May 16: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Ireland’s 10-11 year-olds among top in world for reading, new study reveals
Ireland’s 10-11-year-olds are holding their place as among the best in the world in reading. Ireland is part of a small set of high-achieving countries as measured by the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 study.
Independent.ie

Disposable cups to be axed from public sector canteens under new climate action mandate
Disposable cups, plates and cutlery will no longer be used in public sector canteens under a new climate action mandate set to be brought before Cabinet today. Minister for Climate and the Environment Eamon Ryan is set to seek Cabinet approval for the ‘Public Sector Climate Action Mandate 2023’. The mandate highlights the main climate action objectives for public sector bodies and outlines a range of actions to be taken to help reduce Ireland’s emissions by 51% by 2030, as set out in the Climate Action Plan.
The Journal 

More than 85,000 hospital appointments or procedures cancelled so far this year
Almost 85,000 patients have had hospital appointments or procedures cancelled in the first four months of this year, new figures show. The problem has worsened despite the end of the traditionally busy winter period, with cancellations in April up almost 70 per cent on the same month last year. As a result, overall waiting lists, and the number of long-waiting patients on lists, have started to grow again, the latest data shows. This is despite massive Government investment in measures aimed at tackling the backlog.
The Irish Times

Protesters block hotel being used for asylum seekers
Protesters are blocking road access to a hotel that is being used to house asylum seekers in Co Clare. Yesterday evening, around 34 asylum seekers arrived by bus at Magowna House in Inch. After the asylum seekers’ arrival, 50 local people blocked both ends of the road leading to the former hotel and restaurant which has been closed since 2019. Tractors and cars are being used to completely block access to the building.
RTÉ

Interpol helping to identify body part found in nets off West Cork coast
Interpol is being consulted in a bid to identify the body part of a person found in nets off the coast of West Cork, while efforts are also being made to identify the remains of a man known only by an alias. DNA has been extracted from the body part, which was taken from the sea off Mizen Head, in a bid to help identify it. However, the search has been extended beyond Ireland, with help being sought from Interpol, according to the coroner for South and West Cork, Frank O’Connell.
The Irish Examiner

Ukraine war: Kyiv hit by ‘exceptionally dense’ missile and drone attack
The Ukrainian capital Kyiv has been targeted by further Russian air attacks, described by one official as “exceptional in density”. Ukraine said all 18 missiles were shot down and footage showed air defences destroying targets over the city. At least three people were injured during the barrage, which used both drones and missiles, officials said. Russia has stepped up its air campaign in recent weeks, ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive in the south.
BBC News

New Zealand hostel fire: At least six people dead and 11 missing in Wellington blaze
At least six people have died in a fire at a four-storey hostel in New Zealand. Officials have said that the number of fatalities could rise, as 11 people are still missing.
Sky News

Rudy Giuliani sued by former associate alleging sexual assault and harassment
A former associate of Rudy Giuliani sued the former New York mayor, presidential candidate and attorney to Donald Trump for $10m on Monday, alleging “abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft and other misconduct” including “alcohol-drenched rants that included sexist, racist and antisemitic remarks”. Filed in New York state, Noelle Dunphy’s suit includes the allegation that Giuliani “often demanded oral sex while he took phone calls on speaker phone from high-profile friends and clients, including then-President Trump”. Giuliani is alleged to have told Dunphy “he enjoyed engaging in this conduct while on the telephone because it made him ‘feel like Bill Clinton’”.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast 
High pressure will dominate the week ahead and each day will be a little warmer out to the weekend. It will be mainly dry with sunny spells and temperatures today will reach between 14 and 18 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes. Tonight will be mainly dry and clear. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees. Light westerly or variable breezes.
Met Éireann