Saudi Arabia has received global recognition from a UN commission for its robust legal framework and “very strong” competition law.

The Kingdom attained the highest evaluation level in the Competition Law Systems Report for 2023, issued by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, surpassing the “developed” level achieved in 2020, SPA reported.

The Kingdom achieved a perfect score of seven in the index concerning regulatory frameworks for economic concentration operations.

Saad Al-Masoud, the spokesperson for the General Authority for Competition, affirmed that this advancement reflects the support GAC receives from the wise leadership to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 programs.

He said the objectives aim to improve a sustainable business atmosphere, foster economic growth, and advance consumer welfare.

Al-Masoud noted that this achievement is the result of significant developments in several areas, including laws combating monopolistic practices and anti-competitive agreements, as well as his authority’s efforts to review economic concentrations.

He also said that several additional factors have contributed to upholding the competitive landscape of the business sector, ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to reasonable competition regulations.

An initial competition system was established in Saudi Arabia in 2004, and in October 2017 the Kingdom’s Council of Ministers endorsed the change of the name to the GAC and a new organizational structure.

The authority was also made a financially and administratively independent entity, and in March 2019, another royal decree was issued approving the updated competition system.

While France celebrated the anniversary of victory over the Nazis on Wednesday, Algeria commemorated a more somber anniversary: The crackdown by French colonial forces on Algerian independence activists the same day 79 years ago.

Both events took place on May 8, 1945.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron lay a wreath Wednesday at the eternal flame beneath the Napoleon-era Arc de Triomphe, honoring those killed fighting the Nazis and marking the end of World War II in Europe.

At the time of the war, Algeria was the crown jewel in France’s colonial empire, and Algerian soldiers were among those sent to fight for France in Europe. The end of World War II unleashed independence movements across the former French and British empires.

In Algiers on Wednesday, ceremonies were being held to honor demonstrators who took to the streets in the towns of Guelma, Sétif and Kherrata to call for freedom from French rule.

“On this day we are remembering the massacres of May 8, 1945, committed by the colonizer with extreme brutality and cruelty, to repress a growing national activist movement that had resulted in massive demonstrations expressing the revolt of the Algerian people and its aspiration to freedom and emancipation,’’ Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in a statement, The AP reported.

They were unusually strong remarks from the Algerian leader, and a reminder of the lingering tensions with France more than 60 years after Algeria won its independence in a painful 1954-1962 war.

Algeria and France today have close economic, security and energy ties, but the question of historical justice remains a sore spot.

Tebboune is expected to raise it on a trip to France later this year. The issue of historical memory ‘’will remain at the center of our concerns until it enjoys an objective treatment that pays justice to historical truth,’’ Tebboune said in his statement this week.

During a visit to Algeria in 2022, Macron struck a chummy rapport with Tebboune and agreed to create a commission of historians from both countries to make proposals for reconciliation. The commission released proposals this year, including returning documents and artifacts from French archives to Algeria.

Algerian politicians have also sought financial reparations over French nuclear tests in the Sahara — and, most importantly, an official apology from France for colonial-era crimes.

As France’s first leader born after that era, Macron has sought to confront his country’s past wrongdoing while pivoting to a new era of relations with former colonies. But he has faced criticism at home, amid growing public support for far-right nationalists who champion the grievances of some French descendants of colonizers.

Hungarian Jewish organizations and the Israeli embassy have condemned a public university for inviting Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to an event this week.

The Budapest-based Ludovika University of Public Service invited the politician -- who has said Israel is doomed to be "wiped off the map" and that the Holocaust was a "myth" -- to an academic meeting.

Two Hungarian Jewish congregations, together with a Jewish advocacy group, were the latest to protest the visit of "openly anti-Semitic" Ahmadinejad in a joint statement Wednesday.

They urged the university "to consider whether it wishes to give Ahmadinejad the opportunity to spread his dangerous and poisonous ideas within the walls of the institution".

The country's main Jewish organization also condemned the invitation, urging the university to give an explanation and to apologise to the Hungarian Jewish community, AFP reported.

The visit was in "direct contradiction to the principle of zero tolerance against anti-Semitism proclaimed by the Hungarian government", it added.

The Israeli embassy called the visit a "grave insult" that "tramples on the memory" of the 600,000 Hungarian Jews murdered during the Holocaust.

Ludovika University of Public Service did not respond to AFP's request for comment.

Hungary's Foreign Ministry said the government "does not interfere in university programs".

"The government has not received the former Iranian president. His programme is a university programme," it said in a statement.

Hungary hosts central Europe's biggest Jewish community with some 100,000 members.

According to Iran's ILNA news agency, Ahmadinejad arrived in Hungary to give a speech and take part in a meeting on environmental issues taking place at the university from May 6 to 10.

The 67-year-old, who was Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, is currently a member of an advisory board to supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has close relations with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, voicing unequivocal support for Israel's military offensive on Gaza.

But Hungary also has a friendly attitude towards Iran. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto held talks in Tehran this February, marking a rare visit from an EU and NATO member state.

Buraydah will join 70 other creative cities worldwide at the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Annual Conference 2024, held in Thailand from May 9th to 12th. Through its participation, Buraydah aims to strengthen its global presence and programs as a creative city within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

Secretary General of Qassim Chamber Mohammad Al-Hanaya stated that Buraydah's participation in the conference is part of the file plan of Buraydah Creative City, supported and organized by the chamber.

The Qassim Chamber, in collaboration with the Culinary Arts Commission, is responsible for managing and implementing the technical aspects of this file. Buraydah Creative City is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in gastronomy, SPA reporte.
Al-Hanaya highlighted the commitment of the Saudi leadership to ensuring the Kingdom's active and influential presence in international events across various fields, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. Executive Liaison Officer for Buraydah Creative City at UNESCO Sulaiman Al-Geffari stated that the city's participation in the conference in Phuket, Thailand, aims to achieve the objectives of joining the Creative Cities Network.

Buraydah will be among more than 70 creative cities in the field of gastronomy from different countries at the conference, with the presence of the Culinary Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture, Al-Geffari added.
The city seeks to enhance cooperation among member cities, exchange experiences and initiatives, showcase best practices, and explore avenues for developing enhanced elements of creativity and innovation for sustainable urban development, Al-Geffari stated.

Furthermore, Buraydah aims to foster partnerships between gastronomy cities within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network during the conference.

In 2021, Buraydah became a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, making it the first Gulf city and the second Arab city to join the network.

Units from the Saudi Armed Forces are participating in the multinational EFES-2024 military exercise in Izmir, Republic of Türkiye along with other brotherly and friendly countries.
The Saudi military units participating in the exercise arrived in Türkiye and were welcomed by high-ranking army officers, SPA reported.
Head of the Armed Forces Training and Development Authority, Maj. Gen. Adel Al-Balawi, underscored that the participation of Saudi military units in EFES-2024 comes within the support and keenness of the Kingdom's leadership to enhance the capabilities of the Saudi Armed Forces.

He said the exercise aims to exchange expertise, train on planning and coordinating joint operations in a different operational environment, raise the combat efficiency of the participating units, and enhance military cooperation between the participating countries.
He also said that the military units will carry out land and sea Special Forces operations using various modern weapons.

The Board of Directors of NEOM unveiled Jaumur, the largest cosmopolitan luxury community on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, designed to serve the highest standards of future livability and active lifestyle.

This new addition promises a unique blend of experiences on both land and sea, complementing NEOM's evolving regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia, said NEOM in a statement on Wednesday.

Jaumur is an exclusive residential community thoughtfully master-planned around an inspiring marina with the capacity to house more than 6,000 residents. Embedded into the varied topography of the Gulf of Aqaba coast, it features 500 marina apartments and nearly 700 luxury villas, boasting waterfront access and private mooring.

Two distinctive destination hotels within Jaumur offer 350 luxurious rooms and suites, inviting guests to enjoy the breathtaking views and embrace all aspects of modern coastal hospitality and sporting activities.

The marina serves as the focal point of the development, the beating heart around which the vibrant community of Jaumur thrives. A 1.5-kilometre aerofoil rises above the largest yacht berths, providing year-round protection for yacht owners and a haven for the marina's residents and guests.

The aerofoil incorporates a gravity-defying cantilever to form a stunning entrance to the marina to welcome the world's largest superyachts. The sculptural structure is a landmark that is the perfect base for all the marina attractions for committed yachting enthusiasts and adventure-seeking guests seeking personalized experiences.

The marina promenade will be a place alive with entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences. It will host year-round arts events and performance programs, complemented by signature retail stores and world-class dining options.

Jaumur's commitment to innovation and learning is embodied in the development of a state-of-the-art deep-sea research center and a top-tier international boarding school. The research institute is dedicated to deep-sea exploration, welcoming established experts and ambitious pioneers to champion marine discovery, knowledge and conservation and establish NEOM as a world-leading hub for oceanographic research.

The international boarding school will attract select students from around the world, preparing them for global achievement through an exclusive, progressive, broad-based education delivered by a diverse international faculty of experts and innovators.

Jaumur's unique architectural design integrates water where golden sands meet the deep blue of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is a luxury destination to visit, explore, live and prosper: an opportunity to become part of a dynamic community.

Jaumur follows the recent announcements of Leyja, Epicon, Siranna, Utamo, Norlana, Aquellum, Zardun, Xaynor, Elanan, Gidori, and Treyam as sustainable tourism destinations within the Gulf of Aqaba, all woven together by NEOM's commitment to sustainable progress.

Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon in seven months of cross-border hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah has caused more than $1.5 billion in damage, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement began attacking Israel in support of ally Hamas a day after the Palestinian group's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that sparked war in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks in recent weeks, while Israel's military has struck deeper into Lebanese territory, saying it has targeted fighters and "infrastructure" used by the group.

Lebanon's Southern Council, an official body tasked with assessing the destruction, has estimated that since October 8, the cost of "damage to buildings and institutions stands at more than one billion dollars".

Infrastructure, including water, electricity, roads and health services have also suffered damage estimated at around an additional $500 million, according to the figures provided by council chief Hashem Haidar.

The information used to make the assessment was mostly gathered by "our teams on the ground", Haidar said.

With the hostilities ongoing, the estimates do not include all the destruction in particularly hard-to-reach areas, where the council relies on "engineers and municipality chiefs and local officials" for information, he added.

The Southern Council estimates that some 1,700 buildings have been completely destroyed, while around 14,000 have been damaged.

Emergency personnel have reported huge damage and villages emptied of residents.

The International Organization for Migration says more than 93,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, while Israel has evacuated tens of thousands of people from swathes of the country's north.

Many journalists have been reluctant to travel to Lebanon's border areas due to the heavy bombardment, while damage to some roads makes reporting trips more difficult.

The bombardment has also impacted farmland and livelihoods, with Lebanese authorities accusing Israel of using incendiary white phosphorus bombs that have triggered fires.

Authorities are waiting for a ceasefire in order to better assess the damage, but potential compensation procedures remain vague in a country suffering a crushing four-year economic crisis.

After Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating war in 2006, Gulf countries and Iran helped with reconstruction efforts, and Lebanese officials in recent months have expressed hope for foreign support this time around as well.

The cross-border violence has killed at least 390 people in Lebanon, mostly militants but also including more than 70 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Israel says 13 soldiers and nine civilians have been killed on its side of the border.

The reservoir behind the massive Darbandikhan dam, tucked between the rolling mountains of northeastern Iraq, is almost full again after four successive years of drought and severe water shortages.

Iraqi officials say recent rainfall has refilled some of the water-scarce country's main reservoirs, taking levels to a record since 2019.

"The dam's storage capacity is three million cubic meters (106 million cubic feet). Today, with the available reserves, the dam is only missing 25 centimeters (10 inches) of water to be considered full," Saman Ismail, director of the Darbandikhan facility, told AFP on Sunday.

Built on the River Sirwan, the dam is located south of the city of Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

"In the coming days, we will be able to say that it's full," said Ismail, with the water just a few meters below the road running along the edge of the basin.

The last time Darbandikhan was full was in 2019, and since then "we've only had years of drought and shortages," said Ismail.

He cited "climate change in the region" as a reason, "but also dam construction beyond Kurdistan's borders".

The central government in Baghdad says upstream dams built in neighboring Iran and Turkiye have heavily reduced water flow in Iraq's rivers, on top of rising temperatures and irregular rainfall.

This winter, however, bountiful rains have helped to ease shortages in Iraq, considered by the United Nations to be one of the five countries most vulnerable to some impacts of climate change.

In Iraq, rich in oil but where infrastructure is often run-down, torrential rains have also flooded the streets of Kurdistan's regional capital Erbil.

Four hikers died last week in floods in Kurdistan, and in Diyala, a rural province in central Iraq, houses were destroyed.

- 'Positive effects' -

Ali Radi Thamer, director of the dam authority at Iraq's water resources ministry, said that most of the country's six biggest dams have experienced a rise in water levels.

At the Mosul dam, the largest reservoir with a capacity of about 11 billion cubic meters, "the storage level is very good, we have benefitted from the rains and the floods," said Thamer.

Last summer, he added, Iraq's "water reserves... reached a historic low".

"The reserves available today will have positive effects for all sectors", Thamer said, including agriculture and treatment plants that produce potable water, as well as watering southern Iraq's fabled marshes that have dried up in recent years.

He cautioned that while 2019 saw "a sharp increase in water reserves", it was followed by "four successive dry seasons".

Water has been a major issue in Iraq, a country of 43 million people that faces a serious environmental crisis from worsening climate change, with temperatures frequently hitting 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer.

"Sure, today we have rain and floods, water reserves that have relatively improved, but this does not mean the end of drought," Thamer said.

About five kilometers (three miles) south of Darbandikhan, terraces near a small riverside tourist establishment are submerged in water.

But owner Aland Salah prefers to see the glass half full.

"The water of the Sirwan river is a blessing," he told AFP.

"When the flow increases, the area grows in beauty.

"We have some damage, but we will keep working."

Dutch riot police broke up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on Wednesday, battling demonstrators who had vowed to stay put until the institution severed all ties with Israel.

Protesters on barricades made of desks, fences, wooden pallets and bricks used fire extinguishers to keep the police at bay, images on the local TV station AT5 showed.

Police hit protesters with batons and used a shovel to knock down the barricades, breaking through in a matter of minutes.

Hundreds of protesters on the narrow streets outside shouted "Shame on you!" as the police pushed them away from the campus site and dragged many protesters away.

The police had detained 169 people early on Tuesday after sometimes violent clashes as they cleared a similar protest at another UvA site.

Students in the Dutch capital have joined a wave of sit-ins and other actions at universities throughout Europe against Israel's war in Gaza, following larger-scale disturbances at US universities.

UvA managers had hoped talks on Wednesday would bring an end to the protests, but the students dug in, pulling up bricks from the streets and pavements near to the 19th-century campus and forming human chains to take them to the barricade.

The protesters say the Israeli institutions that the university works with profit from oppression of Palestinians.

Fans of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise may still be mourning the 2017 death of Caesar, the first smart chimp and the charismatic ape leader. Not to worry: He haunts the next episode, the thrilling, visually stunning “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”

We actually start with Caesar's funeral, his body decorated with flowers and then set alight like a Viking, before fast-forwarding “many generations later.” All apes talk now and most humans don’t, reduced to caveman loin cloths and running wide-eyed and scared, evolution in reverse.

Our new hero is the young ape Noa (Owen Teague) who is like all young adult chimps — seeking his father's approval (even chimp dads just don't understand) and testing his bravery. He is part of a clan that raises pet eagles, smokes fish and lives peacefully.

That all changes when his village is attacked not by humans but by fellow apes — masked soldiers from a nasty kingdom led by the crown-wearing Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand, playing it to the hilt). He has taken Caesar's name but twisted his words to become a tyrannical strongman — sorry, strongape.

Unlike the last movie which dealt with man's inhumanity to animals — concentration camps included — ape-on-ape violence is in the cards for this one, including capturing an entire clan as prisoners. Proximus Caesar's goons use makeshift cattle prods on fellow apes and force them to work while declaring “For Caesar!”

Screenwriter Josh Friedman has cleverly created a movie that examines how ancient stories can be hijacked and manipulated, like how Caesar's non-violent message gets twisted by bad actors. There's also a lot of “Avatar” primitive naivete, and that makes sense since the reboot was shaped by several of that blue alien movie’s makers.

The movie poses some uncomfortable questions about collaborationists. William H. Macy plays a human who has become a sort of teacher-prisoner to Proximus Caesar — reading Kurt Vonnegut to him — and won't fight back. “It is already their world,” he rationalizes.

Along for the heroic ride is a human young woman (Freya Allan, a budding star) who is hiding an agenda but offers Noa help along the way. Peter Macon plays a kindly, book-loving orangutan who adds a jolt of gleeful electricity to the movie and is missed when he goes.

The effects are just jaw-dropping, from the ability to see individual hairs on the back of a monkey to the way leaves fall and the crack of tree limbs echoing in the forest. The sight of apes on horseback, which seemed glitchy just seven years ago, are now seamless. There are also inside jokes, like the use of the name Nova again this time.

Director Wes Ball nicely handles all the thrilling sequences — though the two-and-a-half hour runtime is somewhat taxing — and some really cool ones, like the sight of apes on horseback on a beach, a nod to the original 1968 movie. And like when the apes look through some old illustrated kids' books and see themselves depicted in zoo cages. That makes for some awkward human-ape interaction. “What is next for apes? Should we go back to silence?” our hero asks.

The movie races to a complex face-off between good and bad apes and good and bad humans outside a hulking silo that holds promise to each group. Can apes and humans live in peace, as Caesar hoped? “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” doesn't answer that but it does open up plenty more to ponder. Starting with the potentially crippling proposition of a key death, this franchise has somehow found new vibrancy.