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

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

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

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Donald Trump the prestigious prize, the Prime Minister implied that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his visit to the country – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he said as he left the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Examined

Starmer has spent time in India studying the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the country was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to ease relations between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we can, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."