First BRICS Summit, since expansion, underway in Russia

JOHANNESBURG – The 16th annual  BRICS Summit is underway in Kazan, Russia.
The event occurs amid several global challenges, including the war in Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
It is the first gathering since last year’s bloc’s expansion, where the bloc invited 6 more countries to join.
This year, the emphasis will be on advancing economic, cultural, humanitarian, political and security cooperation.
The summit could also set the stage for more expansion, as over 2 dozen countries that applied for membership in the bloc have been invited.