NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

President Michael D Higggins and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Aras an Uachtarain after the Taoiseach signed the papers to seek dissolution of the 32nd Dáil Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called the next general election for Saturday 8 February.
• Minister Eoghan Murphy urged the public to ensure they are registered to vote before 22 January.
• The Justice Minister appealed for information as gardaí investigated the discovery of body parts in north Dublin.
• A taxi driver who was shot in Drogheda last night spoke about his experience today, saying “I could have bled to death”. 
• The intended target of the shooting in Drogheda last night has been identified as the feud seeps into north Dublin gangland territory.
• A US chastity speaker has cancelled his trip to Ireland “due to illness” after a number of talks were axed.
• Thousands were without electricity and drivers were urged to take care on the roads in the aftermath of Storm Brendan.
• The Supreme Court heard that public bodies may no longer have to justify refusals of Freedom of Information requests.
• A man in his 30s was charged with the murder of an Arklow woman who was found seriously injured at her home before she later died.
• A man who married one of his best friends for tax reasons has died.
• Father Brian D’Arcy received an OBE at Buckingham Palace.
• Gardaí are investigating a fire that “destroyed” a Meath councillor’s office.
• Shane Ross said the solution to save the Football Association of Ireland may be agreed “fairly soon”. 
• Christmas FM raised €412,000 for Barretstown Children’s Charity.

INTERNATIONAL

London got a dose of Storm Brendan today. Dominic Lipinski / PA Images Dominic Lipinski / PA Images / PA Images

#INDYREF: Nicola Sturgeon came out fighting after Boris Johnson rejected the calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence.

#TARRAGONA: A chemical emergency was declared in north-east Spain after an explosion in an industrial zone.

#MEGXIT: Canada is deciding whether to cover the costs of Harry and Meghan’s security.

PARTING SHOT

A new study from Dartmouth University has claimed that the precise age of peak unhappiness for people 47.2 years old.

The Guardian asked 47-year-olds to tell them how they felt at that age.

Here’s what they said.