India's MEA debunks false claims that world leaders fell ill after BRICS summit
India's Ministry of External Affairs warned that social media posts alleging multiple leaders became sick after the BRICS summit are fabricated.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs used its fact-checking channel on X to caution users against circulating posts that suggested a wave of illnesses among world leaders after the BRICS summit in India, describing the reports as fake. The warning came after the South African presidency announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa, aged 73, was resting on doctors’ advice following the summit, and would miss upcoming public events.
The presidency also indicated that Deputy President Paul Mashatile was recovering from a minor medical procedure, further limiting the country’s top leadership presence. The MEA emphasized the malicious nature of the social-media claims and urged the public to verify information before sharing. No other leaders were confirmed to be ill, and the ministry’s statement aimed to curb the spread of unverified rumors.
Why it matters
Misinformation about leaders' health can destabilize diplomatic relations and erode public trust.
How this story developed
- Sep 11 Modi and Putin share a private car ride in Delhi ahead of BRICS summit
- Sep 11 The two leaders shared a car ride to the INNOPROM India exhibition after their bilateral talks.
- Sep 11 BRICS expanded to eleven member countries.
- Sep 12 The 18th BRICS summit opened in New Delhi with India presiding and leaders including Xi Jinping arriving for the meeting.
- Sep 12 Modi called for immediate UN Security Council reform and urged the Global South to become a rule‑shaper at the summit's opening.
- Sep 12 The two leaders reaffirmed the need for mutual respect, sensitivity and shared interests while discussing border stability and economic cooperation. They highlighted progress in people-to-people contacts and called for expanded cultural, business and mobility links. Both sides also pledged to address trade imbalances, supply-chain challenges and to seek a fair, mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue.
- Sep 12 Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS nations at the New Delhi summit to support peace initiatives in the Middle East, saying the war harms the international community.
- Sep 12 The two leaders met on the margins of the BRICS Summit. Vietnam is a partner country in the BRICS grouping.
- Sep 12 Leaders adopted the Delhi Declaration and Modi proposed a continuity mechanism to implement summit outcomes.
- Sep 12 The leaders met bilaterally during the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
- Sep 13 Leaders adopted a 140‑point New Delhi Declaration covering security, trade, climate and technology issues.
- Sep 13 Day 2 of the summit focused on PM Modi’s four‑pillar BRICS agenda, early‑warning and disaster systems, AI, digital agriculture, supply chains and startups.
- Sep 13 President Xi outlined proposals for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a China‑hosted service‑trade forum.
- Sep 13 Modi paused his closing‑session speech to query Xi’s translator after the Chinese president showed discomfort and skipped the gala dinner.
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