BRICS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after visiting the United Arab Emirates, making a rare trip abroad as Moscow seeks to reassert itself on the global stage.

The de-dollarization of the world economy has been thrust back into the spotlight with the BRICS summit

Argentina will not be joining the BRICS bloc of developing economies next year as scheduled, a senior official in President-elect Javier Milei's team has said.

"We will not join the BRICS," Diana Mondino, who Milei picked as foreign minister once he is sworn into office on Dec. 10, wrote on X.

US President Joe Biden on Sunday expressed disappointment that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not attend the G20 summit in India this week, as Washington seeks to repair relations with Beijing.

Asked about Xi reportedly not planning to join the gathering in New Delhi, Biden told reporters, "I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him," without elaborating.

Day 553 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

The head of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vassilis Korkidis, on Monday welcomed India's interest in Greek ports following the meetings between business delegations in Athens last week.

The BRICS group decided today to officially invite Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates to join the bloc.

Leaders of the BRICS group have invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates to join - a move aimed at increasing the influence of the bloc, which has vowed to defend the "global south", Reuters reported.

Just hours after participating in an important BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Durban, South Africa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Athens on Friday.

Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies meet in Johannesburg this week looking to widen the bloc's influence and push for a shift in global geopolitics.

South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to host China's President Xi Jinping, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the annual three-day summit starting tomorrow.