Top news of the day: WHO says Omicron cases doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in areas with community spread; DRDO scientist arrested for planting bomb to kill neighbour in court premises, and more

Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, but it is unclear if this is due to the virus’ ability to evade immunity, its inherent increased transmissibility or a combination of both, the WHO said in an update. Endorsing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s demolition of property of suspected criminals as part of his handling of law and order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come up with a new formulation U.P.Y.O.G.I — U.P. Upyogi means useful in Hindi and by deploying the pun, the PM has once again thrown his weight behind Mr. Adityanath as the State inches closer to the 2022 Assembly election. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Combined Graduation Parade at the Air force Academy at Dundigal near Hyderabad, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the probe will take “a few more weeks” and he would not like to pre-empt any of the findings of the Court of Inquiry by commenting on it. Typhoon Rai blew away on December 17 night into the South China Sea after rampaging through southern and central island provinces, where more than 3,00,000 people in its path were evacuated to safety in advance in a pre-emptive move officials say may have saved a lot of lives.