Highlights: Medical helicopter with 5 aboard missing in Philippines

A helicopter carrying five people, including a hospital patient and a nurse, went missing in a western Philippine province on Wednesday and an air and sea search has been launched, civil aviation officials said.

The helicopter, carrying a pilot, the patient, two companions and a nurse, was flying to a hospital in Brooke's Point in Palawan from another town in the island province when it went missing, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said, reported AP.

In a major stride towards the 'Make-in-India' in the defence sector, the Ministry of Defence has received a proposal from Indian Army to buy 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) for deployment along the borders with China and Pakistan.

The proposal worth over USD 1 billion has been received from the Indian Army and is under discussion. It is expected to be cleared soon and sent for clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security, defence officials told ANI.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party over the arrest of his party colleague Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case.

“Two people who brought laurels to India have been jailed by PM. Excise Policy just an excuse, there was no scam. PM wanted to stop good work in Delhi..Manish Sisodia was arrested as he did good work in education, Satyendar Jain was arrested as he did good work in health”, Kejriwal said in his first address after Sisodia and another jailed minister Satyendar Jain resigned. Read full story

Around 100 firefighters had a narrow escape as a three-story godown located in North Delhi's Roshanara came crashing down on Wednesday. The godown collapsed while the firefighters were trying to douse the fire that had engulfed the building. No injuries have been reported yet, reported PTI citing Delhi Fire Service officials. Read full story

For the second day in a row, China on Wednesday dismissed U.S. suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have been triggered by a virus that leaked from a Chinese laboratory.

Responding to comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the involvement of the U.S. intelligence community was evidence enough of the “politicisation of origin tracing,” reported AP. 

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly brought up the BBC tax issue with EAM S Jaishankar today. He was firmly told that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations, reported ANI citing sources. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with AAP MLAs and councilors this evening, reports ANI

British Foreign Minister James Cleverly raised the issue of BBC tax searches with India's foreign minister during a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, the minister told in an interview, reported Reuters

An SBI Research report said India's FY24 GDP growth is likely to be higher than the threshold 6 per cent. The report, titled Ecowrap, added that though some reports indicated that there may not be a one-to-one correspondence between El Nino and Indian droughts, the recent fears seem misplaced.

The Indian technology industry is set to grow by 8.4 per cent in FY23 to become a USD 245 billion sector, Nasscom said on Wednesday.

Jailed businessman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has filed a complaint to Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, claiming CCTV footage of his cell (at Mandoli Jail) were being leaked and circulated online, amounting to a security breach, reported ANI

G20 foreign ministers meet under India's G20 presidency will be held tomorrow. This would be second ministerial meeting held under our presidency. The venue will be Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center. 40 delegations expected to participate: Foreign Secy Vinay Kwatra

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal proposes Saurabh Bhardwaj, Atishi to be part of Cabinet after Sisodia, Satyendar Jain resign. Read more

Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday sent the resignations of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and minister Satyendar Jain to the president recommending that they be accepted, officials said.

Death toll in train collision in Greece rises to 32 while 85 people have been injured, Reuters reports

Karnataka | State Government Employees hold a protest at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Campus in Bengaluru, demanding the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

Foreign delegates of G20 major economies will discuss challenges in the area of energy and recommend a future roadmap for cooperation in the field at a conference scheduled in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on March 2 and 3, PTI reported citing an official statement.

Moody's Investors Service expects global growth to continue to slow in 2023 over a cumulative monetary policy tightening by various central banks.

The tightening of monetary policy, Moody's in its global macro outlook titled 'Global economic risks persist despite recent positive surprises', said will have a drag on economic activity and employment in most major economies.

At least 29 people were killed and another 85 injured after a collision between two trains caused a derailment near the Greek city of Larissa late Tuesday night, reports AFP citing authorities.

Repolling is underway in four polling stations in Nagaland on Wednesday. The repolling is in being held in New Colony polling station in Zunheboto constituency, Pangti V in Sanis constituency, Jaboka Village in Tizit constituency and Pathso East Wing in Thonoknyu constituency, the official said.

The repolling began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Maharashtra | A 22-year-old youth was killed while one was severely injured after an over-speeding car rammed into an electric pole on Thane's Ghodbunder Road last night. The injured was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Further probe underway, ANI reported citing Kapurbawdi police officials.