Recently in Notable News Category

By Octavio Abea

Taliban militants raided a prison in northwest Pakistan freeing 384 prisoners in an attack that injured four prison officials and lasted more than two hours, Sunday, according to officials.

The attack happened Sunday morning in the city of Bannu, which has a heavy militant presence, and was an attempt to free other Taliban militants, officials said, CNN reports.

The display of strength by the Taliban involved automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades to make their way into the prison as they shouted "God is great," and "long live the Taliban," officials said, The Associated Press reports.

The targeted prisoners that were freed were awaiting execution for crimes including the assassination of former President Pervez Musharraf and bombings around Pakistan, officials said, CNN reports.

Asimullah Mehsud, a Pakistani spokesman, said that 150 militants made it back safely to Mir Ali, the groups main base of operations, The Associated Press reports.

By Octavio Abea

The U.S. military paid $50,000 for each death and $11,000 for each injured to families of the victims of a soldier's killing spree that took place in the southern Afghanistan village, a tribal chief said Sunday.

The tribal chief told the Hindustan Times that the money, which added up to over $900,000, was given to them in a private ceremony inside the Kandahar Provincial Governor's office.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is facing charges including 17 counts of premeditated murder, of mostly women and children, and could receive the death penalty if convicted, CTV News Ottawa reports.

Afghan officials, who have asked to remain anonymous, have confirmed the payments, but say the amounts were roughly $46,000 for each death instead of $50,000, the Hindustan Times reports.

Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for NATO and U.S. forces, said that compensation is usually given in these situations and the amounts are usually kept private, CTV News Ottawa reports.

By Octavio Abea

Nelson Mandela was discharged from a South African hospital after he received a surgical procedure to check on an abdominal complaint.

Former South African President Mandela received a laparoscopy, which involves inserting a camera through the abdomen or pelvis, the BBC reports.

South African officials said the procedure was related to a long-standing abdominal condition and cause Mandela discomfort, the Los Angeles Times reports.

South African President Jacob Zuma said the hospital visit "did not indicate anything seriously wrong," BBC reports.

in the 1960s Mandela launched an underground military to oppose the apartheid and spent 27 years in jail for treason. He was elected as president after being freed, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By Octavio Abea

A naked 12-year-old-girl was found eating out of a trash can in Temecula, Calif. Thursday, and now her mother is facing possible endargerment charges, police said.

Dominique Prado was in the yard with her husband when they noticed a naked girl eating food out of a trash can, police said, CBS News reports.

According to police they found the girl with Prado, who waited with the girl in her car, and was trying to cover herself with the car floor mat, Los Angeles Times reports.

Tracy Betts, the girl's mom, was arrested shortly after, but was released Friday on $15,000 bail and now faces possible child endangerment charges, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By Octavio Abea

Pakistani fishermen hauled a 40-foot whale shark ashore in the city of Karachi Tuesday that was found unconscious in the harbor Jan. 29

After the fish died the fishermen called in two cranes to pull it out of the water, but three more cranes were needed, CBS News reports.

It took four hours to hoist the whale shark up with a 35-ton crane finishing the job after the fish's weight broke initial pulley wires, the Los Angeles Times reports.

A fisheries dealer bought the carcass for $18,000 and now has it on display, CBS News reports.

The catch brought in crowds that numbered in the hundreds and was greeted with applause as spectators tried to get a glimpse of the massive fish, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By Octavio Abea

The husband of a Utah woman, who has been missing for two years, and his two sons died in an expolsion Sunday, in his Graham, Wash. home during a supervised visit, officials said.

A social worker brought the two boys, 7 and 5, to Josh Powell's home, but was blocked from entering. She called her supervisors to tell them she could smell gas and the home exploded moments later, ABC News reports.

Powell was under investigation for the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, 28, and had just been told that he needs a psycho-sexual evaluation in order to regain custody of his two kids, ABC News reports.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the case against Powell was mostly circumstantial, but they were making progress, Police Chief Buzz Nielson said.

Josh Powell's lawyer said he received a three-word email minutes before the expolsion from Powell that said, "I'm sorry, goodbye," the Chicago Tribune reports.

By Octavio Abea

Occupy Oakland protesters broke into Oakland City Hall Saturday following a failed attempt to take over a vacant building, which resulted in over 400 arrests, according to police.

Police kept protesters from entering the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center and began to make arrests when protesters moved to the Oakland Museum of California and refused to leave., the Los Angeles Times reports.

Even though the police had an order to disperse, the standoff escalated forcing police into riot gear to drive them off while some protesters broke into city hall causing damages, Reuters reports.

Protesters threw objects like bottles, rocks, and burning flares at police and used elaborate shields, which is something officials have not encountered before, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Oakland has been a point of focus for Occupy protesters ever since an Iraq war vet was critically injured after being hit by a tear gas canister, according to protesters, Reuters reports.