Officer involved be suspended. Welcome back to the program. Crowds are thronging the streets in buenos aires as a Diego Maradonas funeral procession winds through the argentinian capital. Tens of thousands there bidding a tearful farewell to their National Hero this thursday. His funeral coming just hours after his casket lay in state at the president ial state, draped in an argentine flag in his famous number 10 jersey. For more on his burial, we cross to our correspondent. An outpouring of public grief in argentina has Diego Maradonas funeral procession is underway. What is the latest . Can you hear us . Diego maradonas funeral procession underway in the argentinian capital buenos aires. What can you tell us about what isappening there . [low audio] we seem to have lost our argentinian correspondent. We will try to get him back on the program at a later time. Now before passing away from a heart attack on wednesday at age 60, diegoaradona was known as the golden boy. Many say he was the best Football Player to ever play the game. He led his native argentinian to the 1986 world cup title but he made headlines because of his problems with drug addiction. We take a look back at his life. This was the golal that may Diego Maradona and threw english players. In 2002 it was voted thera best goal in world cup history. But there was another goal scored minutes earlier with his hand that made him an instant football legend. The hand of god he called it afterwards. But the referee had not seen the foul and allowed the goal. Argentina went on to win the world cup in 1986. Born in a shantytown outside when his areas, the football legend was only 10 when his talent was spotted. At 16 he started his professional career playing juniors in argentina before setting spain in italy a light with his skills. 15 years on some of the shine was taken off his glory and his reputation when argentina lost the 1990 world cup to west germany. Less than a year later, Diego Maradona was suspended from football for 15 months after failing a drug test for cocaine. He was sent home from the 1994 world cup after again testing positive for drugs. In 1997, Diego Maradona retired from professional football. And has since been blighted by ill health and weight gain. In 2004 he had to fight for his life after a heart attack. In retirement, Diego Maradona became more outspoken. In 2005 he joined a leftwing protest train outside the summit of the americas. Denouncing the presence of thenpresident george w. Bush. It is a great honor to be in argentina, into board this train to condemn this piece of human trash, george w. Bush. In 2008, he made an unlikely comeback as argentinas coach after having inspired an entire generation of players. I would love to play again, but my time has passed. But after a quarter final exit at the 2010 world cup in south africa, Diego Maradona was ousted, picking up another coaching job with United Arab Emirates club. Over the years, he has remained idolized in argentina and around the world as one of the best players to have ever played the game. Lets bring in our sports analyst. Now, as an expert, how do think Diego Maradona changed the sport of football . Well, i think Diego Maradona was th first sportsmen whoave a political side to playing football. He embodied the argentinian cause and more broadly the entire impure antiimperialistics because in the 86 world cup. Playing against england a few years after the falkland war. Tween those two countries. He a pioneered the ia of bringing in political causes into football, which was something that hitherto no player had ever done. Because of those fall influence of the sport and because, also, of the fact that no player had his impact in terms of being the best at his profession. Morning but tributes have beenr pouring in from all around the world. What is his impact on the global stage . It is funny that in 1994 the United States hosted the world cup and h was planning to be the Main Attraction at this tournament before being kicked out for a positive drug tt. Despite his friendships with fidel castro, despite his farleft movementshe was still the United States darling in that tournament. I believe that Diego Maradona embodied a symbol of underdogs who triumph against the odds because there was no one hailing from his side when his areas from enas aires who was able to make such an impact on the worlds most popular sport. Diego maradonas appeal stems from his ability to embody underdogs, to embody sportsmen who started from little to achieve a lot. In that regard, he is really to be celebrated in the same vein as someone like muhammad ali, very very few other top sports man. Diego maradona was known for her ill on the field but no for his controversies off the eld. Tell us how that impacted his career. Well, what would Diego Maradona be without the drugs and the controversy . Of course, he was a player who was able to party from sunday to wednesday. And then start training again on thursday. When a game would be taking place on saturday. Of course, he d not devote himself entirely to football, because he was influenced by so many different people, so many people with bad intentions that he could not focus completely on the sport. However, he managed, despite these pressures, to develop into the most talented player who ever graced the football pitch. And he is also, it makes him more human, really, to have been able to achieve what he has done without being completely devoted to sports at a time when football was getting more and more professional. He was really an example of how you can be not entiry devoted to it but still perform because of your talent and because of your will. And that is why, of course, one n regrete did n see the whole of him. Maybe he did not fulfill his unbelievable potential, because, of course, he unfortunately developed an addiction to drugs. But at the same time, he would not be Diego Maradona without these controversies. It is what makes him really stand out, the unique example of success in football. Thank you for that analysis. For more on Diego Maradonas burial we will cross life to our correspondence in argentina who we try to have on the program earlier. Sorry. It seems we actually have lost him. Once again. We will try to get him back later on in the program. He was reporting on the funeral procession of diego maradonin argentina. As you can see in these life images, that funeral procession arriving at the cemetery. Moving on. In france, the Prime Minister has detailed the countrys plan for easing lockdown. Lifting restrictions will take place in three phases. The first phase comes this weekend, when nonessential shops will be allowed to reopen. When Emmanuel Macron announced a progressive and to the nationwide lockdown, the country breathed a sigh of relief. But many questions remained unanswered. On thursday, it was the Prime Ministers turn to unveil the details of the country strategy. This weekend, shops will be allowed to reopen under new guidelines. They must allocate 8 square meters for each customer. They will be authorized to be open on sundays and until 9 p. M. Driving schools and real estate agencies can also resume their activities, as long as they abide by a strict protocol. As expected, bars and restaurants will remain closed. Some 400,000 workers will benefit from yet another stimulus plan, guaranteeing a minimum wage of 900 your months. But perhaps most anticipated announcement was about christmas. The Prime Minister confirmed on Christmas Eve and new years eve, the curfew would be lifted exceptionally while urging people to remain vigilant. It is imperative to limit the number of people around the table and to avoid large gatherings. Alongside the health ministry, we will be providing further details before the holiday, as well as clear recommendations. Cases of covid19 have dropped by 30 from 45,000 daily infections in early november to 15,0. The country is on track to hit the 5000 mark by the middle of december. But for the french Prime Minister, it is still premature to say life will soon go back to normal. Now, staying in france, another video of Police Brutality has sparked outrage. Shared on social media, the video of Police Officers beating up a black music producer can be seen in paris. The officers involved should be suspended. A black music producer known only as returns to his production studio to pick up a facemask after seeing police on the streets. The officers followed him inside and according to michelle, started throwing rial slurs at him. People were passing in the street and i was baking them for help. Right then i was questioning whether they were Police Officers. He beget they began repeatedly punching him in the face until nine others came to help him. The police threw a tear gas grenade into the studio to smoke him out. As neighbors filmed what happened. Michel was arrested for violence against people with Public Authority but after the video and photos of his injuries emerged, the charges were dropped and the counter investigation against the officers was opened. Michel has find complaint with the police. I know they are going to do their job. I was assaulted because they had authority. I did not punch anyone, i did not do anything. The interior minister has asked for the officers to be suspended. But the incident has further fueled fury against the police in france. It is the second example of Police Brutality this week alone. After a mature videos show police tripping up and manhandling migrants in a paris neighborhood on monday. The incidents happening against the backdrop against a controversiallaw that would forbid journalists and members of the public from taking pictures of law enforcement. Despite protests, the law has received approval from in the lower house of parliament. Prime minister has vowed to set up a commission to reexamine elements of the proposed law. That is it for the news. But we leave you with these images of the funeral procession of Diego Maradona in argentina. Th day after the legendary footballer passed awayt age 60. Up next, the interview with Marc Perelman and the ethiopian finance minister. Hello and welcome to the france 24 interview. Our guest today is ethiopias finance minister and he joins us from auto sob about. Thank you very much for being with us. He joins us from adis ababa. Your Prime Minister has announced this thursday that after the expiration of a 72 hour deadline he ordered the federal troops to attack the regional capital of a region warning residents to stay indoors and disarm. He described this as the final offensive against the people, liberation front. After three weeks of fighting in the northern region, the very simple question, because we have very Little Information from the ground, what is happening as we speak . The Prime Minister has instructed the army to make sure that order is fully restored. In the Constitutional Order has to be in place. To protect the people from this junta committing different atrocities. This junta is also committing the worst atrocities on an ethnic basis in some areas. What they did was activities which they have conducted, therefore, the state has to protect itself because the state has to maintain integrity by keeping along order of the country. That is why this operation is an illegal oppression. To keep the sovereignty in particular to keep the peace and stability in the country. This is an internal issue which are managing an hour and inlligence, and our policing network. We have been very mindful of humanitarian issues. The oppression is being conducted in such a way that it is it does not affect civilians. We have been proactively working with the humanitarian action plan. Internally within the government as well as with un partners. We are developing a joint plan. A Significant Group has been liberated from this particular junta. Fe quarters are not being opened and the joint commission with the un agency will look into it as we speak. And the final oppression is currently underway. The objective is to keep law and order. And also to bring the them to justice. We hope that they would be apprehended soon. And we have met the people y deploying military helicopters. So that they protect themselves. And also some of the soldiers which they have been using for this junta were also being in performance to the Prime Minister. An already significant youngsters, which they have been training and using for these atrocities wer abandoning them and joining the peaceful soldiers. How long do think it will take to take control and of the region . The major operation will be completed soon. We hope less than a week and then a few days. Therefore, so far the progress today is very good. There has been little advances towards encircling the city. And the operation is underway in such a way that the maximum maximum care is given so that civilians are not affected. They were half a Million People living there. There is great concern among humanitarian agency that this could lead to a major death and possible crimes. What is your response to those concerns . The council for the people is our collective concern. In the military oppression is underway. In such a way that maximum care is met. What you talk about no mercy, correct . What did you say . There were warnings by the government that there would be no mercy. This is sending a negative single signal. There is no such warning. The government has met this is a law and order operation. To bring theto justi. And togray is an integral part of ethiopia. They are people. It is at most the concern for the government. Will you give access to International Humanitarian agencies to the area, will you do that . Access in the areas where from a Security Point of view it is already open. Significant areas is open for humanitarian axis. The area where the operation is underway is a very close area. And oppression is going on with maximum at most care for civilians. That is why 72 hour clause was meant so that the people could be aware. Some of the soldiers which had been misled should be abandon this group. Yesterday, thousands, the soldiers they had deployed were abandoning them. And no warning for the awareness in the surrounding areas was being done by different media. Are you expecting the tplf leadership to surrender or is the objective to neutralize him or even kill them . The operation in the order of the oppression is to bring them to justice. And therefore, if they apprehend them, that would be very good. But otherwise, they will be brought to justice. This is not particularly, also it is to bring them to justice. But they are saying you are actually pretending, that you are winning but it is not the case. That they are ready to fight for a long time and you are doing essentially propaganda by saying that you are the victor, the victories around the corner. What is your response . The victory is soon. The operation will be completed soon. We have full confidence on this. This group, we are preparing for this for more than two years. Preparing a lot of divisions for which only statelevel capacity organization should have. And they met a brutal attack on our villages. For this, but the operation has succeeded. Swiftly, in two weeks time, tigray is liberated by the suppression. Now we are talki about surrounding them. The oppressions going very well. The operation will be over soon. Why have you refused any International Mediation . Western countries and the u. N. Have called for it. The African Union was supposed to send some envoys. Why refuse such a dialogue, deescalation, International Mediation . We are not refusing. Yes, you are. We are respecting the international communitys concern. This is an internal issue. This is a law and order issue to protect law and order in the country. Any attempt was sovereign lord order with this type a brutal attack are met by by this junta by using International Units to attack the core of this, which is the military, the territorial integrity, the law and order has to be met. This is the right of any state on its internal capacity. You do not want any international meddling in this affair. Just to be clear. Context of law and order the operation. And the dialogue, the discussion is always open. One of the objectives is formed, the space so that the groups can access and to find a Better Future for all of us in the future. Very last question. We are running out of time fo. Is this sowing the seeds of potential battles along ethnic lines in your country . Even as the fight is calm down as you expected to be, the future will be bleak because this will leave some bloody traces. Weo not believe so. It is a brutal attack that has to be met. And the target is not the people. The target is the target is the junta, who are planned and prepared and attacked and the objective was to break up the country, to completely disorganized the whole state. So that they impose their will on the rest of the country. And, therefore, the law and order operation we have underway into a meaningful dialogue for all ethiopians to define the future, for the future. With reform with the Prime Minister, and the leadership that he has been working on for the last two years. But this junta was undermining his comprehensive reform. And they wanted by military way to impose their will on the rest of ethiopians. And also they hijacked the people of tigray. The people of tigray is not supporting this. This is been demonstrated by the operation so all ethiopians should define their future. Dialogue is very important. But dialogue has to be subject to law and order. And this law and order operation success is very important to have meaningful dialogue to define our future. That is all we have time for. I want to thank you very much for being with us on the france 24 interviews. Stay tuned for more news. Xxxxxxdnooooooooooooooo÷ [captioning made possible amy from new york, this is democracy now the situation that were talking about is the lack of compassion for those elders, not just native elders, but all elders, all people with Underlying Health conditions like cancer. It is an absolute choice, a clear choice, to choose profit over people. So the governor isnt putting people first. Hes putting profit first. Amy in this holiday special, we look at how covid19