BEIJING (AFP) - China's inflation rose 4.5 percent year-on-year in January, the highest level in three months, official data showed Thursday, as the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday boosted consumer prices.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Lawmakers in the northwestern US state of Washington on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, which should soon be signed into law by the governor, officials said.

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (AFP) - A US drone attack targeting a militant compound killed four insurgents in a troubled Pakistani tribal region in the early hours of Thursday, security officials said.

ATHENS (AFP) - Greek government coalition talks on austerity measures ended Wednesday, with one remaining point of disagreement, the prime minister's office said.

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that the UN Security Council's failure to agree a resolution on Syria had been "disastrous" for the country's people because of the deaths since the vote.