OPEC+ countries say they will expand monthly oil production
Seven OPEC+ members, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, to increase output by 188,000 barrels per day. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 OPEC+ members have announced plans to boost oil production as energy markets show tentative signs of recovery amid the fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran. OPEC+ said on Sunday that seven member countries – Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman – would raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August after officials held a virtual meeting to “review global market conditions and outlook”. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The production boost is the fifth consecutive increase announced by the seven OPEC+ members in as many months, continuing a gradual unwinding of production cuts announced in 2023. OPEC+, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allied oil producers – including Russia, Bahrain and Oman – cut output in April 2023, and again in November 2023, amid a string of bank collapses that triggered a major sell-off in oil and other commodities. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions,” the intergovernmental organisation said in a statement, adding that officials had “reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments”. The seven member countries added that they would meet again on August 2 to review the situation. After briefly topping $126 a barrel in April, Brent crude oil prices have fallen back to pre-war levels in recent days amid growing hopes for a permanent end to the Iran conflict and a return to normal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement Traffic in the strait has ticked up since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed their memorandum of understanding on ending the war on June 17, though it remains far below pre-conflict levels. There were 38 confirmed transits in the strait on July 2, down from 48 on July 1, according to the vessel tracking platform MarineTraffic, compared with roughly 130 daily crossings before the war. Brent crude futures for September delivery stood at $72 as of 02:01 GMT on Monday, below Brent’s settlement price of $72.48 on February 27, the day before US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, starting the war. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the start of the war, forced OPEC+ members to slash production as a growing backlog of unshipped barrels maxed out the region’s crude storage capacity. Total OPEC+ production dropped to 33.13 million bpd in May, down from 42.77 million bpd in February, according to OPEC figures. Fabien Yip, a market analyst at IG in Sydney, Australia, described OPEC+’s latest production increases as largely being a “paper formality” in light of the real-world conditions affecting supply. “Actual barrels have been constrained for months by the Strait of Hormuz blockade, falling well short of the quota,” Yip told Al Jazeera. “That constraint is now easing, driving prices down. “Saudi Arabia has more than doubled the shipping volume since June 17 than the prior three months combined, and Iran has pushed close to 50 million barrels of its crude to market since the naval blockade lifted,” Yip added, referring to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. “Add OPEC+’s incremental barrels to that backlog clearing, alongside softer Chinese demand and higher US and Russian exports, and the setup is a near-term oversupply. Oil futures’ retreat to pre-war levels reflects that.” Adblock test (Why?)
Sports stadium becomes home for victims of the Venezuela earthquakes
NewsFeed A sports stadium in La Guaira state has been turned into a makeshift home and logistics centre for thousands of victims of the Venezuela earthquakes. As Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports aid organizations are planning to make this a model for other shelters. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Mumbai: 6 dead after chawl collapses in Mankhurd amid heavy rain
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the incident occurred around 8:30 pm in the Janta Nagar area amid heavy rainfall.
First E20 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar: Tehseen Poonawala, protestors raise 4 demands, term policy ‘scam’
Despite claims by industry experts and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri himself, two and four-wheeler vehicle owners have come out on streets to protest Centre’s E20 fuel rollout at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday afternoon.
Mumbai Monsoon: Schools shut after heavy rains, waterlogging disrupts daily life in city
Heavy monsoon rains continued to lash Mumbai and several other parts of the country on Sunday, causing waterlogging, claiming lives and prompting authorities to intensify safety measures, including the closure of all schools and colleges.
Mumbai Rains: Pune announces school holiday on July 6 after Mumbai as IMD issues red alert; Landslide hits Pune-Mumbai link road
An early Monday landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Pune-to-Mumbai stretch of the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road caused heavy rain-related disruption, prompting officials to divert traffic from 4 am.
Mumbai-Pune train services hit as heavy rain triggers landslide in Ghat section; What passengers should know
According to CR officials, the first landslide hit near Thakurwadi in the Karjat-Lonavala Bhor Ghat section around 3.05 am, followed by another between Khandala and Monkey Hill. Check train cancellation, diversion here.
Former U.S. Rep. Bill Archer dies at 98
The Houston Republican served for three decades in Congress, rising to become chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow drops out of Senate race weeks before primary
Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate in battleground Michigan. The Michigan state senator’s decision leaves her party’s primary as a two-way race between moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, who is backed by longtime Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and the establishment, and former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed, a left-wing candidate endorsed by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York McMorrow’s name will remain on the ballot for the Aug. 4 primary as ballots have already been printed and distributed to absentee voters, according to Bridge Michigan. The eventual Democratic nominee will face off in the midterm elections with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in a crucial race to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED TAKES HEAT FOR KHAMENEI COMMENTS, HASAN PIKER EVENT The seat is a top Republican target and is a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber 53-47. The leading nonpartisan political handicappers rate the Senate race in Michigan as a toss-up. In a video posted on X announcing her decision, McMorrow did not provide a specific reason for ending her campaign. She instead thanked her staff and supporters for helping build what she described as a campaign powered by small-dollar donations and no corporate PAC money. But McMorrow, who has seen her national profile expand in recent years and was running as a progressive in an ideological space between El-Sayed and Stevens, suspended her campaign amid faltering poll numbers and fundraising that weren’t keeping pace with her two main rivals. McMorrow also pledged to fully support whichever Democrat wins the primary and faces off with Rogers, who is running for the Senate for a second straight cycle and lost in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin by a razor-thin margin. “So here’s what we do next. Every day through November 3rd. We win this Senate seat and send Mike Rogers back to Florida for good,” she said. “Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support.” MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS ISRAEL ‘JUST AS EVIL’ AS HAMAS Following McMorrow’s announcement, Stevens praised her fellow Democrat by calling her an “important voice” for policies that benefit Michigan families. Stevens then argued that she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win the primary and defeat Rogers in November. “As we enter the final month of the primary election, I’m excited to continue to make my case to Michiganders why I’m the strongest Democrat to defeat Mike Rogers this November, lower costs, protect manufacturing jobs, and stand up to Trump’s abuses of power,” she added. As she runs for the nomination, Stevens has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES In his statement, El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the “courage” to challenge what he described as a rigged political system, accusing Democratic Party insiders of spending millions to influence the primary. While he did not name specific groups, the remarks appeared to reference corporate PACs and party leaders such as Schumer. He then invited McMorrow’s supporters to join his progressive movement to combat big money in politics and defeat the political establishment. “Throughout this campaign, Senator McMorrow showed what it looks like to fight back against politics that rigs the system against too many of us. While we have policy disagreements, I never questioned whether Senator McMorrow would fight for a better America for my daughters and hers,” he said. “The same party insiders she had the courage to challenge have been bullying anyone who opposes their chosen candidate. After spending $30 million to drown Senator McMorrow and me out, they’re now spending even more to attack me. It’s everything we are standing up against.” “I welcome her supporters to our movement to stand up against money in politics, to put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for All. We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us.” El-Sayed, who, if elected would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for “Medicare-for-all” a major component of his campaign. El-Sayed also calls for abolishing ICE, and he’s a vocal critic of Israel in its war with Hamas. He has characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has also vowed not to accept PAC donations. Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party’s nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point. AOC JOINS BERNIE SANDERS IN BACKING SENATE CANDIDATE OPPOSED BY SCHUMER The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), in a statement reacting to McMorrow’s move, pointed to the burgeoning battle between the far left and the establishment for the future of the Democratic Party. “Bernie Sanders’ radical socialist flank is completely taking over the Democrat Party. It is now up to Chuck Schumer to combat Abdul El-Sayed’s clear momentum and get Haley Stevens over the finish line in their messy primary,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell argued in a statement. Greg Manz, the Michigan GOP senior communications adviser, said in a statement that “Michigan’s Senate Democrat primary has shifted from a three-car pileup to a head-on collision.”
Trump shares news of ‘crystal clear’ Reflecting Pool, calls for vandalism suspect’s arrest
President Donald Trump and his Interior Department are declaring an America 250 victory over algae in the Lincoln Reflecting Pool. Trump shared photos on Truth Social on Sunday showing the pool and the reflection of the Washington Monument appearing clear and blue, and made a call out with a “Wanted” poster for vandals. “The U.S. Park Police is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual in the notice below in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation related to the Reflecting Pool,” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. Trump also shared an Interior Department statement crediting “advanced nanobubbler technology” and National Park Service cleanup work. FORMER US OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN INDICTED IN ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM “The advanced nanobubbler technology very effectively killed the algae that has plagued every Lincoln Reflecting Pool reopening — most infamously Obama’s reopening — since 1922,” Dei Gratia Minerals founder Greg Wischer, Interior’s deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, wrote in a letter shared with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Trump. “The Reflecting Pool water is crystal clear, and our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up the dead algae resting on the bottom of some parts of the Reflecting Pool — just like the destroyed Iranian Navy resting on the bottom of the Persian Gulf.” The photos shared by Trump show the Reflecting Pool stretching toward the Washington Monument under blue skies. One image appears to show the pool from the Lincoln Memorial end, while a second closer view shows the Washington Monument reflected in the water. Trump also shared a U.S. Interior Press social media post hailing the technological success, quoting that Wischer memo. YOSEMITE, GRAND CANYON LEAD NOTABLE LIST OF NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS FOR AMERICA’S 250TH “The vacuuming is the final maintenance step after refilling the pool, and it will be complete in a few days,” his memo continued. “Already, the section of the Reflecting Pool closest to the Lincoln Memorial has been vacuumed up, and the beautiful American Flag Blue coating on the bottom of the pool can be seen clearly.” Trump’s Interior Department has praised the technology for overcoming past challenges in keeping the pool clear, including dunking on former President Barack Obama. “Previous administrations — most notably under Obama — failed to maintain the Reflecting Pool, and after refilling the pool, the water would quickly become murky and thick with massive clumps of algae floating on the surface,” the memo concluded. INTERNAL EMAILS EXPOSE HOW JULY 4TH BASH IS BEING DERAILED BY DEM-RUN COUNTY: ‘OFFENSIVE’ “The photos below show how the nanobubbler technology and vacuuming have been incredibly effective, making the water crystal clear with the American Flag Blue coating shining brightly on the bottom of the pool. “As our National Park Service team noted, the Reflecting Pool is now so ‘blue’ that the Fake News Media, which has been staked out at the Reflecting Pool for weeks, has fled!” The 6.75 million-gallon pool has been targeted by Trump critics and leftist anti-Trump activists for attacks both verbally and physical, Burgum discussed with ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “The Reflecting Pool has been a big success,” he said. “And we’ve got 340 million people in this country that are celebrating 250. We did have a few vandals, but all that’s going to be repairable, and that’ll all be fixed in the coming weeks as we go forward.” Burgum now believes that the pool might not require a full draining after its “multiple gashes that add up to 350 feet,” he added. “We don’t know if we need to drain the whole thing or not because, you know, the cutting happened on the edge, and, of course, it slopes from the edge,” according to Burgum. “We may be able to partially drain it and do the repair. To be able to fix it, we may not have to drain the whole thing, but it could go very quickly.” While the media and Trump critics are pointing to added costs of the reflecting pool refurbishment, Burgum pointed to the vandalism causing that. “We weren’t expecting that we were going to have a small group of people that wanted to try to destroy effectively what is part of the Lincoln Memorial,” Burgum told ABC. “There’s plenty of cameras around the Lincoln statue and around the memorial, but the Reflecting Pool had gone for, you know, decades without vandalism.”