World News 30-06-2005 Live 8: The £2bn Line-Up who: Bob Geldof what: Says he probably won`t play at Live 8 because he doesn`t sell enough records where: Hyde Park, LONDON when: Saturday snippet: "The final line-up for the Hyde Park Live 8 concert will put £2 billion worth of musical talent on stage," calculated The Times. "The running order is now in its thirteenth revision. But Sir Paul McCartney (career wealth £800 million) is to open the show with U2 (£200 million). Expectation is greatest for the reformation of Pink Floyd (£240 million)." The Mirror says the one man who won`t be playing is Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof, who has admitted his music isn`t really popular enough to stand alongside the likes of Madonna, REM, Coldplay, Mariah Carey and Joss Stone. "I don`t think I`m going to be playing," he says. "Let`s face it, I don`t sell enough records to justify a space on the bill." On Wednesday, 55,000 extra tickets for the show were snapped up in less than two hours. "Thousands of music lovers queued at venues in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Oxford and Southampton for the chance to be at the event," says The Telegraph. "Some camped in the streets for more than 24 hours." But the tickets won`t get them into the show itself - they will be watching it on a big screen south of the Serpentine. Thursday`s Sun reveals that Coldplay "are secretly planning to duet with ex-Verve star Richard Ashcroft". Victoria Newton`s Bizarre column says Chris Martin will sing The Verve`s `Bitter Sweet Symphony` with Ashcroft at Hyde Park. Meanwhile, the paper points out that the event will be alcohol free, because no booze is allowed in the park. Understanding readers, respectful of the rules laid down by the Royal Parks and Westminster Council, have written in to air their support. "I think that is the stupidest thing I have heard EVER," says reader Keith Gullis; "I am disgusted," says Arlene Glass; and "This is an absolute disgrace," says Jamie Rhone. The gig is due to end with a rendition of `The Long and Winding Road` to encourage people to join a march on Edinburgh in time for the G8 summit next week. Geldof memorably said that he wanted a million people to descend on the city, but now admits that was mere hyperbole. "If it`s a million people, so be it," he says at the conclusion of a lengthy and emotional interview with Ginny Dougary of The Times. "If it`s a thousand people, so be it. But we will be... [he pauses]. Yes, we will be a great, peaceful pilgrimage for the poor." Meanwhile, Africa has been on the domestic agenda this week with the debate over Zimbabwean refugees. Lord Kinnock and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams are among those calling for a halt to the deportations of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, an issue which has come to light after at least 57 Zimbabweans went on hunger strike in detention centres across the UK after having applications refused. "There are some places where if people are sent back, the risks are just statistically so unacceptably high that it is, I think, deeply immoral to send people back there," says Dr Williams, quoted in The Mirror. "I am amazed that Zimbabwe hasn`t been reviewed in this light." "David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said the Government`s policy on Zimbabwe was `a miserable failure` and said it had a duty to act because the repression had worsened," reports The Independent. Home secretary Charles Clarke responded that the situation was under "very close review" and he insisted: "We will not remove anyone we believe at risk on their return." [... more]

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