US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in New Delhi to co-chair the 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Blinken’s visit will give further boost to India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

“A warm welcome to U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken as he arrives in New Delhi to co-chair the 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The visit will give a further boost to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership!,” Mr Bagchi wrote on ‘X’.

A warm welcome to US Secretary of State @SecBlinken as he arrives in New Delhi to co-chair the 5th ??-?? 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The visit will give further boost to ??-?? Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership! pic.twitter.com/8zY3qCIeF6

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 9, 2023

Earlier on Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin also arrived in New Delhi for a two-day visit to attend the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

He was received by his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. Following his India visit, Austin will be travelling to Korea, and Indonesia as well. This will be his ninth visit to the Indo-Pacific.
Austin was also given guard of honour as a mark of respect for visiting US Secretary of Defence.

“Wheels up at @Andrews_JBA en route to India, the Republic of Korea and Indonesia,” the Defence Secretary posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

“My 9th visit to the Indo-Pacific comes as the US, along with our allies and partners, continue to make historic progress toward a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.

The US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, while speaking on Blinken’s visit to India, said: “India is a country that we have a deep partnership with. He (Blinken) will be going for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue along with Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin. So I expect, of course, that deepening this security cooperation in partnership, will be, one of the many topics that are discussed.”

“It was something that was obviously raised during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit earlier this year. And I know the secretary looks forward to being there and in engaging directly, with his counterparts on this. But I will let the trip take place before we talk more about it,” he added.

The dialogue will provide a platform for top-level discussions between the US and India, addressing critical bilateral and global matters, with special emphasis on developments unfolding in the Indo-Pacific region.

US State Secretary Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin will meet with their Indian counterparts, Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar and Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, as well as other senior officials.

The discussions are expected to encompass a wide spectrum of issues, including strengthening bilateral relations, addressing global concerns, and promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
“The Secretary will travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III.

The delegation will meet with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific,” read an official statement by the US State Department.

The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a diplomatic summit held every year since 2018, with the Minister of External Affairs and the Defence Minister representing India and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence representing the United States.
The discussions centre on common issues of concern between the two countries

Tiger 3, part of Aditya Chopra’s Spy Universe, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, anticipates a massive Diwali release. Pre-release ticket sales exceed Rs 12.42 crore, with Hrithik Roshan joining Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo.

Dietitians and food experts caution against leaving foods, particularly dry items like pasta and rice, unattended at room-temperature due to the risk of “fried rice syndrome,” a form of food poisoning caused by the bacteria Bacillus cereus. This organism can proliferate in food left unrefrigerated for extended periods.

The resurgence of discussions surrounding fried rice syndrome on social media is prompted by the renewed attention to a 2008 case involving the tragic death of a 20-year-old Belgian student. The incident was attributed to a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus and has once again surfaced on the internet.

According to a case report published by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, the student consumed reheated spaghetti that had been left unrefrigerated for five days. Despite warming the food in the microwave before consumption, he succumbed overnight to symptoms including headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Although it’s been nearly 15 years since the incident occurred, recent social media posts have brought “fried rice syndrome” back into the internet’s consciousness.

What is ‘fried rice syndrome’?

According to The Conversation, Bacillus cereus are common bacteria found all over the environment. They begin to cause problems if they get into certain foods that are cooked and not refrigerated promptly.

Starchy foods like rice and pasta are often the culprits, but Bacillus cereus can also affect other cooked foods, like vegetables and meat.

Certain bacteria can produce toxins that grow when food is left at room temperature. Bacillus cereus produce spores that are resistant to heating, so even if leftovers are heated to a high temperature, the spores may survive. These spores can then produce toxins that make us sick.

What are the symptoms?

Bacillus cereus is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. There are two types of Bacillus cereus infections: one that causes diarrhea and one that causes vomiting. Symptoms usually resolve within a few days, but people with weakened immune systems may need medical attention. Because the symptoms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal illnesses, it is difficult to know how often Bacillus cereus occurs.

What measures can people take to safeguard themselves?

To prevent food poisoning, first of all, try not to eat leftover food. If that is not possible, then minimize the time they spend in the danger zone (above fridge temperature and below 60°C). Refrigerate leftovers promptly after cooking, and break large batches into smaller portions to help the food cool quickly. Avoid taking leftovers out of the fridge repeatedly.