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Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister implied that time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements 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 countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

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

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps people with processes that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... 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 make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

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

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."