{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/690b5df3317c91fd9a7765c9/697a7e76d577b417ba541146?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Counties affected by flooding brace for more rain, and today's other top stories","description":"<p><strong>The Irish Times wants to hear listener feedback on our two news podcasts <em>In The News</em>&nbsp;and <em>Early Edition</em>.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.research.net/r/ITNewsPodcast\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><u>This survey</u></strong></a><strong> is open to anyone who has listened to either&nbsp;<em>In The News</em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>Early Edition</em>- whether you listen regularly, occasionally, or have listened in the past.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>This survey should take around 3-5 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous. Thank you. </strong></p><p><br></p><p>A yellow weather warning is in place again today for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford and Dublin, as the cleanup continues following Storm Chandra. Yesterday the Minister for Housing James Browne criticised Met Éireann over its flood warning protocols. Climate and science correspondent Caroline O’Doherty explains why that’s not a fair charge.</p><p><br></p><p>We have had a huge reaction to Jen Hogan’s feature on <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/people/2026/01/24/irish-women-share-their-stories-of-motherhood-after-40-i-knew-if-i-didnt-try-i-would-have-regrets/?\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the rise of women having babies in their 40s</a>. Today Cliff Taylor analyses some of the economic forces driving the 21 percent increase in ten years.</p><p><br></p><p>And Ciara O’Brien is writing about the <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/technology/2026/01/29/smart-home-becomes-a-harder-sell-when-device-makers-arbitrarily-pull-the-plug/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">smart devices in our homes</a> that are no longer being supported by their manufacturers. Whatever about smart plugs and lightbulbs, thermostats and EV chargers are not the kind of thing consumers should be expected to replace - at considerable cost - every few years.</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times "}