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The Prime Minister has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing 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 highlighted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now award Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The trip signifies the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our people are truly special," Starmer said as he departed Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

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

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had brought up the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer 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 top diplomat is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in relation to China."