The United States military says its warships escorted two United States flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, countering what it described as an Iranian blockade. Officials denied Iranian claims that an American warship had been forced to turn back, amid heightened tensions in the region.

Elsewhere, more than 30 world leaders gathered in Armenia for the European Political Community summit to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. In other developments, three people died from a suspected Hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic.

Business news includes GameStop launching a 56 billion dollar takeover bid for eBay. Australia has opened public hearings into a deadly gun attack on a Jewish event in Bondi Beach, while a British Broadcasting Corporation investigation uncovered online scams in Uganda using images of distressed dogs to solicit donations. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani remains in critical condition in hospital, and North Korean women footballers are set to travel south for a regional semi final match, marking a rare cross border sporting visit.