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Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to India, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was required to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was considering expanding the scope of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in public approval since he proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how the country was continuing to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with the nation was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."