The ECOWAS special envoys to Niger have returned to the Nigerien capital, Niamey, to continue their dialogue with the leaders of the Niger military junta, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a media aide to the Nigerian president said on a social media platform on Saturday evening.
“After meeting (with the) head of Niger’s CNSP (the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland), General Abdoulrahmane Tchiani, the ECOWAS delegation in Niger has also visited President Mohamed Bazoum this evening in Niamey,” Abdulaziz said, without revealing further details.
In early August, a delegation comprising members from the ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations failed to enter Niamey to meet the military junta, according to the ECOWAS Commission.
On Aug. 10, the ECOWAS has resolved to activate its standby force in response to the recent coup in Niger while underscoring its continued commitment to restore constitutional order in the country through peaceful means.
The forum, co-hosted by China’s Xinhua News Agency and the China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy), is being held under the theme of “BRICS and Africa: Strengthening Media Dialogue for a Shared and Unbiassed Future.”
“The purpose of this forum is to facilitate the successful convocation of the BRICS Summit and to further promote communication and cooperation in greater depth among BRICS media and among BRICS countries,” said Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, at the opening ceremony of the forum.
Media outlets of BRICS countries shoulder significant responsibilities in this era and enjoy broad space for cooperation, said Fu, who is also executive chairman of the BRICS Media Forum.
The BRICS Media Forum was proposed by Xinhua News Agency and jointly initiated by mainstream media outlets from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, with the forum presidium as its top decision-making body.
{{ADVANCING BRICS MEDIA COOPERATION}}
“Since its inception in 2006, the BRICS mechanism has gone through 17 years and has stood the test of changes in the international landscape and become an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to seek strength through unity,” said Hu Heping, executive deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Over the past eight years, the BRICS Media Forum has been operating on a regular basis and at a high level, becoming an important platform for efficient coordination and cooperation among mainstream media of BRICS countries, Hu said.
To advance the high-quality development of cooperation among BRICS media, Fu called for promoting the shared values of humanity, jointly promoting the construction of a more just and equitable international order, better telling BRICS stories in the new era, and jointly promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Media outlets of BRICS countries should work to build a community with a shared future for humanity, promote shared values of humanity, stay committed to peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, and spread the vision of global governance featuring shared growth through discussion and collaboration, said Xinhua president.
He urged media outlets of BRICS countries to actively raise voices for fairness and justice on the international stage, promote the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and strive to enhance the voices and influence of emerging markets and developing countries, so as to ensure a more just and equitable international order.
The diverse cultures of the BRICS nations enrich global conversations, and the BRICS media advocate for an inclusive, cooperative and just new world order, said Iqbal Surve, executive chairman of Independent Media of South Africa.
The forum sheds light on the challenges facing developing nations, providing them with a platform to express their perspectives and aspirations, Surve said.
{{ENHANCING VOICE OF BRICS COUNTRIES}}
“Since its establishment in 2015, the BRICS Media Forum has become an important platform to enhance the voice of BRICS countries,” Dakota Legoete, a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, spoke at the opening of the forum.
While some countries attempt to monopolize the international discourse and weaponize the media to attack other sovereign states, the BRICS media have demonstrated that the media should be committed to promoting world development, rather than becoming a tool to provoke wars, Legoete said.
Media of BRICS countries bear the responsibility of being the “chief storytellers” of BRICS cooperation, Fu said. “We should fully report on the innovative explorations of BRICS countries in their modernization endeavors, tell vivid stories of BRICS countries’ deepening reforms, improving people’s well-being, and developing green energy.”
Echoing Fu’s proposals, Wang Min, director of CHN Energy, said media serve as an important force for social progress and media empowerment is indispensable to ensuring energy security and accelerating the green and low-carbon transition in BRICS countries.
Supported and witnessed by the BRICS media, the energy cooperation among BRICS countries has been deepened and the momentum of development has been continuously enhanced, Wang said, noting that CHN Energy has been actively engaging in such cooperation with fruitful results.
Jose Juan Sanchez, chief of Brazil’s financial and agricultural information provider CMA Group, stressed the importance of credible and impartial news information. “Communication among BRICS media is crucial, and the member countries should seek sustainable development in economic, environmental and social areas,” he said.
News media produce cultural products and carry the cultural mission of promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, said Fu, who called for BRICS media outlets to promote equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among different civilizations.
As a member of the forum’s presidium and home to the forum’s liaison office, Xinhua is willing to provide strong support for the effective operation of this mechanism and offer solid support for the steady and sustained progress of media cooperation among BRICS countries, Fu said.
The forum, which runs into Sunday, gathers around 200 participants from around 100 media outlets, think tanks and international organizations from about 30 countries.
At the forum, New China Research (NCR), the think tank of Xinhua News Agency, released two research reports entitled “Toward Modernity: The Value of Xi Jinping’s Economic Thought” and “The ‘Second Integration’ that Transforms China — Theoretical Innovation and Practice in Building the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation.”
{{(Video reporters: Zhang Zhihuan, Yin Jiajie, Li Shuting, Liu Chunhui, Tian Hongyi; video editors: Liu Ruoshi, Zhang Yuhong, Liu Yutian, Lin Lin).}}
Manifesting in forms like anxiety and depression, mental illness is caused by; among others, family background, genes, and trauma. The list, however, grows a little longer when it comes to young people. Recent findings indicate that among the causes of depression in the youth is the ‘pressure to fit in’, aka ‘wanna-be’ syndrome.
With an advancement in technology, particularly social media, apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok that were primarily intended for socializing and connecting with friends and family, have turned into an exhibition of ‘who is doing better in life’.
Success in young people is presently determined by who updates their stories, status, reels, or newsfeed every 24 hours with current photos in happening places, has the most likes and the number of followers. This has seen those without the same ‘life’ resort to dangerous vices like alcoholism, drug abuse, and modern-day prostitution in a bid to fit in, while others battle depression and anxiety because they feel left out.
While speaking to the youth during ‘international youth day’ marked on 12th August 2023, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda’s Minister of Youth, Abdallah Utumatwishima, shared tips on how to overcome mental health. “Be kind to yourself, be kind to your family, and be kind to your country,” he stated. “If you feel overwhelmed with emotions, don’t hesitate to seek help, talk to someone, especially your mom if you’re blessed with one, and like just giants do, get up and move,” he added.
Experts on mental health also share tips like eating healthy foods, going for a walk, listening to soft music, singing a song, drinking a lot of water, connecting with nature and with friends, and seeking medical help. While these may seem far-fetched and hard to abide by, there are life hacks that can help.
{{Practice gratitude;}} be thankful and grateful for what you have as you work hard towards what you want. When you appreciate what you have, it will always multiply in ways you don’t know. Christians can relate to this with the parable of talents in the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30).
{{Focus on your dreams;}} when you’re too busy minding your business, it will be hard for you to notice what other people are up to. The grass will always seem greener on the side, but it can be greener from where you are too; you just have to water it. “Do you, be you, and focus on you”. Life is not a competition but a journey where everyone has their own destination.
{{Appreciate your small achievements; }} learn to clap for yourself before others clap for you. We attract who we are at the end of the day, right? If you celebrate yourself, others will celebrate you too, so learn to celebrate yourself. After all, you alone know how hard you fought to get there.
{{Always look for the positive;}} they say every cloud has its silver lining. This is so true, what you may think of as a curse may be a blessing in disguise. If you find out that social media is putting you under pressure, how about you use it for ‘better’ things? Learn a new skill, sign up for a free online course, subscribe and follow pages of productive content creators/motivational speakers. There’s a lot of good in using social media; look for that.
{{Be yourself;}} a little pride is necessary once in a while. Know who you are and pride yourself in that, for there’s only one you and forever will be. Discover your unique features and make them flourish, slay them so that no one ever makes you feel like you don’t matter because you do, and just the way you are, {{YOU ARE ENOUGH!}}
“The safety and security preparations for the summit are on track, with all critical role players ready to execute their various responsibilities as per their mandate,” said Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili.
“We are prepared to receive the leaders of the BRICS in a secured and safe environment,” said Mosikili, also co-chair of the country’s National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS).
In order to prevent and battle any sort of opportunistic crime, prior to, during, and after the summit, Mosikili indicated that the NATJOINTS would increase police visibility around the summit’s venue.
Any threats and disruptions will be dealt with decisively within the ambit of the law, she said. “To this end, high density operations through increased roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high police visibility on foot, and air patrols will be conducted.”
BRICS is the grouping of the world’s leading emerging market economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
About 200 deputies from around 100 media outlets, think tanks and international organizations from about 30 countries held discussions under the theme of “BRICS and Africa: Strengthening Media Dialogue for a Shared and Unbiased Future.”
Media outlets of BRICS countries bear significant responsibilities in this era and enjoy vast room for cooperation, said Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, at the opening ceremony of the forum.
To advance the high-quality development of cooperation among BRICS media, Fu, also executive chairman of the BRICS Media Forum, proposed promoting the shared values of humanity, jointly advancing the building a more just and equitable international order, better narrating BRICS stories in the new era, and jointly promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Dakota Legoete, member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, spoke at the opening of the forum. “Since its establishment in 2015, the BRICS Media Forum has become an important platform to enhance the voice of BRICS countries,” he said.
While some countries attempt to monopolize the international discourse and weaponize the media to attack other sovereign states, the BRICS media have demonstrated that the media should be committed to promoting world development, rather than becoming a tool to provoke wars, Legoete said.
Andrey Kondrashov, director-general of Russia’s TASS news agency, said that over the past decade, the forum has become a distinctive and iconic platform for discussing media cooperation among member states. He called on the BRICS media to collaborate in countering disinformation and safeguarding the interests of developing countries.
The Western media depict Africa as something horrible where war, hunger and disease are rampant, said Elizaveta Brodskaya, first deputy editor-in-chief of Russia Today, adding that stories released by media outlets other than the Western ones are labelled as “disinformation” once they diverge from the Western narrative.
Jose Juan Sanchez, chief of Brazil’s financial and agricultural information provider CMA Group, stressed the importance of credible and impartial news information. “Communication among BRICS media is crucial, and the member countries should seek sustainable development in economic, environmental and social areas,” he said.
The BRICS Media Forum has made significant contributions in amplifying the international voice of member states and promoting globalization, with peace and cooperation remaining its main goals, said Helio Doyle, president of the Brazil Communication Company.
The diverse cultures of the BRICS nations enrich the global conversations, and the BRICS media advocate for an inclusive, cooperative and just new world order, said Iqbal Surve, executive chairman of Independent Media of South Africa.
The forum sheds light on the challenges faced by developing nations, providing them with a platform to express their perspectives and aspirations, Surve noted.
The BRICS Media Forum was proposed by Xinhua News Agency in 2015 and jointly initiated with mainstream media outlets from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.
The sixth forum, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy) as well as organizations from South Africa, aims to promote practical cooperation among BRICS media outlets.
