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The Prime Minister has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Donald Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 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 military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, 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 departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was considering broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The speed with which it allows residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

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 huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons currently detained abroad.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the UK and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was keen to pursue other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."