UK PM Boris Johnson pays partygate fine, offers full apology'
London(PTI): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered a full apology on Tuesday evening after confirming that he had paid the fine imposed on him by Scotland Yard for breach of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, known as the partygate scandal of rule-breaking parties at Downing Street.
"I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology," Johnson told reporters from the Chequers prime ministerial retreat in Buckinghamshire.
"I want to be able to get on and deliver the mandate that I have, but also to tackle the problems that the country must face right now," he said, in response to demands for his resignation.
"I believe that it's my job to get on and deliver for the people of this country and that is what I'm going to do," he added.
It has emerged that he had been fined for attending his own birthday party in the Cabinet Room at Downing Street on June 19, 2020, at a time when mixing between households was legally restricted to control the spread of coronavirus.
Johnson defended his actions, saying "in all frankness at that time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules" and insisted that he "spoke in completely good faith" when he initially said all government guidelines were followed at Downing Street.
Earlier, the UK Prime Minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, confirmed that she had paid her fine and also apologised.
It is expected that the Johnsons would have most likely been handed a 200 pounds fixed penalty notice each, which is a sanction similar to a parking ticket. Unless it is challenged, there is no court process involved after the fine imposed is paid up.
The Opposition parties have called for his resignation over the fixed penalty notice which proves he broke the law, with some demanding a recall of Parliament from its Easter recess for Boris Johnson to face MPs.
It has also been confirmed that UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is among over 30 fixed penalty notices issued by the Metropolitan Police earlier on Tuesday. The Indian-origin finance minister is expected to have been fined for the same birthday party for Boris Johnson, organised by his wife Carrie in June 2020.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
