(Photo: UPI/via Newscom/Landov)

In today’s top news, George Zimmerman’s lawyers want to question Trayvon Martin’s friend who spoke to him before he was killed, President Obama says today is “the best of times and worst of times” for Black Americans and Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail.

Defense lawyers in Trayvon Martin case want to question friend who was on the phone with him before he was killed. [AP]

President Obama says today is “the best of times and worst of times” for Blacks on Rev. Al Sharpton radio show.  [The Grio]

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend, has been granted bail. [CNN]

Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa welcomed their baby boy to the world Thursday. [BET]

The family of Emmett Till has penned an open letter to Lil Wayne for his controversial lyrics referencing Till. [TheGrio]

Blacks are consuming 15 percent of their calories from fast food, compared to 11 percent for whites. [BET]

Ted Nugent says President Obama is “the clear and present engineer of the destruction of Black America.” [Black Voices]

Democrats say Virginia’s new voter bill will disenfranchise the poor, elderly and African-Americans. [BET]

In Haiti, the U.N. will not compensate families of those who died in a 2010 epidemic blamed on U.N. peacekeepers. [Al Jazeera]

Fighting continues in Sudan’s Darfur region, with 21 people dead and 33 injured. [Reuters]

In today’s top news, President Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner over the weekend to discuss the fiscal cliff, Nelson Mandela was hospitalized for unspecified medical tests and Manny Pacquiao says he has no plans to retire after devastating knockout.

President Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner over the weekend to discuss the fiscal cliff. [NBCNews]

Nelson Mandela was hospitalized this weekend for unspecified medical tests. [BET]

Manny Pacquiao says he has no plans to retire after devastating knockout. [Reuters]

Analysts say the lineup of replacement candidates for Jessie Jackson Jr.’s House seat has no standout star. [WSJ]

The L.A.P.D. apologized to the Notorious B.I.G.’s family after his autopsy report was released. [BET]

Former IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn close to settling his sexual assault case with hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo. [AP]

A Black high school principal in West Virginia is under fire after forcing students to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” [Grio]

The CDC announces that Black women have the highest obesity rate. [AP]

Toni Braxton was hospitalized for complications from lupus. [BET]

John Mahama was declared the winner of Ghana’s presidential election. [AP]

(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream,” police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP Congressional candidate Mia Love and Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases.

Jay-Z says he feels like he has achieved the “American Dream.” [AP]

Police are investigating racist hate mail sent to GOP congressional candidate Mia Love. [Politico]

The Bronx’s District Attorney vows to cut back on prosecuting certain stop-and-frisk cases. [BET]

Two women were caught trying to smuggle cocaine in weaves at New York’s JFK International Airport. [DailyCaller]

Swizz Beats is named global ambassador for the NYC Health and Hospitals Corp. [BET]

DMX dismisses Fredro Starr’s diss, calling him a “midget rapper.” [BET]

Study: Black girls under stress gain more weight. [USN]

Bobbi Kristina Brown was involved in a “mysterious” car accident with her boyfriend. [Yahoo]

The South African gold mine strike continues to spread. [BBC]

Sudan and South Sudan sign a groundbreaking deal. [AJE]

In today’s top news, Obama’s support of gay marriage causes campaign contributions to soar, the NAACP is looking to register a record number of teen voters and sponsors have begun backing out of Basketball Wives as show boycott gains steam.

Obama’s support of gay marriage causes campaign contributions to soar. [Buzzfeed]

The NAACP is looking to register a record number of teen voters. [BET]

Sponsors backing out of Basketball Wives as show boycott gains steam. [BET]

Rihanna responds to her Saturday Night Live dress rehearsal controversy. [BET]

Proposed bill would make employer’s Facebook snooping illegal. [MSNBC]

Sony posts a record loss of $5.7 billion. [MSNBC]

A study says that having a  ”pot belly” may put you at an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. [HealthDay]

Russian president Vladimir Putin will skip this year’s G-8 summit chaired by President Obama. [FT]

Africa’s two female presidents have banded together to elevate women on the continent. [IPS]

Charles Taylor fights his 80-year sentence recommendation for war crimes conviction. [CNN]

In today’s top news, Beyoncé dispels surrogacy rumors, President Obama shouts out Young Jeezy at the latest White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Brian McKnight receives offers to perform his X-rated R&B satire ballad.

Beyoncé dispels surrogacy rumors. [BET]

President Obama shouts out Young Jeezy at the latest White House Correspondents’ Dinner. [Billboard]

Brian McKnight receives offers to perform his X-rated R&B satire ballad. [BET]

Ellen show DJ Tony Okungbowa makes his silver screen debut. [BET]

Bill Clinton and President Obama campaign together on the economy. [Reuters]

A Gallup poll shows that Americans expect to work longer, retire. [TODAY]

New study shows overweight teens may have harder time controlling diabetes. [CTV]

A mother’s stress level during pregnancy may cause iron deficiency in newborns. [HealthDay]

Sudan president declares state of emergency along South Sudan border. [CNN]

Uganda claims Sudanese government supports Joseph Kony. [New Vision]

In today’s top news, former Liberian leader Charles Taylor has been convicted of war crimes and the Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward support of Arizona’s immigration law.

Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor has been convicted of war crimes. [BET]

The Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward support of Arizona’s immigration law. [Reuters]

Chrysler posts its biggest profit since 1998. [CNN]

College students protested student loan debt on “Trillion Dollar Day.” [Reuters]

Doctors warn American Idol winner Ruben Studdard to lose weight. [BET]

Star Jones wants to organize high-profile Black women against Basketball Wives. [S2S]

Wacka Flocka Flame declares he’ll never work with Wiz Khalifa. [BET]

Many Africans living abroad are returning home amid struggling western economies. [CNN]

The offices of a major Nigerian newspaper were hit by bombs. [BBC]

In today’s top news, five people are dead after a shooting at an Oakland university, new evidence is revealed in the Trayvon Martin case and a California appeals court holds up the state’s affirmative action ban for university admissions.

Five dead in Oakland university shooting.  [BET]

New evidence revealed in Trayvon Martin case. [CNN]

California appeals court holds up the state’s affirmative action ban for university admissions. [Reuters]

President Bill Clinton hopes the Trayvon Martin tragedy will cause people to re-think “Stand Your Ground” law. [ABC]

Kentucky wins NCAA championship and celebratory riot leaves at least one person shot. [ABC]

Hunger Games tops $250 million at the box office. [BET]

Obesity rate may be underestimated. [CNN]

Michelle Obama to take part in The Biggest Loser. [BET]

Co-founder of largest Black bank dies. [Chicago Sun-Times]

U.S. joins $100 million aid pledge for Syria. [Democracy Now]

U.N. chief says world should be happy, not just rich. [MSNBC]

In today’s top news, former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today, Kony 2012 screenings are halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage and Memphis will finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.

Former Chicago governor Rod Blagojevich begins his 14-year prison sentence today. [BET]

Kony 2012 screenings halted in Northern Uganda after residents express outrage. [BBC]

Memphis to finally name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years after his death.  [CNN]

The White House is turning its attention to foreign-policy matters this week. [BET]

President Obama says it is not yet time to intervene in Syria. [AJE]

A new book from food justice activist Bryant Terry says that Black people can enjoy vegan food too. [BET]

Study shows that a lack of sleep may cause heavier eating. [WebMD]

Taliban suspends peace talks with the U.S. [Reuters]

Shocking, new anti-smoking campaign sets out to de-glamorize the addictive habit. [Reuters]

Arizona is on pace to have its busiest year for executions. [AP]

In today’s top news, the 2012 Grammy Awards honor the late Whitney Houston, some are angered as Etta James and Don Cornelius are left out of Grammys ‘in memoriam’ segment and new reports claim Houston died from deadly combo of prescription drugs and alcohol.

The 2012 Grammy Awards honor the late Whitney Houston. [BET]

Whitney Houston allegedly died from deadly combo of prescription drugs and alcohol. [TMZ]

Some angered that Grammys left Etta James and Don Cornelius out of ‘in memoriam’ segment. [MSNBC]

Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina hospitalized following her mother’s death. [BET]

New York City bans churches from operating in public schools on weekends. [WSJ]

Find out where ‘overweight’ ends and ‘obese’ begins. [BET]

Israeli Black Hebrews mourn Whitney Houston’s death. [BET]

U.S. government tops the list in layoffs. [MSNBC]

Gadhafi’s son warns of a Libyan revolt. [BBC]

U.S. admiral says Navy forces prepared to confront Iran. [FOX]

In today’s top news, Spike is planning a bash for Obama’s re-election bid, Columbia vows to return mistakenly deported teen Jakadrien Turner and Rick Santorum backtracks on his infamous Black comment.

Spike Lee plans an upscale fundraiser to support President Obama’s re-election bid. [BET]

Mistakenly deported Dallas teen Jakadrien Turner to be returned home. [CNN]

D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. resigns amid felony charges [BET]

California homeless seek shelter amid killing spree. [MSNBC]

Rapper Wiz Khalifa accused of stealing hit song “Black and Yellow.” [BET]

Michelle Obama makes her acting debut on Nickelodeon show iCarly. [AP]

Africa is now China’s “golden ground” for investment. [AFP]

Rick Santorum backtracks on Black comment. [CNN]

New computer virus can raid your bank account. [MSNBC]

Commentary: Do Black celebrity weight loss endorsements make you want to shed those pounds? [BET]