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

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Trump the coveted prize, Starmer implied that time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing 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 making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding 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 payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with procedures that often take too long and are overly complex 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 British public, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in relation to 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 prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," 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 families in coming weeks, as well as raising it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented visit 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 under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal 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 are able, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."