UNITED NATIONS, September 4 (IPS) – As the 18th session of the UN General Assembly draws to a close, one of the final items in its agenda was to establish an annual observance for the elimination of child marriage, raising the global profile of a pervasive social issue.
World News in Brief: Russian attacks intensify, UN team tours West Bank, ‘unlawful’ elderly deaths 
Nepal’s deadly glacier flood a ‘defining moment’ for the international community 
Mothers get nearly eight times more paid leave than fathers – and women pay the price 
The Eradication of Extreme Poverty by 2030: a Key UN goal will be a Missed Target 
First human case of Shamonda virus reported in France as patient dies 
Were Half of Venezuela’s Oil Revenues Really Stolen? — Part II 
Eating too much sugar on antibiotics could squash helpful gut bacteria 
Electric stoves could help people with asthma breathe easier