It’s probably the strangest bounty ever invented, but it seems desperate times call for desperate measures in the South African township of Alexandria. City officials are offering a mobile phone for every 60 rats caught. ­The bizarre new program is an attempt to rid Alexandria of a massive rat infestation in its streets. The 100-year-old township has become a breeding ground for the little critters,... 

Iran’s Navy successfully test-fired its first home-built medium-range anti-radar missile, Mehrab, on January 1, 2012. The British government is desperately struggling to make an impact in the Middle East and let the public know by making hollow gestures to pretend an attack on Iran, where Britain will be a major player, is imminent. British media reported on Friday that Prime Minister David Cameron... 

Police sniper shoots suicidal boy instead of saving him The parents of a suicidal 16-year-old boy who was shot to death by a SWAT team sniper in suburban Atlanta have spoken out for the first time against the unjustified actions of the police. Andrew Messina had threatened to kill himself after getting a bad grade in school last May. He took his father’s .357 Magnum, took swigs of alcohol from a... 

Study says that with rising temperatures, fruit can replace the potato as a staple food in some developing temperate countries… A newly released report says that climate change could make the banana a crucial food source for millions of people. A newly released report says that climate change could make the banana a crucial food source for millions of people. The finding is part of a report... 

Washington has reportedly decided to ease restrictions on the sale of medicine to Iran in fear that it may lose global support for anti-Iran sanctions, the Los Angeles Times reported. Though US rules have not imposed any bans on American firms to sell medicine and medical supplies to Iran, exporters have been required to apply for special licenses. Besides, as the aftermath of the sanctions, the impossibility... 

Panasonic Corp., Japan’s second largest TV maker, saw its credit rating cut by two levels by Standard & Poor’s after it forecast a $9.5 bn loss 30 times bigger than analyst estimates. ­S&P said it has downgraded long-term debt to BBB, down from A-, as “huge losses for the second year in a row weaken the company’s financial profile and could further slow its recovery in the next... 

Bald men can regain hair with eye drops for glaucoma. Drug interactions and pre-existing diseases can make the therapy risky. However, eye drops for glaucoma have become a macho thing. It may even end one of the world’s greatest male torments, baldness. So a survey, published by researchers in the journal FASEB, reveals. Eye drops for glaucoma have become a macho thing. It may even end one of... 

A Russian Ilyushin IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft Russia may deploy two reconnaissance aircraft to a French base in the Horn of Africa state of Djibouti where the US is reportedly leading its secret drone war in the region. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday the deployment, aimed at conducting anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, will only be carried out with the consent... 

The worst of Superstorm Sandy may be over, but it’s left a trail of extensive – and expensive – devastation behind. Lost business and damages will cost up to $60 billion to fix, says forecasting firm HIS Global Insight. The costs include an estimated $20 billion in property damages and $10 billion to $30 billion in lost business, AP reports. What’s worse is that most homeowners will have to... 

China is boosting its efforts aimed at returning the jurisdiction over the disputed Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku). In late October, the Chinese ships began regular patrols of the waters, despite the protests of Tokyo. Some analysts argue that the parties have exhausted all diplomatic means. Beijing is clearly hinting at the possibility of using force. On Tuesday, the leading news agencies once again reported... 

A highly disturbing Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) report circulating in the Kremlin today claims that a top US Secret Service Agent (USSS) assigned to President Obama’s protective detail was “suicided” over fears he was about to release highly damaging information regarding the White Houses’ release of classified information to Hollywood producers, whose movie about the raid that killed... 

Certificate of Achievement received from online dating website Zoosk.com In an age where few marriages endure the test of time, 107-year-old Karam and his wife Katari Chand, 100, are proof that happy ever after does exist. The couple, who have eight children and twenty eight grandchildren together, have lived in wedded bliss for 87 years making them the world’s longest married couple. The pair... 

In the wake of the destruction caused by hurricane Sandy the people of Iran are reaching out in a variety of ways, by offering help and emergency aid relief. Even the Red Crescent Organization of Iran has offered to send an emergency response team to help with the rescue and clean up effort. Mahmud Mozaffar, the leader of the Red Crescent Organization told the Fars News Agency that: “We are ready... 

Last year, the smallest wages in Europe were paid in Ukraine, Moldova and Albania. The most highly paid professionals live in Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. However, the “low-income” Ukraine lives on labor migration. The Ukrainian citizens working in other countries, send billions of dollars to their home country every year. In Ukraine, the State Statistics Committee reported a decline... 

A major oil spill has occurred in the strait of water separating Staten Island, NYC and the state of New Jersey. The spill, of more than 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel, reportedly occurred in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. The Coast Guard said the incident occurred in the Arthur Kill tidal strait as fuel leaked from the Motiva oil tank facility, according to a report by NBC New York. Some 200 people...