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

1. #COUNTING DAY: Counting has officially begun in the local elections and by-elections at centres around the country. With first results expected early this afternoon, an exit poll suggests Independents have topped the poll with 28 per cent of the vote.

2. #PROTEST: Employees are continuing a sit-in at the Paris Bakery in Dublin city centre, claiming they are owed wages of more than €55,000 in total. Staff say they have made some progress in negotiations with their employer.

3. #WARNING: The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish people about travelling to Thailand as the military has continued its crackdown after the coup several days ago.

4. #FOILED: Two men are due in court this morning after an off-duty garda foiled an attempted robbery at a Dublin shop. The garda was injured in the struggle.

5. #BON VOYAGE: Pope Francis will begin his three-day visit to the Middle East this morning beginning in Jordan before visiting Israel and Palestine. The Vatican says his visit will be a “pilgrimage of prayer”.

6. #CHEEKI RAFIKI:  Hopes are fading of finding a missing British crew after their upturned yacht was found in the Atlantic Ocean off the Massachusetts coast with the life raft still on board.

7. #TRAGEDY: A 17-year-old student at a Meath secondary school died of a suspected heart attack after her fifth-year graduation ceremony. The Irish Independent reports that Guoda Remeikaite was described as a “model student” at Boyne Community School.

8. #FERTILITY: A study has found that high cholesterol levels can significantly add to the amount of time it takes for a couple to conceive.

9. #GOOOOOOOAL: Tonight will see Atlético Madrid take on Real Madrid in the first ever Champions League final between two teams from the same city. In preparation, our colleagues over at TheScore.ie have ranked the 7 best Champions League finals. See what you make of it…