In today’s top news, the White House condemned the shooting death of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, George Zimmerman wants to delay his murder trial and the Jamaican government has embraced the controversial Super Bowl ad featuring white actors and Jamaican accents.

The White House condemned the shooting death of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton. [BET]

George Zimmerman wants to delay his murder trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin. [AP]

The Jamaican government has embraced the controversial Super Bowl ad featuring white actors and Jamaican accents. [Grio]

Arab-Americans are calling Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl ad racist. [NBCNews]

African-American William “Mo” Cowan will fill the senate seat vacated by John Kerry. [BET]

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver apologized for anti-gay remarks. [ESPN]

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas will donate her Olympic items to the Smithsonian. [AP]

The NFL has dispelled rumors that Beyoncé  made outlandish demands for her Super Bowl performance. [BET]

Zimbabwe’s bank balance is $217 after paying government employees last week. [AJE]

France says Mali’s militants are in “disarray” after three weeks of airstrikes. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a man allegedly killed himself over President Obama’s re-election, Mitt Romney says President Obama won the election because he gave “gifts” to Blacks and Latino voters, and BP says the company is close to striking a deal with the U.S. government over the 2010 oil spill.

A man allegedly killed himself over President Obama’s re-election. [Daily Mail]

Mitt Romney is telling top donors that President Obama won the election because he gave “gifts” to Blacks and Latino voters. [AP]

BP says the company is close to striking a deal with the U.S. government over the 2010 oil spill. [BET]

Some Denny’s restaurants will charge customers a 5 percent “Obamacare” surcharge. [Grio]

Texas is set to execute its 15th resident this year. [Reuters]

Chris Brown says he is remaining mum on the Drake club fight incident because of legal issues. [BET]

The man who accused Sesame Street puppeteer Kevin Clash of underage sex has a dicey past. [BET]

Snoop Dogg is launching a food initiative for needy children in Jamaica. [BET]

The African Union backs ECOWAS’ plan to intervene in northern Mali. [AJE]

Israel stands poised to invade Gaza as cross-border fighting intensifies. [NBCNews]

(Photo: CBS News)

In today’s top news, Colin Powell endorses President Obama’s re-election, Hurricane Sandy kills two in Jamaica, makes landfall in Miami, and D.C. sniper Lee Malvo says he was sexually abused by his accomplice, John Allen Muhammad.

Colin Powell endorsed President Obama’s re-election. [CBS News]

Hurricane Sandy kills 2 in Jamaica, makes landfall in Miami. [CNN]

D.C. sniper Lee Malvo says he was sexually abused by his accomplice, John Allen Muhammad. [TODAY]

President Obama will become the first president to vote early when he casts his ballot today. [CBSNews]

Rev. Jesse Jackson was arrested and jailed during a protest with workers in Illinois. [AP]

Bobby Brown was arrested for his second DUI this year. [BET]

Diddy was injured in a car accident in L.A. [BET]

Rosci Diaz lands hosting gig on Entertainment Tonight. [BET]

Kenya bans political candidates from sending mass texts to voters. [BBC]

South Africa’s striking gold miners have come to a wage agreement with mine bosses. [BBC]

(Photo: Courtesy of Burnt Orange Report)

In today’s top news, people are lynching empty chairs that symbolize President Obama, prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case are trying to prevent the release of  the teen’s school records and Jamaica plans to use the teachings of native son Marcus Garvey to cure societal ills.

People are lynching empty chairs that symbolize President Obama. [NBCNews]

Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case are trying to prevent the release of the teen’s school records. [OrlandoSentinel]

Jamaica plans to use the teachings of native son Marcus Garvey to cure societal ills. [AP]

Mitt Romney is accused of dying his face brown to appeal to Latino voters. [Gawker]

Six million uninsured Americans to be hit with tax penalty. [AP]

Roscoe Dash says he wrote for Kanye West and Wale but didn’t get credit. [BET]

Beyoncé and Tina Knowles have designed a collection of baby clothes in support of Obama’s re-election. [BET]

T.I. jumps on the “I Hate New York” bandwagon. [BET]

Former Apple employees and retailers in France protested as customers waited to buy the iPhone 5. [CSM]

Strikes spread at South Africa’s gold mines. [BBC]

In today’s top news, the last of 11 students charged in FAMU hazing case turns herself in to authorities, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls violence in Detroit “unacceptable” and Black women see the biggest drop in employment across all races, genders.

Last of 11 charged in FAMU hazing case turns herself in to authorities. [CNN]

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls violence in Detroit “unacceptable.” [DetroitNews]

Black women see the biggest drop in employment across all races, genders. [BusinessWeek]

Colombian prostitute says her Secret Service agent clients were “stupid brutes.” [NBC]

Raven-Symoné talks to BET.com about her Broadway show, Sister Act and Whitney Houston. [BET]

Singer Chris Brown launches a toy line. [BET]

Study suggests men’s breast cancer more aggressive than women’s. [HealthDay]

Six Jamaicans are arrested in a U.S. lottery scam. [AP]

France elects Francois Hollande president. [BBC]

Four African leaders have been invited to this year’s G-8 summit to discuss food security. [CNN]

In today’s top news, daughter of the late Whitney Houston tells Oprah she can still feel her mother’s presence, critics fear the Kony 2012 campaign could do more harm than good and the NAACP plans to take the voting rights issue to the United Nations.

Bobbi Kristina, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, tells Oprah she can still feel her mother’s presence. [BET]

Critics fear Kony 2012 campaign could do more harm than good. [BET]

NAACP to take voting rights issue to the United Nations. [Guardian]

Republican Congress members threaten impeachment of Obama if Syria is attacked.  [RT]

The NCAA tournament bracket is now live. [BET]

Report: Hate groups on the rise. [Reuters]

U.S. women turn “dining out” money into charity. [MSNBC]

Univ. of Maryland student arrested for threatening to go on shooting rampage. [MSNBC]

Jamaican drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke faces sentencing in U.S. case. [AP]

Israel rolls out “iron dome” to help stem rocket fire. [CNN]

(Photo: REUTERS/Lee Celano)

In today’s top news,  the nation’s ERs are standing at the ready for New Year’s mayhem, some warn that shopping while intoxicated may cause damage to your wallet this season and Colorado is the latest state to ask for marijuana to be considered medicine.

U.S. emergency rooms getting ready for the busiest weekend of the year. [AP]

FAMU may lose accreditation. [Washington Post]

Eddie Long’s New Birth Academy closes. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

New York City Muslims snub Mayor’s annual dinner over police surveillance gripes. [AP]

Online retailers profit from consumers who shop “under the influence.” [New York Times]

More than one million have visited the 9/11 memorial since its opening. [FOX News]

New island rises in the Red Sea. [MSNBC]

Arizona Mexican-American studies program ruled unlawful. [CNN]

Chinese language instruction on the rise in nation’s classrooms. [CNN]

Jamaicans to vote in a close election. [BBC]

Colorado asks Feds to make way for medical marijuana in the state. [AP]

The approval rating of Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding is staying stable despite the Caribbean nation’s economic struggles, the BBC reports. Nearly half – 47 percent – of people who took the survey think Golding is doing a good job, according to the Jamaican Gleaner poll. His administration recently made the controversial decision to ask for aid from the International Monetary Fund, and Golding has also imposed a freeze on the wages of public workers. But Golding has “earned” his approval rating because of his achievements in the past, a pollster told the BBC.  Goldman’s Jamaican Labor Party is coming up on its second year in office.

Usain Bolts to Record 100 Meters
Jamaican Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt logged a Mercurial  9.58 seconds in the 100 meters in Berlin Sunday to surpass the 9.69 he set in winning gold at the Beijing Games last year. Former world record-holder Asafa Powell clinched a second medal for Jamaica as he finished third in 9.84. “I was feeling good after the semis. I knew it was going to be a great race and I executed it,” Bolt, 22, told reporters. “It’s a great time, a great feeling. I feel good in myself and I knew I could do it. There was a big build-up, great atmosphere. It wasn’t going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there. I came out here to do my best, and I did what I had to do. There’ll be no partying for me ahead of Tuesday. I’ll rest up as always, I need to rest up for the 200 meters.” Defending 100-meter champ, American Tyson Gay, finished second in 9.71 seconds, third fastest time ever and 6/100ths better than his previous personal best. “I ran the best I could. I just wanted to give my best tonight, it wasn’t enough but I’m happy to have the national record,” he said. “I knew I had to put out a championship performance. I gave it my best and that’s all I could do.”
Korean Upsets Tiger
In perhaps the biggest upset in professional golfing history, Korea’s Y.E. Yang came from behind to yank the 91st PGA Championship from world’s No. 1 player, defeating Tiger Woods in a suspenseful finish at Hazeltine National. It was a nail-biter, indeed. The 37-year-old Yang, ranked 110th, clearly understood what a tremendous upset it was to beat the world’s top golfer. “This might be my last win as a golfer,” said Yang, “but it sure is a great day. It means the world right now.” With the come-from-behind victory, Yang deprived Woods of his 15th major. It also keeps the Tiger from Jack Nicklaus’s 18 by the end of next year. Prior to Sunday, Woods had never lost a major after starting the final round with the lead. “I played well enough to win the championship,” Woods said. “I did not putt well enough to win the championship today. I didn’t get it done on the greens, and consequently, I didn’t win the tournament.”

Group Names the Happiest Places on Earth
It looks like some of the happiest places on earth have nothing to do with Disney. According to recently released report, Costa Rica, in Central America, ranks No. 1 as the happiest and greenest place in the world. The nation is followed by the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, two countries in the Caribbean, in a report released by the New Economics Foundation, a group based in England. Rounding out the top 10 are Guatemala at No. 4, followed by Vietnam, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Brazil and Honduras. Life expectancy, happiness and a small environmental impact were factors that contributed to the rankings. So, while the United States ranks high on life expectancy and happiness, its large ecological footprint made the country land at No. 114 on the list out of 143 countries.

Nigerian Writer Awarded
EC Osondu, a writer from Nigeria, is the winner of this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing and will receive $16,000. The honor, which is also referred to as the African Booker, is given each year to an African writer for a short story that is published in English, reports the BBC.  It’s named after the an ex-chairman of Booker plc, Sir Michael Caine. Osondu’s short story, “Waiting,” describes “the dislocating experience of being a displaced person,” from a child’s point of view, one of the judges said. Osondu was born in Nigeria and moved to New York to attend Syracuse University where he studied writing. In 2006, he received an honor, the Allen and Nirelle Galso Prize for Fiction, for another one of his stories, “A Letter from Home.” He is currently teaching literature at Providence College in Rhode Island, the BBC reports.