NEW YORK – In an unexpected pairing, Elton John and Leon Russell are recording an album together in Los Angeles with producer T Bone Burnett. Both performers have written songs for the project, which has no title or release date yet.

Billboard.com has learned that Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Marc Ribot and Jim Keltner are among the guests who have contributed to the album.

According to a post on the Web site of longtime John collaborator Bernie Taupin, 15 songs have been put to tape, “from Stones-like rockers, country-tinged ballads, gospel and even a Sinatra-like weepy similar to something torn from the grooves of ‘In the Wee Small Hours.’”

“It’s varied in scope and drenched in a rich tapestry of atmospherics,” Taupin says. “Don’t expect to hear the old EJ/BT sound; this is organic recording unlike anything you’ve heard from our duo before.”

John’s last studio album was 2006’s “The Captain and the Kid.” He is winding down a spring tour with Billy Joel and has solo tour dates on tap through September.

Russell, 67, has been largely out of the spotlight in recent years, releasing albums on his Leon Russell Records label. He underwent brain surgery in January, but Taupin says “his playing is masterful as ever and his contribution to the project grows more exciting with the passing of every day.”

PARIS- An event based around hundreds of fashionistas flying in from all over the world was never going to be a convincing platform for environmental campaigning, but designers in Paris haven’t let that stop them.

While British designer Vivienne Westwood regularly rails against global warming, fashion king Karl Lagerfeld trumped her with a rival theory at the Chanel show on Monday: the globe is in fact cooling, and he has an iceberg to prove it.

“Have you felt any warming this winter?” Lagerfeld, with trademark black sunglasses and white ponytail, told reporters after showing his autumn collection, referring to freezing cold weather outside. “Maybe that’s all nonsense, who knows.”

Lagerfeld had erected a huge iceberg in the middle of the glass-domed Grand Palais to mark his chilly theme, dressing models in fake fur trousers and yeti boots to prepare them for the coming ice age.

“In any case, nature has its surprises,” he added wisely.

Chanel’s classic tweed suit was reinforced with fur-trimmed sleeves and hems. The tweed itself was lightened up as Lagerfeld used wool-embroidered organza instead of classic heavy tweed.

Animal fur has been making a comeback on catwalks in recent years, despite fierce protests from animal rights activists, but Lagerfeld said he had opted for a compromise.

“There wasn’t any real fur, it’s all fake. The word ’synthetic’ is horrible, fake fur used to be hideous but there’s been enormous progress,” he said.

In a celebration of Lagerfeld’s northern German roots, a deep male voice sang “Ich moechte ein Eisbaer sein” (”I want to be a polar bear”) over techno beats as models trotted around the iceberg in swinging long coats and snug white dresses.

It was not the first time Lagerfeld has dabbled in green politics. At the spring collection last year, he staged a country fete around a barn and declared that environmental activists had a point but should learn to dress better.

Veteran British singer Cliff Richard will mark his 70th birthday with the release of an album of jazz and swing music, he announced on Tuesday.

The evergreen performer, a chart topper before the Beatles arrived who has sold an estimated 250 million records over more than 50 years, will sing covers of classics including “Let’s Fall in Love” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

The 12-track album “Bold as Brass” will be released by EMI Records on October 11, three days before Richard’s 70th birthday.

“With the incredible creative input of seasoned American producer Michael Omartian, and the live sound of Nashville’s best swing musicians, Bold as Brass is an album I’ve planned and dreamt about for years,” Richard said in a statement.

“It’s been a long time coming, but what better way to mark my 7Oth birthday than to celebrate a genre of music which is both timeless and sheer class.” Richard will also perform six concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October.

Welcome to the new China Daily.

What you hold in your hands today is a radically-revamped edition of China’s national English-language newspaper.

Why, you may well ask.

Well, the short answer is: To make it easier and more enjoyable.

And what’s in it for you? Plenty, as you will find out.

Now that we have the 5 Ws out of the way, here’s how we approached the How.

The objective was simple: How to keep you engaged and in the know in the era of 24/7 news when you are constantly being bombarded by information.

We took a critical look at both our design and our content, and worked on ways to present them better. A mixture of top international talent and experienced Chinese journalists are at the core of this venture.

First, the design. The guiding principles were pretty similar to what you would seek in a diamond: Clarity, consistency, color, content, context.

The masthead: Striking, yet soothing. Text font, photos and graphics: Bigger. Layout: Easier on the eye.

In short, we re-invented, re-organized and redesigned every page.

Equally important, the content. We refocused our energies on being more responsive to your needs.

Our points of reference were the 5 I’s: Intelligent, informative, in-depth, innovative, insightful.

In an information-driven age, we want you to be better informed. We sort out the immediate from the important. We tell you how the stories – big and small – impact you, China and the rest of the world.

Increasing convergence with the online edition has enriched chinadaily.com.cn, Asia’s largest English-language news website, and provides a better forum for discussion and feedback.

Today’s edition marks not the end of our endeavors, but the beginning. We look forward to your feedback to spur us on.

In an age where news is just a click of a button away, China Daily has created a fresh, new product to better serve our readers. We don’t just want to tell you what happens, we want to take you behind the story, to help you better understand the events shaping modern China and the world.

As interest in the China story continues to grow, we intend to meet the demand by offering a front-seat view of a country in rapid transition. We not only report on what is happening, but also why and how it affects you.

Our mission is to uncover the latest trends, good and bad, as well as explain how China influences the world and how the world influences China.

Page one

Our revamped front page is not only visually striking but also boasts a greater depth of news analysis. Our reporters based throughout China and the world give you more detail, more views and more perspective.

With “Cover Story”, a daily investigative report on topical issues, we aim to set the news agenda instead of just follow it. Our talented team of roving reporters will bring you the voices from the heart of the action, while our exclusive interviews with key policymakers offer a broader understanding of the motivation behind the decisions.

The front page also now highlights what’s new – as well as what’s hot – on our website, chinadaily.com.cn.

One of the major aesthetic changes is the nameplate, which is based on the color of the original 1981 nameplate. The “Futura” font is a modern and bold new version, while the original handwritten Chinese characters were kept as a symbol of China Daily’s 28-year evolution from a newspaper to an international multimedia group.

World 

Our revamped front page is not only visually striking but also boasts a greater depth of news analysis. Our reporters based throughout China and the world give you more detail, more views and more perspective.

With “Cover Story”, a daily investigative report on topical issues, we aim to set the news agenda instead of just follow it. Our talented team of roving reporters will bring you the voices from the heart of the action, while our exclusive interviews with key policymakers offer a broader understanding of the motivation behind the decisions.

The front page also now highlights what’s new – as well as what’s hot – on our website, chinadaily.com.cn.

One of the major aesthetic changes is the nameplate, which is based on the color of the original 1981 nameplate. The “Futura” font is a modern and bold new version, while the original handwritten Chinese characters were kept as a symbol of China Daily’s 28-year evolution from a newspaper to an international multimedia group.

World 

From the diverse views of renowned academics to straight-talking editorials and readers’ letters, if you want a spectrum of opinions, this is the place to come. This is a section that pulls no punches on the topical issues that affect China and the world.

Our columnists, all experienced journalists, bring their fresh perspectives and often opposing views, while our cartoonists’ takes on even the most complex issues never fail to raise a smile.

In “Outside the Box”, we share with you interesting, offbeat opinions on current affairs based on interviews with experts and scholars at the forefront of innovative thinking.

Our forum for debate, discourse and discussion is designed to help the world understand China and to help China understand the world.

Business 

Our experienced reporting team provides daily updates on the biggest deals and developments in the fast-paced world of business, as well as sharp and concise analysis. From stock tickers to trade deal, we have all the latest from across China and the world.

In “Focus”, we offer an in-depth look at the major issues affecting China by drawing insight and context from industry insiders, while “The Big Picture” tells you all you need to know about the nation’s macroeconomic situation, including performance and behavior.

International financial analyst Daryl Guppy will offer his thoughts every Monday in his must-read “Chart Man” column, and on Fridays we look at what’s hot and what’s not in the retail sector in “The Shopping Bag”.

If you want to stay ahead of the game, don’t miss China Daily Business.

Life 

We invite you to taste delicious slices of life, explore traditional and modern social and cultural trends, and feel the pulse of an ever-changing Chinese society through powerful stories and pictures.

While maintaining our tradition as an insightful observer of the nation’s dynamic arts and cultural scenes, we have broadened our coverage to identify more sub-cultural trends.

We write about celebrities and celebrities write for us. In “China Chic” every Tuesday, Huang Hung offers her spicy comments on life, the arts and culture, while TV host Yang Lan shares her thoughts and experiences with readers in “Face to Face” on Thursday. And, of course, acclaimed cultural columnist Raymond Zhou will continue to give you his take on the hottest social issues on Fridays in “X-Ray”.

We also have bilingual language tips, cartoons, travel tips and movie news, as well as up-to-date advice on health, food and style.

LIFE tastes good.

Sports 

We have all the biggest sports and all the biggest stars – but then again, our readers are the biggest sports fans in the world.

Whether scores or stats, reports or retorts, transfers or trades: the China Daily sports desk keeps you up to date with your favorite teams, as well as the world’s largest events.

Our reporters get up close and personal with the fans, players and coaches, offering a colorful mix of news and features, while our informed and often quirky columnists keep you on the inside track.

A year in the making, the redesigned China Daily made its debut on March 1 - the biggest revamp in its 29-year history. The new China Daily has a cosmopolitan and sophisticated look to go with its rich content and its unique status as the country’s national English-language newspaper.

China Daily has set the goal of being a world-class newspaper commensurate with China’s global stature. Editor-in-Chief Zhu Ling sees the launch before the “Two Sessions” of the NPC and CPPCC as a great opportunity to better present China to the outside world. As the Chinese newspaper most quoted by foreign media, China Daily has set up its biggest team yet to cover this important event, which is drawing increasing international attention.

In terms of layout, the makeover is full-blown, including a new masthead. Using state-of-the-art design principles, it incorporates photographs, graphics, cartoons and other visual elements in a unified style that represents the cutting edge of the newspaper industry.

In terms of content, the new China Daily has fine-tuned its reporting mix, giving breaking news and instant updates to its website and beefing up in-depth investigations and analyses for its print version. The convergence has also enriched chinadaily.com.cn, making it the biggest English-language news site in Asia and creating platforms for public discourse on China topics.

Metro Beijing, inserted into the flagship edition for the Beijing market, will expand from four pages to eight, making the Beijing edition a 32-page daily. Serving millions of international readers who arrive in the capital city every year, this section combines news reporting with service information. This model will eventually be replicated in Shanghai and Guangdong, providing more localized content for each metropolitan market.

Founded in 1981, China Daily has a daily circulation of 300,000. It has a stable of 11 publications, nine websites in three languages and three mobile platforms, forming Asia’s biggest network of English-language news and information. Notable among these are Asia’s largest English-language news website with 20 million daily visits, its cellphone-distributed Mobile News with 600,000 subscribers, and its email news reaching 200,000 subscribers in 105 countries.

ORLANDO: Dwight Howard had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O’Neal as the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday to hand the Cavaliers their first three-game losing streak in two years.Cleveland’s skid comes on the heels of a 13-game win streak.

Howard was 8-for-13 shooting and added four blocks, and Vince Carter had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat Cleveland for the first time this season.

O’Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James had 33 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated by Orlando in last year’s Eastern Conference finals. Nuggets 114, Celtics 105=

At Denver, J.R. Smith scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Denver recovered to beat Boston after blowing an early 20-point lead.

Chauncey Billups had 26 points and Carmelo Anthony added 23 for the Nuggets, who avoided back-to-back losses for the first time since late December with the victory over the NBA’s top road team.

Ray Allen had 25 points and Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Marquis Daniels added 15 points apiece for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in their last four road games. They remain an NBA-best 20-10 away from home.

LONDON – Iraq war drama “The Hurt Locker” swept 3-D blockbuster “Avatar” aside at the BAFTA British film awards on Sunday, picking up best film and best director among its six prizes and laying down a marker for the Oscars.

The movies, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and ex-husband James Cameron respectively, were both nominated for eight awards at the BAFTAs, and also lead the field heading into next month’s Academy Awards with nine nominations apiece.

Bigelow became the first woman to win the best director BAFTA, and said she hoped she would not be the last.

“Women’s struggle for equity is a constant struggle, so if this can be a beacon of light, then wonderful,” she told reporters backstage after receiving her BAFTA in the gilded splendor of London’s Royal Opera House.

Cameron was in the audience, and Avatar, the biggest box office hit in history, won just two awards — production design and special visual effects. Bigelow played down talk of rivalry between the former spouses.

“It’s been a real honor,” she said. “Specifically with Jim, we’re very good friends. I think we’re proud of each other and I think that’s there for a long time.”

The Hurt Locker, whose budget was dwarfed by that of Avatar as was its box office takings, follows a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, and captures the tension and danger as they seek to defuse bombs in cars, under dirt and strapped to innocent civilians.

“I think we all sensed an amazing responsibility to honor the people in the film and honor a scriptwriter who risked his life to capture the tragedy and chaos of war,” Bigelow said.

“I would like to dedicate this to never abandoning the need to find a resolution for peace.”

Scriptwriter Mark Boal also picked up the best original screenplay award.

BRITISH ACTORS SHINE

The BAFTAs tend to lean toward British talent more than the Oscars, and they are a far-from-perfect barometer of what happens at the Academy Awards.

But the scale of The Hurt Locker’s success will be noted by the industry as well as the media, which has built both the BAFTAs and Oscars into a Bigelow-versus-Cameron duel.

Colin Firth (”A Single Man”) and Carey Mulligan (”An Education”) made it a home double in the main acting categories.

Best supporting actress went to Mo’Nique for the gritty U.S. production “Precious” and Christoph Waltz won the best supporting actor prize for his chilling turn as a Nazi in Quentin Tarantino’s riotous “Inglourious Basterds.”

Tarantino was among the stars who turned up for the awards, and also on the red carpet were Kate Winslet, “Twilight” co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and Prince William, second in line to the British throne.

Stewart won the Orange Rising Star prize decided by the British public unlike the other awards, and prison thriller “A Prophet” topped the foreign film category.

The prince was named as the new BAFTA president, taking over from British director Richard Attenborough.

Veteran British actress Vanessa Redgrave accepted an Academy Fellowship in honor of a career spanning six decades and followed in the footsteps of the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and Elizabeth Taylor.

1: Beyonce and Jay-Z were the top-earning celebrity couple last year according to the latest ranking from Forbes. The couple took home a combined $122 million.[Agencies

Senior Chinese official Zhou Yongkang has called on local authorities of northern Hebei Province to do a good job in the two major issues of development and stability, to bring more benefits to the people.

Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a visit to Hebei from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 to investigate the study and implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development.

“Industrial development and city reconstruction should be based on scientific planning, using wasteland rather than farmland,” said Zhou, urging local authorities to pay more attention to people’s livelihood and protection of environment and historical and cultural heritage.

Zhou praised the province for its economic development and the local government’s work in administration and stability maintenance.

He visited workers who were building a highway that was supposed to bring benefit and convenience to more than 80,000 local people in 109 villages.

At the construction site, Zhou urged work safety and the project quality.

Zhou also visited a glass factory, a heavy machinery company and a pharmaceutical group to inspect local companies’ progress on technical researches and independent innovation.

He urged the province to promote economic restructuring and coordinated development between urban and rural areas to realize better and faster development.