British PM Starmer in India after trade deal

Under the new deal, India will slash tariffs on imports of British goods such as whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, while Britain will reduce duties on clothing, footwear and food products, including frozen prawns from India. However, Starmer ruled out expanding visa access for Indian professionals despite pressure from industry. "That isn't part of the plan," he told reporters en route to Mumbai. "We're here now to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we've already struck. We've got to implement it." Rights groups have urged Starmer to raise the case of Scottish Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, detained in India since 2017 over an alleged plot to kill right-wing Hindu leaders. He has not been convicted, and one of the nine charges against him was dismissed in March.