Friday morning news: June 14, 2024

Biden-Zelenskyy security deal » It’s a milestone commitment: President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year security agreement Thursday.

The president says…

BIDEN: Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.

The agreement, struck at the G7 summit in Italy, provides Patriot missiles and other air defense systems to Ukraine.

Biden says other countries expecting the same weapons from the U.S. will have to wait. Zelenskyy says he’s happy with the provisions.

ZELENSKYY: The agreement is also very specific about the supply of the necessary weapons, joint production, and strengthening of the defense industries of our countries through our cooperation.

The U.S. and Europe also agreed to keep Russian assets sanctioned until Moscow pays reparations for its invasion of Ukraine.

Plus, the allies committed to a new $50 billion loan package to help Ukraine fight for its survival.

U.S. submarine to Gitmo » The waters around Cuba are getting crowded with U.S. and Russian ships. WORLD’s Travis Kircher has more:

TRAVIS KIRCHER: U.S. Southern Command said the USS Helena was making what it called a routine port visit to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, yesterday.

The fast-attack submarine is said to be on a global maritime and national defense mission.

But it comes as Russia dispatched a nuclear submarine and several frigates to the port of Havana.

The Russian fleet is also expected to make stops in Venezuela and conduct military exercises in the Caribbean.

The Pentagon says it’s taking the Russian fleet movements seriously, but that the exercises don’t pose a threat to the United States.

For WORLD I’m Travis Kircher.

Israel-Hezbollah strikes, Rafah latest » President Biden says he doesn’t expect a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas anytime soon, though he says he hasn’t given up hope.

As world leaders work to persuade Hamas to agree on a U.S.-proposed cease-fire, the Israeli military has expanded its mission in the southern Gaza strip city of Rafah.

Locals say that’s forced hundreds of people to flee their homes. Israel says it’s conducting the campaign to root out the last remnants of Hamas in southern Gaza.

SOUND: [Fires]

Meantime, fires rage as emergency crews respond in northern Israel after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks from Lebanon on at least half a dozen Israeli military posts and bases Thursday.

The attacks are retaliation for Israel's killing of one of the group’s top commanders earlier this week, and Hezbollah says they won’t stop until there’s a cease-fire in Gaza.

SCOTUS Mifepristone ruling » The Supreme Court has ruled against pro-life doctors concerned about the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone.

Those doctors argued they could end up being forced to complete abortions in emergency rooms if the drug isn’t restricted, but the High Court unanimously ruled the physicians didn’t have standing to sue.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has been campaigning on expanding abortion access. She says even with Thursday’s decision, two thirds of women still live in states that restrict the drug’s use.

HARRIS: This ruling is not going to change that. So we must remain clear eyed about the threats to reproductive freedom in America and we must remain vigilant.

The ruling is the court’s first abortion decision since it overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.

Senate IVF bill fails » A Democrat-backed bill to expand nationwide access to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, has failed in the Senate.

It fell well short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer…

SCHUMER: Protecting IVF should’ve been the easiest ‘yes’ vote the Senate has taken all year.

Schumer says he plans to revisit the issue soon.

Pro-life groups criticized the bill, calling it too broad and warning it would allow genetic testing of embryos and selective reduction abortions.

Some Republicans reaffirmed their support for IVF, but opposed this bill calling it unnecessary and extreme.

Trump back on Capitol Hill w/GOP lawmakers » Donald Trump returned to Capitol Hill Thursday, meeting with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since January 6, 2021.

Lawmakers welcomed Trump warmly even as he reportedly called Milwaukee, which will host the GOP Convention this year, “a horrible city” during their meeting.

Trump’s explanation:

TRUMP: Well, I think it was very clear what I meant. I said we’re very concerned with crime. I love Milwaukee. I have great friends in Milwaukee.

The former president also laid out his plans for emphasizing party unity and energizing his base ahead of the 2024 election.

Lawmakers also celebrated his 78th birthday, which is today.

I’m Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, this month’s Word Play.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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