Zelenskyy says Russia-Ukraine peace deal would require 200,000 allied troops

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that “at least 200,000” allied troops would be needed to enforce any peace deal in Ukraine as he urged Europe to “take care of itself” as Donald Trump returns to power in the US.Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelenskyy said European leaders should not ask themselves what Trump would do next, and said that they instead needed to take collective steps to defend their continent at a time when it was under aggressive attack by Russia.“Europe must establish itself as a strong, global player, as an indispensable player,” the Ukrainian president said. He cited the involvement of North Korean troops in Moscow’s war against Kyiv, with fighting taking place in the Kursk region of western Russia, close to Ukraine’s eastern border.“Let’s not forget there is no ocean separating European countries from Russia

Centrica may close UK’s largest gas storage site. Is the energy system really ready? | Nils Pratley

Monday was another of those dunkelflaute days when the wind barely blows, the sun doesn’t shine and it’s cold. At times, gas-fired power stations were generating 70% of the UK’s electricity while windfarms and solar facilities were contributing as little as 7% combined.It was a reminder of why, even under the government’s rapid programme to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 by expanding renewables, the current gas-fired capacity of 35GW will be retained as backup. The fossil-fuelled plants may stand idle most of the time – they are scheduled to account for only “up to 5%” of generation over a full year in 2030, versus 34.7% in 2023 – but, when they’re needed, they will sometimes still be operating at full pelt

AI tool can give ministers ‘vibe check’ on whether MPs will like policies

A new artificial intelligence tool can warn ministers whether policies are likely to be very unpopular with their party’s MPs, using a search described as a “parliamentary vibe check”.Parlex is one of a suite of AI tools– called Humphrey, after the Yes Minister character – being developed for ministers and civil servants which allow them to predict which topics might cause them difficulty with their own backbenchers, and pinpoint specific MPs who feel passionately about a given subject.A summary of a policy – such as a 20mph speed limit – can be given to the tool which then predicts how MPs are likely to react, according to their previous contributions in parliament.A demonstration video on the government’s website shows how Tory MPs have historically opposed that change and lists the Labour MPs in favour of traffic calming measures.The AI tools come amid reforms ministers will announce on Tuesday that include a plan to extend the use of technology in public services – for example, ending the need for people to queue at their local council to register a death or boosting the use of AI in job centres

Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally

Elon Musk waded into controversy on Monday when he gave back-to-back fascist-style salutes during celebrations of the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.“I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” the owner of SpaceX, X and Tesla, the richest person on earth and a major Trump donor and adviser, told Trump supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington.Musk then slapped his right hand into his chest, fingers splayed, before shooting out his right arm on an upwards diagonal, fingers together and palm facing down.The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which campaigns against antisemitism, defines the Nazi salute as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down”.As the crowd roared, Musk turned and saluted again, his arm and hand slightly lower

Are you not entertained? Six Nations launches with blockbuster storylines

England’s new captain, Ireland’s shot at history and Antoine Dupont’s return for France add to the layers of intrigueIt has taken 25 years for the Six Nations launch to come to Italy but rugby’s oldest tournament has finally stormed the Colosseum. As well as offering a picture perfect backdrop for a competition keen to be seen as both ancient and modern, it also reflected the sport’s increasingly urgent need to find fresh ways to project itself to a slightly different type of audience.Thus it was that seven opera singers were hired to serenade the attendees with a rousing rendition of Nessun Dorma and the players and coaches were invited to sashay down a catwalk in a palatial building in downtown Roma. Some “models” took to it with rather more practised ease than others but gone are the days, either way, of rugby union resting contentedly on its laurels.An accompanying photoshoot in the city’s most evocative arena, a new logo and tagline – “rugby recharged” – further reinforced the message, as will the first episode of the latest Netflix Full Contact fly‑on‑the‑wall “ruckumentary” when it is released next week

England Six Nations worries grow with George ruled out of first two games

England’s best-laid plans for the 2025 Six Nations have been disrupted by a raft of fresh injuries which has forced Steve Borthwick to call up five new players to his squad. Jamie George, Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Dombrandt and Alex Coles will all miss the opening weeks of England’s campaign while Alex Mitchell will be unable to train this week because of a knee problem.The Northampton forwards Curtis Langdon and Henry Pollock, the Gloucester lock Arthur Clark and scrum-halves Ben Spencer and Raffi Quirke have flown out to join the national team’s training camp in Spain as injury cover, at a time when Borthwick is already having to cope without Manny Feyi-Waboso, George Furbank and Sam Underhill.George, replaced last week as captain by Maro Itoje, faces being out for up to three weeks with a strained hamstring while Van Poortvliet requires a scan on a knee injury he sustained in Toulouse last weekend and looks likely to be out for around a month. Dombrandt and Coles will also be unavailable for England’s pivotal opening games against Ireland and France