Secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv as other world leaders set aside differences to call for end to fighting in Gaza. Plus: the report on flying saucers that sent the world of ‘ufology’ into a tailspin
Good morning.
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday to meet the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his war cabinet, a key meeting that comes as the US prepares to put forth a new UN security council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and hostage deal in Gaza.
At a Brussels summit late Thursday, the EU joined demands for a ceasefire with a declaration calling for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire”, marking the first time European leaders had agreed on a declaration on the Middle East since October.
Australian and UK foreign and defence ministers on Friday also stressed the “urgency of an immediate cessation of fighting in Gaza to allow aid to flow and hostages to be released”, in a statement after talks in Adelaide.Trump told Pence certifying election would be ‘political career killer’, valet says
According to newly released testimony from a presidential valet, when Donald Trump was president he told his vice-president, Mike Pence, that refusing to block certification of Joe Biden’s 2021 election victory at the Capitol on 6 January 2021 would be “a political career killer”.
The unnamed valet also said Trump appeared unconcerned when he was told a civilian had been shot dead as the Capitol was stormed.
