Washington : US President Donald Trump said that renewed military strikes on Iran were “highly unlikely” as long as negotiations made progress, but did not rule out further military actions. In a phone interview with CNN, Trump claimed on Sunday that the United States had already dealt a severe blow to Iran and that further military action was “highly unlikely” to be necessary. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump noted, referring to Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The president also claimed that the United States had identified potential infrastructure targets in Iran, including power plants and bridges, and could destroy 38 bridges in an hour, Xinhua news agency reported. “Most likely it will not be necessary,” Trump reiterated. “They want to make a deal so badly.” Earlier Trump said that Washington was talking to Iran, as his administration imposed sanctions on eight Canadian businesses accused of helping Tehran move money through cryptocurrency networks. “We’re talking to Iran. We have been,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House. The president portrayed the military situation as favourable to the United States and said the Strait of Hormuz was opening. “We’ve beaten Iran. We are doing very well with Iran,” he said.

Asked for his message to Iran, Trump combined his claim of military success with an indication that diplomatic contacts were continuing. His comments came on the same day that the Treasury Department announced sanctions against eight Canada-based money services businesses under Operation Economic Outcast. Treasury accused the companies of exchanging Iranian rials and other currencies for digital assets to facilitate international transactions involving Iran. It said many had dealt with sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges or addresses associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. More than eight months after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, Trump has repeatedly sent mixed signals about his willingness to end the conflict. Washington and Tehran remain at a stalemate, with little significant progress in diplomatic efforts.

MUMBAI — In a decisive move to curb air pollution and prevent fire hazards, civic authorities and district administrations across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and neighboring cities have rolled out strict restrictions on the use of firecrackers. Taking serious note of a recent surge in fire emergencies, the Thane district administration has imposed a blanket ban on sky rockets and similar aerial firecrackers. The prohibitory order comes into immediate effect and will remain in force for an extended period. This emergency measure was prompted by a series of fire incidents reported across the district during recent celebrations, where burning residues from aerial fireworks fell onto residential buildings and flammable materials, damaging property and endangering lives.
In tandem with the district’s orders, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has issued its own stringent guidelines. Authorities have mandated that only environmentally friendly “green crackers” are permitted. The bursting of any fireworks is now strictly prohibited in public spaces, including main roads, alleys, footpaths, and public grounds, as well as in designated “silence zones” such as hospitals, courts, and educational institutions.

Furthermore, a strict nighttime curfew has been implemented; bursting crackers is completely banned between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The new regulations also prohibit the use of laser lights and mandate strict authorization and safety protocols for all firecracker vendors. Similar preventive measures are being echoed by surrounding civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). These authorities have restricted the bursting of firecrackers in public spaces and set up dedicated helplines to report noise and air pollution violations.
This sweeping crackdown comes amid escalating health concerns. Officials highlighted that high noise levels and toxic smoke pose severe health risks to young children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
Authorities have appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the regulations and prioritize public safety. Residents wishing to report any violations, illegal vendor stalls, or excessive noise can log complaints directly via the pollution control board helplines or through the respective municipal grievance portals and toll-free numbers.

Following a fire that broke out last night—during the Diwali festival—at a warehouse and garage in the Dongri area of ​​Mumbai, the police are set to initiate an investigation, pending the fire department’s report and the determination of the causes. Significant damage has also been reported due to fires in several suburban areas, including Kurla, Ghatkopar, and Borivali. In the wake of the Dongri incident, local residents were immediately evacuated; given the severity of the blaze, the police will conduct a formal inquiry. In light of the recurring fire incidents during Diwali, the Mayor of Mumbai has urged the public to exercise caution when using firecrackers and has expressed concern over the spate of fires across the city. The police have now launched an investigation into these Diwali-related fire incidents, and a formal case will be registered following the submission of an initial report. This was confirmed by DCP (Operations) Akbar Pathan, who stated that investigations into these incidents are currently underway, though the specific causes have yet to be determined. Once the exact causes are established, appropriate action will be taken.