Ono calls for peace

"Even little children sing the song Imagine, which shows John's spirit is living all around the world even 22 years later," said Ono, who is in Japan to take part in a concert honouring Lennon.

"The world situation is tense, but we are a big family. Let's realize a peaceful world," she said.

French honour for Lee

Actor Christopher Lee is to get a French government honour, officials have said.

The 80-year-old, who made his name portraying Count Dracula, will be made a French officer of Arts and Letters on Tuesday, when he arrives in Paris for the European premiere of The Lord Of The Rings movie The Two Towers.

Lee, who plays evil wizard Saruman the White in the films, will receive a medal from culture minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon.

The film opens in Europe, Canada and the US on 18 December.

Renaissance work for sale

One of the most famous renaissance paintings still left in private hands is to go on sale in January - and it is expected to raise at least $20m (£13.5m).

Italian Old Master Andrea Mantegna's Descent into Limbo, painted in 1492, is to go on sale at Sotheby's in New York on 23 January.

"Descent into Limbo is one of the most important works from the Renaissance to appear on the market in decades," said Sotheby's art expert Christopher Apostle.

The painting shows Christ liberating the souls of the dead.

Streisand 'happy at home'

Barbra Streisand says she is planning to concentrate more on her personal life than her Hollywood career.

The singer, who turned 60 in April, says she is in no rush to return to the limelight.

"I'm kind of content in my own life, and I don't need work," she said

"I'm very busy with my life and my family and stuff like that, and I try to have a good time without having to work."

Her latest album, Duets, contains only two new songs. The rest of the collection is filled with tracks featuring fellow stars from Frank Sinatra to Donna Summer.

Smith show planned

A new TV comedy is to be made about Will Smith's home life, it has been reported.

The show will focus on the marriage of the actor and singer and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, according to trade magazine Variety.

But the couple will not appear on screen themselves, Variety said.

The magazine also reported that Smith had signed up to star in a screen adaptation of the 1940s Isaac Asimov short story collection I, Robot.

R&B pioneers honoured

Veteran group The Supremes are to be honoured with a "Pioneer Award" by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, according to a report.

Five other artists, including Del Vikings and Dixie Cups, who did not make such a big impact on the mainstream stage, will also be given pioneer status, according to Variety.

A lifetime achievement award will be awarded to Dionne Warwick, who had a string of hits with Bacharach and David songs like Walk On By.

The ceremony is set to take place at New York's Madison Square Garden in the week of the Grammy Awards in February 2003.

Three Tenors in baby delay

The Three Tenors have postponed a US concert scheduled for the week in which Luciano Pavarotti's partner is due to give birth to twins.

The vocal group had been due to perform on 5 January with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Pavarotti and his colleagues, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, will now play the show on 28 September instead.

Pavarotti, 67, has been living with partner Nicoletta Mantovani, 32, since 1996.