Trump says US and Iranian officials will talk next week as ceasefire holds

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding, and U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that U.S. and Iranian officials will talk next week. The ceasefire gives rise to cautious hope for longer-term peace even as Tehran insisted Wednesday it will not give up its nuclear program. Iran has not acknowledged any talks taking place next week, and an Iranian official questioned whether the United States could be trusted after its weekend attack on Iranian nuclear sites. Questions remain about the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear program, and the U.N. nuclear watchdog says it has written to Iran to discuss resuming inspections.

NATO leaders agree to hike military spending and restate commitment to collective defense

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — NATO leaders have agreed on a massive hike in defense spending after pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and expressed their “ironclad commitment” to come to each other’s aid if attacked. The 32 leaders endorsed a final summit statement saying: “Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.” Russia remains the major threat in Europe, but the United States is shifting its attention to focus on security priorities elsewhere. However, some countries have already warned that they will struggle to meet the target.

Global vaccination efforts stall, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases

LONDON (AP) — Global efforts to protect children against diseases including measles, polio and tuberculosis have stalled since 2010, leaving millions vulnerable to deadly infections. Immunization against measles in particular has dropped in 100 countries in recent years, including in rich countries like the U.S. that had previously eliminated measles. More than half of the world’s unvaccinated children live in just eight countries, mostly in Africa. Health experts warn that the U.S. freeze on humanitarian aid could further undermine efforts to vaccinate children and lead to new epidemics of diseases easily prevented by vaccines.

18th-century sunken boat discovered by chance under sea in Croatia’s Dubrovnik

DUBROVNIK, Croatia (AP) — A sunken 18th-century boat has been discovered by chance near the majestic stone walls of Croatia’s medieval city of Dubrovnik. Ivan Bukelic dove into the Adriatic Sea in Dubrovnik’s old port back in April for work on a water pipeline only to find a wooden structure buried in the seabed. A key trade port in the Adriatic Sea in medieval times, Dubrovnik has been declared a UNESCO protected heritage site. It attracts huge crowds of tourists, especially during the summer, and is also known as a filming site for HBO’s Game of Thrones series. The remains of the ship in Dubrovnik’s old port have been protected for further examination.