A cross-party delegation of Irish politicians has called on Dublin to send official observers to the trial of the “Ulm 5” activists in Stuttgart and raise concerns over the severe detention conditions of Irish citizen Daniel Tatlow-Devally. Tatlow-Devally, 32, was arrested alongside four other Berlin-based European activists in September after trespassing at an Ulm facility owned by Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, where they destroyed equipment and smashed windows to protest German arms exports to Israel. German prosecutors have charged the group with trespassing, property damage exceeding €1 million, and membership in a criminal organisation under Section 129 of the German criminal code. The visiting delegation, including Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell and representatives from Fine Gael, Labour, People Before Profit–Solidarity, and the Social Democrats, voiced alarm over Tatlow-Devally being confined to a 5×2-metre cell for 23 hours a day with only one hour of monthly visitation. They also highlighted courtroom barriers, such as holding the defendants behind glass panels that restrict direct legal communication. Farrell urged Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin to press German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on human rights and legal access concerns during his upcoming visit to Dublin.

Seven emergency personnel were killed after a firefighting helicopter crashed in Argentina’s western San Juan province while responding to a forest fire, authorities said. The Bell 412 helicopter had been deployed for wildfire response operations and was travelling to neighbouring La Rioja province to assist in controlling a major forest fire when the accident occurred. Officials said the aircraft lost contact with its base shortly after take-off on Wednesday morning, prompting an emergency response. San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego confirmed that all seven people on board lost their lives in the crash. The victims included members of the civil protection department, firefighters and senior police officials who were involved in emergency response operations. The governor expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of those who died while serving in the line of duty. Emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site, while authorities secured the area and began recovery operations. Officials have launched an investigation to determine what caused the helicopter to crash. No official findings have yet been released. The Bell 412 helicopter was part of the province’s aerial firefighting fleet and was regularly used to support operations against wildfires in the region. The incident has shocked emergency services across Argentina, with tributes pouring in for the personnel who lost their lives during the mission.

The United States walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday during remarks by France’s ambassador, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two allies over human rights and the leadership of the UN’s top human rights office. The disagreement began after a recent vote on extending the term of Volker Turk as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States joined Russia and North Korea in opposing his reappointment, placing Washington on the same side as two countries it has frequently criticized over human rights issues. Following the vote, France’s mission to the United Nations strongly criticized the US position on social media, saying Washington had once been a global symbol of human rights but no longer deserved that reputation. The statement drew a sharp response from American officials and set the stage for the diplomatic confrontation that followed. The latest tension unfolded during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine. As France’s UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont began speaking, members of the US delegation left the chamber in protest. US Ambassador Dan Negrea later said the walkout was a direct response to what he described as France’s disrespectful and condescending language toward the United States. He warned that similar protests would continue unless France changed its approach and withdrew its criticism. Earlier, US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Washington’s opposition to Turk’s second term. He argued that the human rights chief had unfairly criticized democratic countries while failing to take a strong enough stance against governments with poor human rights records. Waltz did not identify specific examples to support his criticism. During his time in office, Turk has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has also raised concerns about Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Despite US objections, his second term was approved by a large majority of UN member states, with 144 countries voting in favor, 10 voting against and 13 abstaining. The dispute reflects broader tensions between the United States and the United Nations under President Donald Trump’s administration. In recent years, Washington has reduced financial support for several UN agencies and withdrawn from a number of UN bodies as part of a wider review of its international commitments. After the vote on Turk’s reappointment, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos warned that the United States would reconsider its participation, engagement and funding for UN institutions. He accused the organization of allowing procedural abuses and political deals to influence key appointments. France, however, strongly defended Turk’s leadership. Ambassador Bonnafont described him as a principled and impartial official who had carried out his responsibilities with integrity during his first term. France argued that his reappointment reflected the confidence of the overwhelming majority of UN member states. A spokesperson for the United Nations declined to comment directly on the American walkout but said the organization expects all member countries to respect decisions made through its established voting process. The incident has added to growing friction between Washington and the UN at a time when international cooperation is already under pressure from several global conflicts.