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Keir Starmer has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," yet avoided supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my attention 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.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged 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 identification assists people with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer announced 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 benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics 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 discussed how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained abroad.

However, he did not indicate much advancement 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 must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal 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 government in regarding China."