Wyclef Jean track is Emirati-produced by Prince Q and DJ Bliss

Plus: Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide; Argo and Zero Dark Thirty win at Writers Guild; Ragini Khanna joins Kumar's production; Vicky Donor and Barfi! top Renault awards; Rajesh Pratap Singh knits Woolmark deal.

The Emirati producers DJ Bliss and Prince Q are collaborating with the three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Wyclef Jean. The Haitian-American rapper announced on Twitter that the local beat-makers will appear on his forthcoming mix-tape titled April Showers. As well as working with Jean on five tracks, the Emirati duo are currently working on an album featuring both local and international artists. - The National staff

Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide

Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died on Sunday in Arkansas in an apparent suicide. She was 37. McCready was found dead from what appears to be a single, self-inflicted gunshot to the head. McCready entered court-ordered rehab earlier this month after her father told a judge she was no longer taking care of herself or her children and was abusing drugs and alcohol. McCready's longtime boyfriend David Wilson, the father of her younger son, died last month also in an apparent suicide. McCready's biggest hits include Guys Do It All the Time and Ten Thousand Angels. - AP

Ragini Khanna joins Kumar's production

The actress Ragini Khanna says she's thrilled to have signed on to the actor-producer Akshay Kumar's first regional project, a Punjabi film. "It is one of the most prestigious projects which has come to me. I am happy to be a part of it," said the 25-year-old actress, who has made her mark in Indian television with shows such as Bhaskar Bharti and Sasural Genda Phool. Khanna says Kumar will make a cameo in the film, which begins production on Sunday. The film is directed by Sumeep Kang, who previously helmed last year's comedy Carry on Jatta. - IANS

Argo and Zero Dark Thirty win at Writers Guild

The CIA thrillers Argo and Zero Dark Thirty won top screenplay honours from the Writers Guild of America on Sunday. The guild's adapted screenplay award went to Chris Terrio for Argo, directed by Ben Affleck. Mark Boal won the prize for original screenplay for Zero Dark Thirty by the director Kathryn Bigelow. Among the guild's TV winners are Breaking Bad (drama series), Louie (comedy series) and Girls (new series). The guild was the last of Hollywood's major trade unions to weigh in on the year's top films before this Sunday's Academy Awards. - AP

Vicky Donor and Barfi! top Renault awards

Vicky Donor and Barfi! were the big winners of the 8th Renault Star Guild Awards on Saturday. Both films walked away with seven gongs each, with Barfi! picking up the coveted Best Film award and Best Actor for Ranbir Kapoor. The Vicky Donor actor Ayushmann Khuranna took home the award for Most Promising Debut. The actress Vidya Balan snapped up the Best Actress award for Kahaani, while Priyanka Chopra won the Shining Star title for her performances in Barfi! and Agneepath. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to the veteran actor Manoj Kumar for his contribution to Indian cinema. The star-studded event, held at the Yash Raj Studios, had Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Karan Johar in attendance. - IANS

Rajesh Pratap Singh knits Woolmark deal

The designer Rajesh Pratap Singh has signed with Woolmark as the global company's wool ambassador. "It is an honour to be associated with The Woolmark Company on a national level," said the designer, who will be responsible for promoting its merino wool line. The designer's merino wool collection will be showcased at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week later in the year. "This is the first time we have associated with an Indian designer to come on board as the wool ambassador for India and it is a huge responsibility for Rajesh to promote the fibre in the country," said Amir Sheikh, Woolmark's country manager in India. The line will be sold in various Rajesh Pratap Singh stores in India as well as international outlets. - IANS