VIENNA, Nov. 2– The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, on Sunday decided to raise oil output by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December.

The decision was announced following a virtual meeting of member countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, to review global market conditions and the economic outlook, OPEC said in a statement.

“In view of a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in low oil inventories, the eight participating countries decided to implement a production adjustment of 137,000 barrels per day from the 1.65 million barrels per day additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023.

This adjustment will be implemented in December 2025,” the statement said. “Beyond December, due to seasonality, the eight countries also decided to pause the production increments in January, February and March 2026,” OPEC added.

The group’s additional voluntary production adjustment of 1.65 million bpd was first introduced in April 2023 and later extended until the end of 2026.

OPEC noted that these barrels may be returned in part or in full, depending on market conditions and in a gradual manner. The eight countries are scheduled to meet again on Nov. 30 to decide on further actions. (Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Nov. 3  — Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday night called the claim that the Israeli and U.S. bombing of Iran was motivated by an imminent nuclear threat a “heinous lie.”

He made the remarks on X, saying that the claim was “thoroughly debunked” by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.

Iran didn’t “kill diplomacy,” but “those who blew up the negotiating table did,” said Araghchi. Iran and the United States had held five rounds of indirect talks mediated by Oman on Tehran’s nuclear program and the removal of U.S. sanctions, and were about to hold the sixth one, before Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on June 13, targeting several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities — Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Nov. 3 — There is no need to rapidly organize a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview released Sunday.

Peskov said that promptly preparing such a meeting is possible, but there is no need for it, TASS news agency reported. “At this moment, what is needed is very meticulous work on the details of the (Ukraine) settlement problem,” Peskov added.

After a phone call with Putin on Oct. 16, Trump said that the two leaders would meet soon in Budapest, Hungary. On Oct. 22, Trump said he had canceled the planned meeting, saying that the meeting “just didn’t feel right to me,” and that “it didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get.”

Previously, Putin said that the meeting in Budapest had more likely been postponed than canceled, adding that it was the United States that initiated the summit.

On Oct. 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the future of personal contacts at the highest level will depend on the U.S. side. (Xinhua

BAGHDAD, Nov. 3 — The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Mohamed Al Hassan, underscored here the organization’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

During his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Al Hassan reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to “continuing its support for Iraq in the electoral process and enhancing political and economic stability.”

While reviewing the final preparations for the national vote, Hussein emphasized the Iraqi government’s “commitment to ensuring transparent and fair elections that reflect the will of the Iraqi people,” and expressed appreciation for the ongoing technical support from the UN.

The two sides also touched upon regional and international developments and ways to boost cooperation between Iraq and the UN to advance stability and sustainable development, the statement added.

More than 21 million eligible Iraqis are set to vote to elect a 329-member parliament for a four-year term. Iraq’s last parliamentary election in 2021 sparked violent clashes in Baghdad and led to nearly a year of political deadlock before a government was formed. (Xinhua)

KINSHASA, Nov. 3  — Peace talks between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group will resume next week in Doha, Qatar, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has said.

According to the statement issued late Sunday by the Congolese presidency, Tshisekedi reaffirmed that the DRC remains committed to political and diplomatic means to end the conflict in the eastern provinces, while upholding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Doha has remained the only operational channel of dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 for months. In July, Kinshasa and the M23 signed a Declaration of Principles in Doha, a roadmap that initially set a start date for negotiations no later than Aug. 8 and the signing of a peace agreement before Aug. 18.

These timelines have now passed without being met. Tshisekedi, who arrived on Sunday in Doha to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development scheduled for Nov. 4-6, also praised the involvement of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the ongoing exchanges with the M23.

The statement did not specify whether the president would take part directly in the upcoming talks with the rebels. After re-emerging in late 2021, the M23, now part of the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), has extended its control over several strategic centers in eastern DRC, including Goma and Bukavu.

In these areas, parallel administrative structures have been established, further weakening local institutions and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

According to the United Nations, more than 2.4 million people have been displaced since January 2025, bringing the tally of internally displaced persons to nearly 6 million.

Around 1 million Congolese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, while 27 million people are now threatened by hunger.

BEIRUT, Oct. 31– German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul concluded a series of high-level meetings in Beirut on Thursday, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and regional stability.

During his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Wadephul emphasized Germany’s support for measures to strengthen Lebanon’s territorial integrity and empower the Lebanese army.

He also reaffirmed Berlin’s backing of the UN peacekeeping forces operating in southern Lebanon and called for adherence to UN resolutions respecting Lebanese sovereignty.

Aoun urged the international community, the European Union, and the United States to pressure Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement announced last November.

“Our choice of negotiation aims to reclaim our occupied land, secure the release of prisoners and ensure full withdrawal from the hills.

Unfortunately, this approach has been met only with further attacks on Lebanon, escalating tensions,” he said. Aoun highlighted the Lebanese army’s full operational role in southern Lebanon, particularly along the Litani River, and confirmed that troop numbers in the south would rise to 10,000 by year-end.

In his meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, Wadephul condemned continued Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory and praised the government’s decision to centralize arms under state control.

Rajji stressed that “a diplomatic, not military, solution is the only path to stability in the south.” The talks also addressed the Syrian refugee issue, with Wadephul expressing support for the return of refugees to Syria. (Xinhua)