The Daily Populous

Statement from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell

On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.

That testimony concerned in part a multi-year project to renovate historic Federal Reserve office buildings.

No one—certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve—is above the law.

But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.

This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings.

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.

I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. »

Mass killings reported as security forces use live fire on Iran protesters

Authored by iranintl.com

The demonstrations followed massive rallies the previous night that was described as among the largest since the unrest began.

In Isfahan, video verified by Iran International showed a large crowd chanting “Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is illegitimate,” alongside monarchist slogans including “Long live the King.”.

Several witnesses told Iran International that security forces appeared overstretched in some areas, relying on intimidation tactics, warning shots and use of force. »

The Xbox Developer Direct will feature a secret fourth game

Authored by videogameschronicle.com

The upcoming Xbox Developer Direct will feature a currently unannounced fourth game.

VGC can corroborate this and understands that the fourth game is a smaller-scale original game from one of Xbox Game Studios’ first-party developers.

The Xbox Developer Direct will also include “the first in-depth look” at Beast of Reincarnation, the new game from Game Freak. »

EU weighs replacing US troops with unified European army

Authored by newsukraine.rbc.ua

EU countries should consider establishing a joint armed force that could, in the future, replace US troops in Europe, currently numbering about 100,000, according to European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius .

It would consist exclusively of leading European Union countries, though the possibility of including the United Kingdom is not ruled out.

On January 10, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for the creation of unified European army and integration of the EU's defense industry. »

Several monkeys loose in St. Louis and authorities have no clue how they got there

Authored by dexerto.com

The St. Louis Department of Health and Animal Care and Control confirmed on January 9 that multiple monkeys were spotted roaming a north St. Louis neighborhood near O’Fallon Park.

Owning exotic animals is prohibited under St. Louis ordinances, and authorities have not identified any licensed facility or legal owner connected to the animals.

With assistance from the Saint Louis Zoo, the monkeys were identified as vervet monkeys, also known as green monkeys. »