Police shoot magpie dead for attacking old woman
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Australian police have come under fire over the shooting death of a magpie outside a shopping centre in northern New South Wales. Officers were called to the scene after the magpie swooped at a 70-year-old woman, who fell and injured her knee. The officers used their service pistols to shoot the bird out of a tree.
US bans eating of cats and dogs
US congress has passed a bill outlawing the consumption of cats and dogs. The "Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018” includes penalties of up to £3,800 for eating a cat or dog, and also outlaws shipping, sale and transportation of the animals for the purpose of human consumption.
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.
Man jailed for writing fake online reviews
An Italian man has been jailed for nine months for writing fake reviews on the online travel site TripAdvisor. The man, who was paid by businesses to post glowing reviews, had written more than 1,000 fake reviews for hundreds of companies since 2015. He was also ordered to pay a fine of £7,000.
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
-
Weer at Soho Theatre Walthamstow: a 'silly, seductive, slapstick joy'
The Week Recommends Natalie Palamides' 'tear-inducingly funny' one-woman show opens London's newest venue
-
Can the world stop Israel from starving Gaza?
Today's Big Question Total blockade on food and aid enters its third month, and Israel is accused of 'weaponising starvation'
-
The timely revival of watchmaking
Under The Radar Artisan horology is enjoying a surprising resurgence
-
Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
-
Experts discover why dogs wag their tails
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
-
Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machine
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
-
Couple sues after ‘farting dog’ ruins flight
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
-
Experts suggest the real-life Dracula was vegan
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
-
Pedants forgive Waterstones over apostrophe
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life