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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now award Donald Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

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

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital ID System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since he proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

But, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."