Yes, but are the talks over Spice World 2 still ongoing?

Still ... something about this story doesn't quite measure up ...

SIR Bob Geldof will today announce the glittering line-up for music spectacular Live 8 - but the Spice Girls will not be in it.

The decision by concert bosses to axe them from the concert will be a bitter blow to the five stars who had hoped to re-form and play together for the first time since they split in 1998.

Geri Halliwell, 32, Victoria Beckham, 31, Melanie C, 31, Melanie B, 29, and 29-year-old Emma Bunton.

A source said: "The girls will be gutted by the decision."

But Live 8 organisers were adamant their style of music did not fit in with the serious political message about world poverty the transatlantic event hopes to portray.

OK, fine ... but then there's this a few grafs down:

Other big names being lined up include Outkast, Destiny's Child, Black-Eyed Peas, Linkin Park, Alicia Keys and Mary J Blige.

US rapper Eminem is due to play at the Washington concert which will be screened after the London gig.

Linkin Park Black-Eyed Peas, and Eminem are fine ... but the Spice Girls aren't? What the hell? Oh well ... the good news, at least, is that I can ponder the depth of world poverty as Robbie Williams covers the Queen classic "We Will Rock You."

SIDENOTE: Of course, I'd be remiss to note how well Adam Ant and Spandau Ballet really reflected the seriousness of the 80s original concernt, too. I mean, when "Goody Two Shoes" was playing, I couldn't help but shed a tear for Ethiopians ... not to mention the British music scene.