FMM - F24 Video Clips Jan 8th 2026, 12:13 pm (03:51)
Protesting French ​farmers entered ⁠the centre of Paris and reached the ​Eiffel Tower ‍on Thursday with more ​heading to the French ​capital amid ​anger over a free trade agreement between the European ‌Union and South American ‍bloc Mercosur and the way the government is handling a cattle disease.

Paris

French farmers gathered at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, blocking a third of Place de l'Etoile with 20 tractors in a peaceful protest against the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. The farmers, some of whom drove for up to 30 hours to reach the capital, expressed frustration over financial difficulties and what they see as unfair competition from South American agricultural imports.

The protest, organized by the right-wing Coordination Rurale union, also included plans to demonstrate outside the National Assembly. Farmers voiced concerns about being excluded from government benefits and called for greater political action, despite President Macron's stated objections to the deal. The union behind the protest is known for its ties to Marine Le Pen's National Rally party.

Protests over EU-Mercosur deal: French farmers bring tractors to Paris

Well for more on this story we can cross to France 24's Pierre Benazer who's in Brussels. Pierre, sorry rather we've got Clovis Casale in Paris for us. Clovis tell us more then about this protest at the Arc de Triomphe. It's a peaceful protest but in a highly symbolic landmark here outside the Arc de Triomphe, Place de l'Etoile at the end of the Champs-Elysées, probably the world's most famous Avenue, you've got 20 tractors gathered here blocking a third I'd say of this place, of this big landmark. The farmers, some of them drove 30 hours to reach the French capital. They managed to break through police security cordons and they managed to reach the Place de l'Etoile. Totally unacceptable says the government spokesperson Maude Bréjean, she said that this morning. This is a peaceful protest, you've got about 20 tractors and farmers here really voicing their despair, saying that they can no longer make ends meet. Some of the farmers are going to stay here for the rest of the day or at least as long as they can before French police force them to leave and disperse them and some other of the farmers who are currently here are heading to the National Assembly for a demonstration outside the National Assembly to put pressure on politicians, on MPs to try to get their demands heard. Well tell us then Clovis, more about the demands of these farmers, we've been talking a lot about Mercosur, is there more to it than that? Well the farmers here tell us that they very much feel let down by the government, left out from any kind of benefits that the government has been giving out to various parts of society. You've got people here who arrived at dawn, some told us that they arrived at five o'clock in the morning, before that they were at the Eiffel Tower with other farmers. We don't have a huge number of farmers currently in the capital, only 20 tractors here, but it's still extremely symbolic. They are in total despair with the fact that the Mercosur deal, this free trade deal between Europe and South America seems set to go through, seems set to get signed, even though President Macron has voiced objections and said that it needed to be renegotiated, that it was unfair to French farmers and I can tell you French farmers here very much believe that. They feel that there's unfair competition with South American products, with farmers there who don't have to follow the same rules of quality, quality standards as farmers here in France. So the farmers here also telling us they work, they work, they work, but they don't earn enough money to live correctly. They can't make ends meet nowadays and that needs to change. French farmers here telling us that they want journalists to tell the French people how desperate that situation is and also they want to be heard by French politicians, even though many here believe that nothing will change unless Emmanuel Macron leaves, until Emmanuel Macron stops being president. Worth pointing out also that the Farmers Union organising this demonstration is right wing, even far right some would say, with Coordination Rural this union having a strong links with Marine Le Pen and her far-right party, the National Rally. All right, Clovis Casali, thank you very much for your reporting there.

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader.

Washington

Venezuela Strikes

U.S. Senate advances measure curbing Trump's Venezuela war powers

U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Trump administration mulls paying Greenlanders to join U.S.

Iran’s connectivity drops sharply nationwide – As authorities tighten controls amid growing protests over the economy. NetBlocks says the apparent blackout follows ‘a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests’.

Tehran

Iran experiencing nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify

The Senate on Thursday voted to advance a resolution that could limit President Trump's ability to continue military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. It comes as the president told the New York Times that he could see the U.S. having direct oversight of Venezuela for years.

Caracas

Trump says U.S. could have direct oversight in Venezuela for years

The crew at the International Space Station will return home early because of what NASA is calling a medical concern with a crew member. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.

Texas

ISS crew returning due to medical issue for first time in NASA history

President Trump plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro after Mr. Trump issued threats following the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports from Bogotá.

Trump to meet Colombia’s Petro after tensions over Venezuela operation

The United Kingdom aided the U.S. in an operation to seize a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

UK helped the U.S. seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela

U.S. forces on Wednesday seized two oil tankers, one in the North Atlantic and the other in the Caribbean, as part of the Trump administration's blockade of Venezuela's oil exports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will take between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil and sell it in the marketplace.

U.S. to control money from Venezuela oil sales after tanker seizures

Nick Reiner was set to be arraigned on murder charges on Wednesday in the killing of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner. But his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told the judge he could no longer represent the 32-year-old. After the hearing, Jackson said he couldn't say why he withdrew for legal reasons, but added, "Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder."

Los Angeles

Nick Reiner's lawyer withdraws from case, says Reiner 'is not guilty'

NASA is considering a rare early return of its crew from the International Space Station over an unspecified medical issue involving one of the astronauts, after canceling a planned spacewalk that had been scheduled for Thursday (January 8), the agency said.

NASA mulls early ISS crew return due to astronaut medical issue

Washington says it has intercepted two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic as part of President Trump’s hardline effort to control oil movements across the Americas, claiming the vessels were part of a so-called shadow fleet used to ship sanctioned crude from Venezuela and Iran.

UK helped U.S. military to seize sentenced oil tanker on way to Russia

Minneapolis erupts in protests after a woman is shot by a federal agent – Video of the incident sparks outrage nationwide.

Minneapolis

ICE shoots woman: Incident sparks protests across the U.S.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged security forces to show restraint, distinguishing peaceful protesters from armed rioters. However, rights group Iran Human Rights says at least 27 protesters have been killed, while Iranian media report 15 deaths, including members of the security forces.

Iran police officer killed as cost-of-living protests enter 12th day

The decision comes as Trump approaches the first anniversary of his second term. Since returning to office, he has already moved to exit the World Health Organization, the Paris climate agreement, and UNESCO, while cutting funding to several UN bodies.

Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organisations

Iran's army chief threatened pre-emptive military action on Wednesday over the "rhetoric" targeting the country, thought to be in reference to threats made by US President Donald Trump last week, warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," Washington would "come to their rescue."

Iran army chief threatens pre-emptive attack after Trump threats

U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

A woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security says. CBS News' Nicole Sganga reports from the scene.

Protesters gather after ICE shoots and kills woman in Minneapolis

The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday (Jan. 7), after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" of Venezuelan oil exports.

U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is set to be arraigned in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. It comes as details emerge about his time in custody and how his mental health history could play a role in his case.

Nick Reiner due in court on murder charges

Flights across France and Belgium and Eurostar train services have been severely disrupted by the winter weather.

Eurostar trains and hundreds of flights cancelled amid heavy snowfall

President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday urged security forces to distinguish between what he called rioters and protesters, urging them not to target peaceful demonstrators.

Iran's President urges security forces not to target protesters

In Iran, protests that broke out on December 28th over the soaring cost of living look set to continue. Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Tehran's Grand Bazaar on January 6: without giving numbers, Iran's IRNA news agency said 'some' people were arrested.

Death toll rises as Iran's security forces clash with protesters

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are reacting to the Trump administration's comments on a potential Greenland takeover from Denmark.

Nuuk

European leaders blast Trump over Greenland takeover discussions

Donald Trump says Venezuela will hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil and he will control the profits.

Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil

Britain and France have said they could send troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is agreed. The pledge came at a Paris meeting of 30 nations, including the US, on security guarantees demanded by Kyiv before any peace deal.

London

Ukraine Invasion

UK, France ready to deploy troops in Ukraine after ceasefire

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would “take up arms” in the face of threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

Bogotá

Colombia vows to defend its sovereignty amid Trump’s military threats

Israeli forces storm Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank soon after students begin a sit-in in solidarity with jailed Palestinians.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli school assault wounds dozens of Palestinians in West Bank raid

The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are considering a range of options in efforts to acquire Greenland as the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump sees acquiring Greenland as a national security priority

The United States for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if it is attacked by Russia again.

U.S. backs security guarantees for Ukraine at summit of Kyiv's allies

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Breakdown