India plans to sharply reduce import duties on cars from the European Union as part of a proposed free trade agreement, a Reuters report said. Tariffs could be cut to 40% from current levels of up to 110% for a limited number of vehicles priced above 15,000 euros. The duty may fall further to 10% over time. The move would improve access for European carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Sources told Reuters that electric vehicles will be excluded from the cuts for the first five years. Officials from India and the EU declined to comment. Talks on the trade pact are close to conclusion, the report added. (PC: NDTV)

An audio recording of US Senator Ted Cruz has revealed internal criticism of President Donald Trump’s trade policy and claims about a stalled India-US trade deal. In the recording, reported by Axios, Cruz said Trump’s tariff push faced resistance from some Republicans and hurt negotiations with India. He blamed Vice President JD Vance, White House adviser Peter Navarro and, at times, Trump himself for blocking the agreement. The audio, recorded in 2025 during private donor meetings, also captured Cruz describing tense calls with Trump over tariffs. Cruz warned that high tariffs could damage the economy and affect election outcomes. The White House has not commented on the claims. (PC: NDTV)

Protests continued in Minneapolis after immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti during an enforcement operation. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the country was at an “inflection point” and again asked President Donald Trump to remove federal immigration agents from the city. Federal officials said Pretti was shot after brandishing a gun, a claim disputed by local authorities and his family. Trump said ICE agents would leave “at some point” but gave no timeline. Vigils were held across the city, while protests spread to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Business leaders and lawmakers also called for de-escalation and accountability. (PC: BBC)

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called on US President Donald Trump to pull federal immigration agents out of the state after a federal Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Local and federal officials have given different accounts of the moments before the shooting during an immigration enforcement action. Homeland Security said an agent fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “reacted violently.” Walz rejected that account as “nonsense” and has demanded answers. Pretti, a US citizen and ICU nurse, was remembered by his family as “kind-hearted” and they are asking for the “truth” about his death. The incident follows another recent fatal shooting involving federal agents in the city. (PC: BBC)

US immigration authorities are facing criticism after a 2-year-old girl was detained with her father in Minneapolis, according to media reports. The child, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, was with her father, Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria, when ICE agents stopped them while returning from a grocery store. The Department of Homeland Security said the father is an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador and was taken into custody after refusing to follow orders. The child was flown to Texas despite a court order seeking her release, reports said. DHS said the toddler was later released and reunited with her father. The case comes amid stepped-up immigration enforcement under Operation Metro Surge. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has praised British troops who served in Afghanistan after his earlier remarks drew strong criticism. Trump had said Nato forces stayed “a little back” from front lines, comments UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called “insulting and frankly appalling.” After speaking with Starmer, Trump posted online praising UK soldiers as “among the greatest of all warriors.” He said 457 British troops died and many were injured during the conflict. Downing Street said the call focused on the shared sacrifice of UK and US forces. Trump did not issue a direct apology for his earlier comments. (PC: BBC)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly retreated to a heavily fortified underground bunker in Tehran amid fears of a possible U.S. military strike, according to multiple media reports. The move follows warnings from Iranian security officials about heightened risks as U.S. naval forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, head toward the Middle East. The bunker includes interconnected tunnels and is meant to protect leadership during conflict. Khamenei’s third son, Masoud, is said to be handling daily operations and communications. Tehran has warned that any attack would trigger a severe response. (PC: AFP)

The family of a 37-year-old US nurse shot dead by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis has rejected official claims about the incident. Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was sprayed with an irritant before being shot at least 10 times on Saturday. His family said he was unarmed and trying to protect a woman during the encounter. They accused the Trump administration of spreading “sickening lies” about him. Federal officials said Pretti was carrying a handgun and ammunition. Minneapolis police said he was a lawful gun owner. Investigations into the shooting are continuing.

A 25-year-old Hindu man was found dead after a fire in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, police said on Saturday. The victim, Chanchal Bhowmik, was asleep inside a garage when the blaze broke out late Friday night. Firefighters broke open the shutter but could not save him. His body was found badly burned. Police said CCTV footage from the area shows a person moving near the site before the fire. Officers are examining whether the blaze was caused by an electrical fault or an external act. No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is ongoing, police added. (PC: X)

American climber Alex Honnold has completed a free solo climb of Taipei 101, a 101-floor skyscraper in Taiwan. He climbed the 508-metre building without a rope, harness, or safety equipment. The ascent took one hour and 31 minutes and was streamed live by Netflix. Wet weather delayed the climb by one day. Taipei 101 was once the world’s tallest building. Honnold’s time was faster than French climber Alain Robert, who climbed the tower in four hours using safety gear. Taiwan’s vice president congratulated Honnold after the climb. Honnold is best known for his rope-free ascent of El Capitan, shown in the film Free Solo. (PC: BBC)