India

Kanpur: All the samples of family members and close contacts of the Zika virus patient  have reported to be tested negative.

The health department had collected samples of 22 other persons who are either family members or close contacts of the patient. However, they have all been tested negative.

The commissioner, Raj Shekhar, had interacted with the family members of the infected person and took details of the case, travel history and those of close contacts.

Kanpur: The Kanpur Metro conducted its first trial run along the depot test track in recent days. This was ahead of the RDSO trials slated next month.

Reportedly, the brand new three-coach train of the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation fleet covered a total of 3,900 meters by completing three laps of the 650-meters-long test track.

The testing of the train concluded on a positive note. The train started chugging down the track at the pace of 10-15 km/per hour. It stroked the speed of 30 kms/hour ultimately.

Kanpur: Prashant Kumar has been made the new Inspector General of Police here.

According to the official release, Mohit Agarwal, IGP, Kanpur has been sent to Lucknow as IGP, (Technical Services).

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has transferred around 12 Indian Police Service officers.

Those IPS officers who were posted in the districts for a long time have been given new postings.

Siliguri, Oct 25 (PTI) Two senior Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh on Monday joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri in north Bengal.

The two leaders, Rajeshpati Tripathi and Lalitpati Tripathi, said they would carry on the fight to oust the BJP from power in UP and the Centre under the leadership of Banerjee, the TMC supremo.

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday extended support to Mohammad Shami, who was subjected to a fierce online attack following the Indian cricket team's first ever loss to Pakistan in World Cup history, and urged him to forgive those trolling him as they "are filled with hate because nobody gives them any love".

India lost their T20 World Cup opener by 10 wickets on Sunday with Shami emerging the most expensive bowler on the night, leaking 43 runs in 3.5 overs.

Srinagar, Oct 25 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said Sufism was a part of India's rich cultural heritage.

Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, had a meeting with Sufis and saints here.

"Kashmir has been since beginning the focal point of India's rich heritage. Sufi culture is also part of that richness which is embodiment of peace and liberalism," he tweeted in Hindi.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of top party leaders to evolve a strategy for assembly elections in five states early next year.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi is attending the meeting at the AICC headquarters here besides party general secretaries and in-charges of various states and PCC chiefs.

The leaders will also chalk out a strategy for the party's new membership drive and finalise the modalities for it. The drive is starting from November 1 and will continue till March 31 next year.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai zonal director who is leading the probe in the cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is arrested, visited the agency's headquarters here on Tuesday and spent over two hours.

The officer entered the NCB office in the R K Puram area through a back entry gate and is understood to have met his senior officers.

It was not confirmed if Wankhede met NCB director general (DG) S N Pradhan.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to grant protection to the witnesses of Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people including four farmers were killed during a farmers' protest.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana asked the UP government, represented by senior advocates Harish Salve and Garima Prasad, to record the statements of other relevant witnesses before judicial magistrates under Section 164 of the CrPC.

Surat, Oct 26 (PTI) A magistrate court in Surat has directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on October 29 to record his statement in connection with a criminal defamation case against him over his remark on the "Modi surname".

On Monday, Chief Judicial Magistrate A N Dave asked Gandhi to appear on October 29 to record his statement further, after the testimony of two new witnesses were taken since the Congress leader last appeared before the court on June 24 this year.