Medical experts in India on Monday hailed the results of Oxford University's early-stage human trials for a Covid-19 vaccine, with some saying it's the most scientifically done among all such exercises, while others expressing hope that the final trials will bear fruit.

From clinicians to pathology experts, doctors in the country feel the Oxford trials have been the most transparent one by far.

The Trump administration has put together a war plan to first confront and then take down the Chinese Communist Party, said former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

This war plan against China includes supporting allies in India on the borders of Chinese-occupied Tibet, Bannon said on Monday.

Gold prices on Tuesday dropped to Rs 49,050 from Rs 49,110 per 10 gram, while silver climbed to Rs 53,150 from Rs 52,910 per kilogram, according to Good Returns website.

Gold jewellery prices vary across India, the second-largest consumer of the metal, due to excise duty, state taxes, and making charges.

The southwest monsoon has made a steady start across India in the first one and a half months. However, north India, particularly in Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, parts of Rajasthan, and Coastal Karnataka, has still not received adequate rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest forecast said rains would pick up in the next few days over north and south India.

India is seeking concessions for generic drugs it exports to the US in return for opening its dairy markets and slashing tariffs on farm goods as the two sides seek to shore up a new trade deal, three sources said.

India accounts for 40 per cent of US generic drug imports, including the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine, touted by US President Donald Trump in the fight against Covid-19.

State-owned power giant NTPC on Monday said its 1,600 MW Lara super thermal power station in Chhattisgarh has been fully operational after 800 MW Unit-2 of the project was made fully functional.

Earlier in September, the 800 MW Unit-1 of the project was made commercially operational.

A coronavirus vaccine the University of Oxford is developing with AstraZeneca showed promising results in early human testing, a sign of progress in the high-stakes pursuit of a shot to defeat the pathogen.

The vaccine increased levels of both protective neutralising antibodies and immune T-cells that target the virus, according to the study organisers. The results were published Monday in The Lancet medical journal.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon has passed away after a prolonged illness.

Tandon was admitted to the hospital after complaining of breathing problems, difficulty in urination, and fever.

Tandon, 85, has been undergoing treatment at the hospital since June 11.

The floods in Assam have affected 24 districts, causing damages to 1,09,600.53 hectares of crop area and affecting over 24 lakh people in the state, according to the flood situation report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in its latest evacuation mission, rescued 56 people from flood-affected areas in Matia in Goalpara on Monday. Incessant rainfall since the past three days in the state has led to water levels rising in the Brahmaputra and its tributary Krishnai river in the region.

Amid the unabated rise of coronavirus cases in West Bengal, the state government on Monday said it will impose complete lockdown on two days of the week in addition to broad-based lockdown in containment zones..

Complete lockdown will be in force across West Bengal on Thursday and Saturday this week, state Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

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