EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you start your day.

1. #OPERATION: A major sea operation is underway off the coast of Mayo after a Coast Guard helicopter with a crew of four went missing.

2. #TALKS: Talks broke down yesterday between Bus Éireann and management and unions around proposed cuts, signalling that strike action could be imminent.

3. #ELECTION: Ahead of tomorrow’s elections in The Netherlands, the Dutch prime minister has urged the country to halt the rise of right wing populism in Europe.

4. #BREXIT: The UK parliament has given prime minister Theresa May approval to start Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, meaning that Article 50 should be triggered by the end of the month.

5. #CHELTENHAM: The annual horse racing festival kicks off today, with addiction counsellors warning people to take care.

6. #STELLA: The east coast of the US is bracing itself for blizzard conditions with a number of flights cancelled as Storm Stella prepares to land.

7. #SCOTLAND: The Scottish National Party has warned British prime minister Theresa May not to attempt to block any future referendum on Scottish independence, RTÉ reports.

8. #CASEY: Michael D Higgins has led the tributes following the death of former bishop Eamonn Casey.

9. #LOUISIANA: Jury selection began yesterday in the second-degree murder and attempted murder trial of police officer Derrick Stafford, after a young autistic boy was shot death in November 2015.