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The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now award Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can retrieve your own money, make payments so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in popularity since he proposed 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 benefits that accompany this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we can, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."