WASHINGTON -- U.S. consumer inflation in February continued to rise at the fastest annual pace in 40 years, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Thursday.

The latest data is another reminder that inflation has been persistently high, which would warrant the U.S. Federal Reserve's expected rate hike on its policy meeting next week. (U.S.-Inflation-CPI)

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ATHENS -- Greece's annual inflation rate increased to 7.2 percent in February and hit a 26-year high, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said here on Thursday.

The inflation rate was minus 1.3 percent in the same month of 2021.

According to ELSTAT, the surge resulted mainly from a 78.5 percent hike in natural gas, 71.4 percent in electricity, 41.5 percent in heating oil and 23.2 percent in fuel and lubricant prices. (Greece-Inflation)

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ADEN, Yemen -- At least six children were killed in shelling carried out by Yemen's Houthi militia in different areas of the war-ravaged country during the past 24 hours, a security official told Xinhua.

"In two separate incidents, the Houthis launched shelling and killed six children in southwestern province of Taiz and in Sanaa's countryside within the past 24 hours," the local military source said on condition of anonymity. (Yemen-Houthis-Conflicts)

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YAOUNDE -- Cameroon launched a year-long anti-malaria campaign dubbed "Stop Malaria" on Thursday amidst rising numbers of infections.

The campaign will take place nationwide targeting all communities and especially business leaders, local elected officials, traditional rulers, religious rulers and associations, Manaouda Malachie, the country's Minister of Public Health said while launching the campaign in the capital, Yaounde. (Cameroon-Malaria)

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NEW DELHI -- India's federal government signed a 125 million U.S. dollar loan agreement with the World Bank to support access to social protection services in the eastern state of West Bengal, officials said Thursday.

"The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the World Bank signed a 125 million U.S. dollars International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan to support efforts to help poor and vulnerable groups access social protection services in the state of West Bengal," the ministry of finance said in a statement. (India-World Bank-Loan)