Economy
Japan’s 30-year government bond yield reached a record high of 3.613 percent, while the 10-year yield hit a 27-year peak, following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s announcement of a snap election on February 8. Takaichi is seeking voter support for increased spending, tax cuts including a two-year suspension of the 8 percent consumption tax on food, and accelerated defense buildup to 2 percent of GDP. These plans are estimated to reduce government revenue by 5 trillion yen annually, amid reported public concerns over rising living costs and tensions with China, which could contribute to higher debt levels and challenges for the Bank of Japan in managing inflation and the yen’s value. Some analysts view the yield surge as part of broader policy normalization rather than signaling an immediate fiscal crisis.
A Hong Kong billionaire and former fund manager reportedly allocated 25 percent of his personal wealth to gold, exceeding the global average of 2 percent for high-net-worth individuals according to the UBS Global Family Office Report 2025, prompting some to aptly question what happens if more wealthy individuals start taking the same mindset. Meanwhile, gold has passed $4,700 per ounce.
At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink stated that data centers require steady baseload power due to the inability to intermittently turn them on and off, and that this shifts away from reliance on solar and wind. WEF Organizers reportedly shifted terminology from “stakeholders” back to “shareholders” and replaced “climate change” with “weather change” in discussions. These terminology adjustments have been noted by analysts as potential reflections of evolving priorities in energy and investment discussions.
Additionally, Fink stated that artificial intelligence’s potential disruption to white-collar jobs, similar to globalization’s impact on blue-collar work, requires an “evolution of capitalism” to address these changes. Some commentators have questioned whether such discussions at forums like Davos adequately address inequalities faced by affected workers.
In other news, U.S. lender Newrez will accept cryptocurrency holdings, including Bitcoin, Ether, spot exchange-traded funds backed by those assets, and U.S. dollar stablecoins, as qualifying assets for mortgage approvals starting in February. The policy applies to non-agency products for home purchases, refinancings, and investment properties, with valuations adjusted for market volatility and assets held on U.S.-regulated platforms. This follows discussions by the Federal Housing Finance Agency on incorporating digital assets into mortgage risk assessments and a proposed bill by Senator Cynthia Lummis to support homeownership among younger crypto owners. Regulators continue to stress the importance of accounting for cryptocurrency volatility in lending risk evaluations.
Privacy & Surveillance
Police in Miami Beach visited a woman at her home after the mayor’s office flagged her critical Facebook post about Mayor Steven Meiner. Video footage shows officers inquiring about the post, which accused the mayor of various positions, while the woman invoked her First Amendment rights and declined to answer without a lawyer. The officers stated they were checking for potential incitement and advised against such posts. Similar incidents reportedly include a Texas case where police approached a resident over online speech. Police officials described the visit as a routine safety assessment to evaluate possible threats, according to Local 10 News.
Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using Palantir’s Elite software to map neighborhoods, assign confidence scores to addresses for potential deportation targets, and generate dossiers on individuals. The tool integrates data from agencies like HHS and IRS to locate undocumented immigrants, including predictions of when individuals might be home. Reports highlight concerns over Palantir’s broader data integration across federal systems and potential for expanded surveillance, as the company has built extensive databases on U.S. residents. This includes links to systems like Flock for license plate tracking and access to financial data, raising questions about privacy and future applications beyond immigration enforcement. Supporters, including statements from Palantir, maintain the tool aids in targeting priority non-citizens for enforcement while complying with privacy regulations.
European Politics
Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, stated that if her party wins the next election, it would hold a referendum on leaving the European Union. Weidel described the EU as a “monstrous” structure with what she called unnecessary bureaucracy and high-paid officials, and advocated for its abolition in favor of a free internal market among European nations while maintaining sovereign borders. She argued that countries should have the freedom to exit the EU and automatically join the single market to preserve economic freedoms. Critics have expressed concerns over potential economic isolation for Germany similar to Brexit outcomes and the party’s classification as right-wing extremist.
Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy released its Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, which outlines a plan to commercialize fusion energy by the mid-2030s through investments in AI for plasma prediction, infrastructure for test facilities, regulatory standards, and pilot plants. The strategy addresses six technical challenges:
- Structural materials like reduced activation ferritic martensitic steels to withstand neutron damage
- Plasma-facing components such as tungsten for heat management; confinement systems using high-temperature superconducting magnets from companies like Bruker
- Fuel cycles for tritium breeding with involvement from ASP Isotopes, BWXT, and Oklo
- Blankets to capture energy and breed fuel
- Plant integration with AI digital twins from NVIDIA and IBM.
The roadmap pursues magnetic confinement via tokamaks and stellarators, and inertial confinement with lasers from Coherent, emphasizing domestic supply chains for rare earths and isotopes to support grid integration and competitiveness. Other reports from indicate ongoing challenges, including international competition and funding needs, that could affect achievement of the timeline.
Geopolitics
China flew a WZ-7 Soaring Dragon reconnaissance drone into the airspace of Taiwan’s Pratas Island for approximately four minutes, marking the first such reported military incursion. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry broadcast warnings over international channels, noting the drone operated beyond air defense range before departing. Analysts described this as a test of Taiwan’s defenses, exploiting vulnerabilities in countering high-altitude drones and potentially repeatable to challenge sovereignty. The incident follows increased Chinese coastguard and maritime militia activities around Pratas, a strategically located atoll in the South China Sea. Taiwan reportedly views unauthorized entries as potential first strikes but is exercising caution to avoid escalation, while consulting allies like the U.S. Separately, China’s military tracked the USS John Finn destroyer and a U.S. survey vessel transiting the Taiwan Strait. China’s military described the drone flight as a legitimate routine training exercise within its claimed sovereign airspace, according to the Southern Theatre Command.
US Politics
The Department of Justice announced plans to charge former CNN host Don Lemon under the so-called Ku Klux Klan Act for his alleged involvement in a civil rights conspiracy related to actions at an abortion facility. The 1871 law prohibits conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate individuals in exercising their rights, and has been used in cases involving protests outside clinics. Officials cited potential violations of the FACE Act as predicates, along with investigations into funding, interstate activities, and other crimes, stating that journalistic intent does not exempt participation in conspiracies. Lemon has reportedly denied any involvement in illegal activities, describing the probe as baseless and asserting First Amendment protections for his reporting.
Sources
AfD’s Weidel Pledges EU Exit Vote for Germans if Party Wins Election
When the AfD wins the next election she intends to give Germans the chance to vote to leave the “Monstrous EU”
Japan’s 30-Year Bond Yield Soars to Record 3.613%
Japanese 30 Year Bond Yield Explodes to Record High 3.613%! Oh my.
Source | Submitted by IrishPrince
DOJ Targets Don Lemon with Ku Klux Klan Act Charges Over Alleged Civil Rights Conspiracy
DOJ Announces Intention to Charge Don Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Hong Kong Billionaire Allocates 25% of Fortune to Gold, Far Above Global Average
Hong Kong Billionaire Puts Quarter of His Wealth in Gold
Source | Submitted by IrishPrince
Davos Day 1: From Green Hype to Grid Reality and Woke Word Tweaks
Larry Fink admitted that the amount of power needed for data centers can’t be derived from intermittent solar and wind
Source | Submitted by westcoastjan
Larry Fink: AI’s White-Collar Disruption Demands Capitalism’s Evolution
If AI does to white-collar work what globalization did to blue-collar, we need to confront that directly.
Source | Submitted by westcoastjan
China Flies Military Drone into Taiwan Airspace for First Time
China sent a military drone into Taiwanese airspace for the first time, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to test the island’s defenses.
Newrez Pioneers Crypto in Mortgages: Bitcoin and Ether Now Qualify for Home Loans
Newrez plans to treat eligible cryptocurrency holdings as qualifying assets in its mortgage underwriting process, a move that could broaden access to home loans for crypto holders.
Japan’s Bond Yields Hit Record Highs as PM Takaichi Bets on Snap Election for More Spending, Fewer Taxes
Japanese Yields Soar To All Time High After PM Takaichi Calls Snap Election Seeking More Spending, Less Taxes
DOE’s Fusion Roadmap: Charting the Path from Plasma to Power Grid
The FS&T Roadmap are not just a scientific plan, but an industrial policy designed to transition fusion from the laboratory to the commercial market by the mid-2030s.
Florida Police Visit Woman Over Critical Facebook Post About Mayor
Posting commentary online, in America, should never result in a knock on the door from law enforcement.
Palantir’s “Pre-Crime” AI: ICE Maps Deportation Targets, Raising Alarms Over Mass Surveillance
The U.S. government is now using software to predict who you are, where you live, and when you’ll be home.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Deutsche Welle, Bloomberg, Financial Times, National Mortgage News, Local 10 News, Palantir Technologies official statement, Heatmap News, and South China Morning Post.
by mike-from-jersey 
