Hundreds of supporters of Irish rap band Kneecap protested outside a London court Wednesday, as one of the band members appeared charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly supporting Hezbollah.

Liam O'Hanna, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November.

He arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London with other band members to cheers from a sea of supporters brandishing banners and chanting "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara".

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo has asked Catholics and other religious faithful to observe a day of fasting and prayers for peace in Ukraine and other war-torn countries on Friday, August 22.

"As our Earth continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in many other regions ... I invite all the faithful to live the day of August 22 in fasting and prayer," the pontiff said during his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran cannot completely cut its ties with the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA, the country's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said in comments published on Wednesday on the official news agency IRNA.

(Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Michael Georgy)

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".