‘Fake alert’: MEA denies reports of world leaders falling sick after BRICS Summit

In a post on X, MEA's fact-checking unit cautioned against what it called “malicious” posts on social media platforms.

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The ministry of external affairs on Thursday debunked reports claiming that multiple world leaders had fallen sick after attending the BRICS Summit in India, calling the reports “fake.”

In a post on X, the ministry’s fact-checking unit cautioned against what it called “malicious” posts on social media platforms.

“Fake Alert!!! 🚨🚨🚨 We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!” it said.

South African President unwell

The ministry’s comments came after office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he had withdrawn from public engagements after returning from the BRICS Summit in India. It added that the 73-year-old president was advised by doctors to rest and recover due to ill health.

“The Presidency wishes to advise that, due to ill health, President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently booked off from public engagements.”

Ramaphosa returned from the summit on Monday and has since been resting on medical advice, the presidency said.

“Where possible, the President has asked the respective Ministers to represent him at scheduled public engagements,” the statement read.

His absence comes as Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also recovering from a minor medical procedure, leaving both of South Africa’s top leaders away from public engagements.

“On the advice of my doctors, I will continue resting until advised otherwise while work and delegated responsibilities continue to be underway in the capable team in my office with other stakeholders in government, business and other sectors,” Mashatile said.

Several unverified reports also claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping departed early from the BRICS summit due to medical reasons and flew back on a special plane.

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  Karishma Ayaldasani is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, where she works with the digital team on fast-moving breaking stories from India and around the world. She enjoys covering national and global news, focusing on delivering updates quickly and clearly so readers can make sense of what’s happening as it unfolds. Comfortable in high-pressure newsroom settings, she regularly contributes to live blogs, explainers and real-time coverage. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the digital team at The Indian Express, worked with the social media team at Firstpost, and spent time as a creative strategist at Clematis Advertising. Outside of work, she likes exploring different art forms and unwinds with music. With over three years of experience in fast-paced newsrooms, she brings curiosity, clarity and consistency to her work.Read More