VOUX MAG

And yes, it's clear games are won on the field, not with praise in the offseason.

How important of a factor was this in the Giants' quest to set a new tone under John Harbaugh?

Harbaugh left no doubt as far as the significance of not allowing opponents to impose their will on the ground back at the Scouting Combine in late February.

"Well, we better [be improved] - it's a must thing, I can tell you that," Harbaugh said. "There's a lot to it. There's three levels and layers to your defense, and all three layers and levels have got to be committed to and incorporated in stopping the run, no doubt. Every single one of the 11 guys has got to be committed to stopping the run. You can't let people run all over you, there's no doubt about it."

It's not like Harbaugh went out on a limb with his declaration about fixing the Giants' 31st-ranked run defense from a year ago. Then All-Pro Dexter Lawrence was traded with team brass adhering to his request for the 10th overall pick from theBengalsthat they used on offensive lineman Sisi Mauigoa, who is penciled in as the starting right guard on the opposite side of the ball.

Yet somehow, the Giants have managed to rework and reshape their defense under new coordinator Dennard Wilson, and no one is pretending the bar was set too high coming off the last two years.

Under former DC Shane Bowen, who was fired with a month left in the 2025 season, the Giants allowed 5.3 yards per carry and surrendered 2,470 total rushing yards, finishing 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game with 145.3 yards per contest. They also gave up 21 rushing touchdowns, the second-most in the league, and allowed 69 runs of 20+ yards.

So here's where things stand as the Giants continue through their offseason program post-NFL Draft with rookie camp on tap for this weekend:

New York Giants defensive line depth chart

• Who's here (projected starter in bold, rookies in italics):D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris,Darius Alexander, Leki Fotu, Roy Robertson-Harris, Sam Roberts, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Zacch Pickens, Elijah Chatman, Marlon Tuipulotu, Anquin Barnes(undrafted free agent), Ben Barten (undrafted free agent)

Lawrence's departure to Cincinnati put pressure on the front office and the coaches to figure out ways to replace him. It was a huge void, and while the right move was to trade one of the team's foundational pieces, his exit left a gaping hole.

How Giants newcomers D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris fit on defense

Reader has been an elite run stopper in his career, and while he is about to enter his age 32 season, there is enough quality play left in his game to believe he can be a big part of this effort. He often occupies double teams at nose tackle, and has been a part of winning in recent seasons from the Bengals' run to the Super Bowl to the last two seasons for the Lions near the top of the NFC.

Meanwhile, Harris has played an integral role in Cleveland's strong front, complementing star Myles Garrett on the interior. He's more of a three-technique and can play alongside Reader.

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Neither veteran will be a full-time, three-down player in terms of eating the number of snaps the way Lawrence did. But it's important to note that, with the rest of the talent the Giants have to deploy in their pass rush, the primary responsibility will be in getting this defense into those favorable scenarios.

An overlooked gem: Darius Alexander

There is an open spot in the starting lineup beside Reader and Harris, and Alexander should get the first chance to put his development on display. He showed well down the stretch of his rookie season and more will be expected. Check that: more will be needed, and if the Giants can get Alexander to become the caliber of player they hoped when they drafted him, he'll be an overlooked gem.

Could Roy Robertson-Harris find himself on the way out?

Another returnee in Roy Robertson-Harris was initially viewed as a potential cap casualty, but prior to the Reader and Harris additions - not to mention Fotu's arrival - he was in the starting lineup. That may longer be the case, and if Robertson-Harris finds himself fighting for a role, he might land on the wrong side of that. He could face the possibility of being forced to take a pay cut or being released if the depth around him pans out.

Auburn's Bobby Jamison-Travis, one of the Giants' three sixth-round picks, is an accomplished run stuffer who could grab a rotational role as a rookie. They also claimed Zacch Pickens off waivers from the Chiefs on Tuesday.

Impact of inside linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese

The history in Baltimore at the position during Harbaugh's 18-year tenure speaks for itself. He had All-Pros in Ray Lewis and C.J. Mosley in the middle of talented defenses. TheRavensalso had Patrick Queen, a first-round pick, and when that did not pan out to the level theRavenshoped, they went and traded for another All-Pro in Roquan Smith.

Enter Tremaine Edmunds and the somewhat surprising addition of first-round draft pick Arvell Reese.

Calling Reese solely a pass rusher during the pre-draft process led many to miss out on what his fit with the Giants will be. He's a projection in that role and putting him in that room doesn't truly represent his value. Because his comfort as an off-ball LB provides this defense another weapon and in theory strengthens the entire unit. He'll play "WILL" 'backer next to Edmunds, who was one of the Giants' big ticket newcomers on the free agent market.

The Giants have not had a pair of linebackers with this level of athleticism and length in the middle of their defense in quite some time. Micah McFadden signed a one-year prove-it deal after missing all but one game last year with a foot injury, so he should also find a role. Watch out for sixth-round rookie Jack Kelly who could put the squeeze on the rest of the depth chart, including 2024 sixth rounder Darius Muasau.

The edge group of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chauncey Golston represents the deepest and most talented of any on the team. Teams attacked the Giants on the edges last year, and not solely because of their outside 'backers, but the lack of awareness in the run game from the back end.

Why Colton Hood represents upgrade in run defense, too

Hood is strong and physical on the boundary, and yes, his presence in the secondary as a cover guy should show up immediately. He's also been very good in the run defense, and the biggest reason why former first-round pick Tae Banks fell out of favor initially under the previous coaching staff was his apparent unwillingness to be sound in that aspect.

The Giants are going to play the corners that prove they can contribute on early downs. There won't be any running from that responsibility under Wilson and if Harbaugh has any say in the matter, which he absolutely does.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com:NY Giants run defense overhaul fueled by John Harbaugh’s standard

Israel's new air force chief said on Tuesday that the country was prepared to deploy its entire fleet of fighter jets against Iran if necessary.

"We are closely monitoring the developments in Iran and are prepared to deploy the entire air force eastward if required," Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler said at a ceremony where he assumed command from his predecessor, Tomer Bar.

Iran vows "firm response" if ships diverge from declared corridor in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned on Tuesday that it would respond firmly to any ships that diverge from the Islamic Republic's approved route through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We warn all vessels planning to transit the Strait of Hormuz that the only safe passage is the corridor previously announced by Iran. Any diversion of ships to other routes is dangerous and will result in a firm response from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy," it said in a statement carried by state television.

The warning came on the second day of a U.S. effort to facilitate the transit of commercial ships through the waterway, which Iran closed in response to the U.S.-Israeli war.

Iran's Foreign Ministry insists "no hostility toward Arab countries of the Gulf," despite ongoing attacks

Iran bears "no hostility toward Arab countries of the Gulf," the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei insisted Tuesday, but he warned Iran's neighbors against what he called a reliance on "imported security."

In remarks to Iran's state-runIRNA news agency, Baqaei called the U.S. military presence "the only source of insecurity" in the region and said Gulf states were exposing themselves to risk rather than finding protection by allying with Washington.

He gave the statement shortly before the United Arab Emirates reported incoming Iranian missile and drone fire for a second consecutive day. Monday's attacks, which UAE authorities said included 15 Iranian missiles and numerous drones, were the first since the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8.

"Iranians never surrender under pressure," said Baqaei, insisting that all of Iran's actions were defensive, targeting U.S. military assets and bases used for operations against Iran, and not aimed at harming other regional countries.

Trump says "we don't want to go in and kill people"

President Trump said he doesn't want to send U.S. forces into Iran, calling on the Islamic Republic to "do the smart thing."

"They should do the smart thing because we don't want to go in and kill people, really," Mr. Trump told reporters during an Oval Office event. "I don't want to, I don't want to. It's too tough."

The president made the comment while talking about Iran's fragile economy, which is facing skyrocketing inflation under the strain of the war and Western sanctions.

"I hope it fails," Mr. Trump said. "You know why? Because I want to win."

Arab interior ministers condemn Iran's renewed attacks on UAE

Arab interior ministers condemned Iran's renewed attacks on the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE said Tuesday that Iran had targeted it with a missile and drone attack for a second consecutive day after Iranfired 15 missilesat the Gulf nation on Monday, wounding at least three workers.

On Tuesday, the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, which consists of the 22 members of the League of Arab States, "strongly condemned renewed Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates, targeting civilian and economic sites with missiles and drones," according to Sana, theSyrian state news agency.

Trump says Iran will be on agenda during China visit

President Trump said the Iran war will be on the agenda when he meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing next week.

"I'll be talking about that, that'll be one subject," Mr. Trump said. "But, he's been very nice about this."

The president reiterated his offer for China, which relies on oil from the Middle East, to send tankers to Alaska, Louisiana and Texas instead.

Trump says Iran knows "what not to do" during ceasefire

President Trump was asked during an Oval Office event what action by Iran would be considered a violation of the ceasefire after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire Monday.

"You'll find out because I'll let you know," Mr. Trump told reporters. "They know what to do, and they know what not to do more importantly, actually."

Trump says Iran doesn't like "playing games" with U.S.

President Trump briefly addressed the Iran war at the beginning of an Oval Office event after complimenting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was standing near the president.

Mr. Trump said Hegseth gave a "great news conference" with Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"They don't like playing games with us," Mr. Trump said, referring to Iran. "They don't like it at all. You'll see that. As time goes by, you're going to see it. I think you've already seen it. We basically wiped out their military in about two weeks."

UAE reports new "missile and drone attacks originating from Iran"

"The UAE's air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran," the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense said Tuesday in a social media post.

Iran launched 15 missiles at the UAE on Monday, in the first such attacks since a U.S.-Iran ceasefire came into effect on April 8. Tension between Washington and Iran soared again on Monday as the U.S. began a new military operation, dubbed Project Freedom, to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz in defiance of Iranian threats to the vital waterway.

In addition to the attacks on the UAE, which caused a fire at the sprawling Fujairah industrial complex and wounded at least three workers, Iran also renewed attacks on commercial vessels Monday, targeting at least two ships with drones and disabling one.

UAE air defenses were "actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats" again on Tuesday, the defense ministry said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegesth said Tuesday that, despite the renewed violence, "right now, the ceasefire certainly holds," but he warned the Trump administration was closely monitoring Tehran's actions, and that the military remained poised "to restart major combat operations if necessary."

CENTCOM says 51 vessels "directed to turn around or return to port" by U.S. blockade

The U.S. military's Central Command said in asocial media postthat 51 vessels "have been directed to turn around or return to port" as of Tuesday under the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and Iran-linked vessels.

Iran has blasted the blockade as a violation of the ceasefire with the U.S., and the Islamic Republic regime insists it controls maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to attack ships that try to transit the narrow waterway, with or without U.S. military assistance.

On Monday, as the first two commercial vessels were escorted through the strait with U.S. protection under Project Freedom, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at the vessels. President Trump said seven or eight small Iranian military boats were destroyed in the encounter.

Iran claims some tankers loaded with its energy products are getting through the strait to reach customers in Asia, but the Pentagon insists no Iranian or sanctioned vessel has made it through the blockade.

Germany sends minesweeping ship to Mediterranean ahead of possible mission to help clear Strait of Hormuz

Germany is sending a minesweeping vessel from its navy to the Mediterranean, ready for potential participation in a future effort to clear the Strait of Hormuz, theDer Spiegelnews magazine says, citing the country's Defense Ministry.

The Fulda left the Kiel-Wik naval base Monday, breaking off a previous deployment as part of a NATO mission.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stressed that repositioning the ship would save time if a decision was made by the government to join an international effort to clear the Middle Eastern waterway, but that any such deployment remained contingent on an end to hostilities between Iran and the U.S. and Israel.

France and the U.K. have led efforts to build a coalition of nations willing to help ensure the strait remains safe and passable after the war, amid sharp criticism from President Trump at all NATO allies for declining to join offensive efforts against Iran.

Lebanese president says army should be "sole authority for security" in long-time Hezbollah stronghold

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday that the country's army should be the "sole authority for security" in the south of the country, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah has long had a major presence.

Hezbollah has criticized the ceasefire agreed to by the Israeli and Lebanese governments in mid-April, with one lawmaker from the group last week calling it "appeasement."

Both Hezbollah and the Israeli military have launched regular attacks since the U.S.-brokered truce began, both claiming to act in self-defense and accusing the other side of breaching the deal.

During a meeting Tuesday with local leaders from southern Lebanon, which has been a base of Hezbollah's operations for decades as it fired rockets at northern Israel, Aoun said "when the south is exhausted, the whole of Lebanon is affected. It is time for the south… to rest."

"The negotiation path is the only option left after other solutions, including war, have been exhausted," he said in a statement posted onX. "It is time for [the army] to return fully and assume its responsibilities as the sole authority for security there."

"Those attempting to stir sectarian or religious strife will not succeed, because civil peace is a red line," he said, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

Hegseth says U.S. military is "locked, loaded and ready to go" if necessary as clashes test ceasefire

As the U.S.-Iran ceasefire continues, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said President Trump "retains the opportunity and the capabilities — more capabilities than we had at the start of this — to restart major combat operations if necessary."

"If Iran is not willing to follow through on its side of the bargain or make a deal, then the War Department is postured, locked, loaded and ready to go," he said.

"We hope it doesn't have to go in that direction," Hegseth added, but he said U.S. forces were "in a three-point stance and ready to go."

U.S. renews call for citizens to "depart now" as Iraq reopens airspace for limited commercial flights

Iraq has reopened its airspace with limited commercial flights available, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq said Tuesday, reminding Americans of standing guidance for anyone considering air travel within Iraq to "be aware of the ongoing potential risks posed by missiles, drones, and rocket-propelled grenades in Iraqi airspace."

In a post onX, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad also reiterated the standing guidance to not travel to Iraq for any reason and for citizens to "Depart now if you are there."

"Iraq's Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to plan additional attacks against American citizens and U.S.-associated targets throughout Iraq," the embassy said. "Additionally, certain entities affiliated with the Iraqi government continue to provide political, financial, and operational cover for these terrorist militias."

Hegseth says "right now, the ceasefire certainly holds"

Secretary of Defense PeteHegseth told reporters Tuesday that "the ceasefire is not over"with Iran, calling the Project Freedom operation to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz "a separate and distinct project."

"We expected there would be some churn at the beginning, which happened, and we said we would defend and defend aggressively and we absolutely have," he said, referring to a violent encounter between the U.S. and Iran on Monday during the first Project Freedom operation to guide two commercial vessels through the strait.

Hegseth said "Iran knows" the U.S. military is resolved to continue with Project Freedom, "and ultimately the president's going to make a decision whether anything were to escalate into a violation of a ceasefire. But certainly we would urge Iran to be prudent in the actions that they take to keep that underneath this threshold."

The defense secretary said "right now, the ceasefire certainly holds." But he noted that "we're going to be watching very, very closely."

Caine says clashes with Iran so far "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations"

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, speaking at the briefing alongside Hegseth, said beyond the operation in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. forces "remain ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so."

"No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve," he added.

Caine outlined that on Sunday, CENTCOM initiated Project Freedom at the president's direction, "with the objective of facilitating the safe passage of international, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz."

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He said guided missile destroyers and warships are "detecting and defeating Iranian threats," while more than 100 aircraft are in the air providing defensive overwatch. He said the forces are made up of over 15,000 American service members.

"Commercial vessels that transit through the area will see, hear and frankly feel U.S. combat around them — on the sea, in the skies and on the radio," Caine said.

Caine said Iran had attacked U.S. forces "more than 10 times" since President Trump first announced the ongoing ceasefire on April 8, but said that fell "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations."

"Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships," Caine said. "And they've attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point."

Hegseth says Project Freedom not part of wider war effort, "and temporary in duration"

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday defined Project Freedom, a day-old U.S. military operation to assist commercial vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf to get out via the Strait of Hormuz, as completely separate from hostilities with Iran that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on the country on Feb. 28.

"This operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration, with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression," Hegseth said at a press briefing.

Hegseth said American forces would not need to enter Iranian waters or airspace for Project Freedom, adding: "We're not looking for a fight."

"But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway," he said, calling Iran the "clear aggressor," and accusing the Islamic Republic regime of "weaponizing a critical chokepoint for its own financial benefit."

"Iran's plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable," Hegseth said. "That ends with Project Freedom."

Hegseth said U.S. warships and aircraft assisting two commercial vessels to transit the strait on Monday showed "the lane is clear."

He said U.S. Central Command was actively communicating with hundreds of ships from around the world that "want to get out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside."

"We'd prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft and this mission without gestation," he said. "To Iran: Let innocent ships pass freely. These international waters belong to all nations, not to Iran to tax, toll for control."

Iranian news agency claims U.S.-flagged commercial ships stuck in shallow, rocky area off Oman

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, which is associated with the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed Tuesday that two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels had become stranded off Oman's coast in shallow, rocky waters near the southern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

The report came a day after the U.S. military said warships and aircraft hadassisted two U.S.-flagged ships in transiting the straitas part of the newly launched Project Freedom.

Danish shipping giant Maersk confirmed to CBS News on Tuesday that one of the ships guided out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, under U.S. military protection, was the cargo ship ALLIANCE FAIRFAX.

Maersk did not give a precise location for the vessel but said it had "exited the Persian Gulf accompanied by U.S. military assets" on Monday and that the company "looks forward to the ALLIANCE FAIRFAX returning to its normal commercial service."

Under Project Freedom, the U.S. military has urged vessels to coordinate passage through the strait via a southerly route, skirting Oman's coast, rather than the normal route through the middle of the waterway, where there are believed to be sea mines. Iranian authorities previously told ships to use a northern path, but only after gaining explicit permission from the Islamic Republic's military.

Fars claimed the southern section of the strait, near Oman's Musandam Peninsula and the Al Kheil islands, is unsuitable for maritime passage due to shallow waters and rocky terrain.

According to theStrauss Center for International Security and Law, however, the strait "is deep and relatively free of maritime hazards," and is actually deepest "near the Musandam Peninsula and tapers as you move north toward the Iranian shore."

According to the Strauss Center, which is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin, the water is "deep enough for large ships to travel through an Inshore Traffic Zone south of the Omani island of Didimar. Depths in this area reach over 650 feet, but the Omani government restricts access to this area to smaller vessels in normal, peacetime situations."

Senior Iranian commander predicts U.S. "will ultimately be defeated," as Trump again says U.S. has already won

A high-ranking commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned Tuesday that any further "escalation of tensions between Iran and the U.S." would bring a "much more severe" outcome for the U.S., which he said "will ultimately be defeated," despite the Iran's military being vastly outgunned.

President Trump downplayed a clash between U.S. warships and Iranian forces on Monday during which American ships and aircraft destroyed seven Iranian fast boats. Speaking later in the day with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Mr. Trump renewed his assertion that the U.S., "from the military standpoint," has already won the war, saying all of Iran's navy ships were "at the bottom of the sea."

Nonetheless, Major General Yadollah Javani, deputy IRGC commander for political affairs, said Tuesday that if there was further escalation between Iran and the U.S., the fallout "will be much more severe for the latter."

"The U.S. will flex its muscles, but will ultimately be defeated," he claimed in remarks carried by Iran's state-runPress TV.

The commander renewed Iran's threat to shipping after the first operation under the U.S Project Freedom to get commercial vessels through the strait, warning that any ship wishing to transit the waterway must do so with permission from the Iranian Armed Forces "in order to stay safe."

Iran's foreign minister to visit Beijing for talks on bilateral ties and "international developments"

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was headed to China's capital Beijing on Tuesday for discussions on bilateral ties between the two countries and on "international developments" amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Araghchi and the foreign ministry confirmed his trip on Tuesday, saying he would meet for the talks with his counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, but offering no additional information.

China has portrayed itself as a neutral party during the two-month war, calling often for diplomacy to end the conflict, but continuing to support its trade partner by buying Iranian energy — reportedly even since the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and vessels.

American intelligence agencies detected signs early in the war that Russia and China were both supporting Iran in a bid to blunt the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations.

U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analysts assessed that China had been considering whether to provide Tehran with advanced radar systems, multiple U.S.officials familiar with the matter told CBS Newsin mid-April.

South Korean ship hit by Iranian fire disabled and waiting for a tow into Dubai port

A South Korean cargo ship that President Trump said was hit by an Iranian attack Monday in the Strait of Hormuz was waiting to be towed into Dubai's port Tuesday after being disabled by the strike, according to South Korea's state-ownedYonhapnews agency.

The ship's operator, Seoul-based logistics company HMM, confirmed a fire on board the NAMU had knocked out the vessel's primary power supply Monday, leaving the ship unable to move on its own power.

Yonhap said six South Korean sailors were planning to return home, while 24 others of various nationalities were to remain on board, where a backup generator was keeping the lights on, and HMM said there were adequate food and water supplies.

"The conditions are for the crew to disembark if they decide to disembark, but it seems that the fire suppression has been completed and there are no additional risk factors, so it is determined that they will stay on the ship," Yonhap quoted an HMM representative as saying.

South Korea's governmentsaid earlier Tuesday that it would "review its position"on joining U.S. military operations to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called explicitly for Seoul to do so in light of the attack on the NAMU.

Saudi Arabia calls for "de-escalation, restraint" and diplomacy amid "military escalation in the region"

After Iran launched its first attack on a Persian Gulf neighbor in almost a month on Monday, lashing out as the U.S. started an operation to guide tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's government issued a call for "de-escalation, restraint" and diplomacy.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry voiced concern over the "current military escalation in the region" and called for "de-escalation, restraint, and support for Pakistani mediation and diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution that prevents the region from sliding into further tension and instability, which is not in the interest of the region or the world."

The Saudi government also stressed "the importance of restoring international maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to its normal state," demanding that all ships "be guaranteed safe and secure passage without restrictions."

Top Iranian negotiator claims "status quo is intolerable for" U.S., while Iran has "not even started"

Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States warned Tuesday that his country has "not even started" in its standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.

"We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; whilst we have not even started yet," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a social media post.

Ghalibaf, who's also the speaker of Iran's parliament, said the actions of the U.S. and its allies had put shipping security at risk but said their "malign presence will diminish."

South Korea to review joining U.S. Hormuz operation

South Korea said Tuesday it will "review its position" on joining U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump urged Seoul to take part in what he has dubbed "Project Freedom," in the wake of an apparent Iranian attack on one of its ships.

An explosion and fire were reported on a South Korean cargo vessel on Monday in the key waterway, which has been effectively blocked since the Mideast war erupted on Feb. 28.

South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday that all 24 crew members aboard the stricken HMM Namu — including six South Korean nationals — were unharmed and the fire on the vessel had been "completely extinguished."

Mr. Trump said the incident should prompt South Korea to join American efforts to guide stranded ships through the strait, a major artery for the fuel exports that Seoul relies on.

On Tuesday, South Korea's defense ministry said it would "carefully review our position" but didn't commit to any change.

Seoul would consider its stance based on international law, the safety of international maritime routes, its alliance with the United States and the security situation on the Korean peninsula, the ministry said.

It added that it had been "actively participating in international discussions on cooperation to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

The HMM Namu is almost 590 feet long and sails under the flag of Panama, data from tracking site MarineTraffic shows.

Maersk says ship transited Strait of Hormuz under U.S. escort

Denmark's freight giant Maersk said on Tuesday that one of its ships has successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. escort.

The ship, the U.S.-flagged Alliance Fairfax, had been stuck in the Gulf since the war erupted in February and was "offered the opportunity" to leave accompanied by the U.S. military, Maersk said in a statement.

"The vessel subsequently exited the Persian Gulf accompanied by U.S. military assets" on May 4, the company said, adding that "the transit was completed without incident, and all crew members are safe and unharmed."

2 U.S. Navy destroyers transit Strait of Hormuz after dodging Iranian onslaught

Two U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf after navigating an Iranian barrage, according to defense officials who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters.

The USS Truxtun and USS Mason, supported by Apache helicopters and other aircraft, faced a series of coordinated threats during the passage, the defense officials said. Iran launched small boats, missiles and drones against them in what officials described as a sustained barrage.

Despite the intensity of the attacks, neither U.S. vessel was struck.

Military officials said that defensive measures, bolstered by air support, successfully intercepted or deterred each incoming threat. They added that no projectiles that were launched reached the ships.

Read more here.

Iran's foreign minister says "talks are making progress," but Project Freedom can't solve a political crisis

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday talks with the U.S. are making progress but criticized the U.S. military's Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Events in Hormuz make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis," Araghchi said in asocial media post."As talks are making progress with Pakistan's gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE."

"Project Freedom is Project Deadlock," he added.

Cosmetic Interventions Ethics

But when the 25-year-old from Southern California gives serious thought to the idea of repeatedly having to get the cosmetic procedure — it only lasts about a year — she wonders if a surgical implant would be more practical, even though the prospect of surgery scares her.

“I just try to remember self-love, you know? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she says as she verbally processes her internal struggle and talks herself out of getting any work done for now.

Technological advancements over recent decades have made various forms of body modification increasingly accessible — and inescapable on many social media algorithms.

As injectableslike Botox,cosmetic plastic surgeries andGLP-1 medicationssuch as Ozempic become more pervasive, people — often but not exclusively women — are grappling with the philosophical and ethical implications of turning to these interventions in a ceaseless quest for beauty, youth and conformity.

“We need to have a wider conversation about how to think about this in a way where we’re not putting the burden squarely on women, while also not taking away their moral agency,” said Natalie Carnes, a feminist theologian at Duke Divinity School. “Beauty is something that’s good. And beauty is something that is good to pursue. Botox and Ozempic and face-lifts, they’re all ways of really narrowing the cultural ideals of beauty.”

There has been little in the way of official guidance or explicit prohibitions from major religions. But a growing chorus of theologians, philosophers and bioethicists are calling for more conversations surrounding these procedures and treatments.

In March,the Vaticanreleased a document on Christian anthropology decrying the “cult of the body.” “Once modified, often with relentless frenzy, the body becomes a body-object in which the person-subject mirrors themselves, creating a relationship in which the person is no longer his or her body but ‘owns’ a body,” it said.

Increased — and younger — demand for intervention

Demand for cosmetic surgery in the United States has increased in recent years across all age demographics and ethnic backgrounds, says Dr. C. Bob Basu, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Forty years ago, perhaps people would think, ‘Cosmetic surgery is for the superrich or the celebrity elite. It’s not for regular folk.’ That’s not the case anymore.”

One of the biggest changes he’s seen is more young people opting for interventions.

“They’re being proactive and thinking about preventive measures, whether it be baby Botox at a younger age to prevent wrinkles from starting or maybe considering a deep plane face-and-neck-lift in the late 30s or early 40s, rather than waiting until you’re in your 60s,” he said.

But despite its increasing ubiquity, many bioethicists say plastic surgery is not prioritized in their training.

“If you’re getting into bioethics and you rotate to learn about medicine, you go to the ICU, you go to places where the palliative care is for dying people, you’re looking at transplants. Nobody rotates to plastic surgery,” said Arthur Caplan, founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

As a result, plastic surgeons often must set their own boundaries for what they will and won’t do, without much specialized ethical training.

Faith in the operating room

Many religions condemn vanity and praise modesty, which can inform attitudes toward cosmetic work.

Dr. Jerry Chidester, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said he sees a broad spectrum of stances on plastic surgery within the church. Although some stricter interpretations of the faith may discourage interventions, Chidester said that attitude contrasts with the broader cultural landscape of Salt Lake City, where he’s based. Several studies suggest the area has a high number of plastic surgeons and procedures performed per capita.

When patients wrestle with whether to have an operation, Chidester tells them to not worry about what others will think.

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“I’m like, ‘Look, if you want to do this or not, it’s up to you,’” he said. “It’s literally your body. Who cares if they think you’re doing it for vanity or for function or whatever? It is none of their business.”

Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a Jewish board-certified plastic surgeon, incorporates her interpretations of parts of the Torah for guidance on thinking about when it is appropriate to modify one’s body.

“If it’s bringing distress, then it’s OK,” she said. “My patient population, they’re all pretty well adjusted, happy, successful, intelligent people. But they need help with one little thing that they’d just rather not think about anymore.”

Dr. Michael Obeng, a Christian, has seen a dramatic shift in acceptance of cosmetic procedures in the nearly 20 years he’s been practicing.

“Now people are not even hiding it. They show their plastic surgery as a badge of honor, like somebody wearing their expensive bag,” he said. “We are aging slower and of course we are working much longer than our moms and grandmothers worked. In the marketplace, we have to look presentable.”

Obeng, a board-certified surgeon in Beverly Hills, specializes in a wide range of procedures from tummy tucks and Brazilian butt lifts to rib removal surgeries. He says he rarely feels tension between his faith and his work. It wasn’t until he came to a “crossroads” in 2018, when he began thinking through his willingness to perform certain gender transition surgeries.

He sought the advice of several pastors and religious leaders about what to do. “Nobody could give me an answer,” he recalled.

He said his faith ultimately led him to limit his practice to some gender-related procedures like breast augmentation, stopping short of genital gender-affirming surgeries, which he sees as harder to reverse.

Agency versus constraint

Ivory Kellogg, a 29-year-old actor in Los Angeles, has been grappling with the tension she feels as a woman while pondering cosmetic interventions.

“There’s this expectation that once you hit 35, you think about doing a mini face-lift. That's a lot of pressure,” she said. “At the same time, I do want women to feel like they’re allowed to do whatever they want. Like if you want to have a face-lift, that’s your prerogative.”

Though opting for these interventions is often framed as a personal decision, many experts say it’s hardly that simple.

“It’s important to think about how those choices are constrained and to think about the social pressures,” said Abigail Saguy, a sociologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “This is a social issue. It is a collective problem. But it’s continually treated as an individual issue and what individual people should do.”

In some cases, as with drugs like Ozempic, these interventions can offerreal health benefits. But as their use expands beyond medical need, questions arise about how medical resources are used.

Dr. Aasim Padela, who studies bioethics and Islamic thought at the Medical College of Wisconsin, thinks a broader conversation is needed. His primary issues are the ways in which the field of medicine suffers as a result and what resources are poorly distributed when cosmetic surgery is prioritized within a society.

“The profession is supposed to be about restoring health or preventing loss of health,” he said. “Certain types of procedures, body modifications, interventions — whatever you want to call them — may not meet those goals or even be aimed at those goals.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Nepal Everest

Around 410 climbers and an equal number of their Nepali climbing guides are at the base camp gearing up for the ascent to the nearly 8,850-meter-high (around 29,000-foot-high) peak this month during the much anticipated window of good weather on the mountain.

Climbers began gathering last month at the base camp, which is at an altitude of 5,300 meters (17,340 feet). But for more than two weeks, amassive and unstable block of ice, or serac, stalled them from moving further up the peak.

“Icefall doctors,” the elite guides deployed by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, or SPCC, to lay the yearly climbing route by setting ropes and securing aluminum ladders over crevasses, usually finish the task by mid-April.

But not this year.

The team opened the Icefall route only on April 29 but also issued a warning: “The serac has multiple cracks and may collapse at any time. SPCC strongly urges all expedition operators and climbers to exercise extreme caution.”

The serac was likely to remain, and the new trail dug by the the team passes below the serac.

The serac is part of theKhumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and huge overhanging ice that can be as big as 10-story buildings. It's considered one of the most difficult and trickiest sections of the climb to the peak.

Climbers, their guides and expedition outfitters are both eager and cautious about the situation on the mountain.

Renowned mountain guideLukas Furtenbach, who has 40 international climbers, 11 guides and 90 Sherpas on Mount Everest, said that he was worried.

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“Anyone who says they’re not concerned is either inexperienced or not paying attention,” Furtenbach said from the base camp. “The serac is a real, objective hazard.”

He said that the the route was more complex and exposed than last year in one section.

“The Icefall is constantly changing, but right now it’s not just more broken — it’s also forced into a line that passes under unstable features,” he said.

This year, the team is reducing loads, minimizing exposure time, carefully timing movements through the Icefall, and relying on highly experienced Sherpa and guides for risk assessment.

Other expedition operators are also cautioning their members about the risks and closely monitoring the situation.

“If you go in the morning, it might be safer because the ice is frozen, but in the afternoon it becomes dangerous as weather gets warmer, with the risk of ice melting and falling,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa of the Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking. “It is very necessary to be cautious this year.”

A falling serac triggered an avalanche over the Khumbu Icefall in 2014 thatkilled 16 Nepali guides and workers.

There have been rising concern over the fast melting of the glaciers because of global warming and climate change. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres flew to a mountain in Nepal in 2023 andwarned of the devastating levelof melting glaciers in the Himalayan mountains.

According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, there are a good number of climbers on Mount Everest this season, despite the Iran war and increased travel costs. The number of climbers from Western countries like U.S. and Europe has decreased, but Asian climbers have increased.

Mount Everest, which straddles along the Nepal-China border, can be climbed from both sides. China, however, has closed its route this year, leaving all climbers to make their attempt from Nepal on the south side of the peak.

Thousands of people have climbed the peak since it was first scaled onMay 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

High school sports fans can vote for which boys lacrosse players they think were standouts during the previous week.

The poll will be open from Thursday through Wednesday. The winner will be announced on Thursday along with the new poll. Votes are unlimited.

Rules of the Road

Votes must be cast via the Cape Cod Times website/mobile sites. Votes submitted via email and social media will NOT be accepted. To vote for this week's Player of the Week, scroll down on this page.

Last week's winner

Ty Hawkes, Bourne/Mashpee

Hawkes won his first poll of the season with 34% of the votes. He had five goals and one assist as the Canalmen beat Old Rochester.

This week's candidates

Jack Balfour, Bourne/Mashpee

Balfour notched his 200th career point with three goals and three assists as the Canalmen beat Upper Cape 20-8.

Brady Banks, Bourne/Mashpee

Banks recorded six goals and one assist in a victory over Upper Cape.

He scored three goals and dished out two assists in a 10-6 win over Old Rochester.

Oliver Barton, Upper Cape

Barton scored nine goals and added one assist as the Rams defeated Bristol-Plymouth 14-3.

Teddy Black, Upper Cape

Black was strong in net with 17 saves as the Rams defeated Bristol-Plymouth.

Max Blake, Dennis-Yarmouth

Blake tallied a season-high five goals in a 15-6 win over Monomoy.

Izaiah Freeman, Monomoy

Freeman led the charge for the Sharks with three goals and four assists in a loss to St. Mary's (Lynn).

He then had four goals and two assists in a loss to D-Y.

Arann Hanlon, Nantucket

Hanlon scored five goals in a 17-4 win over Barnstable.

Ty Hawkes, Bourne/Mashpee

Hawkes had four goals and two assists as the Canalmen defeated Upper Cape.

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He also pitched in a hat trick and two assists in a win over Old Rochester.

Luca Mockabee, Dennis-Yarmouth

Mockabee made 14 saves in a 8-5 win over Martha's Vineyard.

Alex Morin, St. John Paul II

Morin recorded three goals, including his 100th career goal, as the Lions beat Cape Cod Academy 19-6.

Parker Philbrick, St. John Paul II

Parker Philbrick recorded his 100th career point with four goals and two assists in a loss to Rockland.

Jack Peno, Nauset

Peno finished with seven goals and four assists as the Warriors beat Martha's Vineyard 14-1.

Taylor Richardson, St. John Paul II

Richardson added five goals and an assist in a victory over Cape Cod Academy.

Charlie Seitz, Bourne/Mashpee

Seitz finished with three goals and two assists in a win over Upper Cape.

He then had one goal and three assists and notched his 200th career point in a win over Old Rochester.

Jackson Smith, Falmouth

Jackson had four goals, which included his 100th career point, in a 13-2 win over Sandwich.

Travis Smith, Falmouth

Travis won all of his face-offs and set a career mark of 1,000 face-off wins in a victory over Sandwich. He also scored four goals with an assist.

Jacoby Staruski, Upper Cape

Staruski tallied a hat trick with two assists for the Rams in a loss to Bourne/Mashpee.

Noah Stringer, Nantucket

Stringer found the back of the net five times as the Whalers beat Barnstable.

Mike Valois, Bourne/Mashpee

Valois had three goals and four assists and was 100% on face-offs in a win over Upper Cape.

Courtney Jacobs is the Sports Editor for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him atcjacobs@capecodonline.comand follow him on X: @coolinwithCJ.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription.Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times:Vote for the Cape and Islands Boys Lacrosse Player of the Week

His tenure with the Celtics went considerably worse, with the pressure to return to greatness after the longest losing streak in team history undoubtedly a factor in the several questionable 'win-now' decisions made by Pitino. The New Yorker threw in the towel after four seasons with the franchise, amassing a 102-146 record in the regular season, good for a .411 winning percentage.

He never made the postseason in his role as team president and head coach.

Historic milestones

It is also the date of Dennis Johnson's last game with the Celtics, in 1990. The game was against the Knicks, a Game 5 loss in the East Finals that had Boston finishing with a 121-114 loss. Johnson scored 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists in the final game of his career, as the Californian retired after the loss.

The Pepperdine alum played the last seven seasons of his career with the Celtics, averaging 12.6 points, 3.2 boards, and 6.4 assists with the team.

Birthdays

Today is former Boston shooting guard Oliver Lafayette's birthday, who had the briefest of Celtics tenures.

He appeared in exactly one game after signing a rest-of-season contract with the team in April 2010, scoring 7 points.

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The 1968 NBA Expansion draft was held today, in which Boston lost several players of note to help populate the rosters of the newly-formed Milwaukee Bucks andPhoenix Suns. All three players taken from the Celtics were drafted by the Bucks, starting with wing Tom Thacker. A former NCAA and NBA champion with Cincinnati and Boston respectively, Thacker chose to play in the ABA instead of reporting to Milwaukee, winning an ABA championship with theIndiana Pacers. Thacker averaged 4.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in his sole season with the Celtics.

The second player taken was forward Johnny Jones, who played just one season with Boston, winning a ring on the 1967-68 squad. Like Thacker, Jones chose the ABA instead of reporting to the Bucks, signing with the Kentucky Colonels instead. He averaged 4.2 points, 2.2 boards, and 0.5 assists with the Celtics in that single season.

Finally, the Celtics also lost big man Wayne Embry, a former five-time All-Star who also had won a ring with Boston in the 1967-68 NBA season. Embry was the sole player of the three to report to Milwaukee, for whom he played one season more before retiring permanently. He averaged 5.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.

On this day in 1965, the NBA draft was held in New York City, and Boston selected two players of note. The first was forward Ron Watts, drafted out of Wake Forest with the 17th overall pick. Watts would play just two seasons for the Celtics, winning a banner with the team in his rookie season despite only playing one game for Boston.

Watts averaged 1.4 points, as many rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game in the 28 games he played for the Celtics between 1965 and 1967. The other player taken by Boston was former UConn Huskies big man Toby Kimball, who played just one season with the club in 1966-67.

Just under a year later, he would be taken from the franchise in the 1967 expansion draft by the (then) San Diego (now, Houston) Rockets, where he had the most success of his career. He would record 2.6 points, 3.8 boards and 0.3 assists per contest with the Celtics.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire:Celtics history: Pitino hired; DJ retired; 1965 NBA draft; 1968 expansion draft

NEED TO KNOW

• Her family has visited multiple Four Seasons locations worldwide, often sharing their experiences on TikTok

• Kate enjoys pool time, ice cream, and special surprises during her stays, which have made her a viral sensation

It's been two years since Kate Wisewent viralfor her love for the Four Seasons Orlando — and the toddler still loves to return to the resort to celebrate all her special milestones.

Last month, Kate rang in herthird birthdaythe best way she and her family know how: another trip to the Four Seasons Orlando. The toddler's aunt, Stefanie O’Brien, shared videos onTikTokfrom their family's visit to the resort and later caught up with PEOPLE about what Kate has been up to since her first video took the world by storm.

"Since going viral, Kate has been a busy toddler balancing pre-school, spending time with her family and friends, perfecting her ponytail, and occasionally working a few jobs on the side," says O'Brien. "But of course, her favorite thing to do is travel the world with her sister Madelyn!"

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O'Brien, whoseinitial videoof Kate wanting to visit the resort has over 91 million views, tells PEOPLE that her niece has celebrated her last two birthdays at the Four Seasons Orlando, whose staff always makes it "such a magical experience" for both Kate and her 6-year-old sister Madelyn.

"They make us feel completely at home every time, and we hope it’s something we’ll keep doing for years to come!" she adds.

Not only has Kate's family visited the Four Seasons Orlando multiple times, but they've also made trips to several other Four Seasons across the globe.

"Many of [Kate's] recent trips have been hosted by Four Seasons, which we're incredibly grateful for! Over the past year and a half, we’ve visited Orlando (a few times), London, Hampshire, Nevis, Whistler, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Miami (an impromptu trip to escape a hurricane)," says O'Brien. "Each of these experiences was incredible. The level of detail, thoughtfulness, and care at each property has been exceptional, and it’s something we’ve truly appreciated and enjoyed as a family."

"Overall, it’s been an unexpected outcome from what was originally just a short video shared among family," she adds, noting that the family already has their next Four Seasons trip booked for this summer, and it "might include Kate's first concert."

When at the Four Seasons Orlando, Kate loves to spend time at the pool.

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"If it is up to Kate (which usually it is), she spends the whole day at the pool and cabana!  Swimming in the pool (new skill unlocked this past trip), relaxing in the lazy river, running around in the splash pad, and then back to the cabana for a snack break and occasional nap! She also doesn’t skip on heading to Lickety Split for some ice cream, shopping, room service, breakfast with Goofy, and fireworks to end each night."

During their most recent trip for her third birthday, the whole family followed the toddler's lead, "which meant enjoying the pool and lots snacks!"

"She even made some time to test out the pickleball courts this trip. Of course, Four Seasons added special touches with surprises and gifts for the girls," notes O'Brien. "Having her cousin there made it even more special."

Since going viral, Kate's aunt says she gets recognized both at the resort and out in the world.

"It's honestly pretty surreal," she admits. "We get stopped everywhere: airports, stores, coffee shops, even grabbing ice cream. Her sister Madelyn now tells other kids that Kate is the 'Four Seasons baby,' which is both hilarious and slightly iconic."

"As for perks, every property goes above and beyond — suite upgrades, personalized surprises for the girls and family, and fully curated itineraries with special experiences. From crowns, stuffies, and custom Four Seasons Baby swag to extravagant chocolate craftmanship."

"And the grand entrances are on another level — thoughtful, over-the-top, and genuinely fun," O'Brien continues. "The attention to detail is unmatched.Those details really reflect the level of care and creativity they bring to each visit. I share as much as I can on TikTok because those moments are so magical!"

Still, Kate likes to tell people she's "not famous," though she knows she's referred to as the "Four Seasons Baby" or "Boss Baby."

"She remembers a lot from the trips — although watching the videos on repeat probably helps," says O'Brien. "She is just a kid who really enjoys the Four Seasons and is naturally very social."

Read the original article onPeople