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The Prime Minister has declared 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.

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

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

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

"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 matters to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan 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 funds, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and in fact a Fintech conversation 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 Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among Britons still held overseas.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused trip 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.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized 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 administration in regarding China."