Adel's 21 scores again

Adele's album 21 scored a rare feat in 2012 as it topped US album sales for a second straight year, beating out Taylor Swift's Red, said Nielsen Soundscan. It was the first time a single album had been a top-seller for two years in a row since Nielsen began tracking album sales in 1991. One Direction's album Up All Night placed third, while their follow-up, Take Me Home, took the fifth spot. The British folk revivalists Mumford & Sons placed fourth with their album Babel. - Reuters

George Lucas engaged

The Star Wars creator George Lucas is engaged. The 68-year-old director will wed the 43-year-old investment firm president Mellody Hobson. Hobson serves as the chairman of DreamWorks Animation. Lucas has three children from his previous marriage to the film editor Marcia Lucas. Disney completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise from Lucas for US$4 billion (Dh14.7bn) in cash and stock last month. - AP

Singer Patti Page dies at 85

Patti Page, famous for the songs The Tennessee Waltz and How much is that Doggie in the Window?, died on Tuesday in California at age 85, announced her spokesman Michael Glynn. The Grammy-winning singer had been sick for several years, and likely died of heart failure, he said, although the exact cause of death was not yet known. Page, whose real name was Clara Ann Fowler, recorded 50 albums and sold over 100 million records during her career. Last month the Grammys announced it was awarding Page a lifetime achievement award on February 10. - AFP

Lincoln, Argo earn Writers Guild nods

Lincoln, Argo and Zero Dark Thirty are adding to their front-runner status for Hollywood's awards season. The three dramas earned nominations from the Writers Guild for Outstanding Screen Writing. Lincoln and Argo are up for Adapted Screenplay, along with Silver Linings Playbook, Life of Pi and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Zero Dark Thirty was nominated for Original Screenplay, along with Flight, Looper, The Master and Moonrise Kingdom. Winners will be announced during simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles on February 17. - AP

Bieber reacts after paparazzo death

Justin Bieber has released a statement on the death of a 29-year-old photographer who was struck by a passing car after snapping shots of the singer's Ferrari on a Los Angeles motorway on Tuesday — an incident that has spurred renewed debate over dangers paparazzi can bring on themselves and the celebrities they chase. Ironically, Bieber wasn't even in the car during the incident. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves," he said. - AP