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Indo-Israel friendship is a match made in heaven: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met top business leaders for breakfast on Thursday, and paid tributes to the November 2008 terror attack victims during his visit to Mumbai.

Netanyahu addressed the India-Israel Business Summit at the iconic Taj hotel, and laid a wreath for the 26/11 terror attack victims.


He later proceeded to Nariman House, where he met 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka were killed during the attacks.

The Israeli Prime Minister met members of the Jewish community at the Taj hotel, and attended the Shalom Bollywood event, in which people from the Indian film industry including megastar Amitabh Bachchan took part.

Israeli Prime Minister termed his country's partnership with India as one "made in heaven", which rests on shared values of love for humanity, democracy and freedom.

Addressing the India-Israel Business Summit Netanyahu mentioned the "deep personal friendship" he shares with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, adding that the warmth goes deeper, right up to the common man.

On the last leg of his four-day India visit, which he described as extraordinary, Netanyahu said there is a deep and abiding respect for India, its people and culture.

"We are the two oldest cultures on earth. We are democracies, we share our love for freedom, and we share our love for humanity. We are truly your partners. This is a partnership made in heaven," Netanyahu said, while appealing to Indian businesses to invest in Israel.

Netanyahu said there is a similarity between how he changed the landscape in Israel after inheriting an economy with trouble on multiple fronts, and the way Modi is working.

"When I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, I saw he was doing exactly that (what I did). He is up to the task, he understands innovation, the need to simplify," the Israel Prime Minister said.

Israelis collaborate with Indians in California to make Silicon Valley a hub of innovation, Netanyahu said.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

Kumail Jaffer

Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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