The Times, 8 March

Vietnam has begun a crackdown on hamsters, a wildly popular pet in the lunar Year of the Rat, fearing that an influx of the foreign-bred rodent could spread disease and destroy crops. As of Monday 10 March, anyone possessing or trading hamsters faces stiff fines of up to 30 million dong, around £930. The government aims to end a craze for the animals, which were previously imported for scientific research, but which have now spawned online hamster clubs