Grime music is being 'stifled', MPs say ON TREND

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Grime music faces significant challenges because of discrimination against urban acts, MPs have said. Despite the success of Stormzy, Dave and Skepta, it is often difficult for grime acts to play live, they said. Licensing authorities and police have been known to cancel gigs at short notice, affecting musicians' ability to gain a following. "Prejudices against grime artists risks stifling one of the UK's most exciting musical exports," MPs said in a report.

Media captionA brief history of grime music The comments came as part of an extensive report into the UK's live music scene by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, made up of 11 MPs from the Conservatives, Labour and the SNP.

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Brexit: Theresa May to formally ask for delay ON TREND

Prime Minister Theresa May is writing to the EU to formally ask for Brexit to be postponed. One ministerial source told the BBC the longer delay could be up to two years, amid reports of a cabinet row, but No 10 said no decision had been made. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU would not grant a delay without a

"concrete plan" from the UK about what they would do with it. Under current law the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal in nine days. MPs rejected the withdrawal deal Mrs May has negotiated with the EU for a second time last week by 149 votes. They also voted in favour of ruling out leaving the EU without a deal, and in favour of extending the Brexit process.FOLLOW US TO GET MORE NEWS
prime minister had hoped to have another try at getting MPs to back the deal this week - but Speaker John Bercow effectively torpedoed that with his surprise intervention on Monday. Kuenssberg: Cabinet split on Brexit delay Brexitcast: The last days of Rome Merkel to fight for 'orderly Brexit' Brexit: A really simple guide She still hopes to ultimately get it in front of MPs for a third go, but says even if that happens and they vote in favour of it, the UK will need a short extension to get the necessary legislation through Parliament. 

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ON TREND|Christchurch shootings: Father and son in first victims' funerals

BY DJ Muha Music NEWS UPDATES
A father and son from Syria have been buried in the first funerals for those killed in the New Zealand mosque shootings that left 50 people dead. Khaled Mustafa, 44, and Hamza, 16, came as refugees to New Zealand last year. Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be buried as soon as possible, but the burials have been delayed by the scale of the identification process. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-described white supremacist, has been charged with murder

Hundreds of mourners gathered at a cemetery near the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch on Wednesday, one of two places of worship targeted in the attacks that took place last Friday. The two victims, who were killed at the Al-Noor mosque, came as refugees from Syria with their family. Khaled leaves behind a wife and a younger teenage son who was also injured in the attack. Zaid Mustafa attended the funeral in a wheelchair. "I shouldn't be standing in front of you. I should be lying beside you," the son and younger brother of the two said according to bystanders cited by AFP. A large marquee had been set up so relatives and friends were able to spend time with their dead before they were buried. More funerals are expected later on Wednesday.

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Africa news today

Africa’s Google Searches for popular people include the late Nigerian footballer and coach Stephen Keshi, late renowned Arab poet Nizar Qabbani, late musician Papa Wemba and current South African president Jacob Zuma. The 10 most searched questions on Google were quite interesting and spanned across business, fashion, entertainment, health and relationships. Here are Africa’s Google Searches most asked questions: How to lose weight How to calculate pregnancy (or how to know when chances of conceiving are low) How to be a better man How to kiss What is a blesser? What is the meaning of love? How to build a strong business relationship How to style twist braids How to tie a doek How to DJ a party

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