While there was an unexpected uptick in the February sales of existing homes at 2. 9 percent, home foreclosure filings across the U. S. grew by 60 percent and bank seizures more than doubled for the second month of the year. Aside from Americans struggling with the economy, the subprime crisis also hit a vulnerable sector who could do nothing about losing their roof, except whimper. Homeowners and their pets are being separated by escalating incidents of home foreclosures across America. According to USA Today, thousands of pets are being sent to animal shelters although no exact figures are available due to the lack of accounting standards for recording pets affected by foreclosures.

Pope Benedict XVI publicly baptized on Monday an Egyptian-born Muslim journalist, known for his renunciation of Islamic beliefs. The traditional Easter vigil service held on Monday at St. Peter's Basilica, marked the beginning of 55-year-old Magdi Allam's life as a Roman Catholic, after he admitted that he has been a non-practicing Muslim all his adult life. Taking "Christian" for his middle name, Allam, a deputy director for the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, wrote in an article, "I had to do this. Beyond extremists and Islamist terrorism at the global level, the root of evil is inherent in a physiologically violent and historically conflictual Islam. "

Sandi Sabloff had been suffering from chronic kidney failure for 20 years. But thanks to kidney donor, 23-year old Australian Ashwyn Falkingham, a member of the Jesus Christians group, more years will be added to Sabloff's life after a successful transplant at the Paraskevaidion Surgical Transplant Centre in Nicosia, Cyprus. Sabloff and Falkingham are reported to be recovering well.

An Australian man announced online that he was putting his entire life up for sale, auctioning it to the highest bidder. According to 44-year-old Ian Usher, the winning bidder will get his home, his car, all his material possessions, and even his job. Usher explained that with regards to the job, the winner would be given a two-week trial employment at a rug shop in Perth, Western Australia.

As thousands of Irish citizens took to the streets in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, several leaders have raised concerns about the need for people to practice restraint when drinking during the celebration. Local authorities announced that they will be keeping a closer eye on people's drinking consumption for this year's celebration, in an effort to avoid incidents such as street fighting or drunk driving - events that have reportedly occurred in the past, right after the celebrations.