In brief: Elvis hits take sales record

Elvis Presley's greatest hits collection has become his biggest selling album, his record label BMG have said.

On the eve of what would have been Elvis's 68th birthday, BMG said Elv1s: 30 #1 hits had beaten his previous best for the Elvis Christmas Album, selling more than nine million copies worldwide.

The Christmas release - first issued in 1957 and re-released in 1973 - has still not topped the eight million level.

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of Presley's death and saw him notch up a posthumous number one with A Little Less Conversation. It was his 18th number one, edging him ahead of The Beatles who scored 17.

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World domination for Kylie

Pop diva Kylie Minogue has been voted both the sexiest and most beautiful woman in the world as well as top pop star of 2002.

The Australian singer beat Jennifer Lopez and Holly Valance to be named the UK's Heat magazine's sexiest female star for the second year running.

And she was voted the most beautiful woman and top pop star of 2002 in two polls by London tourist attraction Madame Tussaud's.

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Hollywood star for Spielberg

Three-time Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg will be the first person to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2003.

The ceremony for the director of Schindler's List, Jaws, Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan will take place on Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the Kodak Theater, on Friday.

"This is one we have been looking forward to for a long time," said Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant.

Spielberg has directed, produced or executive produced eight of the 30 top-grossing movies of all time.

He is strongly tipped to be nominated for an Oscar this year for best director for new movie Catch Me If You Can, or for science fiction thriller Minority Report starring Tom Cruise.

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Cutting Crew guitarist dies

Kevin MacMichael, a guitarist and founding member of the 1980s rock band Cutting Crew, has died of lung cancer aged 51.

MacMichael died on 31 December in Canada.

He formed Cutting Crew in England in 1985 with vocalist Nick Van Eede. The group had a hit single in (I Just) Died in Your Arms along with a Grammy Award nomination for best new artist in 1987.

MacMichael was survived by his father, a brother and sister, and two daughters.

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Stars head for New Zealand

Tom Cruise and Gwyneth Paltrow began work this week on separate movies at opposite ends of New Zealand, which is becoming a popular location for filmmakers after Lord of the Rings was filmed there.

Cruise flew into the New Plymouth on North Island's west coast Monday to begin a three-month shoot on The Last Samurai.

Paltrow began filming on South Island on Monday for her movie about US poet Sylvia Plath, Sylvia and Ted.

Paltrow arrived amid tight security and local media reported she was accompanied by boyfriend Chris Martin, lead singer with the band Coldplay.

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Drew's 'third wedding' plan

Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore is set to marry Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti, it has been reported.

The ET star has twice been wed before, with both marriages failing after less than a year.

The 27-year-old's marriage to Welsh barman Jeremy Thomas in 1994 lasted 19 days, while she was divorced from comedian Tom Green after five months.

The New York Post reports that Barrymore wants a traditional ceremony, and may wed at George Clooney's Italian villa.