(Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In today’s news, President Obama offered a highly personal speech about the responsibility of men at a commencement address at Morehouse College; a young African-American film director is gaining a following at the Cannes Film Festival; and the NAACP’s protests of changes in North Carolina laws will continue this week.

Obama gets personal about race and manhood at Morehouse. [Washington Post]

Young African-American director creates buzz at Cannes. [France 24]

NAACP protests at North Carolina General Assembly over voting rights will continue. [WSOC-TV]

Train derailments in Connecticut could affect travel all week. [Wall Street Journal]

Despite troubles, Obama’s poll ratings remain steady. [Washington Times]

Ivory Coast massacre suspect held in custody. [BBC]

Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf defends record on good governance. [Reuters]

Former Congressman Allen West joins Fox News. [BET]

Two FBI agents killed in training accident. [ABC]

One winning ticket for $590.5 million Powerball sold in Florida. [Chicago Tribune]

Woman kicked off airplane for singing Whitney Houston song. [Jet]

(Photo: Allison Shelley/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, the White House says President Obama supports women in combat, the battery charge lodged against mega-church pastor Creflo Dollar after a fight with his daughter was dropped and witnesses have been called to make statements in the George Zimmerman murder trial.

The White House says President Obama supports women in combat. [AP]

The battery charge lodged against mega-church pastor Creflo Dollar after a fight with his daughter was dropped. [AJC]

Witnesses have been called to make statements in the George Zimmerman murder trial. [BET]

A federal judge says families of those killed in the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting should not be allowed to sue the theater for wrongful death. [NBCNews]

Martin Luther King III says he was deeply moved that President Obama was sworn-in on his father’s bible. [BET]

Whitney Houston’s mother says she questions her own parenting skills. [Reuters]

Tina Turner will soon become a citizen of Switzerland. [AP]

Chief Keef stands to earn $6 million from his record deal with Interscope. [BET]

The U.S. military admits to mistakes in the training of Malian troops. [BBC]

Al Shabab’s Twitter account was disabled after the militant group threatened to kill Kenyan hostages. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Hurricane Sandy kills at least 16 in the U.S. and leaves millions without power across the East Coast, Sandy may delay the release of Friday’s job’s report; the last before the election and President Obama says, “I know Black America wants to keep Michelle as first lady.”

Hurricane Sandy kills at least 16 in the U.S. and leaves millions without power, reeling from floods. [CNN]

Sandy may delay the release of Friday’s job’s report; the last before the election. [AP]

In an interview President Obama says, “I know Black America wants to keep Michelle as first lady.” [Grio]

A Florida judge in the Trayvon Martin case refuses to issue a gag order for George Zimmerman’s lawyers. [Reuters]

A study shows Black students feel more prepared for college than other races. [HoustonChronicle]

Cissy Houston and Bobbi Kristina resolve inheritance issues. [BET]

Basketball Wives star Tami Roman inked a six-figure product endorsement deal. [BET]

Scott Storch avoids arrest for child support by paying $20,000 in arrears. [BET]

Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, gets its first commuter train. [BBC]

Europe’s fashion buyers are looking to Nigeria. [AP]

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In today’s top news, many Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate, a poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida and Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon.

The majority of Americans agree that Joe Biden won last night’s vice presidential debate. [CBS]

A poll shows Mitt Romney leading President Obama in Florida. [Tampa Bay Times]

Bobbi Kristina confirms her engagement to Nick Gordon. [BET]

BP and the Obama Administration are reportedly close to striking a settlement deal over the 2012 Gulf oil spill. [NBCNews]

Last Dragon star Leo O’Brien dies at 41. [BET]

Nelly was detained after drugs and a loaded gun were found on his tour bus. [BET]

Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson documentary will hit theaters briefly beginning next week. [Hollywood Reporter]

Rapper Shyne publicly expresses his support for Mitt Romney. [MTV]

Michael Vick confirms that he does own a dog. [Grio]

Ghana’s Ashanti crown jewels were stolen from a Norway hotel. [BBC]

The European Union won a Nobel Peace Prize. [CNN]

In today’s top news, Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will go head to head in tonight’s vice presidential debate, George Zimmerman’s brother went on a Twitter rant about the Trayvon Martin case and Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, is engaged.

Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will go head to head in tonight’s vice presidential debate. [BET]

George Zimmerman’s brother went on a Twitter rant about the Trayvon Martin case. [Reuters]

Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, is engaged. [USAToday]

U.S. jobless claims fell to their lowest point in four years. [CNN]

50 Cent starts Twitter beef with rapper French Montana. [BET]

A video of a same-sex Kappa Alpha Psi wedding has gone viral. [Grio]

Naomi Campbell is slated to launch a new reality TV fashion competition. [BET]

Three people died in Miami after a parking garage collapsed. [NBCNews]

Shell Oil will appear in a Dutch court today to address claims that it polluted a Nigerian village. [BBC]

Report shows that African nations have made strides in curbing hunger. [BBC]

(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

In today’s top news, a new Whitney Houston single featuring R. Kelly has been released, Diddy and Cassie confirm they are a couple and 50 Cent hires investigators to look into Chris Lighty’s death.

A new Whitney Houston single featuring R. Kelly has been released. [USATODAY]

Diddy and Cassie confirm they are a couple. [BET]

50 Cent hires investigators to look into Chris Lighty’s death. [BET]

Federal authorities crack down on L.A. marijuana dispensaries. [Reuters]

Louis Farrakhan says the Black community must take responsibility for gun violence. [NYDN]

Madonna defends her “Black Muslim” comments about President Obama. [Guardian]

Ann Coulter says liberals who date Black women think they are “freedom riders.” [Mediaite]

BlackBerry maker looks to Africa for growth potential. [AP]

South Africa’s Julius Malema has been charged with money laundering. [BBC]

In today’s top news, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the U.S. House votes today on whether they will hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress and the Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans allowed in the Marine Corps, were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. [BET]

The U.S. House votes today on whether they will hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for mishandling Fast and Furious. [CNN]

Attorney General Eric Holder defended President Obama’s record on civil rights. [BET]

The Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans allowed in the Marine Corps, were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. [AP]

Jordin Sparks talks to BET.com about the new video for her Whitney Houston duet “Celebrate.” [BET]

R. Kelly fell ill while on the way to New York to promote his new album and recently released autobiography. [Philly.com]

A Motown Records-inspired musical is slated to hit Broadway next spring. [BET]

Mali’s Timbuktu is on UNESCO’s danger list. [BBC]

Nigerian President Goodluck Johnathan urges families to limit the number of children they are having. [BBC]

In today’s top news, recordings of George and Shellie Zimmermam speaking in code about the couple’s finances have been released, Adidas halts the release of the  ”shackle shoe” amid much criticism and Republicans are seeking to make cuts to the food stamp program.

Recordings of George and Shellie Zimmermam speaking in code about the couple’s finances have been released.  [BET]

Adidas halts the release of the “shackle shoe” amid much criticism. [CNN]

Republicans are seeking to make cuts to the food stamp program. [CBS News]

A white nationalism group registers to lobby in Washington. [The Hill]

YouTube censors “terrorist” videos. [CNN]

Bebe Winans’ memoir in tribute to Whitney Houston is due to hit shelves July 31. [BET]

Report says Asian-Americans more satisfied with life. [MSNBC]

Chicago rapper Chief Keef, 16, has inked a deal with Interscope Records. [BET]

E.U. condemns Boko Haram’s church attacks in Nigeria and following reprisal. [AFP]

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor will appeal his war crimes conviction. [BBC]

In today’s top news, George Zimmerman’s wife was arrested for perjury after lying about the couple’s finances, a Georgia KKK branch loses its bid to adopt a stretch of the state’s highway and police in Chicago are working overtime to stem the rising tide of street violence.

George Zimmerman’s wife was arrested for perjury after lying about the couple’s finances. [BET]

A Georgia KKK branch loses its bid to adopt a stretch of the state’s highway. [CNN]

Police in Chicago are working overtime to stem the rising tide of street violence. [ChicagoTribune]

A new documentary chronicles how the Grammy Awards show was reworked in the hectic hours after Whitney Houston’s death. [AP]

Usher, 2Chainz and Big Sean will perform at this year’s BET Awards. [BET]

Creator and executive producer of Basketball Wives,  Shaunie O’Neal, says she plans to fire three cast members. [BET]

Spike Lee warns that Obama supporters cannot rest on their laurels, expecting an easy victory. [Politico]

Waka Flocka Flame says Rick Ross and Jay-Z copied his style. [BET]

Israel has begun its plan to detain and deport more than 200,000 undocumented African migrants. [CNN]

Imprisoned boxer Floyd Mayweather seeks release from solitary confinement on grounds that he is becoming out of shape. [ESPN]

Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, is losing its distinction as “most dangerous city in the world.” [AP]

In today’s top news, Attorney General Eric Holder asks Black churches to join the fight for our “sacred” voting rights, a report shows that FAMU drum major Robert Champion died one hour after he was hazed and the makers of FEMA trailers are set to pay $43 million to those suffering from health issues caused by chemicals in the homes.

Attorney General Eric Holder asks Black churches to join the fight for our “sacred” voting rights. [BET]

Report shows that FAMU drum major Robert Champion died one hour after he was hazed. [Miami Herald]

Makers of FEMA trailers set to pay $43 million to those suffering from health issues caused by chemicals in the homes. [CNN]

Black surgeon sues UCLA over racist joke. [The Root]

First Lady Michelle Obama says the president “tucks her in” to bed each night at the White House. [DailyMail]

Bobbi Kristina walked off of the set of her new Tyler Perry show after an emotional breakdown. [BET]

Idris Elba is rumored to star in the next Hunger Games movie. [BET]

After her sister’s big upset loss at the French Open, tennis champ Venus Williams is also out of the tournament. [SI]

Africa NGO says the rush to adopt African children needs to stop. [CNN]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton points finger at Russia for contributing to Syria’s civil war. [BBC]