According to the local military governor, around 200 graves and a mass grave were found in the town of Lyman in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, which was recently recaptured from Kyiv.

This was explained by Pavlo Kyrylenko on Friday night via his Telegram channel. He also posted photos showing many small wooden crosses and emergency services in white protective suits. Kyrylenko wrote that exhumations had already begun.

The strategically important small town, temporarily occupied by Russian troops, was recaptured by the Ukrainians in early October. According to initial findings, the dead could be either Ukrainian soldiers or civilians.

Children and families among the dead

How many bodies were in the mass grave has yet to be determined. According to police, several small children and sometimes entire families were among the people killed.

Ukrainian media had already reported the discovery of dozens of graves in Lyman last Wednesday. Some of the victims are said to have died due to heavy bombing during the Russian conquest of the city in May. The strategically important small town was recaptured by the Ukrainians in early October.

Mass graves had already been found in various parts of Ukraine in the past, following the withdrawal of Russian troops. The bodies found in the Kiev suburb of Bucha in early April caused particular international outrage. Hundreds of dead civilians were found there – some with signs of torture and their hands tied. Since then, Bucha has been considered a symbol for the most serious war crimes.

During the election campaign that has just ended, many outrages have been uttered on the issue of immigration.

In addition to the depressing statements made by Jean Boulet and François Legault themselves, namely that the majority of immigrants do not integrate and that it would be suicidal to accept more than 50,000, we have witnessed a veritable struggle for Quebec’s reception capacity.

Your opinion
interests us.

Do you have an opinion to share? A text between 300 and 600 words that you would like to send us?

It was quite pathetic to see immigrants being exploited in this way by the various political parties. Because beyond the numbers and false talk, there are real people. And let’s face it, it’s often embarrassing to see the fate that’s in store for them once they arrive in Quebec.

As a human rights organization that supports people in financial difficulties, we speak out today to denounce the conditions under which we collectively agree to leave (too) many immigrants behind.

When numbers hide people…

Stories, we could tell you a lot. Immigrants are obviously not a homogeneous group. The routes are varied. Also the motives. Great stories, there are many of them. However, we should not forget the reality experienced by those most in need. And there is more of it than you think.

For example Maria*, who has been living in Quebec since 2020. As a protected person, she has been waiting for her social security number for more than a year. Without this valuable number, she cannot receive family allowance for her two small children aged 2.5 years and a few months.

Unable to work, it is her spouse (a part-time worker with precarious status) who somehow provides for the needs of the family. Due to rent arrears (her income is clearly insufficient), she fears ending up on the streets. She continues to breastfeed her two-year-old because she often has nothing to put on the table. Can you imagine how much stress and stress she experiences every day? As a society, how can we grant someone the status of a protected person and at the same time let them live in extremely precarious conditions?

Meanwhile, Moustafa* made a humanitarian application. Due to his immigrant status, his medications are not covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec. However, because he suffers from kidney problems (he’s on dialysis three times a week) and heart problems, he risks dying every day if he can’t afford the medication, which costs him $300 a month. So isn’t solidarity one of the precious values ​​of Quebec, so dear to the Avenir Québec coalition?

These are just two recent cases and we could easily expand this list as we are familiar with such situations.

For a society that excludes no one

Every year we welcome tens of thousands of people to Quebec who, in their own way, contribute to the development and betterment of our society. Several areas of activity depend on this workforce to function. Yet all too often we let them down. It means “finding yourself” in the administrative labyrinth and “pull out your wallet” because the immigration process is extremely expensive. For example, how many “guardian angels” have risked their lives in hospitals and care centers during the pandemic, only to be denied asylum?

François Legault repeats to anyone who will listen that Quebec is not racist. We ask him to demonstrate this by allowing every human being to live in decent and dignified conditions. The Quebec government continues to ask Ottawa for more power in choosing its immigrants. Instead, he should push for the process to be accelerated and broadened. François Legault must stop hiding behind the federal government to justify his inaction. These people live in Quebec. It is his responsibility to ensure that immigrants (status or non-status) have access to the same services and programs and are granted the same rights as the general Quebec population.

* fictional names

Émilie Laurin-Dansereau, Budget Advisor at ACEF du Nord de Montréal

President Joe Biden on Friday blamed the actions of Saudi Arabia and Russia for raising gas prices as he tried to say his administration was cutting costs — while Republicans would let them rise again.

He used a National Manufacturing Day speech at a Volvo engine plant in Maryland to talk about what he and his team consider a record commercial success.

And he contrasted it with what he said if Republicans from Park Avenue took power in the November midterm elections.

“The cost of each kitchen table will go up, not down,” he said, while painting a bleak picture of what a Republican victory would mean for families.

“And I realize the cost of groceries is going up, and I’ve been able to get the gas down well past $1.60, but it’s going up because the Russians and the Saudis just aren’t done with it.”

This week, his hopes that gas prices would fall further were dashed when oil alliance OPEC+ announced it would cut production.

President Joe Biden used a speed at a Volvo plant on Friday to tout his administration’s economic record, blaming Russia and Saudi Arabia for raising gas prices

Gas prices have risen again in the US after falling in recent weeks

Biden was convicted of a fist bump with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in July while he was seeking help to cut gas prices

It was particularly embarrassing for Biden, who has been banking on a public meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is accused of plotting the assassination of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in hopes of improving ties.

And it comes a month before the midterms, which could return control of the House and Senate to Republicans.

In his remarks, Biden warned that Republicans would enact policies that could spell the end of Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits.

He also called several Republican lawmakers by name, saying they had written to his administration demanding money for the districts, even though they voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, dismissing it as socialism.

Biden delivered his speech at Volvo Group Truck’s powertrain plant, which builds engines, just outside of Hagerstown.

He highlighted the latest jobs report, which shows 263,000 jobs were added in September – along with around 10 million during his tenure.

But even with so much good news, he couldn’t help but start with a faux pas.

“We start with two words: Made in America,” he told his audience in a warehouse full of machines and American flags.

‘Made in America. It’s not an exaggeration.’

Biden toured a Volvo powertrain factory in Maryland on Friday, and he and his team continue to lean on their message that the economy is in good shape — despite high inflation

After struggling with crippling inflation and record pump prices for much of his tenure, Biden and his team believe they have a good story to tell.

Biden is leaning on his economic record after several recent wins and feels the outlook is improving just in time for the interim period.

“Across America, we’re proving that ‘Made in America’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s a reality, to prove that our best days are ahead, not behind us,” he said after touring the facility.

A day earlier, he predicted that a $20 billion investment by IBM in New York’s Hudson River Valley will help give the United States a technological edge over China while appearing in matches with two house Democrats.

He said IBM’s involvement is part of a larger manufacturing boom spurred by the passage this summer of a $280 billion measure — the CHIPS and Science Act — to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research.

This legislation is necessary for national and economic security, Biden said in Poughkeepsie, adding that “the Chinese Communist Party has actively fought against it.”

“The United States needs to lead the world in manufacturing these advanced chips — this law will ensure that it does,” Biden said.

The CHIPS and Science Act, which Biden signed into law in August, was a rare bill for which the president was able to garner bipartisan support.

This week, conservative economists said the US economy could make an extra $100 billion a year as oil prices soar if Donald Trump’s policies had been maintained, and Republicans stepped up their attacks on Biden’s handling of the issue

And it has given Democrats hope that voters will respond to good news despite months of economic woes.

However, Republicans stepped up their attacks on Biden, saying it was his policies that raised prices at the pump.

“Under Biden, OPEC controls our destiny rather than American energy independence,” Pat Harrigan, a candidate for the North Carolina Republican House of Representatives, said in a tweet.

Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks tweeted: “US oil production has fallen by 1.2 million barrels a day since its peak under President Trump. Biden must end his war on American energy!’

Republicans are advocating an easing of government restrictions on US power generation to bring down costs.

Sen Lisa Murkowski said: “The Biden administration has had more than a year and a half to prepare for this turn of events, including more than seven months since Russia’s disastrous war against Ukraine began, but has not done so.

“Instead of approving key projects and reforming the broken processes holding them back, the government has sold off unprecedented amounts of our emergency oil reserves.”

Meanwhile, Biden has accused oil and gas companies of profiteering and urged Congress to find ways to reduce OPEC+’s power over prices.

“The President is also urging U.S. energy companies to continue lowering pump prices by closing the historically wide gap between wholesale and retail gas prices — so American consumers pay less at the pump,” said Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, and Economics adviser Brian Deese in a joint statement.

Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday the establishment of a 100 million euro “special fund” for Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a “special fund” for Ukraine this Friday on the sidelines of an informal European summit in Prague, Czech Republic.

This fund “enables Ukraine to buy the equipment it needs most directly from our manufacturers,” he explained.

It aims to “support his war effort” and support his “resistance to Russian attacks.” It will be endowed with 100 million euros “at the start” and will concern the purchase of “defensive” weapons, said the head of state.

France also plans to send new Caesar guns, the heart of French artillery, to Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron said this Friday that he was talking about the issue with European partners, especially Denmark. France is ready to “co-finance” the device, he said.

Since the beginning of the conflict, France has provided 18 Caesar guns of 155 mm with a range of 40 km, mounted on trucks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, forward armored vehicles (VAB), fuel, individual equipment and about fifteen 155 mm – TRF1 towed guns to Ukraine.

>> Follow BFMTV.com for more information.