2024 Cash Dash: Harris nearly triples Trump’s fundraising last month
Vice President Kamala Harris raked in a staggering $361 million in fundraising in August, her campaign announced on Friday morning, in what it touted was “the largest haul of the 2024 cycle.” The fundraising by the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee was nearly triple the $130 million that the Donald Trump campaign announced on Wednesday that the former president brought in last month. Harris has enjoyed a fundraising surge in the nearly seven weeks since she replaced President Biden at the top of the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket. TRUMP AND HARRIS ON COLLISION COURSE AS 2024 CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL STRETCH The vice president’s campaign highlighted that Harris has brought in over $615 million in fundraising since July 21, when Biden, in a blockbuster announcement, ended his re-election campaign and endorsed his running mate. The Harris campaign also touted August’s haul was “the best grassroots fundraising month in presidential history.” The vice president’s team also showcased what it called “a massive war chest,” reporting $404 million cash-on-hand as of the end of last month. That’s over $100 million more than the $295 million the Trump campaign said it had in its coffers. THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL NUMBERS IN 4 KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES Harris’ August haul was up from the $310 million the Democratic ticket brought in during July, while Trump’s fundraising last month was slightly down from the $138.7 it raised in July. “In just a short time, Vice President Harris’ candidacy has galvanized a history-making, broad, and diverse coalition – with the type of enthusiasm, energy, and grit that wins close elections,” Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. “As we enter the final stretch of this election, we’re making sure every hard-earned dollar goes to winning over the voters who will decide this election.” The former president’s team on Wednesday, in a statement revealing its fundraising figures, said that it’s cash-on-hand ensured that it had “the resources needed to propel President Trump’s campaign to victory.” The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee enjoyed a fundraising lead over Trump and the Republican National Committee earlier this year. But Trump and the RNC topped Biden and the DNC by $331 million to $264 million during the April-June second quarter of 2024 fundraising. Biden enjoyed a brief fundraising surge after his disastrous performance in his late June debate with Trump, as donors briefly shelled out big bucks in a sign of support for the 81-year-old president. But Biden’s halting and shaky debate delivery also instantly fueled questions about his physical and mental abilities to serve another four years in the White House – and spurred a rising chorus of calls from within his own party for the president to end his bid for a second term. The brief surge in fundraising didn’t last and, by early July, began to significantly slow down. Fundraising, along with polling, is a key metric in campaign politics and a measure of a candidate’s popularity and their campaign’s strength. The money raised can be used – among other things – to hire staff, expand grassroots outreach and get-out-the-vote efforts, pay to produce and run ads on TV, radio, digital and mailers, and for candidate travel. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
House Republicans privately worry about political fallout of government shutdown
Some House Republicans are already privately worrying about how a partial government shutdown would affect their electoral chances in November. “If we shut down, we lose,” one lawmaker told Fox News Digital. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., unveiled his plan to avoid a partial shutdown in a private call with House GOP lawmakers on Wednesday morning, four sources told Fox News Digital. It involves a six-month extension of fiscal 2024’s federal funding levels known as a “continuing resolution” (CR) – to buy House and Senate negotiators more time to hash out next year’s spending priorities – and would be linked to a bill adding a proof of citizenship requirement to the voter registration process. CLUB FOR GROWTH POURS $5M INTO TIGHT HOUSE RACES AS GOP BRACES FOR TOUGH ELECTION But with both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the White House publicly opposing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, it’s highly likely Johnson’s plan would be dead on arrival if it passed the House. “My problem isn’t with the policy, which I support. My problem isn’t with the messaging, which I think is strong. My problem is that I just don’t think Chuck Schumer is going to agree to it,” a second House Republican said of their concerns about the plan. If the Senate and House don’t agree on a way forward by Oct. 1, the country could be wracked by a partial government shutdown roughly a month before Election Day. Past government shutdowns like those seen under the Obama and Trump administrations in 2013 and 2019, respectively, have traditionally seen Americans blame the GOP. JOHNSON UNVEILS TRUMP-BACKED HOUSE GOP PLAN TO AVOID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, SETS UP BATTLE WITH SCHUMER “In general, the voters seem to have a strong bias for blaming Republicans for shutdowns, which is understandable,” the second Republican continued. “We often have the more combative rhetoric leading up to a shutdown. We often are the ones who are most quick to claim that a shutdown isn’t a real problem. And so I think we kind of telegraph to voters that we’re OK with that. I think that makes it a little easier for the Democrats to try to stick us with [it].” They added at the end of their explanation, “But it takes two to tango, and I don’t think what we’re asking for is too much.” Meanwhile, two sources familiar with the Tuesday House GOP call said questions were raised about what Johnson’s next step would be if the Senate sent back a “clean” CR with no attachments, and concerns were aired about how a possible shutdown would affect vulnerable Republicans. “The Republicans have the majority today because we won seats in California and [other blue states]. Those seem to be members who’d be most disadvantaged by a shutdown in the four weeks before an election,” the second GOP lawmaker said. Veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye said a possible shutdown could have less of an impact given it’s a presidential election year, but he conceded “that’s a real risk to take.” “Republicans usually get blamed for shutdowns, and that could play into Harris’ ‘Trump-as-chaos’ argument,” Heye said. MCCARTHY’S ‘FINAL STRUGGLES’ THREATEN TO HAUNT JOHNSON’S GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FIGHT He added, however, “that’s not a bet I’d make. Especially when the speaker has offered a path to avoid this.” Other Republicans dismissed fears of political blowback in the event of a government shutdown. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who is not committed or opposed to Johnson’s plan, told Fox News Digital this week, “The legacy media makes these shutdowns worse than they are. … Nobody loses their house, nobody loses a dime. They all get made whole.” A partial government shutdown would see some non-emergency federal services halted and potentially thousands of government employees furloughed. Any federal payments paused during a shutdown are retroactively made to their recipients, however. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, one of the architects of the SAVE Act, would not say whether he’d want a shutdown if the Johnson plan failed to pass. “I’m not going to play the shutdown game … the press wants to make it about a shutdown. Democrats want to make this about a shutdown,” Roy said. “We’re offering to fund the government – all manners of sin, by the way, in that government…we’re willing to do that, but these guys need to make sure our elections are secure.” “If [Democrats] want to shut the government down, that’s on them.”
Senate GOP bracing for last-minute leader bids — potentially by key Trump ally
Senate Republicans have a feeling that the battle to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is just beginning and that more contenders will make last-minute bids for the role after the general election in November. One name that continues to be tossed around is that of Steve Daines, R-Mont., head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), who has notably refused to rule out the possibility of running for the top Senate GOP role. A source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that earlier in the year, after McConnell’s shock February announcement that he would not seek another term as leader, former President Trump shared with allies that he would like to see Daines run for the position. The two get along well, which spurred Trump’s desire to see the Montana Republican join the race, the source said. LINDSEY GRAHAM PUTS AMAZON ‘ON NOTICE’ OVER ALEXA’S POTENTIAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE There are three senators already vying to be the next leader, including John Thune, R-S.D., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla. Scott notably challenged McConnell, R-Ky., in 2022 with a last-minute campaign for the role, citing issues with how the conference was being run. At several points in 2024, Daines was asked by Fox News Digital whether he would run for leader. The senator has repeatedly said his focus is on facilitating Republican Senate wins in the upcoming election: “That’s where I’m staying focused,” he said in July. When Fox News Digital noted at the time that his response was not ruling out potentially running, Daines said, “I think we have got good candidates to lead the Republicans and all three are great friends of mine and all three of them would do a good job.” “Chairman Daines is focused on taking back the Senate Majority,” NRSC spokesperson Mike Berg said in a statement to Fox News Digital. DEMS LOSE GROUND TO GOP CONTENDERS IN PIVOTAL SENATE RACES AS VOTERS LOCK IN: POLL While Trump’s admiration could prove a significant advantage for Daines if he chooses to enter the race, his role as NRSC chair could also make any chance he has at winning contingent on the results of the November election. As one Senate GOP aide said, “Senate Republicans need to post huge numbers on election night for him to have a shot.” Daines is currently overseeing multiple key Senate races in states such as Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona, in several of which Republicans are hoping to knock off vulnerable incumbent Democrats. However, the aide voiced confidence that Daines would jump into the fray after the election, as long as the GOP performs well. The source with knowledge of Trump’s feelings toward the Montana Republican also noted that despite his interest in seeing Daines run, Thune and Trump have been nurturing a strong relationship over the past year. BORDER SENATOR AND FORMER HARRIS VP SHORT-LISTER CLAIMS ‘NO EVIDENCE’ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS VOTE Another source familiar said the lines of communication between Thune and Trump have been open. They also said that the current Senate minority whip headlined a fundraiser in Nebraska with Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, only a few weeks ago. All the current leader contenders endorsed Trump early on, doing so during the Republican primary race. Both Thune and Cornyn have been flexing their fundraising muscles over the past several months, each pulling in massive sums for nationwide Republican candidates and committees as well as conservative groups. The two are each known as effective fundraisers, which is a notable consideration in the leader fight, given McConnell’s reputation as a GOP fundraising machine. Scott has also made moves to keep up his strong relationship with Trump, jetting to Chicago to kick off counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention for the Trump campaign in July. Of the three announced candidates, Scott has been the most vocal about policy and style changes he would like to see at the conference. This was also the driving force behind his challenge to McConnell in 2022. His candidacy could be particularly attractive to GOP senators who are similarly frustrated with the conference’s functioning under McConnell, some of whom have been vocal about their grievances. The fact that Scott is currently campaigning for re-election in Florida, which is being heavily targeted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), poses a potential difficulty when it comes to lobbying for the leader role. Despite the DSCC’s efforts, Republicans remain favored to hold on to Scott’s Florida Senate seat. Daines isn’t the only other senator that conference members and staff believe could still enter the race. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has been predicting additional contenders in the leader election since the spring. “Someone’s going to jump in,” he told reporters in July. “I think it’s imminently possible.” “I mean, that’s how it happened last time,” he said, referencing when Scott launched his 2022 campaign against McConnell just before the Republican leader election. SCHUMER SOUNDS OFF ON GOP PLAN TO TIE CITIZENSHIP VOTING REQUIREMENT TO SPENDING BILL “I just know that we’re all pretty competitive people, and I just wouldn’t be surprised if somebody else jumps in,” Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said in July. As for who else could enter, Hawley had previously expressed hope that Tom Cotton, R-Ark., might consider running for the top role. In March, he said he plans to support Cotton for the position he is currently running for, GOP conference chair, because of his support for a bill to help radiation victims in Missouri. Praising him at the time, Hawley said, “Maybe Tom ought to run for the leader.” A spokesperson for Cotton declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital. According to the Senate GOP aide, another Republican to watch is Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has given some forceful remarks to fellow Republicans during closed-door meetings regarding the future of the conference and its leadership. But Tillis’ office shut down the idea: “Senator Tillis believes there are a number of outstanding candidates running to be the next leader and the
SC dismisses RG Kar Hospital’s ex- principal Sandip Ghosh’s plea in irregularities case
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that the accused, the former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, has no locus to impleaded in the plea.
IMD weather update: Delhi-NCR, Gurgaon face severe waterlogging, traffic jams amid heavy rains
The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory that said, “Traffic is affected on Ring Road in the carriageway from South Extension towards Lajpat Nagar due to breakdown of a truck at Moolchand Underpass. Kindly plan your journey accordingly.”
Mumbai: Massive fire breaks out at Times Tower in Lower Parel; no casualties reported
According to the officials, no casualties have been reported yet in the blaze that began at 6.47 am. Fire tenders rushed to the spot after getting information about the incident
ED raids residence of former RG Kar medical college principal Sandip Ghosh, PMLA case registered against him due to…
ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe money laundering charges against Sandip Ghosh in the financial irregularities case.
Trump suggests he could win 50% of Jewish vote in presidential election showdown against Harris
LAS VEGAS, NV – Former President Trump suggested that he could win up to half of the Jewish vote in the 2024 election as he criticized Jewish Americans who don’t support him in his showdown with Vice President Kamala Harris. “We’re probably around the 50 percent mark,” Trump said on Thursday in live-streamed comments as he addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. And the former president and GOP nominee claimed, without evidence, that Israel “will no longer exist” if Harris wins the White House in November’s election. Trump addressed the group of Republican Jewish leaders, donors, and activists, days after the bodies of six Israeli hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were recovered in Gaza. The hostages were taken by Hamas last October during an attack on Israel that ignited the eleven-month-long war in Gaza. TRUMP AND HARRIS ON COLLISION COURSE AS 2024 CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL STRETCH The Harris campaign, responding to Trump’s address, pointed to the former president’s past criticism of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for congratulating Biden on his 2020 election victory over Trump. “Donald Trump has made it obvious he would turn on Israel in a moment if it suited his personal interests, and in fact he has done so in the past,” Harris national security spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein wrote in a statement. “Meanwhile, the Vice President has been incredibly clear: She has been a lifelong supporter of the State of Israel as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people.” ELECTION SEASON STARTS A LOT EARLIER THAN YOU THINK While supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself, President Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu has grown increasingly strained during the current war. On Monday, the president said he didn’t think the Israeli leader was doing enough to help foster a hostage deal with Hamas. The vice president has aimed to balance her support for Israel – which she spotlighted last month during her address at the Democratic National Convention – with her acknowledgment of the high civilian death toll caused by Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. While Republicans are unified in support of Israel, many progressives in the Democratic Party have been vocal in their criticism of Israel’s war with Hamas. Trump, who has repeatedly questioned how Jewish Americans could vote for the Democrats, reiterated “I don’t understand how anybody can support them — and I say it constantly — if you had them to support and you were Jewish, you have to have your head examined.” “Who are the 50 percent of Jewish people that are voting for these people that hate Israel and don’t like the Jewish people?” Trump asked as he once again charged that the Democrats “have been very bad to you.” NEW FOX NEWS POLL NUMBERS IN 4 KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES Ari Fleischer, a Republican Jewish Coalition board member, spotlighted the rising Jewish support for GOP presidential candidates as he spoke with reporters following Trump’s speech. Fleischer, a longtime Republican strategist, former White House press secretary and Fox News contributor, said that former President George H.W. Bush won 11% of the Jewish vote in 1992, but that his boss, former President George W. Bush, won 25% of the Jewish vote in his 2004 re-election. Trump won approximately 30% of the Jewish vote four years ago. Fleischer wouldn’t predict what percentage of the Jewish vote Trump would capture this year, but said it could near 50% in some battleground states, as they consider casting Republican ballots. “The ears of the Jewish community are open this cycle more than previously, because of the events around the world and what we see in America,” Fleischer said. “It’s one thing for it to be theoretical, it’s now physical. It’s palpable on the American street.” He added that “what’s changed in this cycle is this palpable sense of fear because of what’s happening in America, because of what’s happening on campuses, because of what happened in Israel on October 7, and every day since…the American Jewry has never had their ears more open to potentially voting Republican than in this cycle.” Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks told reporters that the group’s political arm has beefed up its data operations by building what he touted as “the only real viable voter file of Jewish voters in the country” to turnout the vote. “We have quietly been building under the radar over the last several years. We have been putting staff and deploying resources,” Brooks shared. “So we now have staff in Nevada, we have paid staff in Georgia, we have paid staff in Michigan, we have paid staff in Pennsylvania and in Arizona. And we have been doing this quietly since the last election, building up to this moment.” Brooks said the group is spending millions of dollars on digital and TV ads, direct mail, phone calls and door knocking and other canvassing efforts to get out the vote – what he described as “the whole gamut.” Trump was introduced at the gathering by Miriam Adelson, the billionaire Republican megadonor, who along with her late husband, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson were major backers of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Adelson, who is currently helping bankroll a super PAC that supports Trump, called him “our best friend” and added that she’s “eagerly awaiting for him to enter the White House and to save the Jewish people.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Japanese scientists graft living skin onto ‘smiling’ robot
Tokyo, Japan – Japanese scientists have developed a technique to attach self-healing, living skin to a robot face and make it “smile”. The scientists, led by professor Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo’s Biohybrid Systems Laboratory, connected cultured skin tissue in the likeness of a human face to an actuator – an external mechanical device – using “anchors” that mimic skin ligaments. In a video released by the team, the scientists can be seen manipulating the skin into a smile without causing the tissue to bunch, tear or get stuck in place. Previous efforts to attach tissue made from human cells to a solid surface would result in the skin being damaged when in motion. While Takeuchi’s fleshy pink blob bears greater resemblance to a children’s animated character than a human face, researchers hope the breakthrough will pave the way to realistic humanoids in the future. Buoyed by the results, Takeuchi is now looking at the bigger picture. “Our cultured skin aims to replicate the full range of biological functions found in human skin, including the activity of facial muscles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, pores, blood vessels, fat, and nerves,” he told Al Jazeera. “This comprehensive functionality would enable more lifelike and interactive robotic applications.” Biohybrid robotics advocates believe that such advances could one day herald a societal revolution where humans live alongside humanoids that look and act identical to real people. Living skin, in particular, could allow robots to emote and better communicate with their human counterparts, ultimately blurring the boundary between homo sapiens and machines. While visions of a humanoid-inhabited utopia – or dystopia – may seem far-fetched for now, biological robots, and their accompanying moral and ethical quandaries, are slowly entering the world’s collective consciousness. Takeuchi’s team at Tokyo University is only in the embryonic stages of its work, which has also included developing mini robots that walk using biological muscle tissue and 3D printed lab-grown meat, as well as research into artificial cell membranes, neural networks and implantable devices. Takeuchi believes it will be a “long time” before robotic skin is close to 100 percent realistic, as significant advancements are needed in texture, colour and the integration of biological components. “While we aim to create more lifelike robots, our goal is to enhance their utility and interaction capabilities,” he said. Rafael Mestre, principal investigator at the Biohybrid Futures project based at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, has followed the Japanese team’s research with a sense of fascination. “Covering [robotic] devices with some sort of skin – just like our organs are isolated by our skin – to protect them and ensure they have the right conditions and nutrients is one of the first steps towards their actual use,” Mestre told Al Jazeera. “But there is still a long way to go.” Mestre argues that tissue produced for robots will need to be carefully evaluated because research on the interaction between skin cells and robotic surfaces is still in its infancy. “I suspect the first examples we see will be of some artificial skin acting as a coverture for a small-scale and simple biohybrid robot based on muscle tissue that can perform some basic form of actuation or movement, rather than in a humanoid robot with a real skin face,” he said. Mestre sees numerous potential applications for such technologies if research continues to advance, such as plastic surgery, anti-ageing research and drug testing. Other active areas of research include insect cyborgs – an area of interest for the United States government’s DARPA agency since 2006 – and biohybrid robots used for cleaning oceans or search-and-rescue operations. Misuse and abuse Concerns about the misuse and abuse of future technologies have also spurred calls for safeguards to be put in place. In a recent paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, researchers at the University of Southampton called for better regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines for biohybrid robotics development. The authors, who included Mestre, pinpointed three main areas of concern in the nascent field: how biorobots will interact with humans and ecosystems, the potential integration of biorobots into human bodies, and ethical considerations regarding a biorobot’s moral status. Takeuchi acknowledges ethical concerns, saying it will be crucial to implement regulatory measures and guidelines to ensure the technology is used responsibly. “While creating lifelike robots offers many benefits, we must carefully consider the implications and maintain transparency and control over their development and deployment,” he said. Mestre believes that it should not take the invention of realistic humanoid robots for ethical issues to be addressed. “Are we creating some sort of new hybrid life? What if we release them into the wild and they impact the trophic chain and environment? Or what if they’re used to enhance humans, like biohybrid prostheses, and very few people can afford them, and [it therefore] enhances inequalities?” he said. “This technology is being developed with little attention from the general public and policymakers… It’s imperative that we start having conversations about the future we want to have in relation to this technology.” Adblock test (Why?)
Indonesian fruit-pickers say seasonal work in UK left them drowning in debt
Medan, Indonesia – Indonesian workers who paid thousands of dollars to travel to the United Kingdom to pick fruit say they face the prospect of returning home heavily in debt after being sacked for not meeting unrealistic targets. Migrant worker Abdul said he departed for the UK in May with nine other Indonesians under the country’s seasonal worker scheme, which grants foreign workers six-month visas to work on British farms. Hired by UK recruiter Agri-HR, Abdul was sent to Haygrove, a farm in Hereford, about 215km (135 miles) southwest of London. “A friend of mine who had already been to the UK told me about the opportunity. He said I could make $65 per day picking fruit,” Abdul, who asked to use a pseudonym, told Al Jazeera. Abdul, who made about $130 per month in his previous job as an ice cream seller in Central Java province, said he racked up about $4,000 in debt borrowing money from family and friends to pay fees to two Indonesian third-party organisations – a recruitment agency called PT Mardel Anugerah International and a workers’ hub called Forkom – as well as out-of-pocket expenses to travel to the UK. Abdul said workers at Haygrove were expected to pick 20kg of cherries and strawberries per hour, which he found to be an impossible task due to the lack of fruit – a problem that only got worse as harvest season went on. “We [the Indonesian workers] were always put at the edge of the plantations where there was little fruit. Several times, we were given trees that were not in good condition and we picked all the fruit there was, but we couldn’t do any more than that,” he said. Abdul said he and four other Indonesian fruit-pickers received three written warnings before they were sacked within five to six weeks of arriving at the farm. He also alleged that other workers who had not met targets had not been let go. “When they let us go, Haygrove just said, ‘Sorry, we didn’t want this either’, and gave us an official letter to say we had been sacked and our ticket back to Indonesia leaving the next day,” he said. In a statement provided to Al Jazeera, Haygrove said the workers had been let go for poor performance and that it is “committed to fair employment practices and the well-being of all our workers”. “On June 24, 2024, five Indonesian workers were dismissed following a thorough and fair disciplinary process due to consistently poor performance. These dismissals were conducted in accordance with our structured performance management procedures, which include multiple stages of feedback, training, and support,” the farm said. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the UK’s main agency for investigating labour exploitation, earlier this year opened an investigation into the case. According to GLAA licensing rules, “a licensing holder must not charge a fee to a worker for any work-finding services”. However, other costs such as travel and medical checks may be charged as long as they are voluntary. “Additional goods or services must be optional and cannot be discriminated against if not taken up,” the rules state. In a statement provided to Al Jazeera, GLAA said it was looking into the workers’ complaints. “We are currently investigating the recruitment processes for a number of Indonesian workers in the UK and are working to establish the exact circumstances. At this time, we cannot comment further while the investigation is underway,” it said. Cherries await harvest at an orchard in Tunisia [File: Mohamed Messara/EPA-EFE] Haygrove said it takes allegations of misconduct “very seriously” and is fully cooperating with GLAA’s investigation. “We were unaware of any illegal recruitment fees until concerns were raised by a third party and subsequently reported to the GLAA by Agri-HR. Haygrove has a zero-tolerance policy for such practices and is actively supporting the GLAA’s investigation,” the farm said. “We emphasise that no issues have been raised directly by the Indonesian workers regarding their recruitment, accommodation, or working conditions at Haygrove.” Following their dismissal by Haygrove, Abdul and two other workers decided to remain in the UK. Abdul has since found work at another farm picking lettuce, although his six-month visa is due to expire in November, after which he will have to return to Indonesia. PT Mardel told Al Jazeera that Indonesians wishing to take advantage of the UK’s seasonal worker scheme must be able to cover the cost of a visa, medical check, return plane tickets and insurance, along with other processing costs in accordance with provisions set by the Indonesian labour department. “The estimated costs required are a maximum of 33 million Indonesian rupiah [$2,123],” a company spokesperson said. “The workers we have placed in the UK are all very happy that they can work there with very good salaries. The farms also pay great attention to their welfare,” the spokesperson said. PT Mardel also said there was “no relationship between PT Mardel and Forkom”. Forkom did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Several other workers awaiting departure to the UK told Al Jazeera that they were also saddled with debt. Ali, a seasonal worker applicant from Central Java province, said he was still waiting to go to the UK after Forkom told him he could depart in August last year. “They said if I went to the UK, I would earn $65 per day picking strawberries. I had to stop work in Indonesia so that I could focus on getting all the documents together, but then I didn’t get to leave,” Ali, who asked to use a pseudonym, told Al Jazeera. Ali said he is now about $1,300 in debt to his family. “I’ve spent all my money. Before this, I used to buy secondhand goods and sell them on the side of the road. I had been doing that for 25 years and it was enough for me to pay for my family,” he said. “All the information about the scheme was sent through Forkom,