Women's rights: a "surge for equality" expected in the streets

Feminist collectives call on Tuesday for a "surge for equality" and against gender-based violence, on the occasion of International Women's Rights Day. In Paris, the organizers expect at least 10,000 participants in the demonstration which will connect the Gare du Nord to the Tenon hospital, to "demand means against sexist violence" and an increased fight against inequalities. Parades are also planned in many other cities in France, at the call of around sixty associations and political parties.

In this "feminist strike", the demands are tinged with criticism of the outgoing government's policy: in the eyes of activists, Macron's five-year term represents "five years lost" in the fight against gender inequality. "We are perfectly aware that there is still a lot to do" on the subject of equality between women and men, agreed Prime Minister Jean Castex. However "we have made progress, because the subject, which has long been put under the carpet, is now brought to the public square", continued the head of government.

Ukraine: Moscow announces "local ceasefires" for Tuesday morning

Ukraine was waiting Tuesday morning for the establishment of local ceasefires in several of its cities, supposed to allow the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors, at a time when the Russian army continues, according to kyiv, to deploy in the main combat zones. Russia announced on Monday evening the establishment of these ceasefires "from 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (07:00 GMT) on March 8" for the evacuation of civilians from kyiv, as well as from the cities of Sumy. , Kharkiv, Cherniguiv and Mariupol, said in a press release the cell of the Russian Ministry of Defense, in charge of humanitarian operations in Ukraine.

According to Moscow, the new evacuation routes should be communicated to the Ukrainian authorities, so that they can give their agreement before 00:00 GMT on the night of Monday to Tuesday. However, no information regarding this response had passed this deadline. On Monday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian army of having repeatedly failed to evacuate civilians via humanitarian corridors. And according to the Ukrainian general staff, Russia continues to deploy soldiers and equipment on the fronts of kyiv, Mariupol in the south and Kharkiv in the northeast, the main combat zones in Ukraine.

Ukraine: a second nuclear center pounded, according to the IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (AEIA) said on Monday it had received reports that artillery shells had damaged a nuclear research facility in Ukraine's second besieged city, Kharkiv, without "consequences radiological". According to the Vienna-based UN body, Ukrainian authorities reported that an attack took place on Sunday, adding that no increase in radiation levels had been reported at the site. The affected facility is part of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, a research institute that produces radioactive material for medical and industrial applications.

But "the site's inventory of radioactive materials is very low" argued the IAEA, assuring that "the damage (...) reported would have had no radiological consequences."

IN SHORT

The United States is dispatching 500 additional soldiers to Europe to strengthen NATO security, announced the Pentagon, which now estimates that Russia has sent almost all of the troops massed at the border to Ukraine in recent months.

Ukraine's play-off match against Scotland for the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar has been postponed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the BBC reported.