An Irish Congress of Trade Unions delegation, led by President Kevin Callinan, returned from Palestine yesterday afternoon. The fact finding mission consisted of several meetings with Palestinian government representatives, trade union leaders, and non-governmental organisations in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. The delegation is seeking an urgent meeting with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss their findings.

Consumers can no longer spend their gift cards at several Irish shopping centres after the company that manages the funds and provides the service had its license revoked. More information available here.

Elsewhere, a party volunteer has died after government forces in Sierra Leone fired shots and teargas at the main opposition party’s headquarters, as voters wait to hear the official results of the country’s general election.

South Koreans became a year or two younger on Wednesday as new laws that require using only the international method of counting age took effect and replaced the country’s traditional method. Under the age system most commonly used in South Koreans’ everyday life, people are deemed to be a year old at birth and a year is added every January 1st.

And singer Lewis Capaldi has confirmed that he is “taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future”. In an emotional performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage on Saturday Capaldi admitted he was having voice issues due to Tourette’s, but the ocean of fans replied by cheering him on and finishing the song on his behalf.