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8th September
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Live8, G8 and making poverty history

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Live8 concert finishes with Hey Jude

The Live8 concert in Hyde Park has ended with a memorable performance of Hey Jude by Sir Paul McCartney, joined on stage by dozens of other artists.

Live8

Earlier acts ranging from Joss Stone to Pink Floyd entertained a crowd of up to 200,000. Seemingly quiet for most of the concert, the appearance of Robbie Williams on stage provoked a huge reaction from the winners of the txt lottery.

Comedian Peter Kaye also performed, demonstrating why he only mimed Amarillo - twice.

Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, spoke to the crowd at around half past four. "This is really the United Nations," he said. "The whole world has come together in solidarity with the poor. On behalf of the poor, the voiceless, I say thank you."

Will Smith, hosting the US concert in Philadelphia, hooked up with many of the other venues to encourage the crowds to click their fingers, symbolising the campaign message that a child dies unnecessarily in Africa every three seconds.

"We are all in this together," the actor and musician said. "With a stroke of a pen eight men can make a world of difference to the lives of millions of people."

Later Brad Pitt spoke to the Hyde Park audience. "By the time this concert ends this evening 30,000 Africans will have died," he said. "Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold."

With the London concert over, chaos awaits people trying to get home. It had been due to finish before 10pm, but delays in between acts meant that it did not finish until just after midnight. Some tube stations have already closed, and one train company told people to be on its trains no later than 10.30 to avoid a line closure at midnight. Many people are expected to sleep rough in London.

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