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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," he said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory 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 has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he proposed 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 positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the various steps 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 mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom 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 fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation 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, challenge where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."