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UK’s NATO show of force ends with docked destroyer in Mediterranean after ‘technical’ issue

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The United Kingdom’s only warship deployed to the eastern Mediterranean during the Iran conflict has been forced into port over a “technical” issue, abruptly sidelining a key piece of Britain’s regional military presence as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the crisis.

The docking of HMS Dragon — a Type 45 destroyer tasked with defending U.K. assets and projecting force near the conflict zone — weakens Britain’s visible military posture at a sensitive moment, as a fragile U.S.-brokered pause takes hold and criticism from Trump administration officials and conservative voices builds over delays and restrictions that they say damaged London’s credibility with allies.

HMS Dragon was facing issues with its “onboard water systems,” which impacted water provisions for sailors on board, The Daily Mail first reported.

MULTIPLE ALLIES DECLINE US CALLS FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ SUPPORT AMID RISING MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS

“HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement to the outlet.

The ministry said in a statement to the Daily Mail that if necessary the ship will be “able to sail at short notice.”

“The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, working in coordination with allies. This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and advanced counter-drone and air defence systems.”

While the Iran war began on Feb. 28, the U.K. did not announce the deployment of HMS Dragon to protect its air bases in Cyprus until five days later. The announcement came a day after Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah struck RAF Akrotiri, one of the United Kingdom’s air bases in Cyprus. HMS Dragon did not depart from Portsmouth, England, until March 10 — a week after Starmer’s announcement.

HEGSETH DECLARES ‘DECISIVE MILITARY VICTORY’ OVER IRAN

Trump and Starmer have been at odds since the conflict’s onset. While the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. military to operate out of those bases, Starmer restricted the U.S. military from carrying out offensive missions from its bases. Trump compared Starmer’s approach to Iran to former United Kingdom Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who adopted an appeasement policy toward Nazi Germany during World War II.

During a press briefing, War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday called on “so-called allies,” referring to the United Kingdom, to “take notes” on what the U.S. and Israel accomplished.

Criticism of Starmer’s handling of Iran is also coming from United Kingdom Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly, a member of the Tory Party who is also a military reserve officer. Cleverly scrutinized Starmer’s decision to visit the Middle East after the ceasefire was brokered in an interview with GB News.

FARAGE SLAMS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER FOR ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ LACK OF SUPPORT FOR TRUMP’S IRAN STRIKES

“He was opposing the United States using their own aircraft from British bases. Then he was in favor of it. He delayed the decision to deploy British naval assets,” Cleverly said.

“He left British military personnel and our allies in the region not properly defended, and now he’s finally engaging properly with this situation,” Cleverly continued.

He claimed that Starmer’s conduct had cost the country “credibility on the world stage.”

“I know a lot of our friends and allies in the region and beyond are very disappointed in Britain’s response. And that is entirely because of decisions that Keir Starmer failed to make,” Cleverly said.

British journalist Patrick Chrysty, host of GB News, also criticized the United Kingdom’s efforts in the Iran war. He called Secretary of Defense John Healey a “bumbling idiot.”

“It took us a month to get HMS Dragon to Cyprus after Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah attacked our military base there… And right as the world holds its breath, HMS Dragon has a fault with its fresh water supply. It’s gone to dock for repairs. It’s out of action. This is an abomination!”

John Hemmings, director of the National Security Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that Starmer’s visit to the Gulf is his way of showing the United Kingdom is in support of Western allies’ efforts in Iran.

“UK Prime Minister Starmer’s trip to the Persian Gulf shows the pressure he is under to ‘fly the flag’ and it’s clear that he’s trying to use Britain’s traditional networks and connections amongst the Gulf Arabs. In some ways, the Starmer team’s behind-the-scenes mediation strengths were proven in the Hamas-Israel peace deal with Jonathan Powell leading,

“This time, Yvette Cooper at the FCDO has been in the lead, running a virtual meeting of over 40 countries to coordinate a response to Iran’s blockade in early April.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense for comment.

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Kirk Cousins reveals how a FaceTime call with Tom Brady sealed his decision to join the Raiders

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Tom Brady is not only a seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he’s also a great recruiter.

New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins credited Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, for giving him a big nudge during his free-agency decision.

“I texted (Brady), asked him to call me when he could, and he actually FaceTimed me—I was at youth baseball practice. So, I stepped away and just FaceTimed with Tom for a minute just to kind of get on the same page and understand his vision for the organization and kind of what he saw up ahead and if I would be a good fit for it or not,” Cousins said during a recent appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

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“And I got off the call and I called my wife and I said, ‘That was a really life-giving call with Tom.’ You know, he gets it. He’s been where I’ve been and then some, and I think he understands what it—what it needs to look like, what it will look like, and I felt really like a shot in the arm, um, you know, after talking to him. And I felt like that was a big nudge for me to come to Vegas.”

Cousins said Brady has been “great” throughout the process and that his conversation with the New England Patriots legend was one of many he had while doing homework on the Raiders. The 37-year-old said Brady was in the building for the first day of OTAs and wants to be a resource.

PROJECTED TOP PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA MAKES BIG NFL DRAFT DECISION: REPORT

“He just wants to be a resource. I don’t know that he’s going to be around all the time, but he’s always a phone call, text away. And I think to have a guy who’s won seven Super Bowls, a phone call or text away who’s embedded in your organization, that’s got to be a positive,” Cousins said.

While the Raiders are widely expected to take Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, there is no guarantee he will start in Week 1. Brady and general manager John Spytek have said numerous times that they believe in not playing a young quarterback right away, making it no sure thing that Mendoza would start Week 1.

Cousins also has familiarity with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak. During Cousins’ time with the Minnesota Vikings, Kubiak was his quarterbacks coach for two seasons and his offensive coordinator for another.

The Raiders’ plan could be to sit Mendoza under Cousins until they think he is ready to start and become the face of their franchise.

In 10 games and eight starts last season with the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. The team had a 5-3 record in his starts, including winning the last four.

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Charlotte light rail murder suspect ruled incompetent to stand trial as history of crazed claims trails case

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The man accused of killing a young woman on a North Carolina light-rail train has been deemed incompetent to stand trial following a mental evaluation, according to newly released court documents. 

Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is charged in the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska, 23, while aboard the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte on Aug. 22, 2025. 

However, a report stemming from Brown’s time as a patient at Central Regional Hospital determined he was “incapable to proceed” in his upcoming criminal trial, according to court documents obtained by Fox News. 

Brown, a homeless man diagnosed with schizophrenia, is currently in federal custody on separate charges relating to the alleged murder.

CHARLOTTE RAIL MURDER SUSPECT LINKED TO INMATE RELEASE APPROVED UNDER EX-DEM GOVERNOR, GOP ALLEGES

Brown’s attorneys have since asked the court to reschedule a hearing scheduled for April 30, noting that any attempt to “restore capacity” regarding his mental state cannot be established while he remains in federal custody. 

The request will ultimately delay Brown’s case as he awaits a psychiatric evaluation. 

Brown, a parolee with numerous run-ins with the law, reportedly has a history of mental illness, according to family members.

IRYNA’S LAW BRANDED ‘POLITICAL AGENDA’ AS SHERIFF WARNS OF JAIL OVERCROWDING

By March 2024, authorities had already documented six interactions with Brown, including various welfare checks in response to repeated 911 calls he made, according to The New York Times. 

Just one year later, Brown placed a 911 call from Novant Presbyterian Hospital in which he said he needed help removing a “man-made” material that was controlling him, the Charlotte Observer reported

When officers arrived on scene, they reportedly told him they were unable to help. 

IRYNA ZARUTSKA’S FAMILY DEMANDS JUSTICE IN FIRST STATEMENT SINCE ‘HORRIFIC’ STABBING

Brown made similar claims in a jailhouse phone call to his sister just days after Zarutska’s alleged murder.

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In the call obtained by the Daily Mail, Brown said he did not understand why he stabbed the 23-year-old refugee while claiming that the government had implanted “materials” in his brain that were “controlling” his actions.

“They just lashed out on her, that’s what happened,” Brown said. “Whoever was working the materials they lashed out on her. That’s all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to… Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened.”

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Surveillance video shows Zarutska entering the train car and sitting down in front of Brown. 

Roughly four minutes later, Brown allegedly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed her three times from behind before departing the train.

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Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene, with Brown being taken into custody minutes later on the light rail platform. 

Brown is facing both federal and state charges stemming from the alleged attack, and is expected to remain in federal custody as he awaits trial.

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A U.S. magistrate judge previously ordered a second federal psychiatric exam ahead of his pending case, according to the Charlotte Observer. 

Brown’s attorney has reportedly asked that his state hearing be postponed for six months, with prosecutors agreeing with the delay.

Brown’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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Paulina Porizkova says modeling taught her to ‘do as you’re told’ including taking off her clothes

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From her childhood with a hard-to-please mother to her youthful modeling days, Paulina Porizkova said she felt trained to do as she was told — even when that meant taking her top off.

“When I began modeling at 15, it was just the same story all over again,” the former supermodel said after talking about feeling like she had to put on a show to please her single mom who paid little attention to her as a child.

“The quickest way to get out of a situation was do as you’re told,” she said on the “Twenty Good Summers” podcast with her fiancé Jeff Greenstein. “And if that meant taking my top off and if that meant doing x,y, and z, well, then I just did that because that was the easiest way to get through it and also to please people.”

Porizkova explained that “being loved for who you are” is something that escaped her until she was 58.

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE ‘CRINGES’ AT KELLY BUNDY’S ‘FULL ROCK S–T’ STATUS: ‘WOULDN’T HAVE A SHOT IN HELL TODAY’

She said as a child her parents “didn’t actually like me unless I performed,” remembering when she was watching a community theater show at about three years old and her father prodded her to get on stage.

“I remember the lights being so incredibly bright that I couldn’t see my parents, and I couldn’t see anything beyond the stage itself. And I was f—ing terrified,” the 60-year-old said. “I was so scared. And I thought, well, the quickest way to get this over and done with is to sing a song. If I sing the song, then they will just sweep me back off.”

She said the audience liked her, and she got a taste of validation.

MORGAN FAIRCHILD REFUSED TO ‘SELL MY SOUL’ FOR HOLLYWOOD FAME

“My parents seemed to like me better when I could do things like that,” she admitted. “Otherwise, they didn’t seem to pay a whole lot of attention to me.”

She said she learned early “that nobody really cared about what I wanted or how I felt. That it was all about putting on a show. This is the only way people are going to like you,” adding that she felt she always had to be on her “best behavior.”

Like most people, she said she spent her 20s trying to figure out who she was and “how to please people.” And “so this is the beauty of getting older is that you kind of figure out who you are, what you’re good at, what you’re bad at. And then past 50 for us women who start being invisible anyway, we go, well, you know what? F— other people’s assumptions and expectations. I’m just going to be who I am. Like, I’m just going to try out to actually be the person that I’ve always known that I was.”

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Earlier this year, Porizkova detailed some of the sexual harassment she experienced in the fashion industry at just 15 years old.

“Sometimes the people I was seeing were well-dressed and in offices, and sometimes they were middle-aged guys in messy apartments who just wanted to take a few casual photos of me — you know, preferably topless,” she said in a social media post. “I’ve lost count of the amount of men in open bathrobes who greeted me in their hotel rooms or apartments where I have been sent by an agency or clients.”

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Porizkova, who made history in 1984 as the first Central European woman to land a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, noted that the advances were not limited to messy apartments.

She recalled well-dressed older men frequently inviting her to parties, yachts and tropical villas.

For years, the supermodel believed these encounters were simply part of the paycheck.

“I took it all for granted,” Porizkova admitted, “that my job was to take my clothes off, put my clothes back on and then learn how to creatively fend off horny men so that you don’t offend them and lose a job.”

Fox News’ Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

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