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Keir Starmer has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Trump the coveted award, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with others," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're examining 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 Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties 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 buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, he did not indicate much progress had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK 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 reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."