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The Prime Minister has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but avoided supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that time was required to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his visit to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit signifies the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."