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Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

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

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention 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 press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip signifies the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies 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 military.

"The shared history is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at linking it to financial 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 massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer also said he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained 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 currently detained abroad.

However, he did not indicate much progress had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address 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 discussing it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."