US denies Iran's claim that it hit American warship

Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified following conflicting reports of missile strikes on a US warship and the launch of "Operation Freedom" to secure maritime passage. Meanwhile, European leaders gathered in Armenia to address security concerns and the continent's reliance on American foreign policy. Public health officials are monitoring a fatal Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship near Cape Verde, while Australian authorities have opened hearings into rising anti-Semitism following a deadly attack in Sydney. In the corporate sector, video game retailer GameStop has proposed a $56 billion hostile takeover of eBay, a move analysts view with significant skepticism. Other developments include the exposure of animal welfare donation scams in Uganda, the critical hospitalization of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and the logistical preparations for a rare sporting exchange between North and South Korean women's football teams.