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Bosnia and Herzegovina, emerging from the devastation of inter-ethnic bloodshed, must now be allowed to take responsibility for its own political reforms and economic development while the international community clears up defined, outstanding issues, the world’s envoy to the country told the United Nations Security Council today.

Though the parties to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan – which has already cost nearly 200,000 lives, mainly civilians – have not yet compromised on key issues, a peace agreement is within reach by the 30 April deadline set by the African Union (AU), the chief mediator from that organization told the United Nations Security Council today, urging support for the AU mission in the country.

As tens of thousands of people displaced by last October’s earthquake in Pakistan stream home from their temporary camps, a top official of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), which is leading the relief effort, listened to the aspirations and concerns of survivors and pledged to continue supporting them.

The United Nations refugee agency, which last week flew some of its staff out of Chad during clashes between Government and rebel forces, has no immediate plans for any further evacuation as continues its efforts to help some 200,000 Sudanese who have fled vicious fighting in their own country.

The United Nations refugee agency has closed down its office in Uzbekistan after 13 years of service following an ultimatum by the Foreign Ministry to end its work in the former Soviet Central Asian country by 17 April.

Some 5,000 people who were children and adolescents at the time of the world’s worst-ever civil nuclear accident at Chernobyl, Ukraine, have so far been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and there may be up to 9,000 excess cancer deaths, according to a new United Nations study, the most comprehensive scientific report so far on the health impact of the disaster.

The United Nations refugee agency today voiced serious concern over proposed new border control measures by Australia to deal with asylum seekers arriving by boat, including their transferral offshore, even if they have reached the mainland, to have their claims processed.

Chadian President Idriss Deby, who last week threatened to expel 200,000 Sudanese following clashes with rebels, has assured the United Nations refugee agency that they will not be forcibly returned and that Chad will abide by international principles.

Only Iran will be allowed to export caviar from wild Caspian Sea sturgeon this year after the five nations sharing the basin failed to provide information needed to ensure the fish’s survival to the United Nations-backed body that oversees a global treaty governing trade in endangered species.

The United Nations has launched a new broad based initiative in West and Central Africa to increase girls’ access to quality education in an effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of universal primary education and gender equality.