Tuesday morning news: July 9, 2024

SOUND: [Electric saw]

Russian missiles hit Ukrainian children’s hospital » Rescue workers in Ukraine used electric saws to cut through rubble where Russian missiles blasted a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

Volunteers helped with their bare hands …

SOUND: [Rescue operations]

… as they searched for possible survivors … and the remains of those killed.

It was Russia’s heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months. But the deadly attack was part of a larger assault across Ukraine killing more than 30 people and wounding more than 150.

U.S. State Dept. spokesman Matthew Miller:

MILLER:  Just to be clear, these are sites that serve no military purpose. Um, they're not sheltering Ukrainian military assets. They're not sheltering members of the Ukrainian military. These air civilian infrastructure, pure and simple … that cannot, should not, must not be targets.

NATO » Air defense and other military support for Ukraine will be a major topic of discussion at the NATO summit starting today in Washington.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:

STOLTENBERG:  At the summit we'll make decisions to further strengthen our support to Ukraine and, Russia must understand that they're not able to wait those out.

The White House says to expect announcements aimed at bolstering the U.S. defense industrial base … and strengthening NATO’s deterrence against threats like Russia and China.

White House presser, non-answer about specialist » July 4th has come and gone, but there were fireworks inside the press briefing room at the White House on Monday. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sparred with the press corps …

PIERRE: The president, I can tell you, has seen a neurologist three times, as it’s connected to a physical he gets every year that we provide to all [SIC] (reporters shout) … wait, wait, wait, hold on, wait a second …

Reporters continued to press Jean-Pierre for straight answers about the president’s health.

PIERRE: … I just, wait — hold on a second. 

REPORTER: That much you should be able to answer by this point. 

PIERRE: Wait, no, no, no, no. No, wait a minute. Please, a little respect here, please.

That exchange surrounded a question about White House visitor logs which show frequent visits in recent months by a neurologist. Reporters wanted to know if the specialist was treating the president. Jean-Pierre would not directly answer that question.

But late last night, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor stated that the specialist in question had examined the president only as part of routine physicals and that his other visits to the White House were to treat military personnel.

Biden letter to Democrats » Meantime, President Biden had a clear message for fellow Democrats on Monday:

BIDEN:  I am not going anywhere. I wouldn't be running if I didn't absolutely believe that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024.

He told MSNBC that he does not believe polls suggesting Democratic voters want a new nominee are accurate. Nor does he believe polls showing Donald Trump’s lead over the incumbent widening.

He said Democratic primary voters have already had their say.

BIDEN:  I'm getting so frustrated by the elites in the party who think they know so much more.

And he penned a defiant letter to Democrats in Congress, stating “The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now.” And he said it’s time for Democratic hand-wringing to end and to come together to defeat Donald Trump.

Tropical Storm Beryl » The storm that was Hurricane Beryl is cutting across Arkansas today after wreaking havoc along the Texas coast and the Houston metro area on Monday.

One Bay City, Texas resident said he was surprised by the power of the storm.

RESIDENT: Man, I heard a big boom. I just thought it was a limb. I didn’t know it was a whole tree.

Falling trees killed multiple people in Texas. Hurricane Beryl also knocked out power to nearly 3 million homes and businesses.

It weakened to a tropical depression on Monday, but it’s still on the move, tracking to the northeast. It will threaten the Midwest and northeastern states with severe weather through at least Thursday.

Israel/Gaza » Israeli forces are pushing deeper into Gaza’s largest city in pursuit of terrorists who have regrouped there. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports:

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Hamas warned that the latest raids in Gaza City could lead to the collapse of long-running negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release.

The terror group has strung out those off-and-on for months. But the two sides appeared to have narrowed the gaps in recent days.

Israeli troops are again battling militants in areas that the army said had been largely cleared months ago in northern Gaza.

The military ordered evacuations ahead of the raids, but Palestinians say nowhere feels safe.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

New Iran president » Iran has elected a new president after reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian carried roughly 54 percent support in a runoff election.

The 69-year-old cardiologist promised social changes such as loosening laws on how women must wear headscarves. He also discussed restarting talks toward a renewed nuclear agreement with the West.

But U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the U.S. will have to see a big shift in Iran’s behavior.

Kirby: They're still supporting terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. They're still supporting the Houthis as the Houthis attack ships in the Red Sea.

And Kirby said they’re not expecting any big changes … as Iran’s hardline Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has the final authority on all matters.

I’m Kent Covington.

Plus, something that’s ahead but not immediately straight ahead.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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