Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe briefed the Security Council on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, saying that the United Nations remains deeply concerned at the current stalemate and calls for the resumption of talks on final-status issues, implementation of Road Map commitments, continued efforts to improve economic and security conditions, and a different and more positive approach to Gaza.

The Security Council this morning heard from Under-Secretaries-General John Holmes and Alain Le Roy in an open meeting on Haiti. Mr. Holmes said that help is badly needed for the displaced people and their host communities, and Mr. Le Roy provided an update on the work of the United Nations Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, in maintaining order while restoring its capabilities, following the loss of at least 91 staff in the earthquake.

A duchess, an Oscar winner, a diplomat and the head of a corporate foundation joined two United Nations officials at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon to urge philanthropists to focus on women’s empowerment as an effective way to boost socio-economic conditions around the world.

Robert Watkins, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement that he was deeply saddened by the report of the terrible loss of civilian life on Sunday in southern Afghanistan. Watkins has reiterated the request by the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for all parties to the conflict to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties.

Data collected by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) over six years revealed that, while still significant, the digital divide was shrinking slightly ‑‑ accompanied by falling Internet and telecommunications costs between 2008 to 2009 worldwide ‑‑ but the relatively high cost of Internet broadband services still deserved concern from policymakers.

The Secretary-General will travel to Los Angeles from 28 February to 2 March, to engage the creative community and explore ways in which the United Nations and the entertainment industry can join forces to raise awareness and mobilize the public around global issues. He will also address UCLA on the role of the United Nations in an era of global challenges, focusing on the power of citizens everywhere to get involved in addressing the world’s problems and building a better world.

The United Nations response to the earthquake in Haiti had been extraordinary, given the unique situation in which both the country’s and the Organization’s capabilities had been devastated, a top official of the world body said at Headquarters today. “This is the most challenging disaster response that the United Nations has ever faced in its history,” Anthony Banbury, Acting Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for MINUSTAH, said this afternoon.

The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) has confirmed that some 1,500 people were displaced from their homes in January as a result of renewed fighting in the Jebel Marra region of West Darfur. The mission says that volatile security conditions prevailing in that region in January had made it impossible for aid workers to verify reports of displacement and deliver relief goods.

The United States television show American Idol last week travelled to Haiti with the UN Foundation to raise further awareness of the country’s post-earthquake needs. Footage of the trip will be on the show that airs tonight and viewers will be asked to support the efforts in Haiti by donating funds online and via text messaging. Proceeds will go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation to help the UN Foundation's work.

The 2010 world census was crucial in helping countries emerging from conflict better plan national development strategies and institute democratic reform, United Nations experts on census gathering said this afternoon at a Headquarters news conference.