EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories, a little before nine, you need to know with your morning coffee.

1. #WATER CHARGES: Agreement on proposed water charge is expected to be reached at this morning’s cabinet meeting. The charges will potentially include allowances for pensioners, families with children, and people with disabilities.

2. #LUNG DISEASE: Hundreds of Irish soldiers were exposed to asbestos in East Timor. A letter sent to troops in 2011, seen by TheJournal.ie, details that buildings used by military personnel and damaged in the civil unrest contained the dangerous fibres.

3. #PORTLAOISE: The maternity unit at the Midlands Maternity Hospital was found to have too few electronic baby tags, designed to prevent the child being moved without permission, the Irish Daily Mail reports. Staff are now to receive ‘baby abduction training’.

4. #NORTHERN IRELAND: Talks on legacy issues in Northern Ireland could be held again this summer, the Irish Times reports. The paper details that the Irish government, along with British and American authorities, are eager to see further talks held.

5. #FUNDING: New figures show that five counties received less than 1 per cent of Enterprise Ireland funding each last year. This is compared to Dublin receiving 34 per cent.

6. #PUBLIC PAY: 11 councillors were paid over €100,000 last year, the Irish Independent reports. Most were paid an average of €30,000 each in expenses, fees, allowance, and salary.

7. #CRIME: Two men arrested in connection with a €1.5 million cannabis seizure yesterday will appear before court this morning.

8. #UKRAINE: More than 30 pro-Russian rebels and four Ukrainian servicemen were killed yesterday in fighting in Slavyansk, AFP reports. Flights in and out of Donetsk airport have been suspended this morning.

9. #EUROVISION: The first of the song contest’s semi-finals will take place in Copenhagen tonight. However, Ireland’s Kasey Smith will not be performing until Thursday.