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The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced Wednesday that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group towards Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed.This was stated in a press release by the official spokesman for the Coalition Major General Turki Al Maliki.The Coalition forces announced earlier today the interception and destruction of cruise missiles in Al-Kharj Governorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

A global alliance founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), Autism Speaks, Unicef, and the Ministry of Social Development and Family, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), to unite the world in advancing support for people with autism everywhere is expanding its international reach – and pinpointing a series of flagship initiatives to close crucial gaps in autism diagnosis, policy, investment, technology development, and lifelong support. The Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC), launched at a Qatar-led event at the UN General Assembly last September, is the first platform of its kind to bring together the international community to develop a unified worldwide approach to addressing autism. Following the formation of the coalition, its founding membership has grown with the Education Above All Foundation which works to ensure equal access to quality education and to harness the power of education for positive, sustainable, and inclusive change, including for the most marginalised learners; the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, a Kazakh organisation that supports projects across healthcare, culture, and education; and the Autism Impact Fund (AIF), a first-of-its-kind for-profit venture capital fund whose mission is to revolutionise the status quo for diagnosing, treating, and living with autism. Since its launch, AIF has become the global investment and innovation arm of the autism and behavioural health community, with 20 portfolio companies and two successful exits. The coalition’s focus on Qatar is being aligned with national autism priorities through its work with the Ministry of Social Development and Family, while the Ministry of Public Health serves as the member responsible for the health dimension of the coalition’s work in Qatar, including early screening, diagnosis, and clinical services. WHO and Unicef will draw on their mandates in norm-setting, monitoring, and workforce development, together with their convening and co-ordination functions and broad regional and country-level presence, to provide strategic advice and contribute to the GAAC’s advocacy and implementation efforts. The GAAC is implementing a regional approach to autism action, with the active engagement of philanthropic organisations through a ‘hub’ model. This will see QF serve as the hub for catalysing autism action in the Middle East and North Africa region, Autism Speaks — which is also the coalition’s secretariat — lead efforts in North America, and the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation pilot this model in the Central Asia & South Caucuses region, reflecting the global expansion and reach of the coalition. Together, these hubs support regional co-ordination, country-level implementation, and the sharing of expertise to scale effective autism solutions in low- and middle-income countries. A portfolio of initiatives launched by the GAAC’s members, aimed at addressing pivotal structural gaps in global autism systems, include a global index measuring each country’s progress on autism action; a shared global autism data platform; a laboratory to develop and scale affordable autism technologies; a governance body that ensures people with autism and their families have a central role in shaping autism strategies and decisions; and catalysing an effort to build care systems and the global workforce required to effectively deliver full-lifespan autism services. The establishment of the GAAC and the realisation of a truly collective international movement focused on autism action will be emphasised once again to a worldwide audience in September when the GAAC and its members participate in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. HE Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, said: “The remarkable progress of the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition reflects our shared belief that lasting change can only be achieved through collaboration. “Addressing the challenges of autism requires governments, international organisations, philanthropy, researchers, innovators, and people with lived experience to work together. By bringing these partners together, we are creating a platform that can accelerate evidence-based solutions, advance a human rights-based approach to autism inclusion, and strengthen support across the lifespan.” HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud, Minister of Public Health, said: “The State of Qatar is committed to advancing the health, well-being, and inclusion of individuals with autism through strong partnerships at the national, regional, and global levels. By joining the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition, we reaffirm our belief that meaningful progress is achieved through collective action, shared expertise, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes across the lifespan.” “We are building a global movement where all members are valued as autism partners and active contributors in shaping future solutions and innovations. By pairing this commitment with platforms and resources that democratise innovation, we aim to lay the foundation for true equity and global impact,” added Dr Hilal Lashuel, research, development, and innovation adviser to the Chairperson’s Office and executive director of Research, Development and Innovation at QF.

Saudi Arabia Thursday unveiled plans for a ‌multinational maritime defence coalition aimed at protecting international ​shipping and energy ‌supply routes in the Red Sea region after attacks ‌by Yemen's ⁠Iran-aligned Houthis disrupted ‌one of the world's ‌busiest trade corridors. The Saudi defence ministry said representatives from ⁠43 countries and the European Union attended an international meeting that discussed the proposed coalition, including Saudi Arabia serving as its founding and leading state and hosting its headquarters. The ministry said the coalition would strengthen maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation, secure international trade routes and energy supply lines, ​and protect shared maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. It said 14 countries, including Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, ‌Sudan and Djibouti, issued a ⁠joint statement supporting ​the proposed coalition. Among the six Gulf Arab ​states, Oman and the United Arab Emirates were not listed among the countries backing the statement. The announcement comes a day after two sources familiar with the deliberations told Reuters that Saudi Arabia was seeking to build an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks. The Houthis said on July 20 they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red ‌Sea, and have since ‌claimed a series of attacks ⁠on Saudi-linked shipping. Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes ⁠on what it ⁠said were Houthi military facilities in Yemen's Hodeidah used to threaten commercial shipping. The Red Sea tensions mark the latest front in the wider Iran war, with attacks on shipping spreading beyond the Gulf and pushing oil prices higher. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, ​linking the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is a key maritime chokepoint for global trade and energy shipments. The European Union launched a naval mission in the Red Sea in 2024 to help restore and safeguard freedom of navigation after the Houthis disrupted maritime traffic by attacking vessels in what they said was ‌solidarity with Palestinians ​during the Gaza war.

Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most formidable political rivals said on Sunday ‌they were joining forces in a bid to oust his coalition government in ​the upcoming election expected later this ‌year.The former prime ministers - right-wing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid - issued ‌statements announcing the ⁠merger of their parties, ‌Bennett 2026 and There is a ‌Future."This move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions, and ⁠focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections - and leading Israel forward into the future," opposition leader Lapid said.Bennett's office said the new party will be called Together, and that he will be its leader.JOINING FORCES ONCE MOREBennett and Lapid have joined forces before, putting an end to Netanyahu's successive 12-year tenure in a 2021 election, only to form a coalition government that survived barely 18 months.Before that, they muscled their ​way into his 2013 coalition government in a move that left Netanyahu's traditional ultra-Orthodox allies out.Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, made a comeback when he won the November 2022 election and formed the most right-wing ‌government in Israel's history.But Hamas' ⁠2023 attack on ​southern Israel, which plunged the Middle East into turmoil and saw Israel fighting ​on multiple fronts, left Netanyahu's security credentials in tatters and polls since then have successively predicted that he will lose the next election, due by the end of October.Netanyahu, a polarising figure at home and abroad and the most dominant Israeli politician of his generation, has shown remarkable political survival skills in the past, however.SHIFTING POLITICAL MAPBennett, 54, a pugnacious former army commando turned tech millionaire has been trailing Netanyahu in election polls. An April 23 survey by Israel's N12 News found Bennett securing 21 of the Knesset's 120 seats, against 25 seats for Netanyahu's Likud.It found Lapid's party ‌securing only seven seats, down ‌from the 24 it currently holds, but ⁠with Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing and religious parties commanding only 50 seats, against at least 60 ⁠seats for Bennett and Lapid's ⁠likely coalition that would include several smaller factions.The survey was on par with previous polls by academic institutions and other Israeli media, which have put Bennett as the top contender against Netanyahu, though the political map could still shift and change.Lapid, 62, a telegenic former TV news anchor who writes pop songs and thrillers, speaks as the voice of Israel's secular middle class, which ​has become increasingly incensed by what it sees as an unfair tax and military service burden.Netanyahu's ultra-religious political allies have been seeking an exemption for their communities - who have low employment and many state benefits - from the conscript military.It is a hot-button issue in Israel that has become all the more pressing since the military has warned of being over-stretched and with the last two years exacting the highest military death toll in decades.Both Lapid and Bennett have made it a central issue for their campaign. They have also criticised ‌Netanyahu for failing to leverage ​military gains into strategic wins over Iran and the groups it supports in Lebanon and Gaza - Hezbollah and Hamas. 

US President Donald Trump welcomed Latin American leaders to Florida Saturday to announce the formation of a military coalition against drug cartels, in line with an argument that he has been making throughout his second term in office.Trump has cited drug cartels as a primary reason for ramping up his administration's involvement in Latin America, pressuring Venezuela over the past several months and seizing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January.At least a dozen leaders from Central America, South America and the Caribbean joined the "Shield of the Americas" summit convened by Trump, who signed a proclamation launching the coalition."It's a great part of the world, but to fill that tremendous potential, we must smash the grip of the cartels and criminal gangs and horrible organisations run by, in some cases, absolute animals and truly liberate our people," Trump said.Kristi Noem will be special envoy for the "Shield of the Americas", Trump posted on Thursday.Noem was Homeland Security secretary until Trump removed her from that post this week after mounting criticism of her from Congress.Saturday's gathering gives Trump a chance to project strength closer to home even as the conflict in the Middle East leads to consequences he may not fully control, such as rising prices for oil and gas.However, the Trump administration also has been looking for ways to counter growing Chinese influence in the region.The summit took place as Trump prepares for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end of March.The Trump administration hopes to pull Latin America closer to Washington after years of growing Chinese trade, lending and infrastructure investment in the region.The summit brings together conservative leaders aligned with Trump on security, migration and economics.Among those attending are Argentine President Javier Milei, Chile's president-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose gang crackdown, criticised by human rights groups, has become a model for parts of Latin America's right.Politicians from across the region have toured Bukele's sprawling "mega-prison", where the United States last year deported more than 200 Venezuelans without trial.Also joining the gathering are Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who narrowly won a disputed election with Trump's backing, and Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, who has echoed parts of Trump's economic agenda and recently announced joint operations with the US in a military crackdown on drug trafficking (*see report on Page 7).Most of the right-wing heads of state share concerns about the rising power of drug cartels, even hitting countries that until recently were considered fairly safe such as Ecuador and Chile, said Irene Mia, a Latin America expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies."All those countries used to be quite secure and didn't really have an issue with organised crime, but they've seen increasing levels of organised crime because of the reconfiguration of the drug trade," Mia told AFP.The strained security situation, which has contributed to the Latin American right-wing's recent string of electoral victories, means the trend of US intervention has received less pushback than in the past, she added.Many of the leaders share Trump's hardline view of crime and migration, favouring crackdowns over deeper social fixes and private business over the state.Their rise reflects a broader rightward turn in parts of Latin America at a time when the region is being pulled between Washington and Beijing.Ryan Berg, who heads the Americas Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said that China's trade with the region hit a record $518bn in 2024, with Beijing loaning more than $120bn to governments across the Western Hemisphere.China's increased involvement in Latin America – from satellite tracking stations in Argentina and a port in Peru to economic support for Venezuela – has been an irritant for successive US administrations.China has expanded its reach through trade, loans and infrastructure, while the Trump administration has pushed governments in the region to curb Beijing's role in ports, energy projects and other strategic assets.That pressure was on display recently when Panamanian authorities moved against a Hong Kong-based firm tied to operations in the Panama Canal, a key global freight channel.Washington has also taken more direct steps in the region.The United States captured Maduro on January 3 and moved to seize control of the country's oil exports, and has tightened enforcement of the decades-long US embargo on Cuba.Several Trump administration officials have told Reuters that Trump's move against Maduro was intended in part to counter China's ambitions, and that Beijing's days of leveraging debt to get cheap oil from Venezuela were "over".The durability of such the coalition remains to be seen, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’s Mia."It's entirely a negative agenda," she said. "It's all about the threats coming to the region for US security: migration, organised crime."She also pointed at the glaring absences from the summit, Mexico and Brazil, which are currently lead by leftists Claudia Sheinbaum and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva."Without Mexico and Brazil, it's not going to be very successful in tackling those issues" of narcotrafficking and counterterrorism, she said, given that Mexican cartels play a key role in the trafficking supply chain and Brazil's ports are critical narco-trafficking routes to Europe. 

The State of Qatar participated in the Core Focus Group meeting within the Global Coalition Against ISIS, held in Abu Dhabi, with broad participation from international bodies concerned with combating terrorism.The State of Qatar was represented by HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah Al Hanzab.His Excellency expressed appreciation for the efforts made to organize this meeting during his speech and affirmed the State of Qatar's full support for the work of the Core Focus Group in preventing the resurgence of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, through strengthening civil cooperation in combating terrorism, supporting rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, and countering the organization's financing, movements and propaganda.His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar's firm commitment to the mission and objectives of the global coalition, and its support for all efforts to mobilize all necessary resources to enhance security and stability in both the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic and the sisterly Republic of Iraq

Greek vessels join flotilla, now 47 civilian boats strongGreta Thunberg among activists aboardItaly warns of dangers challenging Israeli blockadeAn international aid flotilla that paused for several days in Greek waters for repairs has set sail again for Gaza, where activists aim to challenge Israel's naval blockade and deliver aid to the Palestinian territory.Organisers said on Sunday that Greek vessels had now joined their enterprise, meaning that the flotilla, which counts some 47 civilian boats, was "complete".A statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) said they intended to "break the illegal Israeli blockade" to deliver aid to the Palestinian territory."For the most part, our boats carry medical supplies, dry food and school equipment, as this was highlighted as some of the biggest priorities by Palestinians on the ground," they added."Brothers and sisters in Gaza, we sail with hope in our hearts. Your resilience is our compass, your struggle is our struggle. Together, we will break the silence of the siege," the Global Sumud Flotilla wrote on social media.They intend to join the Global Sumud Flotilla which is also bound for Gaza carrying aid supplies.On board are elected officials from the European Parliament and from countries including Belgium, France, Ireland, Spain and the United States.Around 40 Italians are aboard the flotilla alongside activists from dozens of other countries, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. They hope to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza in the coming week.Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Sunday repeated a proposal made last week for the flotilla to take the aid to Cyprus for eventual distribution in Gaza by the Roman Catholic Church. The flotilla rejected the suggestion."We have always said ... that it is dangerous to approach Israeli waters. We don't know what might happen. Forcing the blockade is dangerous," Tajani told reporters. The flotilla was struck on Wednesday in international waters off Crete by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants, which caused damage but no injuries.Israel did not comment on the incident. It has previously said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas militants in the coastal enclave.Italy and Spain have deployed navy ships close to the flotilla for rescue and humanitarian tasks.On Wednesday, the United Nations called for an investigation into alleged drone attacks off Greece against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which activists have blamed on Israel.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), has hailed the launch of Global Autism Advocacy Coalition at UN General Assembly (UNGA).A call to join an action-driven global alliance focused on building a more inclusive future for people with autism around the world has been sounded by Qatar, alongside international partners, at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.**media[362112]**“I welcome the launch of the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition, marking a milestone that shifts our efforts beyond awareness to collective action,” Her Highness Sheikha Moza said. “This platform urges the international community to embrace its shared responsibility in addressing autism. As the first coalition of its kind, it will ensure autism becomes an international priority.”“The State of Qatar’s commitment to the causes of autism extends beyond its national border, and is rooted in our belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive and lead a fulfilling life,” she continued.“On this occasion, I urge governments, stakeholders, and development partners to move beyond awareness and commit to concrete collective action, including the meaningful allocation of necessary resources,” Her Highness Sheikha Moza added.**media[362110]**The launch of the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC) – announced at an event led by Qatar, together with the QF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef, and Autism Speaks, during the UN General Assembly’s International High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health – marks an opportunity for the international community to shape a unified worldwide approach to supporting those with autism and their families.Calling on decision-makers to move beyond advancing autism awareness, and to commit to allocating the necessary resources and taking collective steps to address the world’s shared autism challenge, the GAAC aims to advance a global autism agenda encompassing policy, advocacy, collaboration and knowledge sharing – including in the fields of research, technology, and education – co-ordinated outreach, and the formation of strategic partnerships that generate autism solutions.The GAAC has issued an invitation to government bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), philanthropic organisations, companies, and others to join, and to be part of an international collaboration that advances the social integration, economic prospects, and wellbeing of people with autism worldwide.“The Global Autism Advocacy Coalition is a beacon of what can be achieved when nations unite for good,” HE the Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud said. “By working together, we can improve the lives of millions of individuals with autism, helping them reach their full potential and showing the world that collective action delivers hope, dignity, and opportunity.”“This moment reflects the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, whose leadership has long advanced dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for individuals with autism,” said HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi. “It was through her efforts that, in December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/139, designating April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.”“Qatar has long been a regional pioneer in supporting autistic children and their families,” she said. “In 2017, it launched its first national autism strategy, creating a foundation for inclusive policies and services.”“Since then, Qatar has championed the rights of the autistic community through early diagnosis, education, and community services – ensuring inclusion at every stage of life,” HE al-Nuaimi added.Areas identified by the GAAC as being in need of globally unified resources, investment, and action include early diagnosis of autism, innovation, inclusive education, adult services, employment, and community integration, as highlighted at the event by Dr Dena al-Thani, associate professor at the QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University and co-founder of the A-sense Centre of Excellence, which focuses on innovative technology in autism assessment and intervention.Dr Hilal Lashuel, the Research, Development, and Innovation adviser to the Chairperson’s Office and Executive Director of Research, Development and Innovation at the QF, said: “We take pride in the leading role that Qatar Foundation, together with its partners, has played in establishing this coalition.”“Having a global voice for autism and launching supportive platforms for individuals with autism has become a global necessity, not a choice,” Dr Lashuel said. “Autism has become a worldwide challenge that requires a global response and resources that exceed the capacity of any single country or institution.”Her Highness Sheikha Moza is a leading global advocate for greater autism awareness and support.In 2007, her proposal for the establishment of World Autism Awareness Day – now held on April 2 each year – was adopted without a vote by the UN General Assembly, and QF programmes, centres, and educational methodologies are increasing inclusivity for people with autism, including within its specialised school Renad Academy.