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Kosovo arrested several suspects Saturday after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, while neighbouring Serbia rejected accusations of staging the blast. The explosion Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, which sits in an ethnic Serb-dominated area in Kosovo's troubled north, damaged a canal that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people and cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo's electricity. As security forces swarmed the area around the canal, whose concrete walls were left with a gaping hole gushing water, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the site and announced authorities had arrested several people. Law enforcement "carried out searches" and "collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law," he said. The arrests follow a security meeting late Friday, when Kurti pointed the finger at Serbia. "The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he told a press conference, without providing evidence. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hit back Saturday, denying the "irresponsible" and "baseless accusations". "Such unfounded claims are aimed to tarnish Serbia's reputation, as well as to undermine efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," he said in a statement to AFP. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric had earlier suggested on X that the Kosovar "regime" could itself be behind the blast, calling for an international investigation. The main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo, Serb List, also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms". AFP journalists at the scene saw water leaking heavily from one side of the reinforced canal, which runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital, Pristina. However, electricity supplies to consumers were running smoothly on Saturday morning, with authorities having found an alternative method to cool the plants, said Kosovo's Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli. Repair work was ongoing, authorities said, while Kurti confirmed workers had managed to restore water flows to 25 percent capacity. The United States strongly condemned the "attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo", the US embassy in Pristina said in a statement on Facebook. "We are monitoring the situation closely... and have offered our full support to the government of Kosovo to ensure that those responsible for this criminal attack are identified and held accountable." Turkey's foreign ministry also condemned the attack, adding: "We call on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation in the region." The NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission for Kosovo joined the calls for restraint. "It is important that facts are established and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice," it said in a statement. The force is providing security in the surrounding area and has offered logistical, explosives removal and engineering support to the Kosovo authorities, it added. The European Union's ambassador to Kosovo, Aivo Orav, joined the international condemnation, saying on X: "The incident needs to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice." Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge. Kurti's government has for months sought to dismantle a parallel system of social services and political offices backed by Belgrade to serve Kosovo's Serbs. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday denounced "the act of sabotage on the critical water supply infrastructure in the Iber-Lepenc Canal" in comments on X, calling it "a serious crime that endangers the lives of Kosovo's citizens and undermines the process of normalizing relations in our region." Friday's attack came after a series of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, including the hurling of hand grenades at a municipal building and a police station earlier this week. ih/ach/giv/jhb/sbkLUKE HUMPHRIES showed Luke Littler that he will not surrender his world crown so easily this Christmas. Littler heads to Ally Pally next month as the bookies’ favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy – and become, aged 17, the youngest darts world champion in history. But Cool Hand Luke – the man who lifted the sport's biggest prize in January – has bragging rights after he bagged the Players Championship Finals tonight with a 11-7 victory over The Nuke. This was the contest everybody in Somerset had hoped they would see and it happened after Littler overcame Ross Smith 11-9 in the semi-finals. And within the next hour, the world No.1 advanced to the final with a 11-8 success over big Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode. This was the first defeat Littler had experienced following a 12-game unbeaten streak. READ MORE IN DARTS That superb run included lifting the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton and surpassing the £1million for yearly prize money. It was a year ago this weekend that Littler won the World Youth final on the Butlin’s Minehead stage and put himself on most people’s radar. In his debut tournament, he raced into the final off the back of five consecutive ton-plus averages. And though he did take out checkouts of 170, 164, 136 and 105, it was Humphries, 29, who celebrated a fifth TV title of 2024 and banked the £120,000 winners' cheque. Most read in Darts This was a good-natured, well-spirited showdown between two rivals that respect each other but the referee had to get involved in leg 14 as someone was whistling while Humphries faced the board. Humphries said after his win: “This was in my living room a couple of months ago and now I have it back. “I didn’t feel myself this weekend. I was a dart behind. “Luke drives me on, he makes me want to be a better player. I enjoy playing him. “I am proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. It was a fantastic game again with Luke, he’s a special talent. “Luke is probably the best player in the world right now. “I told him I have to win these trophies before he starts to do so. “These big games are what I live for, dream of, and to be a champion is why I do this, why I travel the world. “I never give up. I know I can beat Luke. This is the best way to go into the worlds.” Littler, who earned £60,000, added: “It was tough, I missed a few doubles. “If you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. I didn’t have enough in the end. READ MORE SUN STORIES “It has been a good past two weeks. I cannot wait to go home, chill and practise for the worlds. We leads up to the big one. “We always produce our best against each other. That first session, I didn’t have enough to get it back.” LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year. The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age - smashing records along the way. He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title - which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May . He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player . He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list . And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE. The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire. He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle. And he's even the face of a brand new cereal. But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship. Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories .Broncos Star CB Exits Game With Significant Knee Injury

Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding at least 7 BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani security officer says police have arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in Islamabad to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year. But he remains popular and his party says the cases against him are politically motivated. Police Sunday arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters in eastern Punjab province, a Khan stronghold. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off the capital with shipping containers. It also suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” Uruguay's once-dull election has become a dead heat in the presidential runoff MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans are heading to the polls to choose their next president. In Sunday's election, the candidates of the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition are locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. It's a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou — overseeing the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation.How to Watch WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2024 Free Live Streaming Online in India? Get Live TV Telecast and Other Details of Wrestling PLE in IST

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Timing is everything for Apple going into 2025. Apple's stage is set for the new year, with big plans for expansion in generative AI, reports of a home device lineup launching soon, and talks of a more affordable iPhone in the pipeline. The "biggest story" for 2025 will be the impact of the new on iPhone sales, Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, said. Apple was criticized for being late to the game when it came to introducing its own generative AI, but the hype around Apple Intelligence has some expecting a "super cycle." And iPhone sales will have "more aggressive expectations" in 2025 after analysts adjusted their hype around iPhone 16 demand in the final months of 2024, William Kerwin, tech analyst at Morningstar, said. "We expect Apple will ship more than 240 million iPhones in 2025, breaking its annual record," Wedbush Securities analysts wrote in their 2025 tech wish list. To do that, though, Munster says Apple will have to figure out how to get Apple Intelligence onto all eligible iPhones. In Greater China, it will have to partner with a local tech company and adhere to the rules to bring AI to Chinese iPhones. It's a move that Apple is discussing with Tencent and ByteDance, according to . Apple Intelligence will roll out to iPhone users in the European Union in April, Apple said on its website. Meanwhile, its competition isn't slowing down. There's pressure to produce "more affordable mixed reality devices while maintaining its slim smartphone market share lead over Samsung," Jacob Bourne, tech analyst at Business Insider sister company EMARKETER, said. Outside the iPhone, the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro launched to great fanfare but faced low demand in 2024. Meanwhile, Meta saw its (cheaper) gain popularity. Munster predicts that Apple will ditch the Vision Pro in favor of a form factor more like smart glasses. Then there's the pressure in China — a key region for sales production for Apple. Donald Trump will be sworn in as president in January, and he's been threatening a . The company reportedly relies on China for production of 95% of its If Trump makes good on his tariff promise, Apple could face retaliatory levies affecting its sales in the country. Apple's legal battles will continue into 2025. The federal judge presiding over its antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice said he hopes to decide whether or not the case will go to trial by January, Bloomberg . Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider. The tech giant has had an eventful 2024, including its new iPhone launches and the introduction of AI. There are further reports of tech devices that could come out in 2025, including smart home products and a cheaper iPhone. Bloomberg that a new version of the could be released in 2025, bringing Apple Intelligence to a more affordable smartphone than the iPhone 16. Bloomberg reported in November that there's a in Apple's production lineup that could use Apple Intelligence, operate home appliances, and access Apple apps. It could be announced as early as March, according to the report. Expectations are high for Apple in 2025. It made smart moves by partnering with OpenAI and bringing its own AI on iPhones, but analysts say the true payoff of its bets in 2024 is still to come. "Apple needs to carefully time — and price — new products and features to align with consumer demand rather than just technological capability," EMARKETER's Bourne said. Read the original article on

US attorney general tried to block Gerry Adams fundraising over IRA weapons fears, unearthed records revealMartinez had gone eight matches since last finding the back of the net against Venezia on November 3 but after Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the 54th minute, the Argentina international struck in Sardinia. The Inter captain took his tally against Cagliari to 10 goals in as many games after 71 minutes before Hakan Calhanoglu capped an excellent night for the visitors from the penalty spot a few moments later. Inter’s fifth-successive league victory led to them temporarily leapfrogging Atalanta, who reclaimed top spot but saw their lead cut to a single point following a 1-1 draw at Lazio. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were grateful for a point in the end after falling behind to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s first-half strike, only drawing level with two minutes remaining thanks to Marco Brescianini. Lautaro Valenti’s last-gasp strike condemned rock-bottom Monza to a 10th defeat in 18 matches as Parma edged a 2-1 victory, while Genoa defeated Empoli by the same scoreline.

For some of these students, it’s their first experience with water activities. WVSS teacher and Waterwise programme leader Izelle Toerien said she finds it rewarding to watch a student progress through the programme – from hesitating at the river’s edge to enjoying their time on the water. “I’ve even had teacher aides start out not wanting to enter the water, only to end up telling me they are going to buy a kayak after the programme,” Toerien said. When Toerien, a Stillwater resident, founded the community Waterwise programme at Stillwater Boating Club eight years ago, she used kayaks from the community before the club fundraised to add paddleboards to their programme. “We are the only centre that has paddleboards. There isn’t regular enough wind here for sailing, and we can only run sessions every second Sunday because of the tide,” Toerien said. The programme has proved popular with the Sunday sessions attracting children from Dairy Flat School and Silverdale Primary, in addition to children from the Stillwater community. So much so that Toerien expanded it to students from WVSS where she teaches digitial technology. WVSS has 10 satellites where students who attend local colleges are taught in a dedicated unit supported by a teacher and three teacher aides for every six to 10 students. Two of these satellites are on the Hibiscus Coast, at Ahutoetoe Primary and Whangaparaoa College. Toerien organised for intermediate-aged students through to older students (up to 21 years) to attend Waterwise sessions at the boat club during the week. A spokesperson for the Stillwater Boat Club said it is important to promote water safety not just for members, but for all kids, which is why they opened the programme up to everyone. “It’s very heart-warming to see new kids with barely any water confidence, become more confident in the water and start to learn to sail,” the club spokesperson said. Waterwise relies on volunteers and parents to run community and school programmes. The programmes aim to develop children’s self-confidence and safety skills around water. Toerien said she didn’t start the Stillwater programme because she was a teacher. She started it in 2017 when she discovered there were no opportunities for children to learn the skills needed to stay safe in a tidal river. “I just enjoy the fact that the students get to learn all the skills for water safety on the river or ocean, and not just in pools. But we would appreciate help and support from people willing to volunteer or train as an instructor. Many centres have closed down in the last year and that means children miss out. Toerien said she was motivated by her love of being out on the water. When she moved to New Zealand, she started sailing in an effort to deal with the winters, which were a tough adjustment from South Africa. “In South Africa I lived on a game farm, 900 kilometres away from the ocean, but I would go kayaking any opportunity I could get, on a dam or a river. I also ran a fishing lodge on the Zambezi River, but there I had to have guides help me navigate because they knew where the hippos and crocodiles were lurking.”If Toronto fails to deliver this one piece of infrastructure, it will reveal an ugly truth

Get medical care in Namibia, not abroad – Nandi-NdaitwahHow bad is Edmonton Oilers goaltending just now? You don't want to know

TORONTO , Dec. 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Evolve Funds Group Inc. ("Evolve") is pleased to announce the distribution amounts per unit (the "Distributions") for certain funds (the "Evolve Funds"), as indicated in the table below. The ex-dividend date and record date for the Distributions of the High Interest Savings Account Fund ("HISA"), US High Interest Savings Account Fund ("HISU.U"), Premium Cash Management Fund ("MCAD") and US Premium Cash Management Fund ("MUSD.U") is anticipated to be December 30, 2024 . For the distributions for all other Evolve Funds, the ex-dividend date and record date is anticipated to be December 31, 2024 . Unitholders of Evolve Funds on record date will receive cash distributions payable on or about January 8, 2025 . Evolve Funds Ticker Symbol Distribution per Unit Frequency Evolve Canadian Aggregate Bond Enhanced Yield Fund AGG $0.10000 Monthly Evolve Canadian Banks and Lifecos Enhanced Yield Index Fund BANK $0.11000 Monthly Evolve Global Materials & Mining Enhanced Yield Index ETF BASE BASE.B $0.20000 $0.20000 Monthly Monthly Evolve Enhanced Yield Bond Fund BOND BOND.B BOND.U $0.19000 $0.19000 USD $0.19000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve US Banks Enhanced Yield Fund CALL CALL.B CALL.U $0.12500 $0.16000 USD $0.14000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Automobile Innovation Index Fund CARS CARS.B CARS.U $0.02000 $0.02000 USD $0.02000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Cyber Security Index Fund CYBR CYBR.B CYBR.U $0.01000 $0.01000 USD $0.01000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Cloud Computing Index Fund DATA DATA.B $0.01000 $0.01000 Monthly Monthly Evolve Active Canadian Preferred Share Fund DIVS $0.07000 Monthly Evolve Active Global Fixed Income Fund EARN $0.12500 Monthly Evolve European Banks Enhanced Yield ETF EBNK EBNK.B EBNK.U $0.14500 $0.14500 USD $0.14500 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Innovation Index Fund EDGE EDGE.U $0.00500 USD $0.00500 Quarterly Quarterly Evolve S&P 500® Enhanced Yield Fund ESPX ESPX.B ESPX.U $0.15500 $0.15500 USD $0.15500 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve S&P/TSX 60 Enhanced Yield Fund ETSX $0.16000 Monthly Evolve Active Core Fixed Income Fund FIXD $0.05500 Monthly Evolve E-Gaming Index ETF HERO $0.05000 Quarterly High Interest Savings Account Fund HISA $0.15402 Monthly US High Interest Savings Account Fund HISU.U USD $0.40849 Monthly Evolve Future Leadership Fund LEAD LEAD.B LEAD.U $0.16000 $0.16000 USD $0.16000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Global Healthcare Enhanced Yield Fund LIFE LIFE.B LIFE.U $0.19000 $0.23000 USD $0.19000 Monthly Monthly Monthly Premium Cash Management Fund MCAD $0.34721 Monthly US Premium Cash Management Fund MUSD.U USD $0.43971 Monthly Evolve NASDAQ Technology Index Fund QQQT QQQT.B QQQT.U $0.03000 $0.03000 USD $0.03000 Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly Evolve NASDAQ Technology Enhanced Yield Index Fund QQQY $0.32000 Monthly Evolve FANGMA Index ETF TECH TECH.B TECH.U $0.00160 $0.00160 USD $0.00160 Monthly Monthly Monthly Evolve Canadian Utilities Enhanced Yield Index Fund UTES $0.13800 Monthly Distributions for the funds will vary from period to period. For further information regarding the Distributions, please visit www.evolveetfs.com Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. ETFs and mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. There are risks involved with investing in ETFs and mutual funds. Please read the prospectus for a complete description of risks relevant to ETFs and mutual funds. Investors may incur customary brokerage commissions in buying or selling ETF and mutual fund units. Please read the prospectus before investing. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to a future outlook and anticipated distributions, events or results and may include statements regarding future financial performance. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Evolve undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. About Evolve Funds Group Inc. With over $7 billion in assets under management, Evolve is one of Canada's fastest growing ETF providers since launching its first ETF in September 2017 . Evolve specializes in bringing innovative ETFs to Canadian investors. Evolve's suite of ETFs provide investors with access to: (i) index-based income strategies; (ii) long term investment themes; and (iii) some of the world's leading investment managers. Established by a team of industry veterans with a proven track record of success, Evolve creates investment products that make a difference. For more information, please visit www.evolveetfs.com . Join us on social media: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Youtube The S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index are each a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (" SPDJI "), and has been licensed for use by the Evolve Funds. S&P® and S&P 500® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (" S&P "); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (" Dow Jones "). It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Evolve Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, " S&P Dow Jones Indices "). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Evolve Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Evolve Funds particularly or the ability of the S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index to track general market performance. Past performance of an index is not an indication or guarantee of future results. S&P Dow Jones Indices' only relationship to the Evolve Funds with respect to the S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index is the licensing of the Indexes and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. The S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index are determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to the Evolve Funds. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take the needs of the Evolve Funds or the owners of the Evolve Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500® Index and the S&P/TSX 60 Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Evolve Funds . There is no assurance that investment products based on the S&P 500® Index or the S&P/TSX 60 Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an "investment adviser, commodity trading advisory, commodity pool operator, broker dealer, fiduciary, promoter" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), "expert" as enumerated within 15 U.S.C. s. 77k (a) or tax advisor. Inclusion of a security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset, nor is it considered to be investment advice or commodity trading advice. S&P DOW JONES INDICES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P 500® INDEX AND THE S&P/TSX 60 INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE EVOLVE FUNDS, THE OWNERS OF THE EVOLVE FUNDS , OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P 500® INDEX AND THE S&P/TSX 60 INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBLITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAS NOT REVIEWED, PREPARED AND/OR CERTIFIED ANY PORTION OF, NOR DOES S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER, THE LICENSEE PRODUCT REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS OR OTHER OFFERING MATERIALS. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND THE EVOLVE FUNDS OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES. Nasdaq®, Nasdaq-100®, Nasdaq-100 Index®, Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector Adjusted Market-Cap WeightedTM Index are trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by Evolve ETFs. The Product(s) have not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Product(s) are not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT(S). SOURCE Evolve Funds Group Inc. View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2024/18/c7263.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.His absurdist and irreverent sense of humour is an uneasy fit with the canon of his native literature. As he noted, humour was “rare in literature, and rarest of all in German literature. And in the histories of German literature, pride is taken in that very fact”. His comic sense would have fitted comfortably into a Flann O’Brien column. Writing at the time of the 200th anniversary of Goethe’s birth in 1949, he postulated that there would be a Goethe-Derby among German universities producing articles including “Goethe and the Control of Clothes Moths”; “Goethe’s Disapproval of Dogs on the Stage”; and “Goethe and the Fire Brigade”! His delightful autobiography, When I Was a Little Boy, mentions that he had visited Dublin although there is little evidence of when this occurred. He played tennis in London in 1938 with that most English of Irishmen, Bernard Bracken, and he may have extended his visit to Dublin. Another possibility would be a visit in the postwar years in his role as president of PEN, the writers’ organisation. The autobiography catches neatly his trademark apposition of wide-eyed innocence and mischievous spirit. In the foreword, he posits that all proper books should have a foreword. A book with a foreword he likened to house with a garden: a book without a foreword to the Dresden tenement where he was born. Prolific in output in many literary formats, including journalism, reviews, novels and poems, his finest work reflected the energy of the Weimar republic and the artistic movement Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity). Realism is a notable and ground-breaking feature of the Emil books, embedded in the gritty milieu of Berlin. It notably portrays the struggle of working-class family life with Emil’s single working mother a reflection of Kästner’s own mother supporting her family as a hairdresser. The runaway success of the Emil books has somewhat drawn attention away from his other outputs. His novel Fabian (1931), much admired by Graham Greene, was daringly modern and explicit in terms of the free-living aspects of the Weimar period: unsurprisingly his books were burned by the National Socialist regime in 1933, and all banned except Emil and the Detectives. Kästner chose to stay in Germany rather than exile, a form of internal exile. He managed to write the script for a film version of the Adventures of Baron von Munchausen in 1943 under the pseudonym of Bert Citizen, arousing the ire of Goebbels when this was discovered and narrowly escaping execution by the SS at war’s end. His insights into the human condition are their most appealing and accessible in his collections of poetry. Paralleling the wit, satire, lyricism and common touch of earlier poets such as Heinrich Heine and Wilhelm Busch, he promoted the opportunity of poetry to act as sounding boards and instrumental supports in the challenges of everyday life. This comes to fruition in his Dr Erich Kästner’s Poetical Medicine Cabinet (1936), the title itself an echo of Heine’s description of the human insights of the Bible as the “Medicine Cabinet of Humanity”. In the droll foreword Kästner describes the collection as a reference work devoted to the care of the average inner life. He lists the contents of the typical home medicine cabinet but questions their utility in the face of the desolate loneliness of furnished room or the cold, wet, foggy autumn evenings. What remedies should someone resort to when seized by angel of jealousy? What should someone gargle who is fed up with life? What use are lukewarm compresses to someone whose marriage is falling apart? Kästner proposes that other remedies are needed to alleviate loneliness, disappointment and other heartache, chief among which are humour, anger, indifference, irony, contemplation and exaggeration. The analogy of therapeutic efficacy is carried through in a framework for prescription of the poems to 36 human conditions and states, listed in alphabetical order from when ageing makes you sad (wenn das Alter traurig stimmt) to irritation with one’s contemporaries (Zeitgenossen). The poems are short, notable for brief sentences whose economy of measure contains surprises of consolation and calm embedded in the language of everyday life, reminiscent of the poetry of Tomas Tranströmer or Seamus Heaney. Sadly, few of his poems are translated into English and currently in print – fresh translations would be a fitting anniversary tribute for this versatile and gifted artist.

China's getting a big electric car battery swapping boost in 2025. Would that work across the globe?

With the small caps sector emerging from its slumber, it’s time to pull out the sheep entrails and take a wild stab at who will outperform in 2025. As the superannuation ads go, past performance does not guarantee future returns – or a timely insurance payout in the case of the embattled Cbus. But last year we hit winners with the little-known water-management play Vysarn (ASX:VYS) , whose shares bounced around 60% in 2024. The equally obscure FOS Capital (ASX:FOS) – a provider of industrial lighting products – surged 80%. We also sniffed the aroma of success with scented-candle play Dusk Group (ASX:DSK) , but went to water somewhat with Duxton Water (ASX:D2O) and H2O treatment play Fluence Corporation (ASX:FLC) . Building on a housing recovery A manufacturer, marketer and distributor of fabricated and semi-fabricated aluminium-related products, Capral (ASX:CAA) is one of the few listed remaining ASX-listed building material companies after a spree of takeovers. The $170 million Capral looks cheap, the legacy of past problems with a badly timed investment in its Bremer Park facility. Now, the leaner company is well placed for a housing recovery. Just the ticket No-one likes being sprung using a mobile while they’re driving or not wearing a seatbelt, but these activities are a leading cause of road trauma. That’s acknowledged even in America, which has an elevated view of what amounts to personal liberties. Acusensus (ASX:ACE) is a leader in mobile camera tech to detect such infringements, even through the tinted windows of a supersized SUV. The company has contracts with road authorities in most Australian states as well as the US, the UK and New Zealand and this month won a $27 million contract extension with Queensland’s road authorities. Motorists dislike being pinged for illicit parking even more. But fair’s fair, private parking is private parking. Smart Parking (ASX:SPZ) manages car parks across five geographies including the UK, Germany, Denmark and NZ. But most of its revenues derive from ‘parking breach notices’. In a September quarter trading update the company reported revenue of $17 million, up 24% year-on-year and adjusted underlying earnings of $5.4 million. The company has dibs over 1529 sites – ahead of its guidance of 1500 and is striving for 3000 sites by the end of 2028. Canaccord describes Smart Parking’s business as “predictable and scalable”, which sounds like just the ticket. You’ll hear from my (patent) attorney We’re stealing this idea from Katana portfolio manager Romano Sala Tenna – but please don’t sue. IPH (ASX:IPH) is the largest patent attorney in Australia, Canada and Singapore, with a sector-leading client base. Patent law has exceptionally low client churn and most firms have been around for decades (IPH listed in 2014). Despite management’s sound execution of international growth, the stock has halved over the past two years and yields a healthy 6.9%. The company itself believes the stock is undervalued, having supersized its buyback scheme from $40 million to $75 million. Cream of the ag stock crop By its nature, the agricultural sector is subject to the whims of commodity prices and the weather. Arguably the stalwarts such as Graincorp (ASX:GNC) and Elders (ASX:ELD) look fully or fairly valued, so what else is taking seed? Often overlooked, stockfeed group Ridley Corporation (ASX:RIC) is climbing the “wall of value” from rendering (mushing up slaughterhouse waste) to higher-value, higher-nutrient products. For a left-of-field play, Bio-Gene Technology (ASX:BGT) is developing novel insecticides from natural compounds, as rejoinder to the Chemical Charlies who spray their land with far too much of the hydrocarbon-based stuff. Bio-gene aims to file its application approval for Flavocide’s active ingredient with the local gatekeeper by the end of 2025. For investors wanting a bit more buzz, Duxton Broadacre Farms (ASX:DBF) owns vast tracts of land but also has a $5.75 million, 23% stake in Duxton Bees, which owns and manages around 1650 hives (mainly in Murray Darling region). The busy pollinators are in huge demand, with more than 30 ag industries relying on them to generate a commercial yield. Oh, baby! An undervalued life-sciences play It’s been a stellar year for the pre-commercial biotech sector, with (largely) positive trial results and well-supported capital raisings. But does better value lie with the overlook established plays? Fundie Seneca likes Monash IVF Group (ASX:MVF) , the leading provider of assisted reproductive services in Australia and Malaysia. The company achieved Australia's first IVF birth and the world's first pregnancy from a frozen embryo, under the guidance of the late Professor Carl Wood. After a flurry of corporate activity, Monash IVF is the sole remaining listed fertility services provider. The company trades at a circa 30% discount to the earnings multiple paid by private equity for its nearest competitor, Virtus Health, in 2022. Having completed its merger with Capitol Health, Integral Diagnostics (ASX:IDX) officially has become Australia’s second-biggest radiology provider. Investors Mutual Portfolio Manager Lucas Goode notes radiology volumes have grown at a 4%-plus compound annual growth rate over the past 15 years and this should accelerate due to the need for ageing Australians to have more testing. Integral’s investment in tech means it is well placed to benefit from growth, while the merger should yield significant operational benefits. A strong balance sheet provides scope for further accretive acquisitions. We'll also throw in Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) , which has an approved drug for a rare skin disorder with robust revenues and a cash-rich balance sheet. And did we mention the company is strongly profitable? To management's bemusement, Clinuvel shares have lost 60% of their value over the past five years. Take a punt The bourse is a glorified casino and brokers are bookies in nice suits, but ironically online sports betting mob Pointsbet (ASX:PBH) looks more than a sheer punt given the short odds of it being taken over. Having abandond its costly, failed Very Big Adventure in the US, Pointsbet’s revenues these days derive locally, with a smaller Canadian operation expanding more rapidly. As Seneca notes, Pointsbet last year reported its first positive quarterly operating cash flows. Given the need for the local sector to consolidate ahead of a likely gambing ad crackdown, we bet that Pointsbet will be subsumed by this time next year. The company denied reports of a takeover approach in November, but where there’s smoke there’s fire. Banish ‘forever’ chemicals ... forever Something is lurking in our water – and its invisible and very nasty. The toxin in question is PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’ widely used in applications such as fire retardants, Teflon pans and carpets. The plaintiff lawyers are circling, given PFAS has been linked with maladies including cancer, organ damage and infertility. The profitable SciDev (ASX:SDV) is a leader in cleansing technologies to cleanse PFAS from waterways – which is easier said than done. In November Scidev secured its first European commercial order, from Swedish Hydro Solutions AB for a contract value of $475,000. Scidev estimates the global PFAS treatment market at US$1.8 billion ($2.76 billion) per annum and growing at an annual rate of 5.2%. Catapult to greatness Having prodigious athletic talent is one thing – we’re thinking of the ‘catch me if you can’ sensation Gout Gout – but it still needs to be accurately measured. Catapult Group (ASX:CAT) has become a global champion in measuring and analysing performance via its wearable devices. Catapult’s results for the September half-year showed revenue of US$57.8 million ($85 million), up 19% year-on-year. Annualised contract value, the company’s preferred metric, grew 20% to US$96.8 million with free cash flow of US$4.8 million. Catapult shares have – er – catapulted 160% this year and the company is worth a tad under $1 billion. But who would you back: a gold medal performer or Slovakia with one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics? No offence. Forager Funds is convinced, because Catapult is its biggest holding in its Australian shares fund. Originally published as Criterion’s small cap gems poised to star in 2025 (part one) Stockhead Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Stockhead More small cap gems set to shine in 2025 After a stellar 2024 for recovering small to mid caps sector, our experts scour the sector for more overlooked nuggets. Read more Stockhead Legally, share ownership may not be what you think Investors should ask questions about custodial-based share arrangements by which they do not have legal ownership. Read more