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In the eyes of the West, the future of global peace hinges on developments in the Middle East, Russia, and China. NATO chief Mark Rutte recently emphasized that while NATO allies are just beginning to implement a defense spending goal of two percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Russia is projected to allocate eight percent of its GDP for military purposes by 2025. This significant military buildup raises concerns that Russia is not seeking peace. Supported by allies such as China, North Korea, and Iran, Russia is dedicating one-third of its national budget to arms development, compensating in quantity for what it may lack in quality. Meanwhile, China is aggressively enhancing its nuclear capabilities with no transparency or limitations. In 2020, Beijing possessed only 20 nuclear warheads; by 2030, this figure could soar to a thousand. This rapid expansion poses a dangerous threat to global stability. Additionally, China is engaged in a “chip war” with the United States, emphasizing the critical role of semiconductors in robotics, military armaments, and artificial intelligence warfare. Within this broader context, the conflicts in the Middle East appear relatively minor. The targeted assassinations of Hezbollah leaders have weakened Iran's proxy forces across the region. Iran itself is struggling with weak economic fundamentals and civil unrest, hindering its nuclear ambitions. In Syria, the opposition has successfully deposed Bashar al-Assad, who has fled to Russia for asylum. As Russia evacuates its military presence in Khmeimim and Tartus, it risks losing leverage against Turkey—a nation it has been at odds with since Turkish forces shot down a Russian jet in 2015. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is reportedly in the works, diminishing the perception of Gaza as a central issue. The brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand Israelis, has been described as the "worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust." This has led to a severe military response, with relentless bombing of Gaza causing at least 40,000 Palestinian deaths this year alone. Hamas is currently withholding the release of hostages, a condition for a ceasefire, in an effort to pressure Israel into a continuous assault on Gaza. This situation has created a significant public relations disaster for Israel on the global stage. However, the Gaza conflict is likely to reach a conclusion soon, as it is too small a territory to serve as a permanent source of tension. A potential resolution could be a two-state solution—one Israel and one Palestine—recognized by peaceful Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Such a resolution might finally address the long-standing grievances in the region. Conversely, the situation in Ukraine presents a different challenge. Russia has recently escalated its aggression with ballistic missile assaults on Kyiv and other cities, leaving half of Ukraine without power. This escalation was prompted by U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to permit long-range missiles to be used against Russian territory. The question arises: Will President-elect Donald Trump fulfill his promise to end the Ukraine war upon taking office? One potential strategy is for Trump to withhold further military and financial support to Ukraine, compelling it to accept Russia's permanent occupation of seized territory in exchange for a ceasefire. However, whether Ukraine and Russia will agree to such terms remains uncertain. One reassuring thought is that, despite Russia's threats to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, common sense suggests that the aggressor is unlikely to follow through due to the catastrophic fallout that would affect Ukraine—a country Russia aims to occupy. Putin likely understands the consequences of such an action. Media analyst Elena Gold cites Putin’s chief spy, Nikolai Patrushev, who claimed that Trump could be assassinated if he fails to uphold his election promise regarding Ukraine. This statement highlights the dangerous game of international blackmail at play. Russia has demonstrated a willingness for violent retaliation, as exemplified by the fate of dissident Yevgeny Prigozhin, who attempted to take over Moscow in 2023. After failing and being pardoned by Putin, he died under suspicious circumstances just months later. Russia appears prepared for a protracted war in Ukraine, while European nations are increasing their defense spending in anticipation of reduced U.S. aid. One notable supporter of Ukraine is Poland, whose economy has been growing rapidly, with a GDP that has surpassed $500 billion. In the coming decade, Poland could rival Germany and the United Kingdom, according to the "Daily Digest." At the start of the Ukraine conflict, many nations hesitated to assist; Germany sent helmets while Poland provided 300 tanks to Kyiv. Poland is reportedly building its army to 300,000 strong by 2030, positioning itself as a significant military force in Europe. Despite these developments, a prolonged stalemate in the Ukraine war seems likely, as it ultimately becomes a war of attrition. Meanwhile, China is expected to continue asserting its influence in the West Philippine Sea. A coalition of ASEAN nations and allies, including the USA, Australia, Japan, and the UK, will strive to ensure that this region remains a safe route for international trade. While there may be rhetorical battles, the hope is that no shots will be fired. Taiwan remains a critical flashpoint, as China seeks to annex the island nation, which has a substantial semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The island is also prepared to defend its sovereignty. The question remains: how far will the U.S. go to defend Taiwan against potential Chinese aggression? The U.S.-China "trade war" further complicates matters, with Trump threatening a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and the U.S. restricting technology exports to 140 countries, including China. In response, China has charged NVIDIA in Russia with anti-monopoly and purchase violations. During a recent meeting, Chinese leader Xi told Donald Trump, "If we cooperate, both our nations will prosper," highlighting the delicate balance of international relations. For now, the prospects of an immediate, globe-threatening World War seem distant, but the uncertainty of global tensions raises questions about the future of peace and stability. Bingo Dejaresco, a former banker, is a financial consultant and media practitioner. He is a Life and Media member of FINEX. His views here, however, are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of FINEX. [email protected]

New York: At the fruit stand where he works on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Shah Alam sells dozens of bananas a day at 35 cents apiece, or four for $US1. He does a brisk business in cheap fruit outside Sotheby’s auction house; inside, art can sell for millions. But last Wednesday, Alam sold a banana that a short time later would be auctioned as part of a work of absurdist art, won by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur for $US5.2 million plus more than $US1 million in auction house fees ($9.5 million in total). A fruit stand in front of Sotheby’s in Manhattan, where a banana that became part of a $US5.2 million piece of art was sold. Credit: Amir Hamja/The New York Times A few days after the sale, as Alam stood in the rain on York Avenue and East 72nd Street, snapping bananas free of their bunches, he learned from a reporter what had become of the fruit: It had been duct-taped to a wall as part of a work by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, and sold to Justin Sun, the Chinese founder of a cryptocurrency platform. And when he was told the sale price, he began to cry. “I am a poor man,” Alam, 74, said, his voice breaking. “I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money.” The infamous ‘Comedian’ by Maurizio Cattelan will be displayed at the 2023 Triennial. Credit: Eddie Jim The banana’s journey from fruit stand to artwork began in 2019, when Cattelan first exhibited the work at Art Basel Miami Beach, an international art fair. The conceptual piece of three editions, titled Comedian , is an implicit send-up of the absurdity of the art world, in keeping with Cattelan’s puckish oeuvre. It came with a detailed owner’s manual on just how to affix the banana with the tape, and permission to refresh it when it rots. (Cattelan bought the original bananas at a Miami grocery store, he has said in interviews.) Each edition sold in Miami for $US120,000 to $US150,000 and spurred unruly crowds: A performance artist at the exhibition ripped one off the wall, peeled the banana and ate it. Cattelan was delighted by the ensuing debate over what exactly constitutes art, and how it is valued. By last Wednesday, those questions of five years ago seemed quaint: Bidding for Lot No. 10 — Alam’s banana affixed to a wall with a slash of silver tape — started at $US800,000. Within five minutes, seven bidders drove its price above $US5 million. The artist was not compensated for the Sotheby’s sale, which was on behalf of a collector who has not been named, but he said in an email that he was nonetheless thrilled by the price it commanded. “Honestly, I feel fantastic,” Cattelan wrote. “The auction has turned what began as a statement in Basel into an even more absurd global spectacle.” He added: “In that way, the work becomes self-reflexive: The higher the price, the more it reinforces its original concept.” On social platform X, Sun crowed about his new art acquisition, and announced he now plans to eat it Friday. He was honoured, he wrote, to be the banana’s “proud owner”: “I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.” Nowhere in that history is Alam. (Karina Sokolovsky, a spokesperson for Sotheby’s, confirmed that the banana was purchased from the cart where Alam works the day of the sale. The vendor himself has no specific recollection of selling an extra-special fruit.) A widower from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Alam was a civil servant before he moved to the United States in 2007 to be closer to one of his two children, a married daughter who lives on Long Island. He said his home is a basement apartment with five other men in Parkchester, in the Bronx. For his room he pays $US500 a month in rent, he said, speaking in Bengali. His fruit stand shifts are 12 hours long, four days a week; for each hour on his feet, in all weather, the owner pays him $US12. His English is limited mostly to the prices and names of his wares — apples, three for $US2; small pears, $US1 each. He has never stepped inside the auction house. He wouldn’t be able to see the art clearly anyway: His vision is deeply impaired, he said, because he needs cataract surgery, which he has scheduled for January. To Alam, the joke of Comedian feels at his expense. As a blur of people rushed by his corner a few days after the sale, shock and distress washed over him as he considered who profited — and who did not. “Those who bought it, what kind of people are they?” he asked. “Do they not know what a banana is?” In his email, Cattelan said he was affected by Alam’s reaction to his artwork, but stopped short of joining in his criticism. “The reaction of the banana vendor moves me deeply, underscoring how art can resonate in unexpected and profound ways,” he wrote. “However, art, by its nature, does not solve problems — if it did, it would be politics.” For Alam, not much has changed since his banana sold. At the fruit stand, it’s still four bananas for $US1, or 24.8 million bananas for $US6.2 million. This article originally appeared in The New York Times .

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Hope Fair kicks off for the holiday seasonASHEBORO — For the second year, Randolph Community College’s industrial maintenance technician apprentices took their knowledge and enthusiasm for manufacturing into local third-grade classrooms as part of National Apprenticeship Week and Youth and Young Adult Apprenticeship Day. Visits were made to Uwharrie Charter Academy and Lindley Park Elementary School, where apprentices and volunteers from Pexco engaged students in hands-on activities to highlight the vital role of manufacturing in Randolph County, the nation and the world. Through interactive learning, the apprentices guided students in constructing robot arms from popsicle sticks. These activities introduced the young learners to essential manufacturing concepts such as supply and demand, quality control and diagrams and schematics. To complement the hands-on exercises, teachers read “Pete the Cat: Robo-Pete,” a story that resonates with themes of creativity and innovation. “Connecting with younger generations through education and hands-on experiences is critical for fostering an interest in manufacturing and technology,” said Shah Ardalan, president/CEO of Randolph Community College. “Our apprentices serve as inspiring role models, showcasing the exciting possibilities in manufacturing while planting the seeds for the future workforce of Randolph County and beyond.” Launched in 2023, the IMT apprenticeship program offers the opportunity to earn an associate degree in industrial systems technology while gaining hands-on, paid experience with local employers. Current employers include Energizer, Jowat Corporation, Pexco, the Timken Company and the new Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina, plant. For more information, contact RCC Director of Apprenticeships Stacey Miller at 336-318-4958 or apprenticeships@randolph.edu or visit randolphimt.com .

Penn State is heading into the new calendar year in impressive fashion, but one final challenge awaits as the Nittany Lions square off against Penn on Sunday afternoon in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions (10-2) have enjoyed a strong season to this point, highlighted by a win over then-No. 8 Purdue earlier this month. Most recently, the team topped Drexel 75-64 last weekend as Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 18 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 15 points and six assists. Penn State outrebounded Drexel 40-31 and grabbed 19 offensive boards, including six by Puff Johnson and three by Konan Niederhauser. "Offensive rebounds are extra possessions," Nittany Lions coach Mike Rhoades said. "That gets us to where we want to go to. Number of possessions, it's a better chance to win all the time." Konan Niederhauser has shot at least 50 percent from the floor in every game except one this season and enters Sunday's clash averaging 13.0 points, which is second-best on the squad. Baldwin comes in with 14.2 points to go along with 8.5 assists, which ranks among the top marks in the nation. That duo, in addition to Penn State's bevy of 3-point shooters, should give Penn plenty to handle defensively. The Quakers (4-8) have allowed at least 80 points five times this season, including in Sunday's 85-53 trouncing at the hands of George Mason. Offense was another major issue in that game, as Penn shot just 32.2 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers. "We played 3 1/2 games of really good defense over the last three weeks and the defense was poor in the second half (against George Mason)," Penn coach Steve Donahue said. "On the defensive end, making sure late in the clock we don't let our guard down, keep guys in front, and limit them to one shot ... when we do those things -- those simple things -- we're a good basketball team." Penn and Penn State have met six times previously, but not since 2017. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 4-2. --Field Level MediaLOS ANGELES (AP) — After struggling to run the ball consistently all season, the Los Angeles Rams finally made some progress on the ground in New Orleans. Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum carried the Rams (6-6) to a 21-14 win that kept them squarely in the playoff race for another week. Los Angeles racked up a season-high 156 yards rushing against the Saints, with Williams going for 104 yards and a touchdown while Corum added 42 yards on a season high-tying eight carries. The game was the inverse of most afternoons this season for the Rams, who came into the week averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The running game was sturdy and productive, while Matthew Stafford and his receivers struggled to get into a rhythm at the Superdome. Coach Sean McVay always prefers to use his run game to set up the pass, and it finally worked for once this season. “I thought Kyren ran really well," McVay said. “I thought Corum ran really well. I thought our offensive line set the line of scrimmage in the run game. We really started slow in the pass game, but I thought Matthew was excellent in the second half. We were able to get some different things off of those run actions going, and that ended up being the difference in the game.” Not coincidentally, the Rams' running game worked well on the Sunday when the offensive line finally had a starting five uncompromised by injuries or suspension for the first time all season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury, making the group whole around rookie center Beaux Limmer, who has beaten out high-priced free agent Jonah Jackson for a starting job. The Rams still had yet another slow start in a season full of them. They ran only three plays in the entire first quarter, and they were held scoreless in the first half when their other two drives resulted in a turnover on downs and a punt. But Los Angeles rebounded with an 11-play scoring drive to open the second half featuring seven runs by Williams. He eventually moved up to fifth in the NFL with 926 yards rushing despite averaging just 4.2 yards per carry — nearly a yard less than he had last season, and the lowest average among the league's top 10 rushers this season. The Rams have thrived without a strong rushing attack before: They averaged just 99.0 yards per game on the ground, ranking 25th in the NFL, during their Super Bowl championship season in 2021-22. But McVay prefers his first option to be a strong running attack, which he had during his first three seasons in charge with Todd Gurley in the backfield and Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. “Anytime the guys up front are moving them, and (Williams) is making great reads and moves on the second level, then that is a fun feeling for the offense," Stafford said. “It’s great when you can hand the ball off and get big creases. We converted when we needed to in short-yardage stuff. I thought our guys did a really great job up front, and Kyren ran it great.” What's working The Rams have struggled in the red zone all season, but they scored touchdowns on all three trips in New Orleans. They did it by committing to the run game up the middle, setting up TD passes on the outside to Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua. What needs help Alvin Kamara racked up 112 yards rushing in the latest strong game by an opposing running back. Los Angeles is 28th in the league against the run, allowing 144.2 yards rushing per game — including 194 per game over the past three weeks. Stock up Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse had another outstanding game, racking up five tackles, three quarterback hits and numerous big plays that don't show up on stat sheets. He capped the performance by hitting Derek Carr from behind and forcing an incompletion from the Los Angeles 9 on New Orleans' final play. Stock down Cornerback Darious Williams gave up a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass to Dante Pettis early in the fourth quarter, capping a second straight rough week for the free-agent signee. Williams is the Rams' best cornerback, but they haven't had an above-average shutdown pass defender since trading Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles added cornerback depth Monday, claiming 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. Injuries Robinson injured his hand during the game, and Stafford incurred a lateral ankle sprain. McVay said he doesn't expect either injury to affect the veterans' preparations this week. Key number 17 — Cooper Kupp's yards receiving. That's his lowest total in a game in which he didn't get injured since Oct. 18, 2020. Kupp had only six targets, few downfield routes and curiously scant chances to make big plays. Next steps The Rams are home underdogs this week against powerhouse Buffalo, followed by a Thursday night game at San Francisco. Getting even one win out of these two matchups will be difficult, but probably necessary to keep pace with Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated PressFITIS welcomes creation of dedicated Digital Economy Ministry

"I think that's a ridiculous number." Tyrone Ross Jr. of 401 Financial didn't mince words when it comes to the hysteria around Bitcoin BTC in the lead up to $100,000. What really struck him was some of the price targets thrown around by Microstrategy MSTR exec Michael Saylor , among others, who floated the idea that the price per Bitcoin at $13 million was within reach for the largest cryptocurrency by market value . Saylor's predictions were among a plethora floated in recent months. From Wall Street analysts at Bernstein and Ark Invest's Cathie Wood to SkyBridge Capital's Anthony Scaramucci , who earlier this year called for Bitcoin to reach anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 in the next 12 months to $1 million within a couple of years. “I wish we could all have his conviction," Ross laughed, in reference to Saylor's call for an even more ambitious price point. That surprise is saying something. Ross describes himself as the "most crypto-forward RIA" in the country with a heavy bias towards Blockchain technologies and bitcoin. Ross has advocated for crypto inclusion in clients' portfolios going back nearly 10 years, but still finds this external commentary unsettling – though in the most positive way. "I’m not in it for $100,000, I'm not in for $13 million. If bitcoin reached $13 million I'd be disappointed," Ross told Benzinga's Chief Content Officer Brad Olesen in an exclusive interview, implying he’d expect the price to rise even further over time. "Putting a number" on Bitcoin is "disvaluing it to me," he said. "I would never put a price target on it because it is the ‘greatest flashlight and clock’ ever created.” Also Read: Ethereum Price Soars Past $4,000: What Is Going On With ETH? Tyrone's existential view about what the Blockchain and bitcoin can do for payment rails and "inequities" echoes what more and more voices are starting to relay about what cryptocurrency could represent. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell , in his latest public remarks, compared bitcoin to “digital gold,” in an indication that it can be more than just electronic 0s and 1s or used exclusively for illicit activity. Gold has utility as an input in electronics, is often cited as a valuable tool to protect against inflation, is considered a safe haven asset, and a way to diversify one's portfolio. Despite the futility of putting a number on Bitcoin – "price predictions are silly to me," Ross added – it hasn't stopped the cascade of analysts and ETF issuers from providing their views going into 2025. Van Eck put targets on bitcoin, ethereum ETH/USD and solana SOL/USD just last week, among a host of other forecasts, including Donald Trump 's incoming administration's stance on policy in the sector. Read Next: Trump Reportedly Considering Executive Order To Establish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Photo courtesy of 401 Financial. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Restoring function