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Keir Starmer has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his business trip to India, the British leader emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on and execute this ... my attention now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he stated at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, 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 times."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory 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 mortgage and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval 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 positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held abroad.

But, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he said. "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 widely expected to take a similar business-oriented visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is considered a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to pursue other trading relationships 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 stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."