World entertainment giant, MTV Asia, will hold a star-studded concert today (Thursday) to raise money for the tsunami relief effort.

It's hoped the concert will raise millions of dollars by reaching one billion viewers, in the network's biggest charity show ever.

Western and Asian pop stars will take the stage in Bangkok for the music video network's annual regional awards show, which has been transformed into a benefit concert for victims of one of the largest natural disasters of the past century.

The acts in Bangkok will not have the global musical clout of Live Aid, which drew the likes of Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, The Who, Madonna, Queen, U2 and Led Zeppelin.

"Asia Aid" will have star power, though, in American Grammy-award winner Alicia Keys, rockers Good Charlotte, Taiwan R&B singer Jay Chou, Japan's Namie Amuro and Thailand's Tata Young.

A taped performance by superstar Jennifer Lopez as well as recorded messages from US rapper 50 Cent, Irish crooner Ronan Keating, singers Bryan Adams, Moby and Ashanti, and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi will also be included, in an aim to garner contributions from MTV's audience of more than 400 million households.

United Nations chief Kofi Annan is also getting into the act via videotape, as are Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan, and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand.

Viewers will be able to send in their donations via telephone, mobile phone text messages. 

(CRIENGLISH.com)

charity: kindness and generosity towards people who are poor, sick, in difficulties（仁愛，慈善）