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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

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

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that more time was required to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus 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 media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit signifies the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our people are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with procedures that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view 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 come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

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

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he said. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

But, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the coming year as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the UK was eager to pursue 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 are able, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."