Ban Ki-Moon and DRC Prime Minister Augustin Mapon

• The UN Secretary-General is hopeful about peace finally coming to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Ban Ki-moon is on a five-country tour in Africa and while in the DRC on Wednesday, he expressed optimism about a framework agreement signed earlier this year by 11 African countries. However, Mr. Ban remains concerned about ongoing violence in the eastern DRC.

Chinese actress Li Bingbing advocates for saving African elephants

Li Bingbing with a tiger

• China's leading actress has called for greater effort to end the illegal ivory trade. Experts say the trade is fuelling a rise in the killing of African elephants. Li Bingbing, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environment Programme, visited Kenya recently to see first hand the impact of poaching on the elephant population and the local economy.

An activist says Ogiek people of Kenya are denied right to land

Indigenous peoples

• A Kenyan activist says the Ogiek indigenous people of Kenya are denied their rights to land. He says the people have been moved from Mau forest on which they depend. He is one of hundreds of indigenous peoples from around the world attending the session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

Producer/Presenter: Derrick Mbatha
Editor: Donn Bobb
Production Assistant: Sandra Guy
Studio Engineer: Rosie Starr
Duration: 10'00"

M23 fighters move along the road towards Goma as Peacekeepers observed gathering of armed people North of the city [MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti]

Humanitarian Coordinator Moustapha Soumaré says the explosions, which took place next to churches, provoked panic among the population, causing many to flee towards downtown Goma in search of safer haven.

The UN official expressed concern over the violence saying "Civilians have been injured during military operations because military positions and military actions are taking place too close to where civilian populations are located, a violation of International Humanitarian Law". He says civilians should not be mistaken for military targets and called on "all parties to take all measures necessary to avoid civilian casualties".

Humanitarian Coordinator Moustapha Soumaré says the humanitarian community is "extremely concerned about the protection of civilians and the insecurity which is hindering our capacity to assist people in urgent need of help, adding that "humanitarian agencies are calling for total, unimpeded access to those in need".

Thousands of people, including internally displaced persons, have fled insecurity since fighting resumed on 20 May 2013 between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 rebels. Some have sought shelter in churches and schools in the center of Goma town, while others have moved towards the city of Sake, located 25 km away.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.

Duration: 1’27″

Billboards in Kinshasa welcome the SG and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. [UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe]

Alex King is travelling with the Secretary-General.

Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, addresses a press conference on the mid-year update of the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2013. [UN Photo/Rick Bajornas]

The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2013 says that since late 2012, new policy initiatives in major developed economies have reduced systemic risks.

It says these initiatives have helped stabilize consumer, business and investor confidence, but with very limited improvement on economic growth.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Shamshad Akhtar, says since the release of the last report in January, lingering global economic slowdown has been replaced by measurable improvements.

"U.S. growth gained momentum and Japan grew by three-and-a-half per cent in the first quarter of 2013. In the Euro area there is contraction but there is differences in divergence in growth there. Emerging economies are growing at below potential but good growth rates. The multi-tracked growth pattern is likely to persist and drive the outlook for the rest of 2013 and 2014." (28")

However, Ms. Akhtar points out that the world economy continues to face significant uncertainty and risks.

Ms. Akhtar says the main priority for policy makers worldwide should be to support a robust and balanced global recovery, with a focus on promoting job creation.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.

Duration: 1'21"

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of World Bank. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

The UN Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank laid wreaths at a memorial site for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as they continued their joint mission to Africa on Thursday.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Dr. Jim Yong Kim arrived in Rwanda after a visit to Goma in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UN Spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, who is travelling with the Secretary-General, briefed reporters in New York by phone just before the Secretary-General had talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

"Here in Kigali, just a little while ago, the Secretary-General spoke at the Rwandan Police Headquarters and this was again focused on the fight against violence against women and girls. He also visited a centre for disabled ex-combatants. Both Dr. Kim and the Secretary-General visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site where they were able to lay wreaths. It is raining on and off here but quite hard so that the mood there at that Memorial Site was quite sombre." (29")

Martin Nesirky said the Secretary-General along with Dr. Kim of the World Bank will also be meeting other cabinet ministers in the Rwandan Government.

He added that the Mr. Ban and Dr. Kim will fly to Uganda on Friday on the last leg of their joint visit to Africa.

Gerry Adams, United Nations

Duration: 1'22"

Two internally displaced persons (IDP) sit at the Zamzam IDP Camp. [UN Photo/Olivier Chassot]

That's what the head of United Nations humanitarian operations Valerie Amos said on Thursday as she wrapped up her visit to the country.

Deputy UN Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey says Ms. Amos saw first hand the humanitarian situation in Darfur where she visited the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons.

"With 1.4 million people still living in camps, and a majority of the people in Darfur still suffering from inadequate access to basic health care, education and other services, the challenges remain enormous. She also said that we also need to change the way we work. After ten years of major humanitarian operations in Darfur, we need to find more sustainable ways of supporting displaced people who have no other option but to remain in the camps. We need to build stronger bridges between humanitarian and development work." (29")

During her visit to Sudan Valerie Amos met with President Omar Al Bashir, other senior government officials, United Nations agencies and others in the capital Khartoum and in Darfur.

Dianne Penn, United Nations

Duration: 1'13"

Indigenous delegates in the General Assembly Hall at the opening of the twelfth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. [UN Photo/Rick Bajornas]

The Forum is an advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council and focuses on issues related to economic, social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights of indigenous peoples.

One of the communities represented in the Forum is the hunter-gathers Ogiek indigenous people of Kenya.

UN Radio's Derrick Mbatha caught up with Peter Kiplangat Cheruiyot, Programme Officer of the Ogiek People's Development Programme to find out about their situation in Kenya.

Duration: 4'52"

A fistula patient lies on a hospital bed in Juba, Sudan. [UN Photo/Tim McKulka]

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says obstetric fistula is a preventable and in most cases treatable childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent, ashamed and often isolated from their communities.

According to the head of UNFPA, Babatunde Osotimehin, the condition is linked to poverty in many countries and happens in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Dr. Osothimehin says his agency is doing several things to tackle the problem of obstetric fistula.

"We are training more nurses and more health workers close to where people live so that they don't have to travel long distances before they get the service. We are also encouraging, as UNFPA ,pregnant women to be attended to during pregnancy. We recommend that every pregnant woman should have at least three or four ante-natal visits. That enables the health worker to assess what the possibilities are for the woman to be able to deliver properly." (29")

In his message, UN Secretary-General says success in dealing with obstetric fistula requires compassion, sensitivity and above all funds.

That is why, he adds, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is teaming up with partners to spearhead the Global Campaign to End Fistula.

Gerry Adams, United Nations

Duration: 1'36"

Joint Meeting of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the World Bank Group Dr. Jim Yong Kim with President Joseph Kabila of the DRC. [UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe]

Ban Ki-moon is currently on a five-country tour in Africa and while in the DRC on Wednesday, he expressed optimism about a framework agreement signed earlier this year by 11 African countries.

However, Mr. Ban remains concerned about ongoing violence in the eastern DRC.

Journalist Alain Irung of Radio Okapi, which is based at the UN mission in the country (MONUSCO), asked the Secretary-General why he is optimistic about the new accord, which covers the areas of peace, security and cooperation.

Duration: 4’37″