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

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

Starmer remarked 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 negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to India, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning 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 told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he said as he left the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and educational enrollments.

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

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held abroad.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement 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 now."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated 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 UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."