Hungarian authorities have banned the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country, accusing them of engaging in “antisemitic hate speech” and “supporting terrorism”. 

Kneecap were set to perform at the Sziget Festival, taking place from 6 to 11 August in Budapest.

The Belfast-based band, which often shares pro-Palestinian messages during its shows, has attracted controversy in recent months after accusing the Israeli government of committing “genocide” in Gaza.

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on Thursday that the band’s members “repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups”.

“Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form,” Kovacs said on X, adding that the band’s planned performance “posed a national security threat,” and the band has therefore been formally banned from entering Hungary for three years.

“If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms,” Kovacs added.

Responding to the spokesman’s comments, Kneecap said “there is no legal basis” for Hungary’s decision and that “no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country”.

“It is clear that this is a political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people,” the band said in a statement on X.

During Kneecap’s gig at Britain’s Glastonbury Festival in June, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, performing under the stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza.

Ahead of the gig, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he doesn’t think Kneecap’s planned performance was “appropriate”.

Following Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, a criminal investigation was launched into comments made on stage by the trio. However, police ultimately decided not to pursue further action, citing “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.

Kneecap called the investigation “political policing intimidation”.

Mo Chara has been formally charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of the militant group Hezbollah during a gig in November. He denies the offence.

Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK and the US.

The legendary WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan has died aged 71.

Police have said emergency services responders treated Hogan at his home in Clearwater, Florida, for cardiac arrest at around 10am local time (3pm UK time) today but he died in hospital around an hour and 15 minutes later.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is perhaps the most iconic star in WWE’s five-decade history – known for his distinctive blonde moustache and colourful headbands.

His charisma and theatrics in the ring are credited with helping to transform professional wrestling into a family entertainment sport.

Hogan was the main draw for the first-ever WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years in its signature event, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

He claimed his first WWE world championship by defeating the Iron Sheik in 1984.

Hogan went on to win five more world championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Sylvester Stallone.

WWE said in a post this evening: “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Hogan’s friend and fellow former professional wrestler, Ric Flair, wrote on X: “I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @HulkHogan! Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business.

“An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father!”

Hogan was also able to transcend his “Hulkamania” fan base to become a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best”.

In 2024, he appeared at the Republican National Convention to endorse the presidential bid of Donald Trump.

Hogan said he made the decision to support the Republican candidate after seeing his combative, fist-pumping reaction to an attempted assassination on the campaign trail.

In a reference to so-called “Hulkamania”, he ripped off his shirt to reveal a Trump tank top and bellowed to a cheering crowd: “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother… Let Trumpamania rule again!”

US Vice President JD Vance has been one of the first to pay tribute to Hogan, writing on X: “Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”

Hogan’s support of Trump did not go down well with all wrestling fans, but he also faced other controversies.

The gossip website Gawker posted a video in 2012 of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife.

Hogan sued on privacy grounds and was awarded a $140m judgement in 2016.

A year earlier he was suspended by the WWE after another secret recording revealed that Hogan had used a racial slur.

He was reinstated in 2018.

The making of a pop culture phenomenon

Born in the US state of Georgia in August 1953, Hogan played bass guitar in local bands before getting involved in the wrestling scene in Florida in the 1970s.

The young wrestler, who later admitted to taking anabolic steroids during his career, gained notoriety as his biceps turned into what he dubbed the “24-inch pythons.”

The “Hulk” moniker came from comparisons to the comic-book hero portrayed on TV at the time.

He would end up paying royalties to Marvel Comics for years.

“Hogan” was the invention of promoter Vince McMahon, the owner of what was then called the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), who wanted Irish representation among his stable of stars.

He was married three times and had two children.

In an update at 1.47pm local time (6.47pm UK time), Clearwater Police Major Nate Burnside said there were “no signs of foul play or suspicious activity” in relation to Hogan’s death.

He added that Hogan’s family are being supported.

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Black Sabbath have paid tribute to their former frontman Ozzy Osbourne after the megastar died at the age of 76.

Osbourne’s death on Tuesday morning was announced in a statement, which said he died surrounded by his family.

His death came just weeks after he reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates – Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward – and performed a huge farewell concert for fans.

The band paid tribute to him on Instagram by sharing an image of Osbourne on stage at the farewell gig in Birmingham and writing “Ozzy Forever”.

Ozzy Osbourne’s life in pictures

Iommi, the band’s lead guitarist, said he was in disbelief at the news.

“It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother.”

Butler, Black Sabbath’s bassist and primary lyricist, thanked Osbourne for “all those years – we had some great fun”.

He said: “Four kids from Aston – who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.”

Sir Elton John described Osbourne as his “dear friend” and a “huge trailblazer” who “secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods”.

“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” the singer wrote on Instagram.

Ronnie Wood, of The Rolling Stones, wrote: “I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”

Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, he became known as the godfather of heavy metal.

The self-styled Prince of Darkness pioneered the music genre with Black Sabbath before going on to have huge success in his own right.

He was famous for hits including Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train and Changes, both with the band and as a solo star.

Legendary American heavy metal band Metallica shared an image of them with Osbourne from 1986 along with an emoji of a broken heart.

Posting on Instagram, Sir Rod Stewart said: “Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there – later rather than sooner.”

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May said he was “grateful I was able to have a few quiet words” with Osbourne after his farewell show at Villa Park three weeks ago.

He said the world will miss the singer’s “unique presence and fearless talent”.