Curious Fellow

In London, royalty spotting and museum trips are top to-dos. From iconic landmarks like Kensington Palace and Tower Bridge to the world-renowned British Museum and Tower of London, there's something for everyone. The Tower of London, a 1,000-year-old castle, has served as a secure fortress, a royal palace, and an infamous prison. See the Jewel House, the Tow Mint, and the Royal Armouries, including the armors of Henry VIII. Meet the Yeoman Warders and the symbolic guardians, the ravens. Admission tickets from £40. The British Museum, a museum of the world for the world, showcases over two million years of human history and culture. See world-famous objects like the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. Bloomsbury, a leafy area in Central London, is home to the British Museum and other attractions. Admission tickets from £8. Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard: Experience Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard ceremony on select days...

  How China's AI Innovators Overcame U.S. Restrictions to Surprise Silicon Valley When OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, it made waves in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, raising an important question: would this development put China, the U.S.'s biggest tech competitor, at a disadvantage? Two years later, a breakthrough from China has flipped the script, shifting the question to whether the U.S. can actually halt China’s progress in AI. Initially, China seemed to struggle to create a competitive alternative to ChatGPT. Baidu’s AI chatbot, Ernie, was met with widespread disappointment. Similarly, chatbots from major tech firms like Tencent and ByteDance were seen as mere imitations of ChatGPT, but with less impressive capabilities. Confident in its technological lead, the U.S. government took measures to maintain its advantage. The Biden administration imposed strict export controls, banning the sale of advanced semiconductors and other critical technology to China. Then, De...

  Rachel Reeves hints at a major shift in UK-EU relations The UK government is considering a significant reassessment of its relationship with the European Union (EU) in the aftermath of Brexit. This development comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with European finance ministers to discuss the future of UK-EU relations. While Labour has made it clear that rejoining the EU is not on the table, they are exploring ways to reduce trade barriers, particularly for food and agricultural products. They are also looking to simplify regulations for businesses with intricate supply chains. On the EU side, leaders have shown interest in revisiting youth mobility programs, which would allow young people to live and work in both the UK and EU countries. New Trade Talks Planned Reeves announced that formal negotiations for a new trading relationship between the UK and EU would begin in early 2024. However, this announcement has drawn criticism from the Conservative Party, which accused Labou...

 Spain is introducing stricter regulations on tourism, with Malaga, the capital of Costa del Sol, leading the way. The city has implemented a ban on the registration of new holiday rentals across 43 districts as part of efforts to address issues related to unregulated mass tourism. These measures follow widespread anti-tourist protests that swept across Europe last summer, highlighting concerns about the negative effects of excessive tourism on local communities, natural resources, and housing availability. Details of the Ban Malaga City Council has taken steps to protect the integrity of its historic centers and curb the rising number of rental properties in the city’s most densely populated areas. In some districts, holiday rentals account for over 8% of residential properties. As of January 14th, the city suspended the registration of new rental properties to help balance tourism with the needs of local residents. This decision complements other measures aimed at sustainable tou...

  Manila: The Capital of the Philippines Manila, the capital and principal city of the Philippines, stands as the heart of the nation's economic, political, social, and cultural activities. Nestled on the island of Luzon, it stretches along the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River. The city's name, originally "Maynila," is derived from the "nila" plant, a flowering shrub that once grew abundantly along the riverbanks. Over time, the name evolved to "Manila," a form adopted officially in 1975 by presidential decree. Landscape Manila occupies the low, narrow deltaic plain of the Pasig River, which flows northwest into Manila Bay. To the north lies the swampy delta of the Pampanga River, while the Sierra Madre's southern peaks rise to the northeast and east of the urban area. Laguna de Bay, a vast lake from which the Pasig River originates, borders metropolitan Manila to the southeast. Meanwhile, the Bataan Peninsula enclose...

 Benefit cheats could be stripped of driving licenses. Convicted benefits cheats who fail to pay back the taxpayer could be stripped of their driving licenses under government plans to crack down on fraud. Those who repeatedly cheat the system and have debts of £1,000 or more could be punished with a driving ban of up to 2 years. Frauders can already be jailed in the most serious cases. Work and Pensions Minister Allison McGaven said it would provide an additional tool in the box to chase repayments. The plans also include new powers to force banks to hand over account information about benefit claimants to help target investigations, echoing a scheme announced by the previous Conservative government. This is likely to face strong opposition from the banks and privacy campaigners. Providing false information to obtain benefits can see fraudsters hit by fines, while serious cases of conspiracy to defraud can attract prison sentences of up to 10 years under current laws. Pressed on w...

  The system is expected to bring gusts exceeding 80 mph along exposed coasts in Northern Ireland, northern England, northwestern Wales, and western Scotland. An Amber Weather Warning for strong winds has been issued, along with alerts for snow, wind, and rain. Storm Éowyn’s Impact Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast by Friday night. It will initially bring snow to some areas, along with heavy rain and strong winds, potentially causing travel disruption, power outages, and property damage. Weather Shift from Thursday After several days of relatively calm weather, conditions will begin to change on Thursday. A front bringing heavy rain will move eastward, turning the weather wet and windy by early Friday morning. The storm will bring snow to parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and high areas in northern England before transitioning to rain as milder air arrives. Warnings Issued A Yellow Warning for wind is in place for western Wales, s...

 Retiring overseas is an exciting adventure but it comes with its challenges. You'll need a wealth of information to make the right choice and, more importantly, guidance to help you interpret it all. That's why we created the 2025 Annual Global Retirement Index—your essential road map for finding the retirement destination that best suits your lifestyle. The Global Retirement Index is the most comprehensive and practical tool of its kind. It cuts through the noise and helps you make sense of the world's best options and opportunities. Think of it as your personalised guide designed to simplify your decision-making process by offering a clear, easy way to compare and contrast your top options. Our index isn't a rigid, one-size-fits-all formula. It's a dynamic, user-friendly resource designed to provide more than just data points. We combine real-world costs, healthcare quality, climate, and lifestyle options with expert opinions and new perspectives. For instance, i...

The finale of Bigg Boss 18 is in full swing, and the excitement among fans is off the charts. After the recent evictions of Eisha Singh and Chum Darang , the top four contestants left in the game were Vivian Dsena , Avinash Mishra , Karan Veer Mehra , and Rajat Dalal . However, things took an unexpected turn when Wikipedia showed one of these finalists, Rajat Dalal, as the winner, sparking speculation about whether it was true. Fans were on edge as they waited to see who would take home the trophy and cash prize, but Wikipedia’s premature announcement of Rajat as the winner became the talk of the town. Reports suggest that Wikipedia displayed Rajat Dalal as the ‘Bigg Boss 18 winner’ , while the runner-up spot was marked as ‘to be declared.’ This naturally made Rajat's fans overjoyed, while others wondered if the finale had been spoiled. Adding to the buzz, a photo of host Salman Khan with two contestants was leaked earlier, which led many to question whether the outcome was pred...

  This is a land where empires clashed, civilisations intertwined, and the course of history was rewritten time and again. The Balkans—a region of extraordinary beauty and unfathomable turmoil. More than just a geographical area, it is a bridge between the East and West and a melting pot of cultures, religions, and identities. The Balkans, located in southeastern Europe, are made up of 12 countries, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Greece. Its name derives from the Turkish word Bulan , meaning “mountain.” The region’s strategic location has made it a crossroads of trade, ideas, and, unfortunately, conflict for centuries. Bordered by the Adriatic, Ionian, and Black Seas, the Balkans have been a meeting point for major civilisations, from the Romans to the Ottomans. What makes the Balkans truly unique is not just its geography or history but the rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and religions that coexist here. It is a region where Orthodox Christi...