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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 avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

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

"The priority now is to move forward and execute 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 more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification assists individuals with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

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 Starmer announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about 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 priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held overseas.

However, he did not suggest much progress had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom 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 new proof that China is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was keen to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, challenge where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."