Presidential election: the Macron-Le Pen match is getting tougher

After the institutions on Tuesday, it's time for foreign policy: on Wednesday, Marine Le Pen faces a tricky battle with Emmanuel Macron, with the aim of establishing her presidential stature. The campaign for the second round has got off to a flying start and is becoming increasingly heated, with the two finalists clashing at a distance over pensions, purchasing power, Europe and the government. Each of them is also eyeing the voters of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came third on Sunday evening with 21.95% of the votes. Clearly on the offensive, the candidate-president is multiplying the crowd baths and long exchanges with citizens, as in the north of France on Monday in Lepenist lands, then in Mulhouse and Strasbourg on Tuesday, two cities in which Mr. Mélenchon came first.

He who entered the campaign late seems to want to make up for lost time, aware that his duel with the far-right candidate on April 24 will be close. And he did not miss an opportunity to tackle his opponent, accusing him of saying "nonsense" about Europe and of having a project that induces "nationalism" and "the return of war". He also accused the far right of being "a permanent Potemkin village: they never move, they never go to see their opponents," he added. Marine Le Pen is not left out, accusing Emmanuel Macron "of being afraid of the people" and saying he has "no confidence" in the outgoing president who said he was ready, for example, to "move" on his pension reform. She blasted Tuesday evening on TF1 his policy "extremely hard on the most modest", ensuring that he has "the most protective project" of the social protection system.

Ukraine: Biden accuses Putin of "genocide", 20,000 dead in Marioupol

The U.S. President Joe Biden accused for the first time his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of conducting a "genocide" in Ukraine, Tuesday, the day when the regional authorities of the southeast of the country estimated at least 20.The word "genocide" was previously used by the Russian government to describe the death toll in Mariupol. The word had previously been used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but never by the US administration: "Yes, I called it genocide," Joe Biden told reporters during a trip to Iowa, hours after he mentioned the term during a speech devoted to fighting inflation.

Regarding Mariupol, "we can say that between 20 and 22,000 people died" in this city, Pavlo Kirilenko, the Ukrainian governor of the Donetsk region, said Tuesday in an interview with the U.S. television channel CNN. The governor had previously reported 10,000 dead in the besieged city, cut off from the world and shelled for more than 40 days. He admitted that it was in fact "difficult to talk about the number of victims", as the city is under blockade.

Ukraine: 23.7 billion euros of Russian assets immobilized by France

France has immobilized to date 23.7 billion euros of Russian assets on its territory, including real estate for an acquisition value of 573.6 million, following the war in Ukraine, learned Tuesday from the French Ministry of Economy and Finance. This updated list includes first of all 22.8 billion euros that have been blocked on French accounts of the Central Bank of Russia, confirming an article in the newspaper Le Parisien. In addition, 178 million euros of various bank assets have been frozen, the ministry said. France has also detained four cargo ships, four yachts, the last of which was in Marseille on Tuesday, worth more than 125.2 million euros; six helicopters worth more than 60 million euros; and 7 million euros worth of artworks. The French authorities have seized 33 properties, including 19 SCI (Société civile immobilière). A dozen additional properties should soon be added to the list, for a total value that will flirt with 24 billion euros.

IN BRIEF

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed on Tuesday evening to Moscow to "exchange" Ukrainian MP and businessman Viktor MedvedevViktor Medvedchuk, close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and recently arrested, for Ukrainians in captivity in Russia.

Finland is releasing a key report on Wednesday on its strategic situation after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a prelude to a debate on a now likely historic bid for NATO membership by the summer.

Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game in extra time to send Real Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals after a 5-4 aggregate win over holders Chelsea on Tuesday, while another Spanish club, Villarreal, upset giant Bayern Munich 1-0, 1-1.

Dynamo Kiev, the flagship club of Ukrainian soccer, opened a series of friendly matches against major European clubs in Warsaw on Tuesday night, aimed at raising funds for its war-torn country.