Anti-gun film wins top award
Bowling for Columbine, the anti-gun documentary by satirist Michael Moore, has won best original screenplay in the Writers Guild of America’s awards.
This marks the first time a documentary has won the prize. No other documentary had ever been nominated in the 55 years the Guild has been giving awards.
Screenplays honored by the Writers Guild often go on to win at the Oscars as well, not least because many of the same people vote for both sets of awards.
Guild officials praised Moore’s film as “highly innovative.”
The film, an essay on America’s obsession with firearms, has taken $18 million, more money than any other documentary in US history. (BBC)

Youssou N’dour scraps US tour
Senegalese singer-songwriter and international star Youssou N’dour has cancelled a tour of North America in protest at a possible US-led war on Iraq.
Youssou N’dour, who had planned the seven-week 38-city tour beginning on Mar. 26, said in a statement that it would be “inappropriate to perform in the US at this juncture.”
“As a matter of conscience, I question the United States government’s apparent intention to commence war in Iraq,” the musician said. “It is my strong conviction that the responsibility for disarming Iraq should rest with the United Nations.”
The 43-year-old Senegalese star also sent a message of support to whose Americans who -- despite their government’s stance on Iraq -- opposed any war. “I understand that there are many in the US who do not support the idea of their government initiating war in Iraq at this time, and I offer my greatest respect to them. ...It is my fervent wish to return to the US in better times.” (BBC)