u2.com: Charity will not solve the problems of African poverty, was the message Bono delivered to EU development ministers in Dublin yesterday.

And in an open letter to UK PM Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, Bono has joined a group of celebrities demanding an increase in aid to the poorest countries.

Actors Jude Law and Helen Mirren were among more than 20 stars to sign the letter, which lists the problems faced by the world's poor and asks the UK to donate 0.7% of its income to help. [ more]

bbc.co.uk: A group of celebrities has sent an open letter to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown pleading with them to increase aid to poverty-stricken countries.

Bono, Bob Geldof and actors Jude Law and Helen Mirren were among more than 20 stars to sign the letter.

It lists some of the problems faced by the world's poor and asks the UK to donate 0.7% of its income to help.

The letter coincides with a government spending review to decide UK budgets and aid for the next three years.

Directors from Oxfam and Christian Aid also signed the letter, entitled Aid Works - Increase it Now. [ more]

orf.at: In einem offenen Brief haben Stars wie Bono von U2 und die Schauspieler Jude Law und Minnie Driver den britischen Regierungschef Tony Blair zu mehr Hilfen für die ärmsten Länder der Welt aufgefordert.

In dem an Blair und Schatzmeister Gordon Brown adressierten Brief betonten die Prominenten heute, dringende Schritte täten Not: Täglich sterben demnach 6.400 Menschen in Afrika an AIDS, mehr als hundert Millionen Kinder der Welt gingen nicht zur Volksschule, jedes Jahr sterben 525.000 Frauen im Kindbett. [ more]

netzeitung.de: Mit einem neuen Wohltätigkeitskonzert lasse sich die weltweite Armut nicht lindern, so der U2-Frontman. Bono drängte vor Regierungsvertretern auf andere Wege - Stars wie Jude Law helfen ihm bei der Kampagne. [ more]

eupolitix.com: Pop icon Bono on Tuesday condemned EU governments for failing to live up to promises on aid for Africa.

The U2 singer, who met with European development ministers in Dublin, said it was time for the EU to up its aid efforts.

“We are after billions, not millions,” he said, reported by PA. “And that’s what it’s going to take to sort out the problems of our next door neighbour.”

The rock star is calling on all developed nations to honour pledges to give 0.7 per cent GNP in aid to the world’s poorest countries.

“There’s a general feeling in some camps that because they are doing well their economies can’t afford the commitment of 0.7 per cent and it’s going to be more money than they thought.”

“A lot of these people are doing some great things, but there are promises being broken and that’s unacceptable. You can’t make promises and not keep them,” he charged. [ more]

nme.com: BONO has dismissed tabloid reports that he’s planning on organising a LIVE AID II concert next year to help with Third World Debt.

The Sun newspaper (May 31) quoted Government sources as saying the U2 singer is hoping to organise the event next summer, backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Not true, according to the man himself. Speaking in Dublin today (June 1), where he was meeting with EU leaders, he said: "At this point there are no plans for a Live Aid 2. It's always there in the background but right now, no. Right now we're after billions (of dollars) not millions. A Live Aid 2 would help, but it wouldn't fix the problem."
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rte.ie: Bono is to address EU development ministers at a meeting in Dublin Castle tomorrow.

The U2 frontman will address the ministers on issues relating to Africa, including the battle against HIV/AIDS and debt relief.

In a statement, Minister of State for Development Co-Operation and Human Rights, Tom Kitt, said: "Bono is a very influential champion of a better deal for the developing world and I believe that his participation at our working lunch will add a valuable non-governmental perspective to our discussion."

"It could also help to mobilise a larger EU-wide audience in support of development objectives at a time of major political, financial and institutional change within the EU".

u2tour.de: Auf der DVD "We Know Where You Live: Live!" ist aus dem Jahre 2001 von dem Amnesty International Comedy Konzert ein Auftritt von U2 enthalten. U2 konnten an dem Konzert in der Wembley Arena nicht selber anwesend sein und wurden aus Toronto mit dem Song “Stay (Faraway So Close)” via Video Link eingespielt. [ more]

reuters.co.uk: Irish rock star Bob Geldof denies he has teamed up with fellow rocker Bono for a repeat of the 1985 Live Aid concerts to raise money to help ease third world debt.

The Sun had earlier run a front page story saying Prime Minister Tony Blair was backing "Live Aid II", which would be fronted by rockers Robbie Williams, Oasis, Radiohead and Coldplay.

Geldof, the brains behind the original concert to relieve famine in Ethiopia, said in a statement: "I told the Sun this afternoon it was not true. This only serves to undermine the concerted efforts of those concerned with the tragedy of poverty in Africa." [ more]

thesun.co.uk: LIVE Aid is to be held AGAIN — 20 years on. The mega concert to ease Third World debt — on the anniversary of the 1985 original — will be unveiled this week.

Tony Blair is backing what promises to be the greatest pop bash in history. Last night a Whitehall source confirmed: “It’s going to be bigger and better than before.”

Live Aid II is the brainchild of U2 rocker Bono, 44. He will officially announce it this week. Robbie Williams and Oasis are tipped to head a stellar line-up of acts next year that could also include Coldplay and Radiohead. Sir Paul McCartney and Phil Collins, stars of the first Live Aid, may also appear.

The 1985 event, staged simultaneously at Wembley and in Philadelphia, was watched on TV by 1.4billion worldwide. [ more]

rollingstone.com: U2 have recorded "Tough," a tribute to singer Bono's father who passed away in 2001, for their tenth album, which they hope to finish this summer for a fall release.

Among the other new tracks to be featured on the follow-up to 2000's Grammy-winning All That You Can't Leave Behind is "Full Metal Jacket," which Bono describes as "the mother of all rock tunes."

The band began recording in Dublin last year with producer Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Paul McCartney); in February, Steve Lillywhite, who recorded U2's early records, took over.

"The record is so good that it won't even matter that people are sick of U2," Bono added. "It's driven by a guitar player who's sick of the sight of me shaking hands with dodgy politicians."

U2 plan to kick off a world tour in Miami in March 2005. [ more]

showbizireland.com: What a bizarre town we live in - last night revellers on the streets of Dublin were treated to the spectacle on Bono and the other U2 boys taking a midnight carriage ride...

It's a very rare sight to see big name celebrities out on the town in any city without bodyguards and security around the block. But try telling Bono and the rest of the U2 Boys that they can't have the craic in their own home town. [ more]

arrowfm.com: Nearly ten years ago, U2 frontman Bono and American icon Frank Sinatra were seen hanging out together like two drunks in a Bowery bar.

Actually, Bono not only presented the lifetime achievement award to Sinatra at the Grammys, but also recorded a song with the maestro on his duets album. Rumor also has it that Sinatra and Bono would go rounds trying to drink each other under the table (Sinatra reportedly won). [ more]

u2log.com: The remaining members of The Grateful Dead are currently gearing up for their summer tour of the USA. ‘The Dead’, as they call themselves now, have put up several audio files of the tunes they are rehearsing on their website. [ more]

showbizireland.com: Just what is music God Bono up to? The canny U2 frontman was spotted entertaining a group of top music industry executives in Renards nightclub at the weekend...

When Bono goes for a drink these days he's usually accompanied by the leader of a country, a movie icon, the Pope or even God himself! So we always keep a keen eye on those in his divine company.

At the weekend we were intrigued by a number of top music executives from Universal Music Group and Interscope Records grinning away as they entered VIP club Renards behind Bono.

Perhaps they just got the first preview of U2's new album or maybe it was simply just Bono's round? [ more]

u2log.com: Is it possible that U2 have finally completed work on their much-anticipated new album? All signs point to yes — or at least probably. [ more]

eu2004.ie: Musician and Aid Campaigner Bono will attend the meeting of Development Ministers from the twenty-five Member States of the EU in Dublin on Tuesday, 1 June to discuss issues related to Africa, including AIDS, Trade and Debt.

The Development Ministers gather once every six months for informal meetings hosted by the EU Presidency, which Ireland currently holds. Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Tom Kitt TD, will chair the meeting in Dublin Castle on the morning of 1 June. Minister Kitt has invited Bono to join the Ministers for a working lunch discussion on African development issues. The musician is internationally known as a campaigner for Africa, raising public awareness and lobbying governments on issues such as debt relief, poverty reduction and the link between trade and development; while Ireland has consistently highlighted Africa as a theme throughout its Presidency.

Referring to the upcoming meeting, Minister of State Kitt said: 'Bono is a very influential champion of a better deal for the developing world and I believe that his participation at our working lunch will add a valuable non-governmental perspective to our discussion. It could also help to mobilise a larger EU-wide audience in support of development objectives at a time of major political, financial and institutional change within the Union.' [ more]

u2log.com: On Tuesday (May 18), Bono participated in the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on AIDS in Washington, D.C. U2 fan and Jubilee USA activist Abbey Fisher attended the hearing. Abbey shares her story and perspective on the AIDS emergency with U2log. [ more]

u2.com: Video and text of Bono’s speech last weekend at the University of Pennsylvania. You can watch Bono delivering his address - from the 1:56 mark - by clicking here.

Or you can read it all here, with thanks to the University of Pennsylvania (You can read the entire text here) [ more]