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The Prime Minister 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 Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that time was needed to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals 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 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, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification System Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who designed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the scope 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 administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer admitted that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he 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 accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to buy 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 said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held overseas.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."