Today: Friday, October 15, 2010

Search

ALS, Alexander Language Schools Franchise


Oct 15, 2010

India: A Special Edition, The Toronto Star

It is a land of immense beauty and growing wealth, of stunning poverty and troubling conflicts. The Star examines the fascinating world of India as it shifts into high gear.
Early morning rush hour at Churchgate station in Mumbai as hordes of people arrive in the downtown core to start the morning work day.

Must Reads

Canada protests conditions ahead of Commonwealth opening ceremonies

Canada was among several countries to protest strongly about the adverse conditions facing athletes for the opening ceremonies — standing in the heat for hours without any cover, a lack of water and a...

Canadians prepare for Commonwealth test

This Team Canada is the strongest at a Commonwealth Games in two decades, Randy Starkman reports from Delhi.

Whatever is true of India is also not true

Efficiency and chaos. Sectarianism and secularism. Humanity and cruelty. That's India.

India: Where have all the young men gone?

In the small villages of Punjab, the streets are empty of young males who have escaped in search of a better life abroad.

With no men around, women take leadership role

Inderjit Mann is the head of Bir village. In a small Punjab village, Inderjit Mann has proven more than capable to handle reins of power.

India: Economic power house or poor house?

India is home to more poor people than any other country in the world. Statistics can mislead in a country as diverse and divided as India.

Air India Flight 187, Toronto to Amritsar, is a flying village

Daljit Parmar with the urn containing the ashes of her mother Mohan Parihar. Air India Flight 187 is, more often than not, packed with Indo-Canadians travelling for weddings, funerals, shopping or just to visit family.

Saving Manmohan: Etobicoke-born child finds family love in the Punjab

Manmohan Dhillon hugs a bear made by his now-deceased mother, Amandeep Dhillon, 15 years ago. His mother was killed by his grandfather in Malton. His father drank himself to death. Now Manmohan finds family love in the Punjab.

Education is key to India's economic development

As the buying power of the growing middle class expands, their list of wants is increasing.Education, especially for girls, is recognized as key to India's economic development. But the obstacles...

Surat's newly prosperous citizens pack a powerful economic punch

Automobile sales in emerging market giant India raced to a record monthly peak this past summer as affluent consumers jammed showrooms. Rapid growth is attracting foreign companies in the city with India's second-highest household income..

Can soccer help unite India?

A soccer tournament held in Salboni, India, was an attempt by the West Bengal government to try to keep young men from joining Maoists, who have a toehold in 20 of India's 28 states. Maoists are gaining the upper hand in Indian regions facing injustice and neglect. Can soccer help keep young minds off rebellion?

Mallick: Don't look back, you're Canadian now

I’m always puzzled when we make assumptions about multiculturalism, the cardinal one being that all immigrants to Canada love their adoptive country but cling to the habits of home, and we let them.

Local News,Vancouver Sun

Highway of Tears

Justice ministers vow action on missing women

VANCOUVER -- Following a meeting of Canada's justice ministers in Vancouver, the group vowed Friday to "strengthen the criminal justice system's response to the tragic cases" of missing women across the country.

Pet stores consider legal action against Richmond

The "voice" of the Canadian pet industry is threatening to take the City of Richmond to court if it proceeds with a ban on the sale of puppies in stores.

Thousands of students throng to Rogers Arena for We Day celebrations, Vanc

Hedley kicks off WE Day at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Friday morning, October 15, 2010. 18,000 youth and educators gather for a motivational day to spur kids into taking part in activism for global change.
Hedley kicks off WE Day at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Friday morning, October 15, 2010. 18,000 youth and educators gather for a motivational day to spur kids into taking part in activism for global change.

Quebec Breaking News, Montreal Gazette, Canada

A serious accident early Friday morning claimed the life of an unidentified pedestrian and closed Papineau Ave. between de Bellechasse and Beaubien Sts.
4 hours ago
An accident late Friday morning at the Shell refinery in Montreal's east end has sent two people to hospital.
36 minutes ago
Joseph Abitbol says he can't believe his son is capable of making threats on the Internet. "If the court orders him to get psychiatric help, then I'll do it," he said at his son't bail hearing.
1 hour ago
Ducks Unlimited Quebec is expected to announce today an agreement to conserve 213 hectares of forested land on Ile St. Bernard, a small but ecologically important island between Lake St. Louis and Chateauguay River.
City briefs for Saturday, October 15, 2010
Two people were injured late Thursday night after a brief police chase in Montreal ended with a car sticking out of the side of a bank.
3 hours ago
Firefighters in Montreal were battling a blaze early Friday morning in the city's Plateau Mont Royal borough.
It all started 21 years ago with one troubled man. He showed up at the door of the Carrefour familial Hochelaga with a serious drinking problem, nowhere to stay, and two young children in tow.
The death of a 32-year-old woman whose body was found about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday in Point St. Charles was classified a homicide Thursday night.
Major maintenance work on the Bonaventure Expressway will require complete closures of one stretch of the roadway in both directions Friday evening and over the weekend, Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc. said Thursday.

In the footsteps of gladiators

A panoramic view of the Colosseum is seen from the attico (top level) on October 14 in Rome, Italy. Areas of the Colosseum will be newly opened this week to visitors, such as the upper area and the underground, that have never before been available to the public.
A panoramic view of the Colosseum is seen from the attico (top level) on October 14 in Rome, Italy. Areas of the Colosseum will be newly opened this week to visitors, such as the upper area and the underground, that have never before been available to the public.
Photograph by: Franco Origlia, Getty Images
The dark tunnels in which gladiators prepared to do battle in the Colosseum are being opened to the public for the first time.

Miners came to blows, but swore to keep details secret

Relatives and friends of miner Johnny Barrios wait for his release from hospital two days after the 33 trapped Chilean miners were rescued from the depths of the San Jose mine, near Copiapo, Chile on October 15, 2010.
Relatives and friends of miner Johnny Barrios wait for his release from hospital two days after the 33 trapped Chilean miners were rescued from the depths of the San Jose mine, near Copiapo, Chile on October 15, 2010.Rodrigo Arangua, AFP/Getty ImagesThe rescued Chilean miners overcame violent disagreements to work as a team to survive, they have disclosed, as they celebrated their freedom and new status as national heroes.

Sean Connery cites health for ducking Spanish court date

Sean Connery attends the 8th annual Dressed To Kilt charity fashion show in New York, in this April 5, 2010 file photo. 
MADRID—A Spanish court official says Sean Connery won't be appearing in court as requested by a judge investigating an allegedly shady real estate deal in southern Spain.
The official says the 80-year-old actor sent the judge a letter explaining he cannot travel to Spain because of his age and unspecified health issues.

News, The Star, Toronto

News | Insight

VIRAL: Grover goes postmodern

2010/10/15 14:34:00
The hottest thing on the Web this week? The Sesame Street icon spoofing the Old Spice Guy spoofing ...

News | World

DiManno: Physician to popes, believer in miracles

2010/10/15 14:33:00
At the Vatican pharmacy, all the usual assortment of personal care products can be purchased. Notable for their absence, however, are condoms

News | Insight

Talking Points: On the world stage, Canada’s now a bit player

Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses the 65th session of the General Assembly at the United Nations on Sept. 23.
2010/10/15 14:32:00
Commentary from publications across the country.

News | Crime

Accused in Tori Stafford slaying wants trial moved

2010/10/15 14:29:00
The man accused of abducting and murdering Tori Stafford wants his trial moved out of southern Ontario’s Oxford County.

News | Canada

Veterans with ALS to get benefits, home-care

Minister of Veterans Affairs Jean-Pierre Blackburn looks on as Canadian veteran and ALS sufferer Mike Watson speaks on Friday. Blackburn announced expanded benefits for veterans with ALS.
2010/10/15 14:16:00
The federal government is boosting support for veterans suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

News | World

Residents back in town hit by red sludge despite safety concerns

2010/10/15 14:04:00
Villagers began returning Friday to the town in western Hungary that was inundated by a flood of toxic red sludge, despite warnings from environmentalists that it was too early and too dangerous yet to go back.

News

Wheels pointers

The original Uno (in front, orange) was replaced by a second prototype (behind, red). Now there's a third.
2010/10/15 13:49:00
This is a holder folder for photos for wheels pointers.

News | World

Brooklyn Bridge reopened after suspicious-package report

2010/10/15 13:41:00
The Brooklyn Bridge is being reopened after police say a report of a suspicious package turned out to be a false alarm.

News | Canada

Veterans with ALS to get benefits, home-care

2010/10/15 13:28:00
The federal government is boosting support for veterans suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

News | Crime

Lengthy jail term for Peel officer who stole fake cocaine

2010/10/15 13:28:00
Const. Sheldon Cook was given a prison sentence of five years and eight months for drug-related and breach of trust offences in botched RCMP sting.

Toronto doctor indicted on smuggling charges - thestar.com

BUFFALO, N.Y.—A high-profile Canadian sports doctor charged earlier this year with smuggling unapproved drugs into the United States to treat professional athletes was formally indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Buffalo.

Souris's new Main Street opens in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Souris’s new Main Street is now open for business.
The revitalization of 2.1 kilometres of the town’s Main Street was conducted in two phases and included repairs to both road and underground infrastructure.

Halloween Movie, Pumpkin Carving, Traditions, Decorations, Witches, Costumes

EntertainmentEarth.com, tricks and treats Costumes for any occasion LOve My Shoes, womens shoes, platform shoes, designer shoes Fancy Dress, Halloween costumes, Christmas costumes, Christmas fancy dress, angels fancy dress, adult fancy dress, fancy dress costume Costume Kingdom, sexy halloween costumes

The Technology That Will Replace 148 Billion Barrels of Oil

Not many investors noticed in September 2008 when Warren Buffet took a 10% stake in Hong Kong-based battery maker BYD Co. Ltd. for $230 million.

Chile miners rescue puts BBC ahead of Sky | Latest technology and web news | Web User

Chile miners rescue puts BBC ahead of Sky main 
The BBC won the battle for online coverage of the Chilean miners rescue efforts, beating CNN and Sky. BBC News beat broadcast rivals Sky News and CNN.com as the most popular website for coverage of the Chile miners rescue.
It attracted over 16 per cent of all traffic from searches for the rescue, way ahead of the Guardian.co.uk in second place which received just over six per cent, according to web analytics firm Hitwise.

Pineapple workers: dignity in the face of oppression

I arrived in Siquirres in the South Atlantic coast of Costa Rica, with my Banana Link colleague Iain Farquhar, after a long and slow journey of multiple planes, taxis and buses. We were welcomed by the friendly and familiar faces at the SITRAP office – our base during the Consumers International case study research.

Beauty, Fitness, Health, Cosmetics, Body Building, Body Care, Face Care, Hair Care, Styling, Facelift, Perfumes, Aerobics, Exercise

GoldshieldUSA.com, weight loss, supplements, natural weight loss,  herbal blend, hoodia, discount coupons

Megan Fox: Boutiquing Beauty

Currently enjoying a little career downtime after opting out/being fired from the "Transformers" series, Megan Fox was spotted out for a little retail therapy in West Hollywood, CA on Thursday (October 14).
Rocking some cute athletic gear and toting a Hudson satchel, the "Jennifer's Body" babe was joined by a purple shirt clad male pal while popping into a few local boutiques to get her shop on.

Kristin Cavallari: Keeping Pretty for Jay Cutler

Putting a top priority on looking fabulous now that she's in a new relationship, Kristin Cavallari was busy making her beauty rounds in West Hollywood, CA on Thursday (October 14).
The former "Hills" star/girlfriend of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hit the gym before dropping by Neil Gorge Salon to get her coif beautified.

Prince Announces "Welcome 2 America" Tour

Much to the delight of his abundant fanbase, Prince has announced plans to hit the road in North America beginning December 2010.
Breaking the news at a press conference held at The Apollo Theatre in New York City on Thursday (October 14), the singer/musician donned a black velour jacket as he excitedly promoted his "Welcome 2 America" tour.

Irish consumer price inflation rose by 0.5% in the year to September

Irish consumer price inflation in September, as measured by the CPI (Consumer Price Index) , fell by 0.1% in the month. This compares to a decrease of 0.4% recorded in September of last year. As a result, prices on average, as measured by the CPI, were 0.5% higher in September compared with September 2009.

Warsaw Stock Exchange prepares IPO

Shares of the Warsaw Stock Exchange will begin trading on the bourse on November 9, marking the latest in a series of ambitious sales of state-owned assets conducted by the Polish government.

Utilities - Enel lines up green energy arm for IPO

Enel Green Power, potentially the biggest bourse listing in Europe this year, has entered its marketing phase with an indicative price range of €1.9-€2.2 per share, according to financial sources close to the steering committee.

Report: 'We were waiting for death,' Chilean miner says

Washington/Copiapo, Chile - One of the rescued Chilean miners has described his despair during the first 17 days trapped underground, saying he was sure he would die, according to an interview published in the Washington Post Friday. Richard Villarroel, 26, was hoisted from the Earth's depths on Wednesday, one of the 33 men who endured 69 days trapped after a copper mine shaft collapsed on August 5. All 33 were rescued on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Suspected US missiles strikes kill 11 in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Suspected US unmanned aircraft launched four missile strikes at a house and two vehicles in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border Wednesday evening, killing 11 militants, including three foreigners, said intelligence officials.
The attacks occurred within about an hour in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, part of Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal region that is dominated by militant groups that often attack US and other foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Taliban ready to talk: Af peace council chief - The Times of India

Aformer Afghan president who heads a new peace council said Thursday he's convinced the Taliban are ready to negotiate peace after nine years of war in Afghanistan. "They have some conditions to start the negotiations process. It gives us hope that they want to talk and negotiate," Burhanuddin Rabbani said. AP

Court rejects plea seeking Musharraf's trial on treason charge

Musharraf
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Sindh High Court on Thursday dismissed a Constitutional petition seeking the trial of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on treason charges for imposing emergency in 2007 and asked the petitioner to approach the apex court which is looking into the same case.

Obama vows to end US policy on gays in military

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has vowed to end the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy that bars gays and lesbians from serving openly even as the US Justice Department has requested an emergency stay on federal judge's injunction stopping enforcement of the policy.

Australian gets life term for murdering sons

MELBOURNE: An Australian man was sentenced on Friday to life in prison for murdering his three young sons by driving them into a reservoir on Father's Day to spite their mother.

US military says 77,000 Iraqis killed over 5 years, Oct 15, 2010

BAGHDAD: A new US military tally puts the death toll of Iraqi civilians and security forces in the bloodiest years of the war thousands below Iraqi government figures.

  

At Lebanon border, Ahmadinejad predicts Israel's demise

BINT JBEIL, LEBANON: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predicted the demise of arch-foe Israel on Thursday from inside a Hezbollah stronghold in south Lebanon, just miles from the border of the Jewish state.

Commonwealth Games 2010 Photos, XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi News in Pictures

Aerostat at closing ceremony
Jawahar lal Nehru stadium

Harvard gets biggest international donation in 102 yrs, from Tata Group

BOSTON: India's Tata Group has given a whopping $50 million to the prestigious Harvard Business School here to fund a new academic and residential building on its campus, the largest gift received by the institute from an international donor in its 102-year-old history.

CWG: Glasgow steals the show at closing gala

XIX Commonwealth Games closing ceremony
Scottish dancers assemble a replica of Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium, familiarly known as 'The Armadillo', at the XIX Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in New Delhi. Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, will host the 2014 event. (AFP Photo)
NEW DELHI: After the spellbinding opening ceremony and a stirring surge in the medals tally, the mood in the Capital was expectedly upbeat: tonight's-gonna-..

Cricket loss makes Oz athletes take it out on washing machine

NEW DELHI: At the top of the medal tally and the undisputed champions of the Commonwealth Games, the Australian team, sadly didn't show any sporting spirit when their cricket team lost the Test series to India on Wednesday.
Enraged by the humiliating loss, some athletes, according to highly-placed sources in Delhi Police, went berserk, destroying electrical fittings and furniture in their tower in the Games Village on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Peoples Voice News

Permalink Pelosi Is To Blame For Screwing 58 Million of Us

What did happen on October 11, 2010 was the fact that the COLA freeze for 58 million people was announced. And because of how the congress has chosen to measure the supposed cost of living: they found that for the last two years there has been NO INCREASE in those costs. However despite this, the congress did vote themselves a COLA in the senate of $5,300 and in the House it was $ 4,700. Clearly Congress felt they owed themselves a cost of living increase while the 58 million Social Security recipients were denied any increase at all.

Permalink White House in Crisis

...the recent involuntary sudden departures of the White House chief of staff and national security adviser, along with what WMR can confirm from multiple sources is a president who is suffering from Nixonian levels of paranoia, depression, and schizophrenia, has some top-level administration officials considering the first-ever invocation of Section 4 of the 25th Amendment — the involuntary removal of the president from office. The White House meltdown has the Washington political circuit buzzing under the surface.

Permalink Cancer 'is purely man-made' say scientists after finding almost no trace of disease in Egyptian mummies

Cancer is a man-made disease fuelled by the excesses of modern life, a study of ancient remains has found. Tumours were rare until recent times when pollution and poor diet became issues, the review of mummies, fossils and classical literature found.

Permalink Rule of Law Prospers Most in Sweden, Least in Pakistan

The rule of law - a critical element of good governance – thrives best in Sweden, the Netherlands and in several other wealthy nations but is sorely lacking in Pakistan, Kenya, and Liberia, among other poor countries, according to a major new index released here Thursday by the World Justice Project (WPJ).

Permalink Bernanke Ponders the "Nuclear" Option

Ben Bernanke's speech on Friday in Boston could turn out to be a real barnburner. In fact, there's a good chance the Fed chairman will announce changes in policy that will stun Wall Street and send tremors through Capital Hill. Along with another trillion or so in quantitative easing, Bernanke is likely to appeal to congress for a second round of fiscal stimulus, this time in the form of a two-year suspension of the payroll tax. That's what he figures it will take to jump-start spending and rev-up the flagging economy. It could be an extraordinary intervention.

Permalink U.S. Troops Being Trained on How to Handle Rioting Americans

In something of a post-democratic, "Mad Max" scenario, United States troops are being trained on how to handle rioting Americans in case the nation collapses into anarchy. This change in troop protocol is being brought out in response to riots and civil unrest that are happening in Europe. It isn't too far off to think the United States will soon become an iron fist, martial law police state catering to the elite. As for those who are being policed and bossed around, well, that's their problem.

Permalink Israel 'declares war on its people' - pictures

You could easily miss the thin, gravel road that leads to Al Arakib, a Bedouin village in the north Negev. It is a bit ironic, given the enormity of the struggle there and its deep implications for the Jewish state. Israeli forces have razed the village five times since late July, sparking cries of ethnic cleansing and leaving more than 300 Bedouin homeless. But the equally determined residents, along with a handful of Jewish activists, continue to rebuild. The government claims that Al Arakib was abandoned and, as such, belongs to the state. Israel calls the Bedouin squatters who "infiltrate" the area and settle it illegally. According to the state, these people must be removed to make way for a forest to be planted by the Jewish National Fund.

Permalink Green Party Candidate Excluded from California Governor’s Debate

While governor hopefuls Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman debated on Tuesday night in San Rafael, the Green Party candidate for governor was being arrested outside the hall. Police charged Laura Wells with trespassing after she tried to get into the debate that she was not allowed to participate in.

Permalink Israeli authorities bulldoze Palestinian village for the sixth time

A large force of Israeli police and special forces supported by armoured bulldozers, machinery and trucks have demolished a Palestinian village for the sixth time. The Israelis entered Al-Arakib in the Negev region (part of Palestine occupied in 1948), on the morning of 13 October. Local sources said that the occupation forces imposed a tight cordon around the village, setting up checkpoints at its entrances; people, including media representatives, were prevented from entering or leaving the village. The same sources said that clashes took place between the Israel occupation authority's forces and the villagers. Israeli police arrested a number of residents along with activists who were trying to stop the demolitions.

Permalink Then They Came for Me

Speaking out a year ago against the idea of holding civilian trials for terrorism suspects, Liz Cheney captured the paranoid arrogance of the past decade with stunning efficiency: “This demonstrates conclusively that we are going back to a pre-9/11 mentality,” she said. Oh the horror! Fair trials, rule of law, habeas corpus, Miranda rights, blah, blah, blah — remember what a nuisance our justice system used to be before Liz’s father and the rest of the neocon High Nooniacs made us safe by hustling us off to a police state and perpetual war? I can’t help but think about the younger Cheney’s comment — and the fear it implies, not of terrorists but of liberals

Permalink Invasion of the Robot Home Snatchers

The Titanic that is the U.S. housing market has just sprung its biggest leak, and even some of the largest banks responsible for this mess, like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, are now imposing a temporary moratorium on foreclosures. They have done so very reluctantly and only after courts throughout the nation, and the attorneys general of 40 states, questioned the legality of a securitized system of homeownership that has impoverished tens of millions.

Permalink Wolfowitz Directive Gave Legal Cover to Detainee Experimentation Program

In 2002, as the Bush administration was turning to torture and other brutal techniques for interrogating "war on terror" detainees, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz loosened rules against human experimentation, an apparent recognition of legal problems regarding the novel strategies for extracting and evaluating information from the prisoners.

Permalink DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN: The Choice To Be Drowned or Hanged

The opportunity to choose is utterly meaningless and irrelevant when the supposed choices that are offered are fundamentally the same ones with different packaging. In the 21st Century, different packaging is in this instance essentially what is known as corporate branding, which means that messages, images, and imagery target a mass (and often undiscerning) audience. These messages, images, and imagery rarely have anything whatsoever to do with reality. The objective of corporate branding is of course massive manipulation, not the dissemination of truth or the positing of reality.

Permalink Common Ground With A War Criminal: Stryker Brigade Commander Harry D. Tunnell IV Sneered At COIN Doctrine, And So Do I

Winter PatriotOctober 14, 2010 - The Stryker Combat Brigade in Afghanistan, some of whose members stand accused of killing civilians for sport, was led by a man who openly sneered at the U.S. military's counterinsurgency strategy, according to Craig Whitlock of the Washington Post....I cannot speak for Tunnell, but my understanding begins with the fact that the words 'insurgent' and 'insurgency' are entirely inappropriate in this context. In dictionary-English, as opposed to the political double-talk that goes on in America, an 'insurgent' is someone who rebels against a legitimately established government. Both Iraq and Afghanistan were bombed, invaded, demolished and occupied, based on transparently obvious lies.

Permalink World in grave danger of financial collapse, says Ken Clarke

Justice secretary warns that western nations are 'not out of the woods yet' Ken Clarke warned today that the world economy was "in grave danger of financial collapse". Speaking at the Prison Governors' Association's annual conference, the justice secretary said western nations are "not out of the woods yet". Clarke said: "We have rescued ourselves for the moment from being bracketed with the weaker brethren with doubts about our credit rating and the costs of our borrowing, but if we fail to deliver the kind of programme we have set out we will be back there all too soon if we are not too careful."

Permalink GOP Tea Party frontrunner: ‘Abolish’ public schools

A Tea Party-backed Republican congressional nominee has championed abolishing public schools in California, and is currently the favorite to win his November election.

Permalink WikiLeaks accuses US of ‘financial warfare’

The founder of whistleblower Web site WikiLeaks says the US government is involved in a campaign of "financial warfare" against the group.

Permalink Phoenix police officer tased and then shot victim

Defense lawyer says Phoenix police officer indicted on murder charge in on-duty shooting. A Phoenix police officer has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge for the on-duty shooting of a suspect, his lawyer said Thursday. Officer Richard Chrisman was served a summons on the indictment, attorney Craig Mehrens said. The indictment also charged him with aggravated assault and misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

Permalink Mamoon Alabbasi: London's Jazza sings in tune with Palestine

Artists from across cultural and music genre divides unite in festival for Palestinians. London's 'Jazza Music Festival' kicked off Tuesday with a number of artists performing free of charge to help raise aid for the occupied Palestinian territories and highlight their plight. The event offered a mix of music genres that crossed both cultural as well as generational divides, where a diverse audience enjoyed tunes from classic Arabic oud to a touch of contemporary Palestinian hip-hop passing through styles of jazz and into a melodic portrait of England's north east.