BRATISLAVA, Apr 25 (IPS) - As the refugee crisis on the Belarus/EU borders approaches its fourth year, a crackdown on activism in Belarus is worsening the situation for migrants stuck in a “death zone” as they attempt to leave the country. Read the full story, “Conditions Worsen for Belarus Migrants Stuck in Death Zone on EU Border”, on globalissues.org ..read more

On 25 April 1974, military officers overthrew the nearly 50-year dictatorship in Portugal in a largely peaceful coup known as the Carnation Revolution. Read the full story, “Debate at UN highlights the impact of Portugal’s ‘Carnation Revolution’”, on globalissues.org ..read more

A top Human Rights Council-appointed expert has welcomed the decision by all health authorities in the United Kingdom to halt the routine use of puberty-blockers offered to children as part of gender transition services, amid a sharp increase more widely in the number of teenage girls seeking such treatment and concerns that it might disrupt brain development. Read the full story, “Gender therapy review reveals devastating impacts on teens”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Plastic pollution blocks rivers, chokes oceans and makes its way into the food chain as microplastics. It’s a global environmental crisis, and Small Island Developing States are especially vulnerable, having to cope with detritus washing up on their beaches, as well as the waste they generate themselves. Read the full story, “Polluting rivers, beaches and the ocean: How can Trinidad solve its plastics problem?”, on globalissues.org ..read more

A new mechanism for getting lifesaving aid into Gaza will start in the coming days, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator Sigrid Kaag announced in a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday. Read the full story, “UN coordinator in Gaza announces new plan to deliver lifesaving aid”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, launched a $1.2 billion appeal on Wednesday to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip and to respond to needs in the West Bank as violence there increases. Read the full story, “UNRWA seeks $1.2 billion to meet urgent needs in Gaza and the West Bank”, on globalissues.org ..read more

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is offering medical care, food, shelter and psychosocial support to 33 migrants who survived a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti on Monday, as local authorities continue search and rescue operations. Read the full story, “UN migration agency assists survivors of deadly shipwreck off Djibouti”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Two UN agencies alongside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the global vaccine alliance Gavi launched on Wednesday a campaign to scale up programmes to save lives, marking the start of World Immunisation Week, celebrated annually during the last week of April. Read the full story, “New global campaign boosts lifesaving vaccines”, on globalissues.org ..read more

Russia used its veto to quash a draft resolution aimed at keeping weapons out of outer space. Read the full story, “Russia vetoes Security Council draft resolution on a weapon-free outer space”, on globalissues.org ..read more

ABU DHABI, Apr 24 (IPS) - Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a distinct group of 39 states and 18 associate members, are making efforts to promote the blue economy as they possess enormous potential for renewable energy relying on the sea. Read the full story, “Small Island States Fostering Effective Energy Transition To Achieve a Blue Economy”, on globalissues.org ..read more