14 C The Times of India
Elections 2026Europe / The Times of India
Amid rising global tensions and a shrinking British Army, the idea of conscription has resurfaced in public debate, though ministers insist there are no plans to reinstate it. Experts suggest modern refusal would likely incur fines rather than imprisonment, with exemptions for essential workers and conscientious objectors. Polls show significant reluctance among younger adults, highlighting challenges if conscription were ever enforced.
Archaeologists in Sweden unearthed a remarkably preserved Stone Age dog burial, approximately 5,000 years old, accompanied by a finely crafted bone dagger. Found in a wetland, the deliberate placement suggests the dog held significant value, possibly as a protector or hunting partner. This discovery offers insights into Stone Age human-animal bonds and potential ritualistic practices.
In 2018, Anthony Akers, wanted by Washington authorities, turned a routine Facebook wanted post into a week-long online exchange. Commenting on the departments notices with apologies, excuses, and humor, he delayed surrendering while engaging the public. Nearly a week later, he finally turned himself in, sharing a selfie outside the station. The unusual thread combined deflection, dark humor, and accountability.
Centralia, Pennsylvania, once a thriving coal town, was slowly erased by an underground fire ignited in 1962. Decades of uncontrollable flames forced residents to relocate, leaving streets empty and homes demolished. The blaze still burns today, making the town a hazardous, eerie relic. Its abandoned roads, cultural myth, and Graffiti Highway attract curiosity, a lasting reminder of industrial disasters enduring consequences.
A driver has admitted causing the death of Marcus Fakana in a north London crash following a police pursuit, months after the British teenager returned from nearly a year in a Dubai prison. Fakanas case had drawn international attention and protests, making his death a tragic coda to a life shaped by legal injustice, public campaigning and brief freedom.
NASA has dismissed viral claims that Earth will briefly lose gravity in August 2026, calling the theory scientifically impossible. The agency says gravity is determined by Earths mass and cannot switch off, and that the upcoming solar eclipse will have no effect on it. Scientists say the rumour reflects basic misunderstandings of physics.