British monarch wearing those garments since Sir Herbert James Gunn’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II , which hangs in Windsor Castle in England. It is also the first official portrait of Charles III to include the Orb and Sceptre alongside the Crown Imperial.

The painting was commissioned in 2024 by Arthur Joseph LeBlanc, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, on behalf of that province. Approval was received through the offices of the Canadian Secretary to the King, Canada’s senior operational member of the royal household for the monarch. It’s a position held by Donald Booth since 2019.

The portrait will be exhibited at the Stern Pissarro Gallery in London, England, from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31. It will later move to a permanent display at Government House in Halifax.

“We were just delighted to be given such a great piece of portraiture for a government house,” Christopher McCreery, Private Secretary to the current Lieutenant Governor, Mike Savage, told National Post. “So we were quite happy that it would be shown in London to highlight the connection that Canada and Nova Scotia has with the King and with the U.K.”

The oil-on-canvas portrait measures approximately eight and a half feet by six and a half feet and features a carved gold frame dating to the 18th century.

Charles III is shown wearing the uniform of the Royal Regiment of Canada, whose garrison is at Fort York Armoury in Toronto, and of which the King is Colonel-in-chief. Visible in the background is the top of the Halifax Town Clock, built in 1803 on the orders of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria and great-great-great-great-grandfather of the King.

Edward, who served as military commander of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and later as commander-in-chief of British forces in the Maritime Provinces of North America, lived in Halifax between 1794 and 1800.

Of the Town Clock in the painting, McCreery said: “Anyone who knows Halifax, the first thing they say is that’s Halifax. The clock tower is so associated with the city, and also with the Royal Family. So there’s these fun little royal connections that are woven throughout the city, and obviously Dr. Foo has woven them into the portrait as well.”

The portrait also depicts the throne of William IV, currently housed in the Throne Room at St James’s Palace. On the left of the portrait is a rudder bearing the insignia of the Royal Canadian Navy. A bouquet of Mayflowers, the official flower of Nova Scotia, can also be seen on the left of the image near the King’s hand.

Foo held a formal consultation with Ede & Ravenscroft robe makers, who provided samples of velvet, lace and gimp from coronation robes, as well as the elaborate cords and tassels used in the King’s robes. He was also briefed on the technicalities of dressing a monarch for such a ceremony. Captain Nicholas A. Lishchynsky, a member of the Royal Regiment of Canada based at the Fort York Armoury, posed in full uniform to help Foo ensure the details were accurate.

Born in Singapore, Foo is a member of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, a London livery guild dating back to the 12th century, and a Freeman of the City of London . He has previously completed two portraits of Pope Benedict XVI for the Vatican and a 2011 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that hangs in Rhodes House in Oxford. In addition to his artistic pursuits, he directs a not-for-profit clinic in Toronto treating addiction and mental health.

The Robe of Estate is different from the Robe of State in that the latter is worn by the monarch on arrival at Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony, and the former is worn during departure. The Robe of State is crimson or red velvet, while the Robe of Estate is purple silk velvet.

Foo told National Post that his first emotion on completing the painting was “relief.”

“We want to show that we are loyal,” he said of the London showing. “There are Canadians, myself included, who believe in the Crown and believe that this unites the country. We also want to tell the British that this is important, that we matter.”

McCreery said the hope is to have the portrait installed at Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, before Christmas, “so that it will be on display for the New Year’s Levy, which is one of the big events that we hold.” He’s expecting upwards of 700 people to attend.

• Quebec bill exempting legislators from swearing oath to the King to face constitutional challenge
• Seven awkward moments from Trump’s meeting with King Charles in Washington

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.

Students in France have taken to the streets over the past several weeks to protest what they say are terrible conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and a lack of consistent teachers.

Amid the massive protests — which some estimates say have drawn roughly 250,000 people — dozens of schools have been set on fire, thousands have been arrested and hundreds of police officers have been injured. One student told BBC News that the police are escalating the situation and their response has been violent.

What’s happening with France’s student protests?

A 15-year-old student reportedly had his hand blown off by a stun grenade deployed by police. A source told RFI that the student grabbed the grenade and it exploded while he was holding it.

As a result, Interior Minister of France Laurent Nuñez has suspended the use of such grenades, he told RTL .

The suspension only applies to the “high school student protests,” said Nuñez, “just long enough to understand what happened.”

After reports circulated that another student was at risk of losing her eye due to tear gas, French police posted on X saying that those rumours were fake.

At least 215 students have been injured since the protests began, according to The Guardian .

Police said on Tuesday alone 488 people were arrested and 43 police officers were injured, France24 reported . There have been 18 internal probes launched in response to allegations of police brutality since the end of September.

The Education Ministry said 528 high schools were “totally or partially suspended” on Wednesday, France24 reported.

Scenes in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Lyon, among other cities, showed hundreds to thousands of students, along with teachers and other protesters, voicing how fed up they were with the school system.

Police used tear gas and water canons , in some cases, to break up clashes and riots. Protesters can be seen in videos and photos setting bins on fire and throwing objects.

What do France’s leaders say about the student protests?

After weeks of protests, Minister of National Education Édouard Geffray said in a post on X on Oct. 1 that the “acts of violence” committed that morning “far exceed the sole issue” of schools. He mentioned a high school set on fire and “staff doused with gasoline.”

In a post on Wednesday, he said he was “ready to debate everything — from the resources to the choices regarding our school system — but no grievance can justify targeting the very people who keep it running.”

Multiple reports said that France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will address the nation on Wednesday, as student unions demanded a meeting with him.

Lecornu said in a post on Wednesday that “high school students’ voices are precious and must be heard.” He shared a link to a form that could be filled out by students to air their grievances. It has already received 30,000 contributions that he said would “feed into a concrete action plan.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of September that he understands “the anxiety, the anger” of the students but “none of these fears justifies violence. And on no account… can political leaders legitimize violence,” Le Monde reported .

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry has summoned Iran’s ambassador, saying there has been an Iranian disinformation campaign targeting the student protest movement by distributing false information online, France24 reported .

How did the student protests in France start?

Students and teachers in Créteil, a Parisian suburb, began protesting about teaching vacancies on Sept. 21, Le Monde reported . Eventually, their demands were met, according to CNN , and more resources and staff were sent to the school, which ended the protest.

But other schools had already caught on and rallies broke out across France.

Students decried the poor conditions in classrooms, saying it was freezing in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. They said class sizes sometimes reached up to 40 students and there was a lack of consistent teachers available.

“We want the government to invest more in the schools,” one student told BBC News . Another student said there were leaks in the ceilings and rats in the buildings. BBC reported that another issue was the fact that students believed the exam to gain entry into university was “discriminatory” and favoured wealthier students.

• French teen loses hand picking up police grenade during student protest
• John Ivison: France is in flames and it’s a gift to the far right

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

OTTAWA – On the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, Prime Minister Mark Carney said “there is more work to do” to make Jewish Canadians feel safe and thrive in Canada.

“The government has been taking actions at home to protect the Jewish community, protect all Canadians, but particularly the Jewish community,” said Carney, on his way into a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday.

“And it’s above and beyond protection, it’s about the ability to truly thrive, live their lives freely and openly, and thrive as Jewish people in Canada,” he added.

The prime minister outlined measures his government has taken, including anti-hate legislation and $75 million through the Canada Community Security Fund, to protect Jewish community centres, synagogues and day schools.

Carney noted that protection has become necessary, given the recent gunman attack against the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., which was thwarted by Belleville police. One of the police officers, Const. Jeff Smith, is recovering from his injuries and the suspect died from his injuries sustained in the shootout. The attack took place on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

“There’s more work to do,” said Carney. “This is a job for all Canadians to ensure that all Canadians can live freely and openly in our society.”

Israelis gathered on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the deadliest attack in its history, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 people taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist group.

The ensuing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, with the Israeli military controlling over half of the Gaza strip, following a tentative ceasefire announced last fall.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the Jewish Canadian community has experienced the consequences of the war here in Canada.

“The hatred that fuelled October 7th did not remain on foreign shores,” said Poilievre. “Right here in Canada, far too many synagogues, Jewish businesses and institutions have been the targets of harassment and hate.”

“This is not, and cannot become, normal,” added Poilievre. “Conservatives will always fight against antisemitism and all forms of hatred: protecting our schools, communities and places of worship so that Canadians of all faiths can live in peace and security.”

According to data from Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes against Jewish Canadians jumped from 492 in 2021, to 788 in 2025. The number of incidents were higher in 2023 and 2024, at 959 and 943 incidents respectively.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has noted that despite Jewish Canadians representing just one per cent of the population, they were the target of 71 per cent of religion-motivated hate crimes in 2025.

More to come.

National Post

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