September 12: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Primary schools appeal for funding to meet winter costs
Managers of the country’s primary schools have appealed for additional funding so that they can meet significant increases in energy, insurance, cleaning and waste disposal costs this winter. State capitation funding for schools was increased last year by 40%. The measure was billed as a ‘once off’ cost of living increase, but primary schools say they will need this and an additional 10% rise in this year’s Budget so that they are not totally dependent on voluntary contributions from parents to provide basic requirements, such as heat, light, and water.
RTÉ

RSA campaign aims for zero deaths on Irish roads by 2050
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced a campaign aiming to reach zero deaths on Irish roads by 2050. The Vision Zero campaign is calling on the public to engage in conversations about road safety, look at their behaviour on roads and make positive changes to contribute to road safety. 130 people have died on Irish roads this year to date, an increase of 25 on the same period in 2022.
Independent.ie

Varadkar and Heaton-Harris clash over Irish unity comments and progress on restoring Stormont
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has clashed with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris over his remarks on the outlook for a united Ireland after talks in Belfast that laid bare sharp divisions over the next steps for the stalled Stormont executive.
The Irish Times

TDs call for expanded legal aid for domestic violence after judge warns ‘working poor’ lose out
Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has called for the government to “carefully consider and act upon” remarks made by a District Court judge in which he called for mandatory legal aid for all domestic violence cases. Opposition justice spokespeople have also called for the legal aid income threshold to be revised, with Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordán pledging to raise Judge John Campbell’s remarks with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee when the Dáil resumes.
The Journal

Cost of Cork event centre expected to soar further
The cost of building the proposed €85m Cork event centre is set to soar again, casting fresh doubt on assurances that construction would finally start this year — more than seven years after the official sod-turning. City councillors were told last night that the completion of the detailed designs for the proposed 6,000-capacity venue, which is in line for some €57m in State investment, has resulted in a cost increase.
The Irish Examiner

Male and female NHS surgical staff are victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape – survey|
Almost a third of NHS female surgical staff have been sexually assaulted in the last five years, a new survey has revealed. The study, published in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS), examined sexual misconduct over the past five years among the UK surgical workforce and found that 63% of women and 23% of men polled have experienced being sexually harassed by colleagues. Of those, 29.9% of women reported being sexually assaulted – significantly higher than the 6.9% of the male surgical workforce.
Sky News

Thousands feared dead as flooding sweeps Libya
Thousands of people are feared dead after a powerful storm triggered devastating flooding in Libya. The leader of the east Libyan government, which is not recognised internationally, said deaths exceeded 2,000 and thousands were missing. Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist, told the BBC the death toll could reach as many as “several thousand” people. Storm Daniel made landfall on Sunday, prompting authorities to declare a state of extreme emergency.
BBC News

Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia to meet Putin as US threatens sanctions
Kim Jong-un has arrived in Russia on his armoured train for a rare summit with President Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible deal to supply North Korean arms for the war in Ukraine.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Bright and largely dry today with plenty of sunshine and just a few isolated showers in the northwest. Highest temperatures ranging from 15 to 18 degrees in moderate northerly breezes. Rather cold tonight with mostly clear skies and some patches of mist and fog as winds fall light. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees.
Met Éireann