RECAP: Storm Chandra Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to UK and Ireland

Storm Chandra brought unsettled weather to parts of the UK and Ireland on Tuesday, January 27, delivering heavy rain, strong winds, and colder conditions. The system caused localized flooding, travel disruption, and weather warnings in several regions as it moved across the British Isles.

Gold price tops 30,000 yen

Gold price tops 30,000 yen

An electronic board at the flagship shop of Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies Co. in Tokyo's Ginza district shows the benchmark retail gold price set by the Tokyo company (lower L) topping 30,000 yen ($196) per gram for the first time on Jan. 29, 2026.

US: Ice Floes Cover NYC Rivers After Snowstorm

Ice floes were seen floating on the Hudson and East rivers in New York on Tuesday, January 27, following a winter snowstorm that forced NYC Ferry service to be suspended.

Ireland: Storm Chandra Triggers Flooding, Power Outages and Transport Chaos 3

Storm Chandra hit Ireland with heavy rain and strong winds, causing flooding, power outages, and major transport disruptions nationwide. Around 30mm of rain fell overnight in Dublin, leading to rescues of motorists from floodwaters and road closures, including restrictions on the M50.

Ireland: Storm Chandra Triggers Flooding, Power Outages and Transport Chaos

Storm Chandra hit Ireland with heavy rain and strong winds, causing flooding, power outages, and major transport disruptions nationwide. Around 30mm of rain fell overnight in Dublin, leading to rescues of motorists from floodwaters and road closures, including restrictions on the M50.

[Breaking News]Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 23 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

Dollar tumbles in Tokyo

Dollar tumbles in Tokyo

Financial monitors at a currency trading company in Tokyo show the U.S. dollar tumbling to the lower 154 yen level on the morning of Jan. 26, 2026, down about 3 yen from the previous week, amid lingering wariness of a possible yen-buying intervention by U.S. and Japanese authorities.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after dissolving the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2026, shows a street television reporting news that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2026, shows a street television reporting news that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a politician's speech in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a politician's speech in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a politician's speech in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

[Breaking News]PM Takaichi announces plan to dissolve lower house

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 19 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 19, 2026, explaining her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 for a snap general election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap electionn

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap electionn

Yoshihiko Noda (L) and Tetsuo Saito (R), co-leaders of the Centrist Reform Alliance, leave parliament after a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during the session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance is pictured in parliament ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during the session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance is pictured in parliament ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during the session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Yoshihiko Noda (R) and Tetsuo Saito (C), co-leaders of the Centrist Reform Alliance, are pictured in parliament ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during the session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers leave the House of Representatives chamber in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during its plenary session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi leaves the House of Representatives chamber in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the lower house was dissolved at the outset of its plenary session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) bows in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) bows in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bows in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) looks on during a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the lower house was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) looks on during a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the lower house was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bows while lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japan's lower house dissolved for snap election

Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga reads out a rescript signed by the emperor to dissolve the lower house during its plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. With the dissolution, a general election will be held on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) is pictured ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. She dissolved the lower house the same day for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (blue) is pictured ahead of a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. She dissolved the lower house the same day for a snap election on Feb. 8.

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addresses MPs and announces the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addresses MPs and announces the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers and deputies and President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers after his announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during consideration of the 2026 budget bill at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers and deputies and President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers after his announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during consideration of the 2026 budget bill at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu after his announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during consideration of the 2026 budget bill at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers and deputies and President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet after his announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during consideration of the 2026 budget bill at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet with other ministers and deputies and President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet after his announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during consideration of the 2026 budget bill at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu after uses of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu after uses of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addresses MPs and announces the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

President of La France Insoumise - Nouveau Front Populaire parliamentary group Mathilde Panot listens to the announcement of the use of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" part of the bill during the consideration of the budget bill for 2026 at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, in Paris, France, January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

PM Lecornu Uses a 49.3 to Adopt the 2026 Budget - Paris

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu after uses of Article 49.3 to hold the government accountable for the "revenue" portion of the bill during the examination of the budget bill for 2026 at the Assemblee Nationale, France's Parliament lower house, in Paris, France on January 20, 2026. Photo by Tomas Stevens/ABACAPRESS.COM