EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #POSITIVE OUTLOOK: The credit ratings agency Moody’s has upgraded its outlook on Irish sovereign debt from negative to stable. However, Moody’s continues to apply a junk rating to Irish government bonds. [The Irish Times]

2. #TRANSPLANT: An investigation is underway after an ambulance transporting a patient from Cork to Dublin for a lung transplant broke down. [The Irish Independent]

3. #HADDINGTON: Despite the ASTI rejecting the Haddington Road Agreement, the Government insists there will be no renegotiation as it could unravel the whole deal, reports The Irish Times.

4. #RETIREMENT: The former Financial Regulator Patrick Neary was paid a salary of €84,501 upon retirement, which included a €13,000 payment for untaken holidays.

5. #CAB: The Criminal Assets Bureau has launched an investigation in a hope to establish the source of a sum of money that was found hidden under a bathtub in the former home of bankrupt developer Tom McFeely. [The Irish Independent]

6. #TOURISM: Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has indicated that the 9 per cent rate of VAT for the hotel and tourism industry will rise in the forthcoming Budget.

7. #SYRIA: The international chemical weapons watchdog says it is studying details submitted by Syria about its arsenal of poisonous gas supplies. All details must be submitted by the end of today. [BBC]

8. #GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel has made a last ditch appeal to German voters stating she wants to be Chancellor for another four years. Germany’s election takes place tomorrow. [The Telegraph]

9. # BEAUTY PAGEANT: The controversial child beauty pageant that had its venue cancel the booking this week, will go ahead in another venue today said Annette Hill, the pageant’s organiser. [The Examiner]