Prince William joked today that his wife Kate ‘is the arty one’, as he carried out a royal visit three days after she apologised for editing her Mother’s Day photograph.

The Prince of Wales was mocking his lack of creativity as he decorated biscuits with children in a training kitchen while opening a youth charity facility in West London.

In a comment likely to raise eyebrows amid the ongoing future at the Princess of Wales, William said: ‘My wife is the arty one. Even my children are artier than me.’

It comes as Kate was said to be distraught by criticism over the picture editing row, which has seen her criticised around the world and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency comparing Kensington Palace to North Korea and Iran today.

William also told youngsters at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham that his son Prince Louis ‘loves sprinkles, so I’m going to put some more on here’.

The Prince continued: ‘How’s that? Alright? It’s remotely edible. Not quite as good as yours, but it’ll do. In the couple of minutes I got to do it.’

And he played basketball and celebrated successfully shooting a hoop after four failed attempts at the site, which is called West (‘Where Everyone Sticks Together’).

William was escorted by Kevin McGrath, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who represents the monarch at official events locally.

Later, William and his estranged brother Prince Harry will both separately take part in a ceremony paying tribute to their late mother at the Diana Legacy Award.

William will attend the event at the Science Museum in London in person, where he is set to give a speech to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary and present awards.

Harry, 39, will then join a video call with the 20 winners – although it is understood that his involvement will only take place after William, 41, has left the ceremony.

Other royals on engagements today included Prince Edward and Sophie who attended the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham. 

It comes as William and Kate continue to face intense scrutiny after the Princess publicly apologised and confessed to digitally editing a family portrait taken by her husband and released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day last Sunday.

On Monday, Kate publicly took the blame for the manipulated family photograph released by Kensington Palace as she issued a personal apology for the ‘confusion’.

Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.

‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’

The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by William, was the first to be issued since the princess’s abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother’s Day.

It was issued in part to quell conspiracy theories about Kate, who had not been seen at a royal event since Christmas Day or after her surgery.

But it was withdrawn with a ‘Kill’ notice by international picture agencies hours later, and the UK’s PA news agency on Monday, because of suspicions it had been manipulated.

The saga intensified speculation concerning Kate, her health and her whereabouts, and raised questions over whether images released by Kensington Palace could be trusted.

Royal sources said the Princess made ‘minor adjustments’ and that Kate and the William wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother’s Day.

Kate was later spotted leaving Windsor in a car with William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service. The princess was not attending the service, but was understood to have a private appointment.

Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

The Palace has faced growing pressure over the debacle with the controversy branded damaging to the public’s trust of the royal family .

Concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte ‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip.

The picture was released to reassure the public amid escalating conspiracy theories online over the state of Kate’s health in recent weeks, but in an extraordinary turn of events sparked what is being dubbed ‘Kategate’ and even ‘Sleevegate’.

William and Kate have an established track record of issuing their own photographs, often taken by Kate rather than William, to mark special occasions including their children’s birthdays.

But the Princess’s confession has raised questions over whether – or to what extent – the images have been altered in the past.

Sky News said an examination of the photo’s meta data revealed it was saved in Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac on Friday and Saturday and the picture was taken on a Canon Camera.

Under the licensing agreement issued to photo agencies for use of official royal photos, Royal Households usually stipulate: ‘This image must not be digitally enhanced, cropped, manipulated or modified in any manner or form.’

Kate had surgery at the London Clinic on January 16, but details of her condition have been kept private, and she is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter .

While the fallout from the picture continued, William was back on royal duties today as he arrived in White City at 11am to visit West, the new purpose-built youth facility that will soon be available to young people in the area.

Kensington Palace said the site, which was given its name by local young people, will be staffed by youth workers who will ‘support young people from across West London to develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve their dreams’.

The West Youth Zone, which is a newly formed local independent charity, has facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, indoor climbing wall, teaching kitchen and a performing arts studio.

There will also be a café which will serve hot meals costing no more than £1. 

It is also part of an education hub known as EdCity, which was developed by education charity Ark alongside Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

This centre will also include a new school, nursery, adult education centre and affordable housing.

West has been developed by OnSide, which the Palace described as a ‘national youth centre charity whose mission is to empower young people to lead positive, fulfilling lives by providing access to state-of-the-art spaces and exceptional, life-changing youth work in areas where they are needed the most’.

There are 14 Youth Zones in the UK OnSide network including in Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and across London – with seven more set to open over the next two years in areas such as Bristol, Grimsby, Preston and Essex.

In 2021, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’.

During today’s visit, William spent time speaking to pupils from Ark White City primary school and West’ Young People’s Development Group who were involved in shaping the design and facilities in the new centre.

He toured the Youth Zone, meeting young people using the four-court indoor sports hall before seeing a teaching kitchen.

William also celebrated the launch of the Youth Zone with a plaque unveiling it ahead of its official opening next month on April 21, when it will be available seven days a week.

Later, Harry and William will both separately take part in the Diana Legacy Award ceremony.

It comes as the royal brothers have continued to distance themselves from each other in recent months.

The pair did not meet when Harry spent time with the King at Clarence House following news of his cancer diagnosis last month.

In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Harry said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend around 45 minutes with Charles when he flew back to the UK.

Harry published his controversial memoir Spare last year, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan Markle.

It was also claimed William teased Harry about his panic attacks.

Further tensions between the royal brothers can be traced back to the early period of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan, when his then fiancee had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.

The Diana Award was set up to promote the Princess’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better.

Both William and Harry presented the inaugural legacy awards at St James’ Palace in 2017.

Dr Tessy Ojo, chief executive of The Diana Award, told The Times: ‘It’s a privilege to have the support of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex – particularly as we mark our 25th anniversary year.’

A spokesman for the award also told The Telegraph that Harry will be a ‘key part’ of the celebration.

‘He is scheduled to speak with the award recipients, virtually, on the evening of the awards to celebrate their accomplishments,’ he said.

Yesterday, the King appeared full of cheer during an audience with Baroness Scotland at Buckingham Palace.

Charles, who has met the Commonwealth secretary-general on many occasions, welcomed his guest to the Private Audience Room for the in-person meeting.

The 75-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is continuing with his head of state duties including face-to-face audiences despite not carrying out official engagements in public. 

He was photographed chuckling and giving a wide smile as he shook Baroness Scotland’s hand.

The King is Head of the Commonwealth but this week missed the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, although his pre-recorded video message was played to the congregation.

Queen Camilla and William attended the service along with other royals including Princess Anne.

Also yesterday, Camilla spent a day at the races as she attended the Cheltenham Festival.

Anne was also among the royal party as were Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick.

Spotted in the parade ring before the start of a race was former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as Harry’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for him after the death of Diana.

 

State visits to Britain have followed more or less the same pattern for well over a century.

Take last November’s visit by the President of South Korea. If a genie had magicked up George V and Queen Mary for the day, they would have recognised all the components from the official arrival in London, the carriage procession, the posed photos, the exchange of gifts and the State Banquet.

It wasn’t always like that. Things went a bit awry during the 40 years of Queen Victoria’s widowhood. 

The queen refused to take part in all, but the bare minimum of public events and it was left to the Prince of Wales or other royals to show hospitality. 

Heads of State still stayed at Buckingham Palace which, with no owner on site, became a glorified Airbnb for the duration. 

In order to meet Victoria, they had to track her down to which other mansion she was holed up in at the time – Windsor if they were lucky, but otherwise Osborne House on the Isle of Wight or Balmoral Castle in the Highlands.

One of the most memorable ones was the 1873 visit of the lascivious, ill-mannered, and chronically unpunctual Shah Naser al-Din Shah Qajar of Persia who, for some peculiar reason ended up hitting it off with the formidable queen. 

To her unexpected delight he turned out to be very touchy-feely, kissing her hands at every opportunity and had a fascination with the leg-revealing kilts worn by her sons.

The visit came about at the suggestion of the incumbent Prime Minister, William Gladstone. Then, as now, the visit was designed to bolster relations between two very distant nations.

The Shah had already spent several weeks touring Russia, Germany and Belgium before his arrival in London. 

As he headed westwards Victoria nervously digested tales of Shah Naser’s rumoured behaviour. 

He was said to wipe his wet hands on the coat tails of which ever gentleman he happened to be seated next to, was clumsy using a knife and fork, preferring to put his fingers into dishes instead, would occasionally pull chewed food out of his mouth to examine it, had been known to drink out of the spout of a teapot and was in the habit of sacrificing a cockerel to the rising sun.

Victoria was also worried he might make improper suggestions to the ladies of the court. 

The latter proved true – after a fashion – when he met the philanthropist Baroness Burdett-Coutts at a royal event. He looked her directly in the eye and using his schoolboy French exclaimed: ‘Quelle horreur!’

Gladstone was also worried about the women. He was scandalised to hear that while the Shah had left all but three of his two dozen wives at home in Persia, he was intent on bringing his three latest girlfriends to Britain.

The priggish PM threatened to withdraw government hospitality, and the Shah’s female entourage did not share his Buckingham Palace bed.

Meanwhile the Queen’s eldest daughter and namesake, Crown Princess Victoria of Germany, warned her mother the Shah ‘always has a lamb roasted in his room, which he pulls to pieces with his fingers distributing it to all his ministers all sitting on the floor.’ 

He also ‘throws his pocket handkerchief across the room at his Prime Minister when he has used it, upon which this dignitary makes a profound bow and puts the handkerchief in his pocket.’

Vicky’s entertaining tales seem to have calmed the Queen rather than alarming her. 

‘Your account of the Shah is most amusing … and has somewhat relieved me,’ wrote the Queen on the 18th June, the day of his arrival in London, adding: ‘But I think if these Eastern potentates wish to travel they ought not to carry their uncivilised notions and habits with them!’ 

Suitably forewarned, Victoria instructed her Household to install a removable carpet into the visitor’s suite at Buckingham Palace where he was to stay for the next few weeks. 

It was a sensible move since he did indeed regularly roast lamb over a tripod on the floor and upon his departure the carpet was found to be burnt to a cinder.

Despite Vicky’s assurance that he ‘has a perfect adoration for England and everything English,’ the Queen got herself into near hysteria when the visitor came to call on her at Windsor Castle. 

‘Felt nervous & agitated at the great event of the day, — the Shah’s visit.’ Later she noted ‘All great hustle & excitement. 

The guns were fired & bells ringing for my Accession Day, & the latter also for the Shah. The Beefeaters were taking up their places, Pages walking about, in full dress….. crowds appeared near the Gates, the Guard of Honour & Band marched into the quadrangle & then I dressed in a smart morning dress, with my large pearls, & the star & ribbon of the Garter, the Victoria & Albert order, &c.’

Her two younger sons, Arthur, and Leopold, went to Windsor station to meet the VIP guest and his entourage.’ 

At the castle ‘The Band struck up the new Persian march & in another moment the carriage drove up to the door I stepped forward & gave him my hand, which he shook expressing to the Gd [Grand] Vizier my great satisfaction at making the Shah’s acquaintance.

Then took his arm & walked slowly upstairs, & along the Corridor,’ speaking to each other in French.

As usual the Queen documented the visitor’s appearance with forensic detail in her journal: ‘The Shah is fairly tall & not fat, has a fine countenance & is very animated. 

He wore a plain coat (a tunic) full in the skirt & covered with very fine jewels, enormous rubies as buttons & diamond ornaments.

After the presentations of family and household by both sides: ‘ I asked him to sit down, which we did on 2 chairs in the middle of the room (very absurd it must have looked, & I felt very shy), my daughters sitting on the sofa.’ 

After she’d invested the Shah with the Order of the Garter, ‘he then took my hand & put it to his lips & I saluted him.’

Over luncheon in the Oak Room, the Shah was clearly on best behaviour, avoiding the meat course and the unfamiliar cutlery, opting for just fruit and iced water. 

A band played followed by bagpipes: ‘the Pipers at Dessert, walking round the table, which seemed to delight the Shah.’

On his return to Persia, the Shah published his diary account of his European tour. Victoria was given an English translation of it and was flattered to read: 

‘The age of the Sovereign is 50, [she was actually 54], but looks no more than 40. She is very cheerful and pleasant of countenance.’ 

He was however intrigued to see Prince Leopold in his kilt and noted in the diary: ‘This son today had come to the station to meet me. He is very young-looking and very graceful. 

He wore the Scotch costume. The peculiarity of the Scotch costume is this: the knees are left visible up to the thighs.’

The day after the meeting at Windsor, the relieved Queen wrote to Vicky: ‘The Shah’s visit went off admirably and he certainly is very intelligent, but I thought him very dignified. There was nothing to shock one at all in his eating or anything else.’

Of course, at this stage Victoria had no idea the Persians were by then happily barbecuing inside her London palace. 

Smoke was also pouring from the outside of the palace as courtiers had for some odd reason arranged a demonstration by the London Fire Brigade. 

The Shah watched on as firefighters carried out a mock rescue of burnt and half-burnt ‘victims’ from the top floor of the palace. 

Some were carried over the shoulder in a firemen’s lift while others were let down on ropes. The pyromaniacal Persian wrote ‘they have invented a beautiful way of saving men.’

After firefighters it was the turn of prize-fighters to entertain the Shah, as the desperate courtiers set up a boxing match in the garden for more oddball entertainment. 

The Shah later explained to his countrymen. 

‘To box is to strike one another with the fists which requires great skill and dexterity. But they wore on their hands a kind of large gloves stuffed with wool and cotton. Had they not worn these gloves, they would have killed one another. It was very ludicrous and amusing.’

By the time the Shah came to Windsor  to take leave of the Queen on 2nd July, she was very clearly enthralled by him. 

She gave him a guided tour of the State Apartments and at one point ‘called the Shah’s attention to the Koh-i-Noor, which I was wearing as a brooch, & he stooped to look at & touch it.’

When it came time to say farewell, the Queen joined him at the top of the staircase & ‘gave him one of my photographs signed & took him down to the door.

 He seemed quite melancholy at taking leave & kissed my hand. I wished him a good journey & health & happiness.’

In his own journal entry, the Shah recounts ‘I gave my reflexion [a photograph] to the Sovereign as a souvenir; she gave me hers and that of Prince Leopold.’ 

Then as the procession was about to leave the castle’s Quadrangle the Queen asked her photographer to take one last shot of the Shah in his carriage as a keepsake for her.

When it came to charming Victoria, the Shah certainly pressed all the right buttons. 

He told her he’d read her published memoirs ‘Leaves of a Journal of our Life in the Highlands’ in a Persian translation; he asked to see Prince Albert’s remains in the Royal Mausoleum.’

 He even visited the Albert Memorial in London ‘a structure which the Sovereign has reared to the memory of her husband.’

Victoria’s delighted report to Vicky sounds as though she might be in the running to be wife number 25. Describing the farewell at Windsor she wrote: ‘I gave him a nosegay and my photograph which he kissed (I hear) as he was leaving the station! I took him again down and he kissed my hand!’

Sir John Cowell, Master of the Household told the Queen the Shah had left a tip of £1600 (some £170,000 at today’s rate) as well as gifts for each of the gentlemen of the Household.

In the days after his departure the Shah was still very much on her mind. In her journal she writes that Princess Beatrice was reading to her out of pamphlet on Persia and on the 8th July she was ‘photographed with my Persian order for the Shah.’ 

She also commissioned the artist Nicholas Chevalier to produce a watercolour of the Shah being greeted by her at Windsor and an oil painting of the military review, both of which are still in the Royal Collection.

When it came to leaving the castle on the 11th July for Osborne a wistful Victoria wrote ‘ left Windsor at ¼ to 10, with regret, as it was looking so beautiful, & the mornings & evenings at Frogmore were so peaceful & lovely. Then too, the Shah’s visit remains a pleasant & interesting recollection.’

Gladstone’s ploy of arm-twisting the Queen into hosting the State Visit to improve Middle Eastern relations had worked in a way no one could ever have predicted. 

This includes her private secretary, Sir Henry Ponsonby, who, a year after the visit, told his wife: ‘The Shah writes to the Queen on business. A boundary question. He calls her ‘my auspicious sister of sublime nature to whose wishes events correspond.’

As Iran prepares for the 2024 elections, the country faces a backdrop of economic crisis. In a remarkable move…

As Iran prepares for the 2024 elections, the country is facing an economic crisis. In a remarkable move, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali is addressing new voters, adding an intriguing dimension to the electoral landscape.”

Iran is participating in the elections amid economic turmoil. Rising inflation, unemployment and international sanctions have created a challenging backdrop to the electoral process. Voters are keenly observing how candidates plan to address these issues.”

On rare occasions, the Supreme Leader addresses new voters directly. His message carries weight as he urges the youth to actively participate in shaping the future of the country.”

Khamenei emphasizes the importance of civic duty and calls on the youth to participate in the electoral process. Outlining key priorities, he urged voters to elect leaders who can effectively tackle economic challenges and uphold the country’s sovereignty.

Candidates present their strategies to tackle the economic crisis. From economic reforms to diplomatic initiatives, the campaigns aim to address the pressing issues affecting the lives of Iranian citizens.

The international community is closely watching the elections in Iran, taking into account the possible implications for regional dynamics and diplomatic relations. The way the newly elected leaders tackle economic challenges will undoubtedly influence global perception.

As Iran prepares to cast its vote, the confluence of economic challenges and Khamenei’s address to early voters is creating a unique political landscape. Stay tuned as we monitor developments surrounding the 2024 elections and their far-reaching implications.
#iran #iranelection #economy

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India put up a spirited battle against a much higher ranked Iran in their Group E match of the 2025 FIBA ​​Asia Cup Qualifiers but ended up on the losing side

New Delhi: India put up a spirited battle against a much higher ranked Iran in their Group E match of the 2025 FIBA ​​Asia Cup Qualifiers but ended up on the losing side of a 53-86 scoreline at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

India were ranked 81st in the FIBA ​​rankings and were underdogs against 27th-ranked Iran, but the hosts started on a high note as the packed stadium cheered them on throughout the hour-long match. Striker Pranav Prince impressed with the interceptions in the opening minutes as the hosts took a two-point lead in the opening minute.

Taking time to get into their rhythm, Iran pushed on and used their superior physicality to get past the Indian defense, but the hosts were certainly in the game, trailing by just three points at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians tried to counter Iran with quick runs and converted more than 40% of their two-pointers, but struggled to satisfy Iran with the rebounds and paid the price. India, who had lost their group opener against Kazakhstan, trailed 32-42 at half-time.

Pranav Prince top-scored for the hosts with 11 points, with Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Muin Bek Hafeez contributing nine points each.

For Iran, Benham Yakhchali scored 15 points, while Mohammad Amini and Salar Monji added 14 points each for the team.

Commenting on the team’s performance, Serbian Vaseline Matic, head coach of the Indian team said, “India has talent, we need more experience. We now have some head start for the next qualifier in November and the national team will participate in the club championship and several other exposure trips. We are confident that we can deliver a winning performance.”

When asked which Indian player impressed him the most and in response to the Iranian coach, Hakan Demor spoke highly of the young Indian team. He said he was very impressed with Indian striker Pranav Prince.

The US and UK have launched missile strikes against more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ‘increase in attacks’ by the terrorist organization on cargo ships.

American and British fighter jets carried out ‘necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen,’ the Pentagon has confirmed.

The joint operation targeted weapons storage facilities, drones, air defense systems, radars and a helicopter, and other unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. 

The Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the US will not tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps reiterated that it is ‘our duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation’.

But the counter-attacks have not appeared to diminish the Houthis’ campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

The US and Britain launched the counter-offensive in response to the rise in Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel. 

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following the joint attack, said the strikes were meant ‘to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia’ and vowed the group will continue to face retaliatory action for their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.

‘The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,’ Austin said in a statement.

‘We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries.’

Shapps issued a similar statement, saying the Royal Air Force aimed to ‘degrade’ Houthi weapons that have been used to ‘mount their dangerous attacks’ and thanked the ‘brave’ military members involved in the operation.

‘In recent days, we have seen severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship,’ Shapps said.

‘It is our duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation.

‘That is why the Royal Air Force engaged in a fourth wave of precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. We acted alongside our allies to further degrade Houthi drones and launchers used to mount their dangerous attacks.’

He added: ‘I thank the brave British personnel involved for their service.’ 

The US has carried out near daily strikes against the Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and have said their attacks on shipping are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.

The months of attacks by Houthis have continued and have upset global trade and raised shipping rates.

There have been at least 32 US strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement.

In addition, US warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other navy vessels. 

Earlier this week the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on an American destroyer, and they targeted Israel’s port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones.

The group’s strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal trade shortcut that accounts for about 12 per cent of global maritime traffic, and forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa.

No ships have been sunk nor crew killed during the Houthi campaign. However there are concerns about the fate of the UK-registered Rubymar cargo vessel, which was struck on Feb. 18 and its crew evacuated.

The rebels’ supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an ‘escalation in sea operations’ conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israel’s war on Hamas. 

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing on Thursday: ‘We’ve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis.

Singh also acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred, telling reporters: ‘We never said we’ve wiped off the map all of their capabilities.

‘We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and that’s because they continue to get them from Iran.’

Earlier on Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said.

The defense department added that that the missile was probably targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

The US attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage buildings, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

But while the Houthis say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war in Gaza, their targets appear to have grown more random and are endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments travelling from Asia and the Middle East onwards to Europe.

During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. 

While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the US and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.

Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope – a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage.

The threats also have led the US and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In Thursday’s attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.

Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea.

Central Command also said on Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belize-flagged ship on February 18 caused an 18-mile oil slick and the military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer.

The Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel, was attacked while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has called for other countries and maritime-protection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert ‘a significant environmental disaster’.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

An Iranian pedophile who has waged a 14-year asylum battle claims he cannot be deported because he converted to Christianity and tattooed a cross.

The 45-year-old sex offender – described as a 'danger to the community' but whom The Mail on Sunday is barred from naming by a court order – was baptized just eleven days before filing his latest legal appeal to to remain in Britain.

Last year, an immigration judge rejected his claim, ruling that his inability to acknowledge the “miserability” of his sickening crimes showed he was not a Christian.

But in a stunning development, the judge has been reprimanded by a higher court for a 'completely inappropriate analysis' of the pedophile's 'relationship with God'.

The case, which has already been heard before six judges in a seemingly endless cycle of appeals, will have to be heard again at another immigration tribunal.

The criminal, known as MM, is one of more than 300 migrants who have appealed to the Upper Tier Immigration Tribunal for converting to Christianity.

Other cases include a 43-year-old Bangladeshi man who was jailed for a minimum of 12 years for the murder of his wife, and a 37-year-old Somali career criminal who was convicted of 12 crimes, including assault and burglary.

Meanwhile, chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity, despite two convictions for assault and indecent exposure.

Police searched the Thames in central London yesterday, with officers saying they believe the 35-year-old likely drowned after falling into the river from Chelsea Bridge.

He was last seen there shortly before midnight on January 31, leaning over the railing.

Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel last night described the MM case as 'appalling', adding: 'The Church must stop providing assistance to dangerous criminals and those who seek to exploit our system.

“These violent criminals need to go from jail to plane. That's what the public expects.'

The Church of England has stressed that it is not its job to investigate asylum seekers.

Court documents obtained by the MoS reveal how MM illegally entered Britain in 2010 after leaving Iran. His first asylum application was rejected two months after his arrival, prompting a series of appeals.

Six years later, while waiting to discover whether he had been granted indefinite leave to remain, he was convicted of two charges of sexual assault and jailed for seven and a half years.

Court papers show he committed sexual offenses against a child.

He was served deportation papers in 2018, but filed a human rights appeal.

Later that year he began visiting his prison chapel. However, in early 2020, his appeal appeared to have been rejected and he was on the verge of deportation.

He then filed a new human rights claim based on the risk that he would be tortured and killed in Iran for abandoning his Muslim faith. He also claimed he would be in danger because his brother worked for the BBC.

On February 19, 2020 – 11 days before this new claim was filed – he was baptized. He also claimed to have a tattoo of a Christian cross, although the Home Office claimed his interest in Christianity only began shortly before he was imprisoned.

In March 2021, Judge Paul Cruthers allowed his appeal, ruling that MM had become 'genuinely committed to the Christian faith' and would face a 'real risk' in Iran.

The judge is said to have been 'impressed' by evidence from Wesley Downs, the boss of Christian charity Renewal North West, who ran a weekly study group at MM prison. Mr Downs declined to comment this weekend.

Later that year, Judge Cruthers' ruling was overturned by the Upper Tribunal and MM's case was sent back to the First Tier Tribunal.

This time, in a scathing ruling, a different judge dismissed MM's case, saying he did not believe his claim that he had converted to Christianity.

He slammed the perpetrator for “minimising” his crime and “blaming the victim” and said he had “failed to demonstrate that he had honestly and sincerely acknowledged the seriousness of his sexual offenses against a child.”

Despite this, MM was allowed to appeal and in a ruling last month, Judge Peter Lane of the Upper Tribunal criticized the earlier decision, saying the judge had 'embarked on an… inappropriate analysis, peppered with rhetorical questions, of the relationship of the appellant with God'.

The criticized judge was not named in publicly available documents and the judiciary declined to release his name last week.