September 20: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Emergency services at scene of collision in Co Laois as traffic delays to Ploughing expected
Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision in Mullaghanard, Co Laois. The collision occurred outside Mountmellick earlier this morning. Traffic is being diverted away from the R422 as a result. It is unclear as of yet if there have been any injuries as a result of the collision.
Independent.ie

Children face having to travel abroad for spinal surgery
Children now face having to travel abroad for spinal surgery amid fears long waiting lists for the operations will grow in the wake of the latest scandal to hit the health service. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the “alarming” issues that have emerged in relation to the surgeries for children at CHI at Temple Street “extend well beyond malpractice” and may involve “wider failure of clinical governance”.
The Irish Examiner

Government drops plans for teacher-based assessment of Leaving Cert, blaming AI
Education minister Norma Foley has postponed plans to introduce teacher-based assessment for the Leaving Cert, blaming Artificial Intelligence for the move. In a statement this morning, Foley announced that her department was accelerating changes to the Leaving Cert Cycle, with the rollout of nine new and revised subjects coming two years earlier than planned. Each of these will incorporate continuous assessment elements that are not a written exam.
The Journal

Internal report finds new garda roster ‘not fit for purpose’
A confidential internal garda report found four years ago that the roster the Garda Commissioner plans to reintroduce in November “does not provide sufficient resources” to police the country and “is not fit for purpose”. The Roster Reform Project Report finalised in 2019, which has been seen by RTÉ News, also found that the so-called “Westmanstown Roster” results in an immediate 20% reduction in resources per garda unit and leads to “ineffective supervision and management”.
RTÉ

Spain players agree to end boycott before Nations League games
Most of the Spain women’s team have agreed to end their boycott, says Spanish secretary of state for sports Victor Francos. The agreement was reached at 05:00 local time on Wednesday after more than seven hours of meetings. Two of the 23 players called up for this month’s Nations League games have chosen to pull out of the squad.
BBC Sport

Danny Masterson: Wife of former That 70s Show actor files for divorce after he is jailed for rape
US actress and model Bijou Phillips has filed for divorce from former That 70s Show star Danny Masterson after he was jailed for rape. Ms Phillips, 43, filed the petition for divorce in Santa Barbara Superior Court on Monday to end her nearly 12-year marriage to Masterson, 47. Ms Phillips and Masterson have a nine-year-old daughter.
Sky News

Today’s forecast
Blustery today with sunny spells and showers, some heavy with a few thunderstorms possible. Fresh and gusty southwest winds, strong in northern coastal areas. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees, mildest in the southeast. Showers will become mostly confined to western and northern counties overnight. Long clear spells elsewhere and turning rather cold. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees with light to moderate southwest winds. Some mist and fog patches too. A Status Yellow Wind warning has also been issued for Donegal with difficult driving conditions and the possibility of falling branches/trees and loose debris blowing around expected.
Met Éireann