Briefly

ETHIOPIA

'Final phase' of Tigray offensive launched

The Ethiopian government on Thursday disclosed that it had embarked on the final phase of the military operation against the insurgent Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, fighters in the country's northern region. The action was revealed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, in a statement issued on Thursday, as he emphasized that the 72-hour period granted to "the criminal TPLF clique to surrender peacefully is now over and our law enforcement campaign has reached its final stage". Since Nov 4, the government has been undertaking military operations against the TPLF.

FRANCE

Probe starts on alleged beating of black man

The authorities are investigating allegations that a black music producer was physically attacked and racially abused during a police check in Paris after CCTV footage of the beating was released. The incident was captured on closed circuit television and mobile phone footage which was circulating online and was headline news on French television channels. In an interview with France 2 television, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the officers would be sanctioned if the alleged wrongdoing was confirmed.

INDIA

Fire in hospital kills 5 coronavirus patients

A fire broke out early on Friday in a privately-run hospital treating coronavirus patients in western India, killing at least five of them and injuring 28 others. Police officer K.N. Bhukan said fire engines restricted the blaze to one floor of the hospital and extinguished it within 30 minutes. The cause of the fire is being investigated. The Press Trust of India news agency said the fire started in the intensive care unit of Uday Shivanand Hospital that was treating 33 coronavirus patients.

Xinhua - Agencies