PG&E Shares Halted After Company Cleared In Tubbs Fire Probe

In a surprising development that could trigger a rebound in the badly battered shares of America's largest utility, California investigators have cleared utility PG&E of involvement in the 2017 Tubbs fire, the most destructive fire in California history.

Shares were halted on the news that investigators found that the catalyst for the fire was a private electrical system adjacent to a "residential structure."

BREAKING: Cal Fire has determined the 2017 Tubbs Fire was ignited by a "private electrical system" — NOT PG&E pic.twitter.com/wuUwjhTe3D

— J.D. Morris (@thejdmorris) January 24, 2019

PG&E shares were halted on the news.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-24/pge-shares-halted-after-company-cleared-tubbs-fire-probe

China Joins Russia In Slamming US Interference In Venezuela

Back in March, we asked a simple question: Can Russia & China Rescue Venezuela?

Realistically, and in retrospect, the answer was always no, but the reason we asked the question was simple: both China and Russia have extended massive credits to Caracas, and Maduro's regime in particular. As such, letting the country “die” was never an option that either Beijing or Moscow would gladly accept; neither was it an option to allow a transition in Venezuela's top power echelons, one which replaces the pro-Russia and China Maduro regime, with another regime which would, supposedly, be supported and endorsed by the US, and thus jeopardize Venezuela's obligations to the two nations.

And, as we also said last March, "chances are that Washington is aware of the role that China and Russia play there. Otherwise [Washington] would have already gone ahead with the broad oil sanctions, despite potential headaches for U.S. refineries."

Ten months later, something changed and whether due to Trump's urge to once again deflect attention from the domestic political chaos surrounding the government shutdown, Trump decided to escalate his long-running feud with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who on Wednesday announced cutting diplomatic ties with the US after opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself the country's interim president and Trump formally stated his recognition of Guaidó.

In other words, currently, there are "two regimes" coexisting in Venezuela, which brings severe risk of political turmoil.

The quick US recognition led nations of the Lima Group to imitate and recognize the Venezuelan opposition regime. Nonetheless the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López refused to recognize Guaidó, saying the military will defend the constitution and sovereignty.

Shortly after this initial escalation, we reported that the Russian foreign ministry stated that Moscow supports Maduro and accused the US of attempting regime change, "which is the nation's internal affair." Meanwhile, despite Maduro ordering the US to vacate its embassy "within 72" hours, Washington has refused to do so, and has warned that any escalation would be seen as a provocation.

Yet while Russia's support of the Maduro's regime was to be expected, the big question is how China would react to the quasi-coup taking place in Venezuela.

Today, the headline article in China's nationalist Global Times provided the answer, when Beijing effectively slammed what it saw as US interference in Venezuelan issues, noting that "in recent year Washington has enhanced its interference in affairs of Venezuela and Cuba and attempted to regain influence in Latin America. The fast recognition of Guaidó signaled the strong US desire to intervene in Venezuela's internal affairs."

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-24/china-joins-russia-slamming-us-interference-venezuela

Stepson of target in Russia probe testifies to grand jury

The stepson of conservative writer Jerome Corsi, who is a target in the special counsel's Russia investigation, appeared before a grand jury on Thursday and was questioned about a computer that he and Corsi had discussed being "scrubbed," his lawyer said.

Andrew Stettner spent about an hour facing questions at the federal courthouse in Washington.

Corsi is an associate of former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone, and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators are trying to determine whether Corsi and Stone had advance knowledge of WikiLeaks' plans to release hacked material damaging to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential effort.

But prosecutors did not ask Stettner about any other topics and did not question him about Stone, said lawyer Larry Klayman, who represents Stettner and Corsi.

"There were questions about the computer, and the special counsel seemed quite satisfied with those responses," Klayman said.

Corsi has said investigators previously sought to question his stepson about the computer and text messages the two exchanged in which Stettner told his stepfather that a computer that sat on Corsi's desk had been "scrubbed." Corsi has maintained that the messages showed nothing nefarious and that he asked his stepson to refurbish the old computer for his wife to use for her business.

But the testimony before the grand jury is further evidence that the special counsel is continuing to examine the relationship between Corsi and Stone, who has known President Donald Trump for decades.

Klayman said it was "really unnecessary" for Stettner to be there on Thursday.

"The testimony confirmed that no documents were in any way deleted or lost or anything to that effect," he said.

The attorney reiterated his call for the special counsel's office to back off its investigation of Corsi, saying it would be "very unwise" if it brought charges against him. Corsi has filed a lawsuit against Mueller and has filed a complaint with the Justice Department, alleging prosecutors tried to coerce him to give false testimony.

A spokesman for the special counsel's office, Peter Carr, declined to comment Thursday.

Corsi also has released documents showing prosecutors offered him a deal to plead guilty to a false-statements charge. He has rejected the deal and says he didn't knowingly mislead investigators.

https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/elections/stepson-of-target-in-russia-probe-testifies-to-grand-jury/article_2b8afb4c-d83b-5d39-a319-1b48d8e98dd6.html?mode=jqm

Netanyahu denounces Israeli TV channels as 'propaganda' brainwashing public ahead of elections

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the country's largest news channels as "propaganda," claiming they are conspiring to "brainwash" the public into deposing him on Election Day as he braces for a possible indictment.

"Channels 12 and 13 will try to brainwash you every night with unending false and distorted leaks" from the ongoing criminal probes that have dogged his reelection campaign, Netanyahu warned in a tweet in Hebrew, warning that "Leaks from investigations are a criminal offense with a maximum three-year sentence!"

Even while dismissing Channel 13 as propaganda, Netanyahu sent his associates to the station to accuse State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan of "subverting democracy" by pushing Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to indict the PM on bribery charges before the election. Nitzan, they said, wanted to "be remembered" for taking down their boss.

Netanyahu's lawyers demanded Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit investigate leaks from the probes, which they claim are splashing "new and sensational revelations" across the headlines on a daily basis. With elections just three months away, Netanyahu is apparently worried he may be indicted on bribery charges as early as next month.

The PM has denounced all who oppose him as part of a vast "left-wing conspiracy" with near-daily videos and tweets decrying the unjust persecution. His public communications have focused on little else since the election was moved up eight months in December after his Likud Party lost the support of former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu Party. Even a "dramatic" press announcement he scheduled earlier this month turned into a long-winded denunciation of the bribery probes, leading some media outlets to pack up and leave in the middle of his speech.

https://www.rt.com/news/449558-netanyahu-denounces-media-propaganda/

Interesting bedfellows!

Cabal is all for it, so why is Trump?

>>4890657

https://www.rt.com/news/

Outrage as a VERY controversial banner declaring 'it's OK to be white' is unveiled in front of thousands of fans before security catch the culprits trying to flee

Banner seen at Perth Stadium match between Scorchers and Sydney Thunder

The banner was up for about a minute as security approached and they ran

The group was kicked out of the stadium and issued with move-on notices

Photos of the banner caused outrage on social media and calls for bans

Do you know more? Email nic.white@mailonline.com

Cricket fans have caused outrage by putting up a banner declaring 'it's OK to be white' at a Big Bash match.

The crudely made sign was unfurled at Perth Stadium during a game between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder on Thursday night.

Security immediately rushed over to the group, who pulled it back up after hanging it from the stands for up to five minutes.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6627755/Cricket-fans-OK-white-banner-Big-Bash-game.html

>>4890757

yep apparently that's racist in Australia