BREAKING NEWS: Madonna Allowed To Adopt Malawi Tot, Court Says

The highest court in Malawi Friday approved Madonna's request to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, a 3-year-old orphan.

The three-judge panel, headed by Malawi's Chief Justice, Lovemore Munlo, said that the lower courts initial ruling was out of sync with the times, and that the entertainer's philanthropic history toward the African nation should have been taken into account.

As expected, the singer born Madonna Louise Ciccone was thrilled with the news.

"It's the wee hours of morning in New York but she is excited at the news," her attorney, Alan Chinula said. "As her lawyer I am happy that this has settled this contentious issue."