Inflation in the United States cooled in January, while the US military conducted a lethal strike in the Caribbean Sea, and a fire broke out at a key oil refinery in Havana, Cuba, according to multiple reports. The consumer price index rose by 2.4% over the 12 months to January, the slowest pace since May, according to the Department of Labor, as prices for energy and used cars fell (BBC Business). Simultaneously, the US military attacked a boat in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of three people, as reported by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) (Al Jazeera). In Cuba, a fire at the Nico Lopez oil refinery in Havana threatened to worsen the country's ongoing energy crisis (Al Jazeera).
The easing of inflation in the US could add fuel to arguments that the central bank is in a position to cut interest rates, according to BBC Business. However, some analysts have warned that progress toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target could stall if companies pass on the costs of tariffs or if labor shortages push up prices.
The US military's strike in the Caribbean Sea, which occurred earlier on Friday, is part of ongoing air strikes that have killed at least 133 people since September 2025, according to Al Jazeera. The incident highlights continued military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean overseen by SOUTHCOM.
In Cuba, the fire at the Nico Lopez refinery, which was visible from Havana Bay, could exacerbate the country's fuel crisis, as the nation grapples with an oil blockade imposed by the United States, according to Al Jazeera.
In other news, the United Arab Emirates is utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline bureaucracy and expedite public services, as highlighted at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, according to Euronews. Mohammed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services of the United Arab Emirates Government, told Euronews that the global forum served as a stage for governments to showcase their AI initiatives.
Additionally, Sky News reported that an Iranian doctor, Yaser Rahmani-Rad, was arrested and detained after accusing the country's security forces of arresting injured protesters inside hospitals.
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