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.

The International Narcotics Control Board was concerned that the “creeping normalization” of so-called medicinal marijuana might spur addictive or hard-core use of the drug, a Board member said today while presenting its annual report at a Headquarters press conference.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attacks that took place in Kabul this morning, which caused the death and injury of many Afghan and foreign residents and for which the Taliban claimed responsibility. This deliberate targeting of civilians demonstrates once again a senseless disregard for human life on the part of the perpetrators.

The protection of civilians and children in Afghanistan had become a matter of great concern, especially the killing and maiming of children, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, told correspondents this afternoon at Headquarters upon her return from a visit to that country.

The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to those who lost family and friends in Chile's earthquake and has been in touch with the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based in Santiago, for an assessment of the earthquake and information on UN staff.

Strongly condemning violence against women and girls, the International Organization of la Francophonie today adopted a declaration that confirmed its support for women’s equality and its commitment to prevent harm against women and girls, as part of its contribution to reviewing the 15 years implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, Canada’s Minister for La Francophonie said today.

Calling the Decade of Action for Road Safety scheduled to be proclaimed today by the General Assembly “long overdue”, a representative of the World Health Organization pledged concerted action to halt the increasing trend of road-traffic deaths seen over the last few decades and ensure that between 2011 and 2020, the trend would be reversed.

The Secretary-General spoke with President Michelle Bachelet of Chile last night. He again expressed his condolences and reiterated that the United Nations is ready to help and would do its utmost to make the items requested by the Chilean Government available as swiftly as possible.

The Security Council will have an open debate on the impact of illicit arms trafficking on peace and security in the Central African region on 19 March, Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet of Gabon, this month’s Council President, said today at Headquarters.