Ukraine: a theater housing civilians hit by a Russian strike

Ukrainian authorities said Russia on Wednesday destroyed a theater in which more than a thousand people had taken refuge in the besieged city of Mariupol, the human toll remaining at this stage undetermined. "The invaders destroyed the Dramatic Theater. A place where more than a thousand people had taken refuge. We will never forgive this," the municipality said on Telegram messaging.

The American space technology company Maxar Technologies, which specializes in particular in satellite imagery, published on Wednesday a photo of the Mariupol Drama Theater taken on Monday according to it. According to the photo seen by AFP, the word "children" was written on the ground, in huge white letters and in Russian, in front and behind the building.

The town hall of Mariupol published for its part on Telegram a photo of the theater showing its central part completely destroyed, with a thick white smoke which escapes from it. According to the authorities, it was a plane that dropped a bomb on the building. "The plane dropped a bomb on the building (...). It is impossible to establish the toll immediately because the bombing of residential areas continues," said the town hall.

Unions mobilize on wages as the presidential election approaches

Less than a month before the presidential election, thousands of people will march across France on Thursday to demand an increase in wages and pensions. "More than 150 assembly points" are planned according to the CGT, at the call of an inter-union CGT, FSU, Solidaires, Unsa and several high school organizations. In Paris, the procession will leave at 2 p.m. from Place de la République, heading for Chaussée d'Antin - La Fayette. Few disruptions are expected in transport, except in eastern France where only one out of two TGVs will travel to Strasbourg, Reims and Metz/Nancy. The RATP reserves its forces for a one-day strike on March 25.

IN SHORT

Four people were killed and more than 100 others injured when a strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Japan on Wednesday night, prompting a tsunami warning on the country's northeast coast.

Russian journalist Marina Ovsiannikova, who became an anti-war muse after appearing on a pro-Kremlin newscast to denounce the offensive in Ukraine, refused President Emmanuel Macron's offer of asylum because she "does not want to leave". his country.

Canadian Julie Doucet won the Grand Prix de la Ville d'Angoulême, a prestigious consecration in comics. The 56-year-old Quebecer is rewarded for all of her work where she gives free rein to a punk aesthetic.

Gaël Monfils, 28th in the world, was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, beaten 7-5, 6-1 by the great Spanish hope Carlos Alcaraz (19th), Wednesday.