"China and Russia Forge New Alliance to Challenge Western Dominance, Putin's Absence Raises Concerns"

Members of the China- and Russia-led BRICS economic bloc are meeting in South Africa to discuss aggressive expansion and the establishment of a new currency, challenging the dominance of the US dollar and Western influence. The bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has considered expanding its membership and creating an internal currency. However, there are disagreements among members, with some prioritizing local currency strength before discussing a shared currency. The BRICS bloc aims to replace Western financial architecture and counter US and Western geopolitical influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the summit due to concerns of arrest by the International Criminal Court.