The death of a bull
The week's news at a glance.
Skanda Vale, U.K.
Hindu monks in Wales failed last week to prevent state authorities from killing their bull, which was suffering from tuberculosis. Health officials said Shambo posed a threat to humans and livestock at the Hindu monastery and had to be put down. More than 100 of the faithful formed a human shield around Shambo, praying and chanting until they were hauled away. The desperate effort to save Shambo drew national attention and sparked a debate about religious rights. Hindus revere cows and bulls, and considered the government action an assault on their religion. Nonsense, said Keith Porteous Wood, director of the National Secular Society. “We do not live in a theocracy,” he said. “This religious belligerence must have cost the public purse many tens of thousands of pounds in legal action and already hard-stretched police time.” Shambo died by lethal injection.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Trump’s budget bill will increase the deficit. Does it matter?
Today's Big Question Analysts worry a 'tipping point' is coming
-
Film reviews: The Phoenician Scheme, Bring Her Back, and Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
Feature A despised mogul seeks a fresh triumph, orphaned siblings land with a nightmare foster mother, and a Jane fan finds herself in a love triangle
-
Music reviews: Tune-Yards and PinkPantheress
Feature "Better Dreaming" and "Fancy That"