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As Democrats fold to GOP on border policy, immigrants pay the price

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As Democrats fold to GOP on border policy, immigrants pay the price
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Kamala Harris has made it clear that, while a new name is now at the top of the Democratic ticket in the 2024 elections, the party policy on immigration and the border has not changed and will not change. At the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris and other speakers continued to adopt the language of Donald Trump and Republicans when speaking about immigration policy and the “crisis” on the US-Mexico border. Harris also declared her commitment to signing the Bipartisan Border Security Bill, which Republicans and six Democrats killed in the Senate earlier this year, into law; the bill would, among other things, require hundreds of millions of dollars of unspent funds to be used to continue building a wall on the border. However, prominent voices within the Democratic party are speaking out and urging the Biden-Harris Administration and the Harris campaign to change course on immigration and border policy. TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Juanita Martinez, chair of the Maverick County Democratic Party in Texas, about how the so-called “immigration debate” is shaping this election, and who and what is being left out of that debate.

Studio Production: Cameron Granadino
Post-Production: David Hebden


Transcript

The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.

Maximillian Alvarez:

We’re back here in Baltimore after an intense week of filming inside and outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The 2024 DNC concluded on August 22nd with Kamala Harris officially accepting the party’s nomination, and addressing the convention laying out her platform and her vision for the country. But one of the things that was made abundantly clear in Harris’s speech is that, while a new name is now at the top of the Democratic ticket in this election, the party policy on immigration and the border has not changed and will not change. To loud applause, Harris declared her commitment to signing the bipartisan border security bill, which Republicans and six Democrats killed in the Senate earlier this year, into law. Take a listen.

Kamala Harris:

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Last year Joe and I brought together Democrats and conservative Republicans to write the strongest border bill in decades. The Border Patrol endorsed it. But Donald Trump believes a border deal would hurt his campaign so he ordered his allies in Congress to kill the deal. Well, I refuse to play politics with our security, and here is my pledge to you. As president, I will bring back the bipartisan board of security bill that he killed and I will sign it into law.

Maximillian Alvarez:

The border security legislation would grant presidential administrations greater power to turn migrants away from the border in mass. And it would require hundreds of millions of dollars of unspent funds to be used to continue building a wall on the border. Moreover, as Chris Walker reported for Truthout earlier this year, “The bill expedites the processing time for those seeking asylum which can sometimes take several years to just six months. It also removes the process from immigration courts potentially denying asylum seekers their due process rights. And would raise legal standards by which asylum seekers can apply for temporary or permanent entry in the US.”

Democrats openly admitted that the bipartisan border security bill was a political gambit. It was an attempt by Democrats to counter criticisms from Trump and the Republicans that the Biden administration is too “Soft” on immigration by effectively adopting the Republican platform on immigration. And it was a stunt designed to offer Republicans what they say they want on immigration and border policy just to prove that Trump would direct the party to kill the bill so as not to give Democrats a political win. But who exactly would win if this bill is signed into law? And what are we as a country, as a people losing? Who is “Winning” now that there is a clear bipartisan consensus on the “Border crisis” and the “Immigration debate?” And that the terms of that consensus have been set largely by Trump and the far right themselves.

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So to talk about this I’m honored to be joined today by Juanita Martinez, chair of the Maverick County Democratic Party in Texas. I got to meet Juanita at the DNC in Chicago. And while we were unable to find time to record an interview at the convention, we felt an urgent need to have a post-convention discussion here about the role the so-called immigration debate is playing right now in shaping this election, and about who and what is being left out of that debate. So Juanita, thank you so much for joining us today on The Real News Network, I really appreciate it. And I wanted to just jump right in here and ask, now that both conventions are over, the Democratic Convention and the Republican Convention, what role do you see immigration playing in this election? What is each party offering to address it? And what is not being addressed here?

Juanita Martinez:

Well, to be honest, I did read most of the immigration bill that they were trying to pass. Many of us that have been involved with immigrants and seeing their strife and seeing their suffering here directly, eyewitnesses on the border, we’re not happy with it at all, at all. But I understand why we had to do something drastic. Not this past October but the October before, I went to the DNC meeting. It was held in Philadelphia. Yes, it was in Philadelphia. I stood there because I was going to shake President Biden’s hand but he actually let me speak. And I told him, “Mr. President, there’s a humanitarian crisis on the border we’re going to need help. And you know the Republicans are going to use that against us during the election.” And, of course, he was very kind. Oh my gosh, he is the kindest person in the world.

I mistakenly called him Joe because there were signs … There were posters everywhere that said Joe. And then I was just so embarrassed and I said, “I’m so sorry I meant Mr. President.” And he just tapped my shoulder he said, “You can call me Joe.” Such a simple, nice, everyday guy. I just fell in love with him at that point. I advised him that the situation on the border was getting worse and we needed to do something about it because that was going to be a weapon against us during the election by the Republicans. Of course, nothing was done. Exactly as I had said, that’s the only issue that they have running on. Making people afraid and telling people how there’s a invasion on the border, there’s a crisis on the border.

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We have been living it here in Eagle Pass because Governor Abbott has decided to make this his stage for his political propaganda. For people to vote Republican just to keep us safe because there there’s a crisis, we’re getting invaded, they have to protect the United States. That’s bull shit. This thing about continuing with the border wall, I can tell you right off … My daughter, Dr. Adriana Martinez out of the Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, she was doing an article way past … Way before this. We spoke to some immigrants and I went with her.

And she was interviewing some immigrants and asking, “What did they think of the border” which was at that time barely being built. I’ll never forget one man that said, “They can build the border” … He had been deported from Austin, Texas. In Austin, Texas he had his family, he had his children and they had deported him because he was illegal in the US. And he told my daughter, “They can build the wall all the way up to the heavens and we’ll just dig under it like a gopher. There is nothing they can do to keep me from going back to my family where I have to support them, where I have to work for them.” That just tells you their determination.

The concertina wire is just brutal, and just vicious, and inhumane. Because this bill has that as part of it, a lot of the Democrats … I’m serious that I’ve talked to several people, especially those of us dealing with the actual situation here, we were very sad about it, about many parts of that bill. Because you hear these people that came from Venezuela, and the harshest part, the hell that they go through crossing Mexico, and then finally reaching the river where there’s some hope for a better life for their children. How is it that now they’re just going to turn them back, on this river, to where they came from? There has to be a better solution, sir. There has to be a better solution. And this bill is not the right way to go. It is my personal opinion. Of course, I 100% support Kamala Harris and I am going to work like crazy here to get … To make sure that monster Trump does not get near the White House.

However, when you talk about that issue I do have a problem. What can I tell you? This issue is very close to our heart. When you saw me there at the … Doing the interview outside the stadium at the convention, I was reaching out to a family that we helped them get there, her name is [inaudible 00:09:52]. I lost contact with them. But one morning I woke up to a message from her that said, “I am [inaudible 00:09:59], Mrs. Martinez. I want to let you know that we’re in Chicago and my husband is already working, the children are in school, and I’m going to go interview for a job at a cafeteria.” This family is the family that their little boy has a horrible scar, has a terrible scar on his leg. Their identical twins. And I always do the speech and say they are no longer identical because one of them bears the Abbott scar from that concertina wire.

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Now when I went to the national convention … To me, I went for a purpose. And I felt like there’s a reason why I’m the first person from my community, from my county to represent the congressional district, it’s because I had a message and I had to spread it, I had to say it to everybody there at the convention. I took my canvas because I paint a little bit. I painted a canvas and I attached a piece of actual concertina wire from the Rio Grande, from the edge of the river so people can see what Abbott has put in our river. Besides militarizing our river he has put that and it’s just plain wrong. That’s why I feel very passionate about this.

And there’s a reason why I was there. I always think there’s a reason for things to happen the way they did. And that’s when you saw me interviewing with that Spanish network outside, that’s exactly what I was telling them. And I say this, and I want people to listen and know what’s happening on the river here, what Abbott is doing to us, to my small community. Nobody knew where we were until he decided to make us his stage for his false propaganda. I have seen a father and his daughter face down in the river where he was still holding onto her. And all these people want is to cross into the US and have a better life for themselves and their children. That’s why they risk it all because they’re suffering from hunger. Who wouldn’t do that? Me as a mother, if my children were hungry, my children were facing war violence, of course, I would risk everything I could for their future. That’s just something I feel very strongly about, sir.

Maximillian Alvarez:

And I could hear it in your voice there in the United … Outside the United Center and here now. It affects me deeply, as I told you there in Chicago, as well not only as the son of immigrants but as the foster father of an undocumented daughter myself as well. But also I think just as a human being with a heart to see what people are going through, flesh and blood human beings are going through to cross the border, to find that better life, to see the conditions that they are fleeing. And our own country’s complicity in creating those conditions and seeing the humanitarian crisis across the board. I just feel like you can’t have a heart and not want to approach this in a human way. And yet on the policy level that is not what we are getting.

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And I wanted to ask you just two questions here because I know I got to let you go in a minute. Is first, could you just say more about the reality that you and your neighbors are seeing there on the ground, on the border over there in Texas? And the disconnect between what you’re seeing and experiencing and what you’re hearing in the media, what you’re hearing from Trump and the Republicans, but also what we were hearing on the Democratic National Convention stage. Can you talk a bit about that disconnect between the rhetoric and the reality on the ground? And what would a more humane immigration and border policy look like for the Democrats? What would you like to see this party do to counter the fear and hatred that Trump and the Republicans are pushing right now?

Juanita Martinez:

Well, just to give you an example. There was a caravan that came from North Texas, I don’t know how far they were from … That they came down because they heard of the invasion on the border, and it was in Eagle Pass. When they got here guess what? They were so disappointed. They even told the reporters, “Well, it’s not what we expected.” Well, duh, pendejos, of course, it’s not. You’re being lied to, you’re being lied to. They were very disappointed. They saw themselves with their rifles going up next to the river, fighting off the immigrants that were trying to rush into the United States.

These people are poor, these people want a better life. They are humble, poor people they sure as hell don’t have weapons. They don’t have weapons, they barely have what they can survive on. You’ll go to the edge of the river and find the wet clothes. Where they had another set of clothes that was dry in a plastic bag where they change right by the river. You’ll see little kids shoes just filthy with mud where they trotted across the bank of the river and they leave them there. And just searching for a better life.

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They were very disappointed, let me tell you. And they went back knowing that they had been lied to. If it’s true, if it’s true that immigrants do not hurt our economy, and do not hurt the United States, and that if … And that they’ve proven they’re the ones that are bringing the drugs across … It’s US citizens that are drug traffickers. And if it’s a blatant lie that they’re all liars and murderers like the Republicans say then what the hell? Let’s make a process where they can come across without risking their life but without them having to cross all that Mexican territory. Come straight from Venezuela into the United States, if that is the process, if they want to come work.

There’s a big problem in Venezuela, what are we going to do go after the government in Venezuela to make their situation better? Climate change. A lot of this has to do with climate change. A lot of this has to do with climate change, that … What’s happening down there. There has to be a better process. But this turning them back from the river when they struggled so hard and they fought their way through Mexican cartels and Mexican deserts to get to the river and then to turn them back, that’s just inhumane, inhumane. That should not be happening. There has to be a way to take care of this. And if it’s not turning them away let them in. Every single worker at the hotel where I was staying, there in Chicago, were from Guadalajara, Venezuela. All of them were immigrants, okay? There was a real nice chef, his name is Robert, who was super nice, he was from Chicago. But every other worker that was working there was from Guatemala, from Guadalajara, from Mexico, from South America mostly. So they’re here and they’re working. We need them here.

So there has to be a better way than what is proposed in that bill. That bill should not, should not happen. But like I said, it was a forced bill by the Republicans. Because just as I told President Biden to his face, “That one time in Philadelphia, this is going to be their only weapon, the only issue they have to run on, and they’re going to juice it.” And that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Maximillian Alvarez:

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Thank you so much for watching The Real News Network where we lift up the voices, stories, and struggles that you care about most. And we need your help to keep doing this work so please tap your screen now, subscribe, and donate to The Real News Network. Solidarity forever.

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GSK hails progress for withdrawn blood cancer drug

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GSK hailed progress for its withdrawn blood cancer drug Blenrep on Thursday, raising the prospect of the treatment returning to market after the drugmaker announced positive trial results.

Blenrep was approved in 2020 in the US as single treatment, but it was later withdrawn in 2022 after failing to beat other treatments in a confirmatory trial to treat a rare kind of blood cancer known as relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The drugmaker has since launched new trials to bring it back to market, combining it with other treatments.

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GSK said it had seen “statistically significant and clinically meaningful” trial results for Blenrep, when used with another established treatment called BorDex to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma — a blood cancer that returns or does not respond to treatment.

Blenrep in combination with BorDex significantly reduced the risk of death in a head-to-head trial with a standard treatment for the disease. Full data will be presented at a US haematology conference in December.

In February, the company said Blenrep and BorDex nearly tripled the length of time a patient lives without their cancer advancing, compared with the standard treatment.

GSK has filed for regulatory approvals across the world and the results will support those applications, with decisions due next year. If approved, the company expects peak sales of Blenrep of more than £3bn.

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Shares in the UK drugmaker dipped 0.6 per cent in early trading in London.

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Lidl Christmas Freeway Truck TRACKER: Free gifts and £100 shopping ‘Golden Tickets’ up for grabs as UK tour begins

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Lidl Christmas Freeway Truck TRACKER: Free gifts and £100 shopping 'Golden Tickets' up for grabs as UK tour begins

The full route

The tour kicks off today in Dundee’s Slessor Gardens, followed by stops in Harrogate on Saturday and Hull on Sunday.

Lidl’s Christmas Freeway Truck hits the road!

Lidl’s Christmas Freeway truck is bringing festive cheer to towns and cities across the UK for the first time ever! From November 14th until December 1st, this mobile celebration will stop at nine locations, offering free gifts, food tastings, and plenty of holiday fun.

At each stop, the first 250 visitors will receive a special box filled with Middle of Lidl goodies. Plus, 1 in 10 boxes will contain a ‘Golden Ticket’ worth £100 towards your Lidl Christmas shop!

Visitors can also sample holiday treats like panettone, snowmallows, and alcohol-free mulled wine, and enjoy the Magical Wish-mas Booth to share their Christmas wishes.

Credit: Lidl

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Ryanair to launch new Spain flights from tiny UK airport next summer

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Teesside International Airport, an award-winning airport in North East England, will get new Ryanair flights to Malaga next year

RYANAIR is launching a new route between Teesside and Malaga, with flights to start operating in March.

Earlier this year, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, vowed to bring new Costa del Sol flights to the tiny UK airport.

Teesside International Airport, an award-winning airport in North East England, will get new Ryanair flights to Malaga next year

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Teesside International Airport, an award-winning airport in North East England, will get new Ryanair flights to Malaga next yearCredit: Alamy
Earlier this year, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, vowed to bring new Costa del Sol flights to the tiny UK airport

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Earlier this year, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, vowed to bring new Costa del Sol flights to the tiny UK airportCredit: Getty

Direct services will start operating between Teesside and Malaga on March 31, 2025.

The twice-weekly service will operate every Monday and Thursday until October 23, 2025.

Monday flights will depart Malaga at 5.50am, touching down in the UK at Teesside at 8am.

Return journeys will then leave the UK airport at 8.25am, arriving in Malaga at 12.35pm local time.

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Thursday flights will operate slightly later, with services leaving Malaga at 7am and arriving in the UK at 9.10am.

The return service will then depart from Teesside at 9.35am, landing in Malaga at 1.45pm.

Sun Online Travel have found one-way fares from £68.99 per person, with tickets already on sale.

When the new flights were announced, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: “The people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have been asking for more sunshine destinations, and we’ve delivered exactly that with Ryanair’s fantastic support.

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“This is a huge win for our airport and our region, but we’re not stopping here. Our goal is to keep growing, breaking records and getting more holiday flights for local people.”

A statement from the airport reads: “The announcement follows another successful summer for Ryanair at Teesside, where routes to holiday hotspots including Majorca, Faro and Corfu have seen booming demand.”

UK airport reveals new security rules for passengers

The news comes after Teesside Airport announced its pre-tax and interest profit in 12 years.

Teesside is mainly served by airlines like Ryanair and TUI with passengers already able to fly to destinations like Dalaman in Turkey, Corfu in Greece and Majorca in Spain.

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It is hoped that more flights will be introduced at the regional airport.

Teesside International Airport was named the favourite small UK airport for leisure travel by passengers at the British Travel Awards in 2023.

Last year, Teesside International Airport saw the highest number of passengers pass through its terminal for 11 years.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ben Houchen has promised to pump £20million into renovating the airport’s train station.

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Teesside Airport Station closed in May 2022, and it has yet to reopen.

Houchen told the Northern Echo: “As a serious airport we need a working rail link that passengers can use to get to the airport, and with the current state of the train station this is simply not possible.

“We are ahead of schedule on our plan to turn things around, and the next phase of development following the opening of our business park and cargo facility, will see us build a new station at the airport.”

The other small UK airport set for new flights

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RYANAIR looks set to launch three brand new flights at a small UK airport, as it already begins to cast its eyes on next summer.

In April, the budget carrier started new routes from Norwich Airport for the first time.

Passengers in Norfolk were able to book flights to Alicante in Spain, Faro in Portugal and Malta, with some routes starting from as little as £17.

Now the airline could be set to launch more new routes from the regional travel hub, according to its managing director.

Richard Pace has said that he is hoping to see at least two or three more flights added to the airport’s route map in time for summer 2025.

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In an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk, he spoke of the success of the first few months of flights from Norwich Airport and said he would know more about the future routes from next month.

At the moment, there is no indication of where the new routes will travel to, or when they will begin.

Meanwhile, Jet2 is set to open a brand-new airport base at London Luton Airport next year.

From the London-based airport, Jet2 will fly to 17 destinations, with 36 flights operating every week next summer.

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The twice-weekly service between Teesside and Malaga will launch at the end of March and will operate throughout the summer until mid-October

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The twice-weekly service between Teesside and Malaga will launch at the end of March and will operate throughout the summer until mid-OctoberCredit: Getty

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Did the vehicle market brave the climate in the festival month of October?- The Week

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Did the vehicle market brave the climate in the festival month of October?- The Week

Two-wheeler sales soared to 21.6 lakh units in October 2024, up 14 per cent from October 2023, according to official data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Total domestic passenger vehicles dispatched to dealers by companies improved to 3.93 lakh units—its highest ever for the month—from last year’s October number of about 3.89 lakh units.

Bipeds ruled the sales in the festive month that saw Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Dhanteras fervour across the country, despite massive dips in major stock-market indices due to FII selloff. “October 2024 saw two major festivals, Dussehra and Diwali, both occurring in the same month, which traditionally drive higher consumer demand, providing a significant boost to the auto industry’s performance,” said SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon.

ALSO READ | GST Collection: Which Indian states collected the most tax in the festival month of October?

Around 13.9 lakh motorcycles were dispatched to dealers in October, up 11 per cent. Scooter demand was higher, with a 22 per cent growth to 7.2 lakh units.

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According to the industry body SIAM, the sales jump was also reflected in the centralised government portal Vahan, which recorded more than 30 per cent year-on-year growth in registrations for passenger vehicles.

Earlier this week, Maruti Suzuki launched its compact sedan DZire, starting at Rs 6.79 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. It is also the first Maruti Suzuki car to ever get a 5-star Global NCAP rating.

In the first week of November, at EICMA 2024, two-wheeler brands Hero MotoCorp and Royal Enfield announced their new motorcycles. While the Bajaj-rival Hero launched the Karizma XMR 250, the Xpulse 210 and the Xtreme 250R, they were joined in Milan by Royal Enfield, who announced their foray into electric bikes.

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Fans Lose £346 on Average

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Oasis Fans Hit by Costly Ticket Scams Amid Tour Frenzy, Bank Warns

Loyal Oasis fans, eager to secure tickets for the band’s highly anticipated reunion tour, have become prime targets for scammers, with victims losing an average of £346, according to new findings from Lloyds Bank. The bank’s analysis reveals that people aged 35 to 44 are most at risk, making up nearly a third (31%) of reported cases. In some cases, fans lost as much as £1,000 as scammers exploited the surge in ticket demand.

Lloyds’ data, gathered from reports made by customers across Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland between August 27 and September 25, paints a clear picture: fake advertisements and posts on social media accounted for over 90% of the ticket scam cases, with around 70% involving Oasis fans. Scammers typically use social media to post fake listings, offering discounted or “exclusive” tickets to sold-out events. After victims make an upfront payment, the scammers disappear, leaving fans with no tickets and a financial loss.

“Fraudsters Wasting No Time Targeting Oasis Fans”

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said, “Predictably, fraudsters wasted no time in targeting loyal Oasis fans as they scrambled to pick up tickets for next year’s must-see reunion tour.” She emphasized the importance of purchasing tickets directly from reliable sources: “Buying directly from reputable, authorised retailers is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket.”

Ziegler also warned against using bank transfers to pay unknown sellers, especially on social media platforms, saying, “If you’re asked to pay via bank transfer, particularly by a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediately set alarm bells ringing.”

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New Fraud Reimbursement Rules Aim to Protect Consumers

The rise in scams comes as new mandatory reimbursement rules for authorised push payment (APP) fraud took effect last month. Overseen by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), the rules require banks to reimburse victims of fraud unless there is evidence of gross negligence by the customer. A reimbursement cap of £85,000 has been set, although banks may choose to refund higher amounts. The new protections apply to transactions made from October 7 onwards, offering an extra layer of security for victims.

Previously, a voluntary reimbursement code provided some relief for fraud victims, along with bank-specific refund guarantees. However, these new, more stringent rules mark a step forward in protecting consumers against payment fraud, helping to ensure that those tricked into transferring money to fraudsters have a better chance of recovery.

Tips for Avoiding Ticket Scams

With ticket scams spiking during high-demand events, Lloyds offers practical advice to help fans avoid falling victim:

  1. Purchase from Trusted Sources: Only buy tickets from official retailers or authorized resellers, avoiding unknown sellers on social media.
  2. Avoid Bank Transfers to Unknown Sellers: If a seller insists on a bank transfer, it’s a major red flag. Scammers prefer bank transfers because they’re hard to trace.
  3. Stay Alert as Event Dates Approach: Scammers often strike twice—first when tickets go on sale, and again as the event nears. Increased vigilance during these times can prevent potential losses.

The Oasis ticket scam surge is a reminder of the importance of secure purchasing and highlights the ongoing threat of fraud in high-demand markets. With new rules in place, fans who fall victim may now have better protection, but the best safeguard remains buying from trusted sources and staying alert to red flags in the digital marketplace.

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TSMC clamps down and CATL goes for distance

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China’s consumer sentiment and online sales*

Hello everyone. This is Cissy from Hong Kong. It’s been a hectic week for the tech industry. Asian tech giants have started to report their July-September quarterly earnings even as they absorb the shock re-election of Donald Trump as US president.

It’s also been a busy time for Asian media outlets, including us, covering what Trump’s second term will mean for trade, defence, markets and more. It appears the consensus is that first and foremost his return to the White House will bring uncertainty for the region, although there are a few voices arguing that Trump won’t take the world by surprise this time.

One of his biggest impacts will likely be on immigration. Chinese citizens, many of them middle class, who made the risky Darién Gap crossing to reach the US during the pandemic years are now worried about being deported under Trump. Parents in China, meanwhile, some of whom have even sold their property in order to send their sons and daughters to study in the US, are increasingly worried their children will not be allowed into the country.

With the Republicans clinching control of the House as well as the Senate, Trump is set to become one of the most powerful US presidents in the modern era. Let’s embrace the changes that the next four years will surely bring, whatever they might be.

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I am sure many of you are particularly interested in how Trump’s return as US president will affect the global chip industry and the tech supply chain. Please join us on November 28 for a webinar with Chris Miller, author of Chip War, Yeo Han-koo, former trade minister of South Korea, and our own chief tech correspondent Cheng Ting-Fang as we delve into this ever-changing industry. Register here and be sure to submit your questions for the panel ahead of time.

Closing the door

Trump will not be sworn in as president until January, but the world’s biggest contract chipmaker is making sure it stays on the right side of US export control rules no matter who is in the White House. Sources told Nikkei Asia’s Cheng Ting-Fang and Lauly Li that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co is suspending production of AI and high-performance computing chips for several Chinese customers.

The Chinese chip design clients that will be affected are those working on high-performance computing, GPUs and AI computing applications that use 7nm or more advanced chip production technologies. These chip developers need to obtain a licence from the US government to continue working with top chipmakers such as TSMC.

Companies making mobile, communication, and connectivity chips with the same technology won’t be impacted, and sources say the effect on TSMC’s revenue will be minimal. But the move highlights the Taiwanese chipmaker’s push to have clients shoulder more of the burden for ensuring compliance with US regulations.

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Wearable AI

A race is heating up between the major Chinese tech giants to be the leading provider of AI-integrated hardware, writes the Financial Times’ Eleanor Olcott.

Baidu, which operates China’s largest search engine, unveiled smart glasses on Tuesday, which run on its large language model (LLM) Ernie. The glasses, which will hit stores next year, have been developed by the internet company’s hardware brand Xiaodu, which has pitched them as a “private assistant” for users. It enables wearers to track calorie consumption, ask questions about their environment, play music and shoot videos.

While Washington’s chip restrictions mean Chinese companies lag behind US rivals in developing the most powerful LLMs, experts say they can still leverage the country’s world-class electronics sector to develop competitive AI consumer hardware.

Baidu’s glasses will initially only retail in China, while US tech groups Meta and Snap are competing to dominate the market outside of the country.

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A new target

China’s consumer sentiment and online sales*

China’s biggest annual shopping festival is getting longer and longer and, for many shoppers, more tedious. As domestic consumption continues to be weak, ecommerce platforms this year are ramping up efforts to tap a potentially lucrative group: the 100mn or so Chinese living overseas, writes Nikkei Asia’s Cissy Zhou.

Alibaba, which pioneered the sales campaign back in 2009, spent around $200mn filling subway stations in Hong Kong and Taiwan with ads for free shipping on orders over Rmb99 among other offers. Rivals JD.com and Pinduoduo were less aggressive in their marketing campaigns but invested big to give Hong Kong shoppers reduced prices on items and cheaper shipping.

Alibaba said the company achieved “robust” GMV (gross merchandise value) growth and a “record number” of active buyers during this year’s Singles Day. The company, along with JD, may reveal more meaningful data in their upcoming third-quarter earnings calls.

Battle of the batteries

CATL, the world’s largest supplier of electric vehicle batteries, is seeking to capture growing demand for plug-in hybrids with a new compound battery pack that promises a range of 400km, writes Nikkei’s Shizuka Tanabe.

The move comes as the battery maker faces intense competition from rival BYD, China’s leading seller of midmarket plug-in hybrids.

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BYD in May overhauled its proprietary plug-in hybrid platform to improve its range. The updated DM-i boasts a combined fuel and electric range of 2,100km. However, the automaker has focused more on improving the efficiency of its engine, and the platform’s electric range is between 80km and 120km.

Sales of plug-in hybrids are surging in China, hitting 3.33mn units between January and September, up 84 per cent from the same period last year. CATL is betting that a longer electric range will appeal to buyers looking for “the EV experience”.

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#techAsia is co-ordinated by Nikkei Asia’s Katherine Creel in Tokyo, with assistance from the FT tech desk in London.

Sign up here at Nikkei Asia to receive #techAsia each week. The editorial team can be reached at techasia@nex.nikkei.co.jp.

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