National and International News in Brief on Feb 26

New Delhi, Feb 26: Without tinkering with passenger fares, Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his maiden budget for Indian Railways in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Feb 26, promising to balance passenger needs and long-term interests of the organisation and benchmark it globally on quality, safety and reach.

Get more latest national and international updates here:

10.45 pm: Rail Budget an empty bag for the aam aadmi: AAP

10.05 pm: New IS video shows militants smashing ancient Iraq artifacts

9.35 pm: Sebi-DLF case: Sudipti Estates and 32 others also fined Rs 33 crore collectively: PTI

9.00 pm:

Allocation for our three railway lines is not what we expected: Virbhadra Singh (HP CM) on #RailBudget2015 pic.twitter.com/Ui0ewknpEP

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 26, 2015

8.08 pm: Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to be sworn-in as J&K CM on March 1

7:45 pm: We expect PM Modi in Britain later this year: James Bevan, British High Commssner to India.

7:12 pm: Nothing new has been offered. They should tell why there was no mention of PM's bullet trains: Anand Sharma on Railway Budget 2015.

6:15 pm: Decisions haven't been made on basis or political differences or which party rules where: Manoj Sinha, MoS Railways.

5:33 pm: Lot of goals were highlighted but no action plan was given: Nitish Kumar on Railway Budget 2015.

4:44 pm: Budget is for a 5 year action plan, starting with 1 year, said Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister.

4:25 pm: Major road accident in Bengaluru. Water tanker ran over many. 2 people died and 3 received serious injuries.

1.16 pm: "We will fulfill PM's vision for Railways, 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'", says Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu before ending his speech for the Railway Budget 2015.

1.15 pm: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu says his ministry received an overwhelming response and suggestions on social media during the formative phase of the Railway Budget 2015-16.

1.00 pm: President Barack Obama has rued the US is not able to retain the global talent it trains them at its universities because of a broken immigration system and made a passionate push for a comprehensive immigration reform.

12.50 pm: "To prevent fire in coaches,we'll install train protection warning system and train collision avoiding system", says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

12.40 pm: " Have not increased the passengers fares", says Railway MInister Suresh Prabhu.

12.45 pm: Health Minister J P Nadda termed the recent imposition of prohibitory orders disallowing gatherings in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat to prevent swine flu as a "precautionary" measure and a "strategy to control".

12.30 pm: In Chandigarh, ex-Railway Minister Pawan Bansal watching the Railway Budget being presented by Rail Min Suresh Prabhu.

Chandigarh : Ex-Railway Minister Pawan Bansal watching the Railway Budget being presented by Rail Min Suresh Prabhu pic.twitter.com/W8FtcNEAt7

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 26, 2015

12.20 pm: Objective is to make Bhartiya Rail financially sustainable, says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

12.10 pm: "We must restore the strength of Bharatiya Railway as the backbone of India", says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

12.00 noon: "I thank PM Narendra Modi for infusing all Indians with a sense of pride and dream of prosperous nation", says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu speaking at Lok Sabha.

11.45 am: 6 civilians injured in a grenade blast while removing debris today, after the Shopian (J&K) encounter concluded yesterday.

6civilians injured in a grenade blast while removing debris today,after the Shopian(J&K)encounter concluded yesterday pic.twitter.com/RWCYO1xL3D

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 26, 2015

11:35 am: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu leaves for Parliament. He will present the Railway Budget 2015 today.

11:30 am: Lok Sabha has been adjourned for 15 minutes following opposition uproar over remarks by Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

11:27 am: When he will be made the President of the party, you will be informed, said Congress President Sonia Gandhi on speculations over Rahul Gandhi's elevation.

11:14 am: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu apologised in the Parliament as Opposition made ruckus in the House. He said, "I have one problem I always give facts, I respect the Opposition, never used unparliamentary language."

11:02 am: Speeding truck runs over six school kids in Bihar's Sasaram, three kids reported dead.

10:15 am: We must look after Indian Railways, which is lifeline of nation, we must have a national policy cutting across party lines, said Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi.

10:04 am: Meeting of opposition party leaders on land acquisition bill to take place in Parliament, shortly.

9:52 am: The Personal Assistant to the joint secretary of the Ministry of Environment and forests has been arrested in connection with the corporate espionage case.

Common man will be given prime importance, #RailBudget2015 will be as per their expectations:Manoj Sinha,MoS Railways pic.twitter.com/W79GqQzpFH

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 26, 2015

9:49 am: Common man will be given prime importance, Rail Budget 2015 will be as per their expectations: Manoj Sinha, MoS Railways

9:30 am: Sensex slips ahead of Rail Budget, Nifty hovers around 8,750

9:00 am: European Union asks its diplomats to install air purifiers at office, homes in Delhi

8:45 am: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to present the Rail Budget 2015-16 in Parliament today

8:30 am: Allahabad : Porters sit on a strike, demand fourth class status as railway employees

Emphasize should be laid on signaling, so existing lines can used for running more trains, need of dedicated freight corridors: Pawan Bansal

We can 1st emphasize on running semi high speed trains,5 routes were identified,work can be expedited: Pawan Bansal pic.twitter.com/W4CL02SAPv

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 26, 2015

8:00 am: Railways being backbone of India's dev,ppl have large expectations, ppl want more trains,greater connectivity. Bullet trains is an iconic project,it's nt something which is absolutely important, as cost will be too high: Pawan Bansal,Frmr Rail Min

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