September 26: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Childcare providers set to close in protest over ‘funding shortfall’
A large number of childcare providers across the country are expected to close for three days from today in protest over what owners describe as a shortfall in Government funding. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP) is organising the action which will see childcare providers, parents and employees staging a demonstration outside Leinster House later today. There will be local protests in locations around the country tomorrow and on Thursday.
RTÉ

Reducing tax on rental income among budget proposals for keeping landlords in market
Landlords could pay less tax on rental income in an effort to persuade them to stay in the market, under proposals put forward in advance of budget talks intensifying this week. One proposal circulated by the Department of Housing is a “distinct income-based approach”, according to a source with knowledge of discussions, which could entail a lower rate of tax or increased exemptions for landlords.
The Irish Times

Stephen Donnelly to outline plans to tackle triple threat of Covid, RSV and flu over winter months
The country is gearing up to fight the triple threat of Covid, RSV and flu this winter, with “significant levels” of community transmission expected, Cabinet will be told today. A free nationwide vaccination campaign will roll out next week, with jabs for Covid and flu to be given to eligible people to combat spikes of the three viruses. Local GPs and pharmacies will oversee the roll-out of the vaccines. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will outline his plans to Cabinet colleagues and what he is doing to avoid last year’s chaotic scenes at hospitals throughout the winter months.
Independent.ie

Stricken trawler off Wexford coast to be searched for drugs
A boat that ran aground off the coast of Wexford is to be searched for drugs after two men were winched from it yesterday. The stricken trawler has prompted a major security operation involving the Naval Service, gardaí and the Coast Guard. Garda detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau are involved in the operation, while the Defence Forces are understood to have deployed a specialist military boarding team.
The Journal

Tánaiste in favour of halving the length of teacher training courses
The Tánaiste is pushing to reduce the length of teacher training courses by a year in a bid to lure more people into the profession. Amid a severe shortage of teachers, Micheál Martin also wants top-up payments re-introduced for additional teaching qualifications.
The Irish Examiner

Nagorno-Karabakh: Fuel depot blast kills 20 as refugee count doubles
An explosion at a fuel depot in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh has killed 20 people and injured hundreds more, local Armenian authorities say. Nearly 300 people were admitted to hospitals, with dozens of them “still in critical condition”. It comes as the Armenian government said 13,350 refugees crossed into the country from the enclave. The disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region is home to a majority of some 120,000 ethnic Armenians. It is not yet clear what caused the explosion on Monday evening in the main city of Stepanakert.
BBC News

Number of emergency workers to die from 9/11-related illnesses reaches ‘sombre milestone’
The number of emergency workers from the New York City Fire Department to have died from illnesses related to 9/11 has reached 343 – matching the number who died on the day of the attacks. Hilda Vannata, an emergency medical technician, died from pancreatic cancer on 20 September this year, while retired firefighter Robert Fulco died of pulmonary fibrosis on 23 September, Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has said. She added that both illnesses were a result of “time they spent working in the rescue and recovery at the World Trade Center site”.
Sky News

Hopes fade for India’s moon lander after it fails to ‘wake up’ following lunar night
Hopes are fading for the “re-awakening” of India’s moon lander after Indian scientists were unable to make communication with the spacecraft since it went into shutdown mode to survive the freezing lunar night conditions. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission made a historic landing on the south pole of the moon in August, after a 40 day interstellar journey, and the rover had spent over a week collecting data from the lunar surface.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Heavy rain in the north and east will clear northeastwards this morning. Sunny spells and scattered showers will follow and some may be heavy and thundery. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly wind. Showers will become isolated in most areas early tonight with many areas becoming dry and clear for a time. Outbreaks of rain will develop in Munster and parts of Connacht and south Leinster overnight. It will turn very windy in the south and east by Wednesday morning with south or southeast gales developing at the coast. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees early in the night, but turning milder later.
Met Éireann