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Libya capital rocked by deadly battle as rival PM vies for power

Gunfire rocked oil-rich Libya's capital for several hours Tuesday as a rival prime minister attempted to oust interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah, threatening another escalation in the war-torn country.

Fathi Bashagha landed in Tripoli in the early hours of Tuesday and tried to take it by force, sparking pre-dawn clashes between armed groups supporting him and those backing Dbeibah. One man, Ahmad al-Ashhab, died in the crossfire, Bashagha told journalists late in the evening.

Fighters loyal to Libya's Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah sit with their arms in the back of a pickup truck in the capital Tripoli on May 17, 2022

Egypt composer's star rises with 'Moon Knight' fame

For nearly 30 years, his music has made its way to every young Egyptian's ringtone -- but it's the country's ancient history that recently propelled composer Hesham Nazih to the realm of superheroes.

Following his career-defining score for the Pharaohs' Golden Parade last year -- a grandiose spectacle that saw 22 mummies transferred across Cairo to a new museum -- Nazih was tapped to write the music for Marvel Studios' latest series, "Moon Knight".

The six-episode saga starring Oscar Isaac tells the story of a superhero who draws his powers from an ancient Egyptian god.

Following his score for the Pharaohs' Golden Parade last year, Egyptian composer Hesham Nazih was tapped to write the music for Marvel Studios' latest series, 'Moon Knight'

Algerian rapper Soolking plays Harlem's Apollo during debut US tour

As his merengue-inflected single "Suavemente" once again topped France's songs chart, Algerian rapper Soolking was stateside, delighting fans and wooing new followers with his blend of rap and Maghrebian folk music.

Already acclaimed in the Francophone world, the Algerian rapper Soolking this year set his sights on North America, where he played historic venues including New York's Apollo and the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles.

Algerian singer Soolking performs at the Apollo Theater on May 13, 2022 in New York City

Jerusalem archbishop condemns police raid at journalist's funeral

The Catholic archbishop in Jerusalem on Monday strongly criticised Israel's "police invasion" last week of a Christian hospital ahead of the funeral of slain Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.

The veteran journalist was shot dead during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank. Palestinians and the TV network said Israeli troops killed her, while Israel said Palestinian gunfire may have been to blame.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the centre, speaks at a press conference, joined by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, right, and the General Director of Saint Joseph Hospital Jamil Koussa

Thousands hospitalised as latest sandstorm brings Iraq to standstill

Another sandstorm that descended Monday on climate-stressed Iraq sent at least 4,000 people to hospital with breathing problems and led to the closure of airports, schools and public offices across the country.

It is the eighth dust storm since mid-April to hit Iraq, which has been battered by soil degradation, intense droughts and low rainfall linked to climate change.

The last one earlier this month led to the death of one person, while more than 5,000 others had to be hospitalised for respiratory problems.

A thick cloud of dust blankets the Iraqi capital Baghdad as the eighth sandstorm since mid-April, 2022 paralysed activity across the country

Jerusalem archbishop condemns police raid at journalist's funeral

The Catholic archbishop in Jerusalem on Monday strongly criticised Israel's "police invasion" last week of a Christian hospital ahead of the funeral of slain Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.

The veteran journalist was shot dead during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank. Palestinians and the TV network said Israeli troops killed her, while Israel said Palestinian gunfire may be to blame.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the centre, speaks at a press conference, joined by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, right, and the General Director of Saint Joseph Hospital Jamil Koussa

Kamala Harris leads high-level US team to meet new UAE leader

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday led a high-level delegation to meet the United Arab Emirates' new president, who takes over after his half-brother's death, following months of strained ties between Washington and the oil-rich Gulf state.

Harris, whose team included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and CIA chief William Burns, headed the strongest delegation to visit UAE since President Joe Biden took office last year.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered their condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the UAE

Saudi expects 13 million bpd oil capacity by 2027: minister

Saudi Arabia expects to ramp up its daily oil production capacity by more than one million barrels to exceed 13 million barrels by early 2027, the kingdom's energy minister announced Monday.

"Most likely it will be 13.2 to 13.4 (million barrels per day, bpd), but that would be (reached) at the end of 2026, beginning 2027," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told an energy conference in Bahrain.

Production at that level would be maintained "if the market allows it", he said.

Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman (L) and Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail at  a Middle East energy conference in the Bahraini capital Manama

Jerusalem bishop condemns 'police invasion' at journalist's funeral

The Catholic archbishop in Jerusalem on Monday strongly criticised Israel's "police invasion" last week of a Christian hospital ahead of the funeral of slain Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.

The veteran journalist was shot dead during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank. Palestinians and the TV network said Israeli troops killed her, while Israel said Palestinian gunfire may be to blame.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the centre, speaks at a press conference, joined by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, right, and the General Director of Saint Joseph Hospital Jamil Koussa

Iran says awaits US response to nuclear talks 'solutions'

Iran said on Monday it awaited the US response to "solutions" discussed with the EU envoy for breaking a stalemate in talks aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal.

The European Union's coordinator for nuclear talks with Iran, Enrique Mora, held two days of discussions with the Islamic republic's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri in Tehran last week, leading the EU to say talks had been unblocked.

The negotiations, aimed at bringing the US back into the deal and Iran to full compliance with it, had stalled for about two months.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh holds a press conference in Tehran on May 9, 2022