Live 8: London, Philadelphia, Paris, Rome and Berlin

Not only London and Philadelphia, but also Rome, Paris and Berlin are set to host the simultaneous Live 8 concerts on July 2 in a bid to force world leaders to relieve third world debt, according to the latest news coming in from the world press.

Oasis, Sting, U2, Robbie Williams, Duran Duran, Razorlight, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney and Joss Stone are all said to be part of the bill for the Hyde Park concert – but despite rumours that the Spice Girls are to re-form, they will not appear on the line-up today. Other rumoured names in the frame include Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Madonna, Usher and Mariah Carey.

Jonathan Ross will present the live show in London, which will be open to about 100,000 people through a text lottery being held on 6 June to determine who will gain tickets to the free event in the UK.

Radio DJ Jo Whiley will host the backstage coverage. Outkast, Destiny’s Child, Linkin Park, Alicia Keys and Mary J Blige are said to be signed up for the US concert, hosted by Graham Norton.

Based on an article by The Evening Standard