LONDON (Reuters) -A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was welcomed by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at a London court on Wednesday, charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O'Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel will call up around 50,000 reservists for its new Gaza City offensive, and call-up letters will be sent out as soon as the coming days, an Israeli military official said on Wednesday, adding that the reservists' draft will begin in September.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Alison Williams)

Israel's defence minister approved a plan on Wednesday for the conquest of Gaza City and authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists, piling pressure on Hamas as mediators push for a ceasefire.

Defence Minister Israel Katz's move, confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson, came as mediators awaited an official Israeli response on their latest proposal in ceasefire talks.

While mediator Qatar had expressed guarded optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Israeli official said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any agreement.

BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday for an official visit, according to a statement from his ministry.

Wang is also there to attend a China, Afghanistan and Pakistan trilateral foreign ministers' meeting.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Yukun Zhang; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

By Ariba Shahid

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Evicted from their homes and huddling under plastic sheets after heavy rains, Afghan refugees in a park near government offices in Islamabad said they had nowhere to go as Pakistan pressures landlords to expel documented families.

Among them is Samia, 26, from Afghanistan’s Hazara minority, a Shi’ite community long persecuted at home, who gave birth just three weeks ago.

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that he treats leaders of other countries with respect after his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu attacked him over his decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

"I don't take these things personally, I engage with people diplomatically. He has had similar things to say about other leaders," Albanese said during a media briefing.

Australia lashed Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday after he said the country's prime minister was weak, with a top minister saying strength was more than "how many people you can blow up".

For decades, Australia has considered itself a close friend of Israel, but the relationship has swiftly unravelled since Canberra announced last week it would recognise a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu drastically escalated a war of words on Tuesday night, calling his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese a "weak politician who betrayed Israel".

Syria's foreign minister met with an Israeli delegation in Paris to discuss de-escalation and the situation in Druze-majority Sweida province after deadly sectarian violence last month, state media reported Wednesday.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer attended the meeting on Tuesday, along with Syria's intelligence chief, Syrian state television said, citing an unnamed government source.

CAIRO (Reuters) -Syria's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, met an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday to discuss bolstering stability in the region and southern Syria, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

Syrian and Israeli officials have been conducting U.S.-mediated talks on de-escalating the conflict in southern Syria.

The discussions between the Israeli and Syrian sides focused on de-escalation and non-interference in Syrian domestic affairs.

(Reporting by MEnna Alaa El Din; Writing by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Leslie Adler)

A row between Israel and France over Paris's plan to recognise a Palestinian state next month escalated to crisis level on Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of fomenting "antisemitism".

The Elysee hit back, calling Netanyahu's allegation "abject" and "erroneous".

"This is a time for seriousness and responsibility, not for conflation and manipulation," the French presidency added.