WAO ART #35

Customs officials at Detroit Metropolitan Airport intercepted six giant African snails in a suitcase of a traveler who flew from Ghana. These snails are considered voracious pests that can feast on more than 500 types of plants and produce, including peanuts, beans, and cucumbers.

Bitcoin's price has surged to over $28,000, as uncertainty surrounds banks and fears of a global banking crisis rise. Bitcoin has gained over 37% against the US dollar for last weeks, outperforming Wall Street banks stocks. In Europe, Credit Suisse was acquired by UBS Group for nearly $2 billion.

Central banks, including the Bank of England, have taken swift action to boost the flow of US dollars and keep credit flowing through the global financial system after the failures of two US banks and the rescue of Credit Suisse caused market shockwaves.

A major clean-up effort is under way in Menindee, Australia, after millions of fish died in a river in western New South Wales. Fish will be cleared from "high density areas", but it will not be possible to remove all the carcasses, police say.

China has become Russia's most important trading partner, with overall trade hitting a record high of $190bn in 2022, a 30% increase on the year before. While China has not overtly supplied Russia with weapons, it may be secretly selling hi-tech products which could be used for military purposes.

Cuenca, Ecuador escaped catastrophic damage from a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, with only one building facade collapsing and causing one death and two injuries. The National Risk Management Office reports that 93 homes were destroyed with another 202 severely damaged, and damage to public facilities.

The UK's central bank has reassured the public that banks are "safe" after regulators agreed a rescue deal for Credit Suisse to prevent fears over banks spreading. The bank was bought by rival UBS in a Swiss government-backed deal after regulators worked frantically round the clock to secure a deal.