COVID-19 tally in India crosses 58-lakh mark
New Delhi: India's COVID-19 caseload zoomed past 58 lakh, while over 47 lakh people have recuperated from the disease, pushing the national recovery rate to 81.74 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 58,18,570 with 86,052 infections being reported in a day. The death toll climbed to 92,290 with 1,141 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The total recoveries have surged to 47,56,164. The COVID-19 case fatality rate due to the coronavirus infection was recorded at 1.59 per cent.
There are 9,70,116 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 16.67 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and it went past 50 lakh on September 16.
According to ICMR, a cumulative total of 6,89,28,440 samples have been tested up to September 24 with 14,92,409 samples being tested on Thursday.
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Doordarshan's Logo change to Saffron sparks controversy
New Delhi: Two days after unveiling its new logo with a shift from ruby red to saffron, DD News, the flagship channel of state-run Doordarshan, has come under criticism from Opposition parties for alleged "saffronisation."
While DD News described the change as a visual aesthetic update, Opposition leaders questioned the timing, just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
On Tuesday evening, DD News posted a video of its new logo on its official social media handle, stating, "While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before. Experience the all-new DD News!"
"We have the courage to put: Accuracy over speed, Facts over claims, Truth over sensationalism…Because if it is on DD News, it is the truth! DD News – Bharosa Sach Ka," it added.
Reacting to the logo change, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, said, "National broadcaster Doordarshan colours its historic flagship logo in saffron! As its ex-CEO, I have been watching its saffronisation with alarm and feel — it’s not Prasar Bharati any more, it’s Prachar (publicity) Bharati!"
Sircar criticized the ruling party's programs receiving more airtime compared to those of the Opposition. He called it "visual entrapment" by the regime, citing the example of the Rajya Sabha hall in the new Parliament building turning saffron.
In response, Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi defended the change, calling the new logo's color "catchy orange."
"It's not only a new logo, the entire look and feel has been upgraded — we have a new set, new lighting, seating arrangement and equipment," Dwivedi said.
Doordarshan's current logo for DD National is blue and saffron. Officials noted that when Doordarshan was launched in 1959, it had a saffron logo. Over the years, other colors such as blue, yellow, and red were used for the logo, while its design remained consistent — two petals with a globe in the center.
