The mere fact we have not heard western governments attributing blame for the Nordstream 1 and 2 sabotage on Russia speaks volumes. This incident is going to prove to be very damaging to the western alliance due to the very obvious trust issues it has now created.

Japan’s state pension fund, the world’s largest, posted a fourth straight quarterly loss in its longest losing streak in two decades.

As it rightly should do.

Lavrov:

African States are playing an increasingly significant role in global politics and the economy, whilst western colonial influence is shrinking in the continent.

Clown show continues:

Berlin has approved the transfer of 88 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, but there are issues providing the necessary ammunition because these tanks ceased production in 1984.

Ukraine admitting the reality of the war:

Ukraine is paying the highest possible price in holding Bakhmut according to Ukrainian Presidential adviser Podolyak.

Sunak also admitting another reality of the ongoing war:

It's worth understanding the situation and that the fastest training program for a new F-16 pilot is about 35 months.

The Bank of Japan's unrealised losses on government bonds reached 8.8tn yen or $68 billion in December.

Financialisation of economies is continuing to unravel.

Nothing screams absurdity in financial markets more than the FTSE 100 being at a record high today.

Spy balloon debacle has demonstrated just how far the US has fallen from grace.

US continues to undermine its own position in the world due to its endless obsession to try to control every nation on the planet:

Turkish Interior Ministry told the US to keep its dirty hands out of Turkish affairs.

US has instigated regime change, sanctions, wars, assassination of leaders etc to defend the dollar.

But apparently markets are not manipulated to defend it.

De-dollarisation is mathematically irrefutable.

In 2 yr period, Mar 20 to Mar 22, Fed balance sheet more than doubled from 4.24tn to 8.96tn.

Why?

Because no one wanted to buy US debt and without Fed printing trillions, US would have collapsed, economically and financially.

During the height of the pandemic the dollar index fell in an 9.5 month, period, starting March 2020, from 104 to 90.

So at the same as the US was printing trillions, the dollar index fell over 10%.

US won't be happy:

Foreign ministers of Japan and China agreed Thursday that the two nations will maintain close communication “at all levels,” the Japanese government said, as they have been exploring how to mend bilateral ties that often become tense.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/02/03/national/china-japan-communications/

In Washington's relentless desire to contain China it has telegraphed to the entire Global South, that the same fate awaits you if you try to become a strong pole in a multipolar world. US wonders why they are being rejected by Global South. It is the epitome of the clown show.

Very big development:

Nikolai Patrushev has invited the
Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani to visit Russia next week.

Italians are claiming that Zelensky is now considering on how to approach Russia wrt to future dialogue.

Great energy rotation continues:

Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producer, Novate is close to a deal to supply gas to GAIL (India) Ltd as it seeks alternative markets to Europe, three industry sources said.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-novatek-indias-gail-poised-seal-gas-sales-deal-2023-02-03/

Ireland's debt frenzy:

Public debt increased by more than 11% at the end of 2022 to around €44k for every person in country, one of highest per capita debt burdens in world.

State’s debt stood at €226bn, an estimated 86% of national income.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/02/03/irelands-public-debt-rises-to-one-of-highest-in-the-world-per-capita/