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Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but avoided supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a Fintech discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists people with processes that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."