Inflation in the United States cooled in January, while political tensions in the Middle East escalated and protests erupted in Germany, according to reports released on February 14, 2026. The consumer price index rose by 2.4% over the 12 months to January, the slowest pace since May, driven in part by falling prices for used cars, according to the Department of Labor (Source 1). Simultaneously, the US deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, and over 200,000 people rallied in Munich for regime change in Iran (Sources 2, 3).
The easing inflation rate could bolster arguments that the central bank is in a position to cut interest rates, as suggested by President Donald Trump and others (Source 1). However, some analysts warned that progress toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target could stall if companies pass on tariff costs or if labor shortages push up prices (Source 1).
In the Middle East, President Trump stated that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen," justifying the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the region (Source 2). He made these remarks after visiting troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina (Source 2).
Meanwhile, in Munich, Germany, a crowd of 200,000 to 250,000 gathered to support Reza Pahlavi and advocate for regime change in Iran (Source 3). Protesters marched with pre-1979 Iranian flags, beat drums, and chanted slogans while global leaders met nearby at the Munich Security Conference (Source 3). Pahlavi addressed the conference, urging global leaders to intensify pressure through sanctions and intervention (Source 3).
In other news, the tech world saw developments in fashion technology, with the "Clueless"-inspired app Alta partnering with brand Public School to integrate styling tools into websites (Source 4). Additionally, iBuyPower's gaming desktops were discounted for Presidents Day (Source 5).
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