US pauses operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Tensions in the Persian Gulf persist as the United States pauses military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a potential shift in strategy while Iran maintains an aggressive stance. Simultaneously, the Ukraine-Russia conflict remains volatile, with a temporary ceasefire failing to halt relentless strikes ahead of Victory Day. Public health concerns center on a cruise ship outbreak of Hantavirus, where the World Health Organization is investigating rare human-to-human transmission. In the United States, Maryland has enacted the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act, becoming the first state to ban "surveillance pricing" that uses personal data to manipulate grocery costs. Meanwhile, the retail industry reflects on the death of Doris Fisher, the co-founder of Gap, whose vision for affordable, democratic fashion transformed global retail and established a template for modern clothing stores that persists today.