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WASHINGTON — Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.'” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.’s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian PressSouth Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule
Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler to retain Players Championship Finals title
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warNone
Digital Binoculars Market Forecast to Grow at 5.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028, Driven by Advancements in Imaging TechnologyThe world approved a bitterly negotiated climate deal Sunday but poorer nations most at the mercy of worsening disasters dismissed a $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters as insultingly low. After two exhausting weeks of chaotic bargaining and sleepless nights, nearly 200 nations pushed through the contentious finance pact in the early hours in a sports stadium in Azerbaijan. But the applause had barely subsided when India delivered a full-throated rejection of the "abysmally poor" deal, kicking off a firestorm of criticism from across the developing world. "It's a paltry sum," thundered India's delegate Chandni Raina. "This document is little more than an optical illusion. This, in our opinion, will not address the enormity of the challenge we all face." Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai said it showed a "lack of goodwill" from rich countries to stand by the world's poorest as they confront rising seas and harsher droughts. Nigeria's envoy Nkiruka Maduekwe put it even more bluntly: "This is an insult." Some countries had accused Azerbaijan, an oil and gas exporter, of lacking the will to meet the moment in a year defined by costly climate disasters and on track to become the hottest on record. But at protests throughout COP29, developed nations -- major economies like the European Union, the United States and Japan -- were accused of negotiating in bad faith, making a fair deal impossible. Developing nations arrived in the Caspian Sea city of Baku hoping to secure a massive financial boost from rich countries many times above their existing pledge of $100 billion a year. Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, said she would return home with only a "small portion" of what she fought for, but not empty-handed. "It isn't nearly enough, but it's a start," said Stege, whose atoll nation homeland faces an existential threat from creeping sea levels. - No time to celebrate - Nations had struggled at COP29 to reconcile long-standing divisions over how much developed nations most accountable for historic greenhouse gas pollution should provide to poorer countries least responsible but most impacted by Earth's rapid warming. The meeting also saw stalling on the promise to "transition away" from fossil fuels, the main driver of global heating. That pledge, a key achievement of COP28 in Dubai, was scrubbed from the final Baku deal. The Least Developed Countries bloc of 45 nations slammed the COP29 outcome as a "travesty", adding that it failed to make progress on curbing warming, or deliver enough cash to protect the most vulnerable. "This is not just a failure; it is a betrayal," the group said in a statement. Nations have agreed to try to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times. Currently the world is on track for devastating warming of between 2.6C and 3.1C this century, according to the UN. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he had "hoped for a more ambitious outcome" and appealed to governments to see it as a starting point. Developed countries only put the $300 billion figure on the table on Saturday after COP29 went into extra time and diplomats worked through the night to improve an earlier spurned offer. Bleary-eyed diplomats, huddled anxiously in groups, were still polishing the final phrasing on the plenary floor in the dying hours before the deal passed. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband hailed "a critical eleventh-hour deal at the eleventh hour for the climate". At points, the talks appeared on the brink of collapse. Delegates stormed out of meetings, fired shots across the bow, and threatened to walk away from the negotiating table should rich nations not cough up more cash. In the end -- despite repeating that "no deal is better than a bad deal" -- developing nations did not stand in the way of an agreement. - 'Historic' - US President Joe Biden cast the agreement reached in Baku as a "historic outcome". EU climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra said it would be remembered as "the start of a new era for climate finance". The agreement commits developed nations to pay at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developing countries cut emissions and prepare for worsening disasters. It falls short of the $390 billion that economists commissioned by the United Nations had deemed a fair share contribution by developed nations. The US and EU pushed to have newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- chip in. Wealthy nations said it was politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and economic belt-tightening. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, was elected just days before COP29 began and his victory cast a pall over the UN talks. Other countries, particularly in the EU -- the largest contributor of climate finance -- saw right-wing backlashes against the green agenda, not fertile conditions for raising big sums of public money. The final deal "encourages" developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, reflecting no change for China, which already provides climate finance on its own terms. The deal also posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. By Nick Perry, Laurent Thomet And Shaun Tandon
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the end of the settlement date of November 15, 2024, short interest in 3,070 Nasdaq Global Market SM securities totaled 11,973,515,318 shares compared with 12,172,949,545 shares in 3,083 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of October 31, 2024. The mid-November short interest represents 2.25 days compared with 3.02 days for the prior reporting period. Short interest in 1,668 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market SM totaled 2,044,997,906 shares at the end of the settlement date of November 15, 2024, compared with 2,128,624,815 shares in 1,664 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.00 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.05 In summary, short interest in all 4,738 Nasdaq ® securities totaled 14,018,513,224 shares at the November 15, 2024 settlement date, compared with 4,747 issues and 14,301,574,360 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 1.83 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 2.36 days for the prior reporting period. The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller. For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp . About Nasdaq: Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn , on X @Nasdaq , or at www.nasdaq.com . Media Contact: Jennifer Lawson jennifer.lawson@nasdaq.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f227accd-cd52-4299-9a83-e3bcaa7a247c NDAQO
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SHENZHEN, China , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 26, 2024 , Access Advance LLC ("AA") and TCL Electronics Holdings Limited ("TCL" or "Client") announced that TCL had officially joined the HEVC Advance Patent Pool as a licensee. PurpleVine IP Group ("PurpleVine") played a pivotal role in this achievement, providing full-spectrum services, including strategic planning, global litigation management, and licensing negotiation support. PurpleVine's efforts were instrumental in helping TCL finalize agreements with AA and multiple HEVC Advance licensors, resolving years of complex global litigation over HEVC standard-essential patents("SEPs"). Since 2021, leading HEVC Advance licensors - including Dolby, GEVC, Philips, Mitsubishi Electric, JVCKENWOOD, NEC, ETRI, and IP Bridge - have filed dozens of infringement lawsuits and sought injunctions against TCL across jurisdictions such as Germany , the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe , and Brazil . PurpleVine provided TCL with a comprehensive defense strategy tailored to each jurisdiction. Working closely with local counsel, the PurpleVine team devised FRAND-compliant arguments, non-infringement defenses, and patent invalidation strategies that not only neutralized injunction threats but also achieved an outstanding success rate of over 90% in invalidating asserted patents during first-instance rulings. PurpleVine also spearheaded counteractions against AA and HEVC Advance licensors in multiple jurisdictions, including China , Brazil , and Germany . Notably, PurpleVine assisted TCL in filing two landmark cases in Chinese courts - one challenging SEP licensing rates and another alleging abuse of market dominance. These cases were the first in the world where courts asserted jurisdiction over SEP pool licensing rates and alleged monopolistic practices, setting a groundbreaking legal precedent. Daniel Fu , General Counsel of TCL, stated, "We are pleased to have signed a license with Access Advance's HEVC patent pool, with the help of PurpleVine IP. The transaction is beneficial to the licensing ecosystem and the development of cutting-edge technologies for the welfare of consumers." This multi-jurisdictional case, involving complex legal challenges, spanning several years, highlights PurpleVine's expertise in managing high-stakes IP disputes. PurpleVine's strategic leadership, effective litigation management, and skilled negotiations reaffirm its position as a leading provider of cross-border intellectual property services. Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an official statement regarding litigation. About PurpleVine IP Group PurpleVine IP Group, based in Shenzhen, China , is a leading intellectual property service provider with a global perspective. The firm offers one-stop IP services, including patent and trademark prosecution, analysis, global transactions, licensing negotiations, and dispute resolution. The core members of PurpleVine's litigation and dispute resolution team have backgrounds in top international law firms and leading corporate legal departments. They have managed patent litigation and invalidation cases in over 50 courts worldwide. The firm also includes SEP (Standard Essential Patent) experts from the telecommunications industry, who have been involved in hundreds of patent licensing negotiations and litigations. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purplevine-drives-tcls-successful-entry-into-the-hevc-advance-patent-pool-302320761.html SOURCE PurpleVine IPEpsilon Energy Ltd. Announces Quarterly Dividend
Accordion expands its global data & analytics hub in Hyd
Cadiz Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend for Q4 2024 on Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred StockLittler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”
PJ Sin Suela has had one of the busiest years of his career. The perennial fan-favorite in Puerto Rico started his career more than a decade ago on Soundcloud. His dynamic stage presence, charismatic personality, catchy delivery, and clever bars put him on the map early. By 2018, he was teaming up with Bad Bunny and charting on Billboard. He kept winning fans and building a as a thoughtful and affable rapper — and this year promised to be even bigger. In January, he kicked off a string of collab singles featuring artists such as Nanpa Básico, Charlie Sepulveda, Goyo, and Sparrow & Barbossa among others. By July, he’d started hyping up Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto ( Every Era Has Its Charms ), his new LP, which dropped in September. A quick U.S. tour launched not too long after, and he returned to Puerto Rico to headline Festival de La Esperanza, the closing campaign rally of promising gubernatorial candidate Juan Dalmau, who received the support of young voters, and even Bad Bunny’s endorsement , ahead of the election. On voting day, PJ worked as a coordinator at one of the many polling places across the island, and a week later, he was back onstage for his sold-out concert at San Juan’s Tito Puente Amphitheater. On top of all that, he’s also a practicing doctor, running a non-profit and doing monthly health clinics around Puerto Rico for communities in need. A busy year, indeed. Still, not everything went as planned. The album was a hit, but Dalmau lost the election, dealing a blow to PJ and other Puerto Ricans who hoped for sweeping change in their homeland. But through it all, PJ is finding ways to stay positive and to keep inspiring others. “You don’t need to be a politician to make change,” he says. “You can start with yourself. I think there’s gonna be people there who will want to hear that, and I hope to motivate them.” In an interview with Rolling Stone , he talks about how he’s handled the aftermath of the election in Puerto Rico and the U.S., the reaction around his new album, and what he hopes to offer fans going forward. It’s after Election Day. How hopeful did you allow yourself to get? Too much. [ Laughs .] Man, I was positive that Puerto Rico had woken up and was as desperate for a change as I was. And I do think we did see that, in the younger population, not even from just 18 year olds, but literally 12 year olds who can’t vote were paying attention, and they’ve been living through this decline since María. I woke up that day hopeful, and even at 10 p.m. when my shift [at the polling place] ended, I was still feeling hopeful. But it’s hard to go up against these parties that have been in control for 70 years. And they’ve broadcast for just as long this [fearmongering] about “communism” and losing citizenship or certain benefits if we vote for a pro-independence candidate. That fear seems to really grab hold in certain groups, more than people anticipated. So many of the older people here remember the Seventies, the Vietnam War, or the change to communism in Cuba, or the Cold War, and they carry that anxiety. [Our generation], they say “hurricane.” When [Hurricanes] Irma and María came, I only sort of protected my house. Now? I board everything up, because I lived that. And these older people, they’re the same way about that other stuff. The day after the elections, with the [pro-statehood party] winning, after saying statehood and Trump were the only way forward, Mitch McConnell comes out and says they’re absolutely not giving us statehood . And I think in part that’s why they keep trying to sell our land, piece by piece. They know until Puerto Rico isn’t [mostly] people from the United States living here, Republicans will never make us a state. That’s why [in the leaked Telegram texts that led to the 2019 mass protests that ousted ex-governor Ricardo Rosselló] Edwin Miranda said “I saw the future. It’s so wonderful. There are no Puerto Ricans.” Related Content Anxiety, Joy, and Rosie Perez: On the Ground With Queers for Kamala Puerto Rico's Archbishop Demands Trump 'Personally' Apologize After Rally Backlash Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin Voice Support for Harris After Trump Rally Comments on Puerto Rico Feid’s Night of Surprises in Puerto Rico: 45 Songs and an Avengers Reunion Do you remember any other time in the past when you felt as pessimistic and disillusioned because of politics or the news? I’ve never cried as much over politics as I did [the day after the elections.] I worked as a coordinator at my polling place, so I was up from 5 a.m. to set everything up, and clocked out at 10 p.m. So, I was tired, but I cried as if I had just been dumped by my girlfriend of 10 years. But it’s because you’re in love with your country, and it’s a deep love, that a lot of people feel too. Today I’m fine, but yesterday, if I would talk to anybody about what happened, I’d start crying. That’s why yesterday I wrote “There’s nothing to celebrate,” but people started telling me “Bro, there’s so much to celebrate. Look at all the young people who woke up early and went out to vote.” And they’re right, that’s a really positive thing. Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time You mentioned working at a polling place, and you touched a bit on what you saw in that note you uploaded. Can you elaborate on the problems you saw that need addressing? The voting system in Puerto Rico is archaic. We vote by hand, with five different sheets [of paper], half of them completely unnecessary — why are we doing mock votes for the U.S. president? I know people who wrote my name in! That makes lines longer and move slower. We vote in rundown schools, with zinc ceilings in high temperatures. I had to call a buddy to bring packs of bottled water to give out to people in line, and even then, two of them fainted. I had to take care of them and send one of them to the hospital, I could barely find their pulse. There were lots of voting machine irregularities, and issues sending the results to the main hub via satellite. You have to scramble to extract the chips from the machines and take them physically to the main polling offices. I think everyone should do it at least once so they can see how it works and what goes on. It’s been two months since your album came out. How do you feel about the way your fans have responded to it? It’s been beautiful. I’m really happy, man. This album is very special. I think it’s a timeless album, because of the variety of music and the themes it touches. Not only do I feel the guest artists, because of their musicality and personality, are timeless but also we talk about patriotism, self-love, and love in general, and you can listen to it whenever. It has reggaeton, rap, bolero, salsa, bomba, drum ‘n bass... It’s a fusion of all these genres, and I feel you can listen to it over and over. We’ve played the album [on tour] at 12 different U.S. cities, plus Colombia and Chile, and after just a month people already knew the lyrics and had their favorite songs. What’s been the most surprising reaction that you’ve heard? “Escúchame,” with Chuwi ,. People think it’s a love song when it’s actually a conversation with the land, and about our relationship with our country, which makes it even more relevant now. Lorén, the lead singer of Chuwi, is talking to me as the land, asking for help, to me or to all boricuas, singing about how she’s given us so much and we’ve forgotten about her. And I’m telling her that I haven’t forgotten, that I’m here for her. And I made a post [explaining the song] and a lot of people didn’t catch that, and they were saying “Now that I hear it, it makes me cry.” Another one is “Como Antes,” which is like a bolero, and out of my comfort zone. I didn’t expect for it to become a fan favorite, but people who hear it tell me they identify with it. The message [is] of being in a relationship that you know doesn’t have a future but you hold on because you don’t trust there’s anything better after. You can apply it to many types of relationships that aren’t healthy, romantic or even family. That brings me to my next question, actually. You’ve said you wrote “Amnesia” the day your grandfather died, and you mentioned in a previous conversation you didn’t always see eye-to-eye with him. Can you talk about that, and how that relationship applied to the themes of the album? A lot of people think I’m the way I am because of my family, and my grandfather was the musician of the family. He was a gringo from Alabama who came to Puerto Rico and fell in love with a Puerto Rican woman. None of his family came for the wedding because they didn’t want him to marry a Puerto Rican. And he had Trump stickers on his car, and I’d rip them off. I got taken off family group chats because I’d talk about politics, and he’d call me and angrily yell “Stop talking about politics!” But I get along with everybody, and I learned not to talk about that around him. I didn’t have a bad relationship with him, though. I’d say I got my extroverted side from him. Our family get-togethers ended with my grandfather drunk and playing Frank Sinatra songs on the piano. At restaurants he’d get up in the middle of dinner and start singing, and everyone would clap for him. He was a character. I wrote the song the day he died, but before I found out he’d died. I finished the song, and then my dad called me with the news. But I knew he was in the hospital, and the song talks about a love that scars, and it’s crazy because at one point I wrote “You follow me like a mystery / A ghost, a cemetery.” But I was ready for his passing. He lived life to its fullest. The week before he passed I stayed with him at his home, took care of him, bathed him, and had some really nice conversations with him. Does the ephemerality of life make you see the world differently, not just in interpersonal relationships, but in a wider sense, with politics or your career. Does it give you a sense of urgency? I live pretty passionately. I’m always looking to be free. Lots of people are after the “American dream,” or after money. I just wanna have freedom. I went through that phase of wanting to lock in and finish your education and get a career, but I’d say after the pandemic I realized the most precious thing we have is our health and our time. And that’s what I live for, health and time. Plus, how can I leave a positive footprint? That’s why I talk so much about social change, and do these health workshops. I feel it’s a duty, because I’ve been privileged, from my family to my music. But as far as urgency, I think when you’re not living a lie and you’re honest, that makes it so you don’t have to get hung up on an age and you can be happy while life passes. That’s why every era has its charm... And I just live trying to make sure the next era is just as nice as the previous one. When people talk about why I’m not as big as X or Y artists, that doesn’t bother me, because I’m living an honest life. Do you feel pressure now knowing that fans will be looking to you to make sense of what happened, or for a reason to feel optimistic? I feel a little pressure, but I also think my concert will help people roll with the punches. And I’m gonna sing about social topics, but I also want a concert where people leave happy, and in love, and satisfied. Also Christmas is coming up, so there’s gonna be a lot of positivity. We’re not gonna have a VIP section; it’s all community, everyone together. Obviously you’re not a politician, but you are a doctor, so I wanted your take on the very real danger that’s in play now of the Affordable Care Act and Medicare being potentially cut, due to Trump’s proposed policies . I think it’s super dangerous. I haven’t read the specific policies Trump is pushing, [but] I know that federal laws affect Puerto Rico, and I know that we need more health care workers, and we need all health insurance plans to approve the few doctors that come back. Not a lot of people know that. Sometimes it takes six months to get that approval, and [some doctors] take patients for free in that time. Cutting Medicare is insanity, especially with our high elderly population. Here, you go to the mountain towns, and there’s so many elderly people who get no assistance or help. There’s no specialists up there, and you’d have to travel an hour or more to reach one. And these elderly are alone; most of their family moved away after María. I met one who told me they were diagnosed with a tumor in their head, but hadn’t checked it out for a year because their appointments were for six months out and they had no transportation. You’re a doctor, an activist, an artist, three roles with big responsibilities. How do you manage to balance all of them, physically and mentally? I get asked this a lot. I always say there’s no formula. Over time, you develop the discipline. I’ve had months where I’ve had to dedicate the whole time to justr health work and separate myself from the music. And other times I go on tour and don’t do anything health-related, except check in on Mondays to make sure everything is going well with my foundation, where I’m the medical director. But there’s no formula. Discipline, consistency, and patience. I have a schedule. Mondays, I have a call with my non-profit, scheduling our health clinics at least a month in advance. The rest of the week, four times a week, I come to the studio at 11 a.m. and dedicate 8 hours to produce or write music. Because that’s also my job: to write and create music. But discipline is important. LeBron is LeBron because he’s in the gym two to three times a day. All these successful rappers, that’s how they get to where they are. You can’t be like “Oh yeah, I’ll go to the studio once a week.” You gotta put in the time.Letters to the Editor | November 27, 2024White supremacist incidents are rising across the USCouple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothes