(Photo: AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

In today’s top news, President Obama visited the West Bank stressing the need for direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians, Rev. Al Sharpton will lead an anti-violence rally in Harlem and Vice President Biden will meet with New York City Mayor Bloomberg to discuss new federal gun laws.

President Obama visited the West Bank on Thursday, stressing the need for direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians. [NBC News]

Rev. Al Sharpton will lead an anti-violence rally today in Harlem. [DNAinfo]

Vice President Biden will meet with NYC Mayor Bloomberg today to discuss the need for new federal gun laws. [NBC New York]

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed the “Anti-Bloomberg” bill preventing any limits on soda sizes. [CNN]

Fashion retailer H&M debuts new Beyoncé campaign. [Black Voices]

Miami’s winning streak increased to 24 wins as they beat Cleveland last night. [ESPN]

Seven people were shot at a Chicago nightclub during a rap CD release party last night. [ABC Chicago]

Christian hip hop artist Amisho “Sho Baraka” Lewis is stirring controversy with raw lyrics about racism. [CNN]

South Korea has traced a cyber-attack that paralyzed more than 30,000 computers on Wednesday to a Chinese Internet address. [NPR]

North Korea said it would attack U.S. military bases on Japan and the Pacific island of Guam if provoked. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31; Muhammad Ali’s daughter says rumors that her father is near death are untrue; and eight people were killed and 38 injured in a California tour-bus crash.

The Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31. [BET]

Muhammad Ali’s daughter says rumors that her father is near death are untrue. [BET]

Eight people were killed and 38 injured in a California tour-bus crash. [NBCNews]

President Obama plans to spend the day in Minnesota campaigning for his gun proposals. [AP]

Convicted murderer Steven Robbins was re-captured after Chicago authorities mistakenly released him. [CNN]

The president says the Boy Scouts should lift its ban on gays. [AP]

Beyoncé received rave reviews for her Super Bowl halftime performance. [BET]

Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old girl shot by the Taliban, speaks out for the first time since the incident. [Yahoo!]

Somalian militant group al-Shabab is back on Twitter. [BBC]

Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo now say peace may be reached by March. [AJE]

In today’s top news, a majority of Americans agree with President Obama’s gun control proposal, NAACP president Ben Jealous urges Obama to nominate a Black female to the U.S. Supreme Court and the House passed a bill to stall the nation’s debt crisis for at least four months.

A poll shows the majority of Americans agree with President Obama’s gun control proposal. [ABCNews]

NAACP President Ben Jealous urges Obama to nominate a Black female to the U.S. Supreme Court. [Politico]

The House passed a bill to stall the nation’s debt crisis for at least four months. [BET]

Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is opening front-line combat positions to women. [BET]

A Philadelphia woman is charged with hate crimes for treating disabled adults like “zoo animals” in a scheme to steal social security benefits. [AP]

The U.S. Postal Service will issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Rosa Parks’ 100th birthday. [Grio]

A poll shows New Jersey voters prefer Cory Booker as their Senate rep. [BET]

Anita Hill’s documentary debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. [Morning Sun]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reelected after a tight race. [AJE]

Westerners are urged to evacuate Benghazi, Libya, over threats. [BET]

In today’s top news, Don Cheadle and Django Unchained won Golden Globe awards, Colin Powell chided the GOP for its “intolerance” and Nas was hospitalized for vertigo.

Don Cheadle and Django Unchained won Golden Globe awards. [BET]

Colin Powell said there is a “darn vein of intolerance” running through some parts of the GOP. [BET]

Nas was hospitalized for vertigo. [BET]

A Missouri court has appointed a lawyer to protect the interests of the late Jovan Belcher’s 4-month-old daughter. [USATODAY]

Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa have decided to call off their divorce. [CNN]

Louis Farrakhan called Django Unchained “preparation for a race war.” [FOX]

An Ohio town will let some school employees bring guns to school once they have received tactical training. [Reuters]

Record low water levels in the Great Lakes are snarling commerce, tourism in the region. [CNN]

French fighter jets began bombing targets in militant strongholds of northern Mali this weekend. [AP]

Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki blocked a bid by legislators to give themselves $100K pay bonuses. [AP]

In today’s top news, The Wire cast will be hosting a fundraiser for the Obama campaign, the International AIDS conference has kicked off in Washington, D.C., and the Colorado massacre gunman may face the death penalty.

The Colorado massacre gunman James Holmes may face the death penalty. [BET]

The International AIDS conference kicked off in Washington, D.C., this week. [BET]

The Wire cast will be hosting a fundraiser for the Obama campaign at Martha’s Vineyard. [NYDN]

The European Union announces plans to vacate sanctions against Zimbabwe if a “credible” referendum is held. [Aljazeera]

Rapper Ice-T defends the right to bear arms: “That’s the last form of defense against tyranny.” [Politico]

An Olympic hopeful launches Nigeria’s first bone marrow registry. [NPR]

Team USA basketball team honors the 1992 Dream Team during close game against Argentina. [FOX Latino]

Mariah Carey officially signs on to be on the American Idol judge panel. [BET]

The Jackson family is still at odds about Katherine Jackson’s whereabouts. [CNN]

Georgia Supreme court halts the execution of a death-row inmate who may be mentally ill. [MSNBC]

In today’s top news, Michael Jackson’s mother is reportedly no longer missing, Usher’s stepson Kyle Glover is taken off life support, and politicians reconsider gun laws after movie shooting.

Usher’s stepson Kyle Glover passed away this weekend. [BET]

Politicians are considering tighter federal gun laws after Aurora movie shooting. [CNN]

Michael Jackson’s mother, who was reported as missing, is reportedly “fine.” [BET]

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down from the boards of News Corp’s U.K. newspapers. [FT]

BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and other channels return to DirecTV subscribers. [Chicago Times]

Apple predicts a dip in earnings as consumers hold out for the new iPhone. [Bloomberg]

Penn State’s removal of Joe Paterno statue incites anger within the university’s community. [MSNBC]

Eating less salt could prevent stroke and cancer deaths. [BBC]

CDC: 1 in 13 women drink alcohol during pregnancy despite major health risks. [ABC]

South Sudanese runner will race under the Olympic flag after denying Sudan’s offer. [REUTERS]

In today’s top news, a source says George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin circled his SUV and intimidated him before his fatal shooting, a Jacksonville woman who “stood her ground” against her abusive husband and fired a warning shot faces 20 years in prison and a Houston teen says police beat him in 2010 as he tried to surrender himself during arrest.

A source says George Zimmerman claims Trayvon Martin circled his SUV, intimidating him before the fatal shooting. [Orlando Sentinel]

A Jacksonville woman who “stood her ground” against her abusive husband was denied a new trial.  [Florida Times-Union]

A Houston teen says police beat him in 2010 as he tried to surrender himself during arrest. [AP]

In some areas of the country, many still won’t vote for Obama because he is Black. [NYT]

The family of the late NFL legend Junior Seau is considering donating his brain for study following his unexpected suicide. [ NBC]

The family of FAMU drum major Robert Champion says the school should disband the marching band to prevent hazing. [BET]

Pepsi has plans to use Michael Jackson’s image on its new cans. [BET]

Lawmakers band together to try to limit post office closures. [Reuters]

A U.N. deadline looms for Sudan and South Sudan to end fighting or face sanctions. [BBC]

Brazil pledges to increase investment in Africa and acknowledges slave trade gains. [AFP]

In today’s top news, the presiding judge in the Trayvon Martin case steps down citing a conflict of interest, Florida’s governor intends to launch a gun law task force in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death and a Secret Service agent forced to quit amid the Columbia prostitute scandal may sue.

The presiding judge in the Trayvon Martin case steps down citing a conflict of interest. [BET]

Florida’s governor intends to launch a gun law task force in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. [CNN]

A Secret Service agent forced to quit amid the Columbia prostitute scandal may sue. [CBS]

New evidence surfaced showing that the Secret Service agents pre-planned their Colombian escapade. [ABC]

President Obama’s reelection campaign is looking for more Black staffers amid criticism. [Politico]

Harlem-born rapper Azealia Banks signs with Lady Gaga’s management team. [BET]

Following her missive to the first lady, Beyoncé writes an open letter to Sade. [BET]

Study: Physical activity lowers risk of Alzheimer’s disease. [USATODAY]

Study: Elderly Black, Latino and Asian Americans  have trouble meeting basic daily expenses. [Reuters]

India test fires a long-range missile named the “China killer.” [MSNBC]

South Africans are outraged as an internet video of a teenage girl’s rape goes viral. [BBC]

In today’s top news, President Obama says Kanye West is still a “Jackass,” Newark mayor Cory Booker saves a neighbor from a burning house and the National Rifle Association meets for its annual meeting amid pressure over gun laws.

President Obama says Kanye West is still a “Jackass.” [BET]

Newark mayor Cory Booker saves neighbor from burning house. [BET]

The National Rifle Association meets for its annual meeting amid pressure over gun laws. [NYT]

Three people were killed in an Ohio Cracker Barrel restaurant after shots rang out during a domestic dispute. [AP]

California’s Supreme Court ruled that employers no longer have to ensure lunch breaks for workers. [AP]

Arizona governor signs law banning most late-term abortions. [Reuters]

Rapper Diggy says he is one of the last “real MCs.” [BET]

The legendary Howard Theater reopens its doors. [BET]

U.N. peacekeepers stand ready to enforce Syria ceasefire. [AJE]

U.N. demands immediate end to Sudan oil conflict. [BBC]