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<ul><li><keyword id="1609796" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> may be a milder variant than Delta but it’s too soon to be sure of that.</li><li>If you haven’t taken the first two shots of the vaccine, the risk of infection and hospitalisation is higher.</li><li>Taking a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may provide better protection against the virus.</li><li>The third wave of COVID-19 infections may peak in India by February first week.</li><li>Countries like the US and UK have refrained from imposing stringent restrictions on people’s movement despite rising cases.</li></ul>There are at least 5 learnings emerging from different countries facing the third wave of COVID-19 infections where the most number of cases are that of the latest variant, Omicron. First, Omicron is likely to be a milder variant although the World Health Organisation has said that it needs more data to make that point conclusively. Moreover the emergence of a new variant called <keyword id="12876991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ihu" source="Orion">IHU</keyword>, discovered by researchers in France, which is likely to be <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/new-covid-19-variant-named-ihu-discovered-in-france-said-to-be-stronger-than-omicron/amp_articleshow/88685048.cms">stronger than Omicron</a>, has increased the need for caution. Second, the WHO has said that the risk of infection and the potential need for hospitalisation is higher for those who have not taken the vaccines. Third, India’s covid cases would peak by February 2 <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Rank </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Country </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Total Cases </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">New Cases </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Death toll </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">USA </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5,71,31,187 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4,26,051 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+767 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">UK </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,34,22,815 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,57,758 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+42 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Spain </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">66,67,511 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+93,190 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+42 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Italy </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">63,96,110 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+68,052 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+140 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">France </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,03,17,819 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+67,461 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+270 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Turkey </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">95,97,670 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+44,869 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+160 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Argentine </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">57,39,326 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+44,396 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+41 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">8 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3,49,60,261 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+37,379 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+124 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>Source: Worldometers Note: Data, as of January 3, 2022 The forecast, from researchers at IIT Kanpur, is based on the assumption that India will follow the trends of rise in cases seen in other countries. The research also used the rate of increase in cases from the first and second waves in India. Fourth, a booster dose may be needed New studies conducted in the United Kingdom have<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-chart-protection-2-3-vaccine-booster-effectiveness-hospitalization-symptomatic-2022-1"> revealed</a> that the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine may be necessary to boost a person’s resistance to the Omicron variant by as much as 88%. This is a significantly higher degree of protection against the latest variant when compared to the second dose, whose effectiveness begins to reduce after a period of six months. Oxford<a href="https://theprint.in/health/booster-dose-of-covishield-can-increase-antibody-levels-against-omicron-oxford-study-says/786422/"> has said </a>that a third booster shot of AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Vaxzevria is necessary to boost the antibody levels. Covershield is the Indian version of Vaxzevria, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) Fifth, night curfews are useless and other countries have refrained from stringent restrictions on movement of people. Even though the US and UK are recording high covid-19 cases on a daily basis, the countries have decided not to introduce any new restrictions. However, work from home has once again become a norm in these countries. Many states in India, on the other hand, have proactively imposed night curfews, weekend lockdowns and other such restrictions in order to beat the third wave. Whereas, the need may be to enforce the COVID-19 protocols in places, and at times, when crowds do gather for business or otherwise. Even now, large crowds sans social distancing, and people without masks on the street, is not a rare sight in India. However, the policy response has been limited to night curfews. WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan, in a TV interview, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/no-science-behind-night-curfews-in-india-whos-swaminathan-1066559.html">noted</a> that there is no science behind night curfews when it comes to tackling Covid-9. "Entertainment venues are places where these viruses spread the most. It's natural to bring in some restrictions there," he added. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-cm-arvind-kejriwal-tests-positive-for-covid-19/articleshow/88679427.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tests positive for COVID-19</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/infoedge-and-zomatos-deepinder-goyal-invested-money-in-geniemode-10-month-old-tech-startup/articleshow/88683920.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">After Deepinder Goyal and Kunal Shah, Info Edge backs this 10-month-old tech startup</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ongc-appoints-alka-mittal-as-chairperson-and-managing-director/slidelist/88681434.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Meet Alka Mittal, the first woman to head oil giant ONGC</a>

From new variant IHU to utility of booster doses ⁠— these are five lessons India can learn from the third wave of COVID-19 in other countries

<ul><li>Scientists and experts in France have reportedly identified a new variant of COVID-19 termed ‘IHU’. The new variant is said to be a more mutated strain than Omicron.</li><li>Nearly 12 cases of this new variant have been reported near Marseilles and has been linked to the African country Cameroon.</li><li>The B.1.640.2 or <keyword id="12877196" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IHU-variant" source="Orion">IHU variant</keyword> was first identified by the academics at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection and contains 46 mutations, which is more than Omicron.</li></ul>While the world is grappling with the outburst of the Omicron virus with a very high transmissibility rate, scientists and experts in France have reportedly identified a new variant of COVID-19 termed ‘IHU’. The new variant is said to be a more mutated strain than Omicron. According to <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/new-covid-19-variant-ihu-discovered-in-france-is-more-infectious-than-omicron-101641274969259.html">media reports</a>, nearly 12 cases of this new variant have been reported near Marseilles, and has been linked to the African country Cameroon. But, the Omicron strain is still dominating in most parts of the world. The B.1.640.2 or IHU variant was first identified by the academics at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection and contains 46 mutations, which is more than Omicron. This new variant can be a major threat, however, the cases have not been reported so far in countries other than France and is not labelled as ‘variant under investigation’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to a paper posted on medRxiv, the strain carries the E484K mutation which can make it more resistant to vaccines. It also has the N501Y mutation — first seen on the Alpha variant — that experts believe can make it more transmissible. The scientists say, “these observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and their introduction from abroad. And they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread.” Philippe Colson, the head and professor of the department at IHU that discovered the variant, said, “ We indeed have several cases of this new variant in the Marseilles geographical area. We named it 'variant IHU'. Two new genomes have just been submitted." <div type="twitter" handle="DrEricDing" handlename="Eric Feigl-Ding" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1296690786688479234/wflBN5Ks_normal.jpg" favoritecount="909" retweetcount="188" status="6) There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dan… https://t.co/gg3dyhxQDl" createdat="1641242969000" id="1478106261778542593"></div> Renowned Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding, on Twitter, said, “The mutations have caused “Fourteen amino acid substitutions, and 9 amino acid deletions—which are located in the spike protein.” He further added, “ There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.” SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-reports-37379-new-covid-19-cases-in-last-24-hours/articleshow/88681190.cms">India reports 37,379 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/punjab-imposes-statewide-night-curfew-and-closure-of-schools-colleges-as-covid-19-cases-spike-again/articleshow/88682396.cms">Punjab imposes statewide night curfew and closure of schools &amp; colleges as COVID-19 cases spike again</a>

New COVID-19 variant named ‘IHU’ discovered in France — said to be stronger than Omicron

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Iran is believed to have weaponized pharmaceutical agents to kill or incapacitate.</li><li>These chemical weapons affect a victim's central nervous system.</li></ul>Iran has developed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nerve-agents-chemical-weapons-how-they-work-2018-3">chemical weapons</a> based on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, warns a US expert, powerful agents that could incapacitate soldiers or civilians when added to grenades or artillery.Pharmaceutical-based agents, or PBA, are essentially weaponized medicines that incapacitate or kill their victims depending on the exposure. Iran may have given PBA to its proxies such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-naim-qassem-longtime-deputy-now-leading-hezbollah-2024-10">Hezbollah</a>, which could use them to kidnap Israeli troops and civilians."At a time of growing regional instability in the Middle East, largely the result of the militancy of Iranian proxies, the threats posed by Iran's weaponized PBA program can no longer be overlooked," wrote Matthew Levitt in an <a target="_blank" href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/tehrans-tactical-knockout-weaponized-pharmaceutical-based-agents/">article</a> for the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point.The U.S. Government Accountability Office defines PBAs as "chemicals based on pharmaceutical compounds, which may or may not have legitimate medical uses, and can cause severe illness or death when misused." They include opioids such as fentanyl and tranquilizers for animals.These drugs affect a victim's central nervous system. "Once inhaled, these agents cause victims to lose full consciousness and enable the forces deploying them to advance quickly and quietly and/or take captive the unconscious victims," Levitt wrote.Iran was a victim of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-uses-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-cause-panic-war-report-2024-4">chemical warfare</a> during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when Iraqi chemical attacks — including <a target="_blank" href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/07/iraq-once-devasted-iran-with-chemical-weapons-as-the-world-stood-by-governments-still-struggle-to-respond-to-chemical-warfare/">nerve gases</a> such as Sarin, and mustard gas — contributed to as many as 1 million Iranian casualties. But Iran employed its own mustard gas on a few occasions during the war. Israel believes Iran used PBAs against rebels in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-usher-in-a-brutal-new-phase-syrian-civil-war-2024-3">Syrian Civil War</a>, while there are reports that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may have unleashed them against anti-government protestors."The problem is that Iran is right when they said they've been victims of chemical weapons in terrible ways during the Iran-Iraq war," Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, told Business Insider. "But the reality is they themselves have been using these as well."The US and its allies have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/05/2ffa826926cd72354b90a05f7de765bfcc9908b6.pdf">warned</a> for years that Iran is developing pharmaceutical-based weapons in breach of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the manufacture and use of "toxic chemicals," defined as "chemical action on life processes [that] can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals." Treaty signatories — including Iran — are obligated to destroy existing stockpiles.Still, evidence suggests Iran is pursuing PBAs. "In 2014, Iran's Chemistry Department of IHU [Imam Hossein University] sought kilogram quantities of medetomidine — a [veterinary] sedative it has researched as an aerosolized incapacitant — from Chinese exporters, according to a 2023 US State Department's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/2023-condition-10c-annual-report-on-compliance-with-the-chemical-weapons-convention-cwc/">report</a>. "The Chemistry Department has little history of veterinary or even medical research, and the quantities sought (over 10,000 effective doses) were inconsistent with the reported end use of research."In September 2023, Iranian anti-government hackers "posted confidential documents detailing an Iranian military university's development of grenades meant to disseminate medetomidine," the State Department said.Of particular concern were references in Iranian literature to the 2002 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/opioid-chemical-weapons-moscow-theater-hostage-crisis">Dubrovka incident</a>, when Russian security forces pumped pharmaceutical-based gas — probably fentanyl or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/hq092216_attach.pdf">carfentanyl</a>, another synthetic opioid vastly more potent — into a crowded Moscow theater to subdue Chechen rebels who had taken almost a thousand hostages. Commandos then stormed the building and killed the incapacitated rebels — but the gas also killed more than 130 hostages.Yet restricting PBAs is difficult because they overlap with products used for legitimate law enforcement and medical purposes. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21277995/police-tear-gas-protests-history-effects-violence">tear gas</a> has been used by law enforcement as a riot control agent since the First World War, while US troops used it in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/tunnel-rats-of-the-vietnam-war/">Vietnam War</a> to smoke out enemy tunnels. Tear gas is still legal when employed for riot control, but not as a battlefield weapon.Stopping nations from manufacturing PBAs is " very, very difficult, which is why you've seen such a focus on diplomatic efforts, sanctions and some law enforcement actions," said Levitt.Iranian PBAs are a particular problem if Tehran has supplied them to proxies such as Hezbollah. "Deploying weapons produced with dual-use items, and then providing said weapons to proxies, provides Iran with multiple layers of cover and reasonable deniability for having done so at all," the CTC article noted.Israel feared that Hezbollah would use PBA weapons as part of an alleged plan to seize the Galilee region of northern Israel and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaza-israels-special-forces-rescue-woman-on-a-motorbike-hostage-and-3-others-2024-6">kidnap Israeli citizens</a>. "Maybe you just use them to incapacitate the border guards and reach the now unprotected civilians," Levitt said. "Or, you actually target and incapacitate the soldiers so you can kidnap or capture them."Israel's recent military <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-launches-ground-offensive-into-lebanon-destroy-hezbollah-targets-2024-9">offensives in Lebanon</a> have badly hurt Hezbollah, including its huge arsenal of missiles. But PBAs can be added to hand grenades and mortar shells, of which Hezbollah still has ample stocks. And there remains a possibility that US forces could clash with Iran and its allies and encounter pharmaceutical-based agents. (The US, in contrast, completed the destruction of its chemical weapons in 2023.)However, Levitt emphasizes that PBAs are not in the same league as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rangers-are-training-to-neutralize-enemy-nuclear-sites-2024-11">weapons of mass destruction</a> such as nerve gas, which is potent enough to kill widely across exposure areas. "This is not a strategic threat. It is a tactical weapon."Nonetheless, chemical weapons do have a frightening aura, even if fentanyl gas is nowhere near as deadly as nerve gas. "I think that many, many people would see it that way because you're talking about chemical weapons," Levitt said.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

Iran has developed fentanyl-based chemical weapons

Amid reports that <keyword id="1609796" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> has symptoms akin to a <keyword id="71367" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="common-cold" source="Orion">common cold</keyword>, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday warned that it is not a common cold and should not be taken lightly. The four most common symptoms of the Omicron variant are cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nose, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis. A recent study by UK-based Zoe Covid app added nausea and loss of appetite to the category. Several studies from South Africa, the US and the UK have shown that the infections caused by the highly transmissible variant are generally mild, with less hospitalisation required. "Omicron is not the common cold," WHO epidemiologist <keyword id="9185955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dr-Maria-Van-Kerkhove" source="Orion">Dr Maria Van Kerkhove</keyword> said in a tweet. "While some reports show a reduced risk of hospitalisation of Omicron compared to Delta, there are still far too many people infected, in hospital sick and dying from Omicron (and Delta)," she added. The UK has reportedly seen about 14 deaths due to the Omicron variant, while the US and South Korea have seen one death each. The deaths occured majorly in unvaccinated persons. "Omicron is not the common cold! Health systems can get overwhelmed," reiterated WHO's chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Twitter. It is "important to have systems to test, advise and monitor large numbers of patients as the surge can be sudden and huge," she warned. Kerkhove stated that "we can prevent infections, save lives now" by ensuring vaccine equity. Meanwhile, WHO on Tuesday also stated that emerging evidence reveals that the Omicron is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants. "We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike the other ones, that could cause severe pneumonia," WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud told Geneva-based journalists. At the same time, the global health body warned that soaring infections due to Omicron across the world could lead to the emergence of new variants, media reports said. The more variant spreads, the more it can replicate and bring out a new variant that can be more lethal. France has detected a new variant, named IHU. The new variant, with 46 mutations, has already infected 12 people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated.A While it may pose a greater risk than Omicron, touted as highly transmissible but mild in infections and less lethal than previous the Delta variant, researchers said, "it is too early to speculate on virological, epidemiological or clinical features of this IHU variant based on (just) 12 cases". SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-reports-58097-fresh-covid-19-cases-in-last-one-day-omicron-tally-reaches-2135/articleshow/88705335.cms">India reports 58,097 fresh COVID-19 cases in last one day, Omicron tally reaches 2,135</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/new-covid-19-variant-named-ihu-discovered-in-france-said-to-be-stronger-than-omicron/articleshow/88685048.cms">New COVID-19 variant named ‘IHU’ discovered in France — said to be stronger than Omicron</a>

Omicron is not common cold and should not be taken lightly, says WHO

<ul><li>The DDMA imposed a weekend curfew in the national capital to control the rising Omicron COVID-19 cases in the state.</li><li>The curfew would remain in effect from 10 p.m. Friday (January 7) till 5 a.m. Monday (January 10).</li><li><keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword>’s positivity rate has surged to 6.46% from 4.59% on Sunday.</li></ul>Amid the Omicron scare in the national capital, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has announced a weekend curfew in the state, in order to curb the rise in <keyword id="12660944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Omicron-cases-in-Delhi" source="Orion">Omicron cases in Delhi</keyword>. The weekend curfew would be imposed from 10 p.m. Friday (January 7) till 5 a.m. Monday (January 10). The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="6354681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manish-Sisodia" source="Orion">Manish Sisodia</keyword>, in an online press briefing, said that out of 11,000 active <keyword id="8869072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-cases-in-delhi" source="Orion">COVID-19 cases in Delhi</keyword>, only 350 patients were admitted to the hospital, only 124 were on oxygen support and 7 on ventilators. He further said that the majority of cases in Delhi are mild but still the government decided to impose weekend curfew. These things will remain open and these things will remain closed during the weekend curfew — <ol><li>All government officials except workers engaged in essential activities will work from home.</li><li>Movement of non-essential services will not be permitted.</li><li>Private offices to work with 50% capacity, rest 50% to work from home.</li><li>Metros and buses to run with 100% capacity strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols.</li><li>Essential services including food and medicine supply will remain uninterrupted.</li></ol>Delhi reported 4,099 fresh COVID-19 cases, on Monday, a 28% percent rise from the preceding day. The positivity rate has also gone up to 6.46% from 4.59% on Sunday. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain also said in a statement on Monday that 84% of the cases logged in Delhi in the last two days were positive for the Omicron variant. Earlier, in the morning today, Delhi CM <keyword id="260213" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal" source="Orion">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> also announced that he has tested positive for the novel COVID-19 and has isolated himself. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/delhi-covid-restrictions-night-curfew-imposed-after-cm-arvind-kejriwal-tests-positive/articleshow/88685714.cms">Delhi imposes night curfew after CM Arvind Kejriwal tests positive of Covid-19</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/new-covid19-variant-ihu-and-booster-dose-of-covid-vaccine-among-five-lessons-from-third-wave-of-infections/articleshow/88689317.cms">From new variant IHU to utility of booster doses ⁠— these are five lessons India can learn from the third wave of COVID-19 in other countries</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/new-covid-19-variant-named-ihu-discovered-in-france-said-to-be-stronger-than-omicron/articleshow/88685048.cms">New COVID-19 variant named ‘IHU’ discovered in France — said to be stronger than Omicron</a>

Delhi weekend curfew: Check out what will be open and what will remain closed during the weekends

<ul><li><keyword id="12188628" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="good-glamm-group" source="Orion">Good Glamm Group</keyword> has decided to house its <keyword id="2540701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="influencer-marketing" source="Orion">influencer marketing</keyword> platforms under the <keyword id="12879521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="good-creator-co" source="Orion">Good Creator Co</keyword> banner.</li><li>The new entity includes Popxo’s <keyword id="4726279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plixxo" source="Orion">Plixxo</keyword>, <keyword id="2064012" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="missmalini" source="Orion">MissMalini</keyword>, Vidooly and Winkl, which have a revenue run rate of ₹75 crore.</li><li>The Good Glamm Group is a culmination of <keyword id="3030142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="myglamm" source="Orion">MyGlamm</keyword>, POPxo and BabyChakra.</li></ul>The Good Glamm Group — the parent company of direct-to-consumer (D2C) beauty brand MyGlamm, <keyword id="2088138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scoopwhoop" source="Orion">ScoopWhoop</keyword> and Popxo— has now decided to invest ₹200 crore in its influencer management and marketing businesses, which will now be housed under a new entity Good Creator Co. The company already owns influence analytics platforms like Popxo’s Plixxo and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/after-acquiring-scoopwhoop-good-glamm-group-buys-missmalini/articleshow/88268772.cms">MissMalini</a>. It has now announced the acquisition of two more brands — influencer marketing platform Winkl and online video analytics platform Vidooly — to be a key of its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/with-scoopwhoop-and-popxo-on-its-side-heres-what-myglamm-intends-to-do/articleshow/87177789.cms">content-to-commerce strategy</a>. The Good Glamm Group noted that Plixxo and Winkl have 250,000 influencers and reach out to 70+ million users on a monthly basis. The Good Creator Co aims to make ₹250 crore by end of this year The Good Creator Co will offer content creators and influencers access to the brand campaigns, extensive monetization opportunities, as well as affiliate and creator commerce programmes, celebrity talent management services and more through the app. The latest entity currently has a revenue run rate of ₹75 crore and is targeting a ₹250 crore revenue run rate by December 2022. MyGlamm’s chief executive and founder Darpan Sanghvi believes that having content businesses like these would help the direct to consumer brands housed under ‘The Good Glamm Group’ banner get access to more customers as well as get a well-established marketing mechanism. Good Glamm Group became a unicorn in 2 months The Good Glamm Group — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/myglamm-has-set-aside-100-million-to-acquire-6-beauty-and-personal-care-brands-under-new-entity/articleshow/86559530.cms">which came into existence only in September 2021</a> — is a culmination of three brands MyGlamm, POPxo and online parenting startup BabyChakra. The parent entity is also led by the founders of these three companies — Darpan Sanghvi, Priyanka Gill (POPxo) and Naiyya Saggi (BabyChakra). Under the Good Glamm Group umbrella are beauty and personal care brands — MyGlamm, The Moms Co, St. Botanica and Sirona as well as content platforms such as POPxo, Scoopwhoop and BabyChakra. The company was valued at<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/scoopwhoop-and-myglamms-parent-which-is-backed-by-amazon-is-now-valued-over-a-billion-dollars/articleshow/87608734.cms"> $1 billion in November 2021</a>, when it raised $150 million in funding in its Series D round. The Series D round was led by investors Prosus Ventures (Naspers), Warburg Pincus along the participation from Alteria Capital. Existing investors such as L’Occitane, Bessemer Venture Partners, <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword>, Ascent Capital and the Mankekar Family Office also participated in the round. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/future-retail-and-amazon-dispute-over-reliance-industries-acquisition-delhi-high-court-dismisses-kishore-biyani-appeal/articleshow/88690181.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Future Retail’s appeal to end Singapore arbitration initiated by Amazon has been turned down</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/infoedge-and-zomatos-deepinder-goyal-invested-money-in-geniemode-10-month-old-tech-startup/articleshow/88683920.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">After Deepinder Goyal and Kunal Shah, Info Edge backs this 10-month-old tech startup</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/new-covid19-variant-ihu-and-booster-dose-of-covid-vaccine-among-five-lessons-from-third-wave-of-infections/articleshow/88689317.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">From new variant IHU to utility of booster doses ⁠— these are five lessons India can learn from the third wave of COVID-19 in other countries</a>

Amazon-backed Good Glamm Group acquires 2 more startups, intends to invest ₹200 crore to boost influencer marketing

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>"Inside the NBA" returned with the start of basketball season, meaning Charles Barkley is back on television.</li><li>A week ago, Barkley was asked to match NBA players with their current teams in a segment called 'Who He Play For?' and was only able to answer one of his five questions correctly.</li><li>On Thursday night, Barkley was challenged again with the same five players, and once again failed miserably.</li></ul> The NBA is back, and with it, the greatest team in sports broadcasting - the TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew of Ernie, Shaq, Kenny, and Charles Barkley."Inside the NBA" is known for its free-flowing conversations and hilarious sound bites, mostly courtesy of Charles and Shaq. Last year, the crew's antics included <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/draymond-green-to-charles-barkley-punch-me-in-my-face-2018-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">starting a feud with the Golden State Warriors</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shaq-chased-charles-barkley-with-a-catfish-2018-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaq chasing Barkley with a catfish</a>.This year, the show got off to another thrilling start.At the beginning of each season, host Ernie Johnson cues up a segment titled "Who He Play For?" during which Barkley is asked about a series of NBA players, with Barkley simply needing to answer with the team they currently play for. The segment is brilliant because Barkley is terrible at it - just a week ago, Barkley correctly paired only one of five players with his current roster.Now comfortably a week into the season, one might have thought that Barkley's embarrassment was over, but on Thursday night's edition of "Inside the NBA," Johnson surprised Charles by running the segment yet again, challenging Barkley with the same five names he failed so miserably with just a week before.Take a look below to see how it went.&#xa0;Barkley still only manages to place one player on their current team correctly, and somehow, it's a different player than the one he got right a week ago.Despite likely being one of the highest-paid men in sports television, and being featured as a high profile analyst of the game he loves, Charles Barkley simply cannot be bothered to learn any team's lineup deeper than six guys.Better luck next week Chuck.<div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lottery-winners-lost-money-divorce-drugs-powerball-2017-5">4 lottery winners who lost it all</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Charles Barkley was quizzed to match NBA players with their current teams and failed miserably

&#xa0;Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos became the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-richest-man-world-career-life-story-2017-7">world's richest man</a> for a brief time this week, surpassing Bill Gates.The tech entrepreneur has changed a lot since he started Amazon in the 90s.&#xa0;Bezos wowed Silicon Valley's Allen &amp; Company Sun Valley Conference earlier this month with a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-looks-ripped-at-sun-valley-conference-photos-2017-7">surprising physique</a> that was quickly immortalized with memes. His "guns" were the most obvious change, but his shaved head also marked a departure from his previous bookish look.Bezos also frequently used to wear sweaters over collared shirts - a look that he has now swapped for vests over t-shirts and sunglasses. His slouchy posture is also gone.Take a look at the <a href="https://twitter.com/dissruption/status/885933344487342082">original tweet</a>&#xa0;by account&#xa0;<a href="https://twitter.com/dissruption">@dissruption</a>&#xa0;and all the varitions it spawned below.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>&#xa0;<div></div><div></div><div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/machine-cant-stop-making-bricks-2017-7">This machine can produce 300 bricks a minute</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="s5OHZ3YjE6HmHgsSf6zKTWshEb70vrZ8" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos' look has changed drastically since he started the company

As any entrepreneur will tell you, change is the only way to stay ahead.Nobody knows that better than Amazon's Jeff Bezos who has turned an online company selling books into an empire selling everything under the sun.Bezos wowed Silicon Valley's Allen &amp; Company Sun Valley Conference last week with a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-looks-ripped-at-sun-valley-conference-photos-2017-7">surprising physique</a> that was quickly immortalized with memes. His "guns" were the most obvious change from when Amazon first started way back in the 90s, but his shaved head also marked a departure from his previous bookish look.Bezos also frequently used to wear sweaters over collared shirts - a look that he has now swapped for vests over t-shirts and sunglasses. His slouchy posture is also gone.Take a look below.<a href="https://twitter.com/sehnaoui/status/886312806760501249">Twitter</a> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-deepmind-ai-artificial-intelligence-taught-itself-walk-2017-7">Google's DeepMind AI just taught itself to walk</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You Searched For "ihu" and got 9 results

From new variant IHU to utility of booster doses ⁠— these are five lessons India can learn from the third wave of COVID-19 in other countries

Kritti Bhalla

New COVID-19 variant named ‘IHU’ discovered in France — said to be stronger than Omicron

Vaamanaa Sethi

Iran has developed fentanyl-based chemical weapons

Michael Peck

Omicron is not common cold and should not be taken lightly, says WHO

IANS

Delhi weekend curfew: Check out what will be open and what will remain closed during the weekends

Vaamanaa Sethi

Amazon-backed Good Glamm Group acquires 2 more startups, intends to invest ₹200 crore to boost influencer marketing

Kritti Bhalla

Charles Barkley was quizzed to match NBA players with their current teams and failed miserably

Tyler Lauletta

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos' look has changed drastically since he started the company

Dennis Green

This meme showing how much Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has changed over the years is going viral

Dennis Green

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