historic

ONE of Scotland’s Wetherspoon pubs could soon house guests as it has been proposed that it turns into a hotel.

If approved the pub that’s in one of busiest areas in Aberdeen could have 29 hotel rooms an a beer garden.

The boozer called The Archibald Simpson sits on one of the busiest streets in Aberdeen and could well become a place for city explorers to have a good night’s sleep as well as a beer.

It has a grand entrance with huge columns, and was designed by local architect Archibald Simpson – who also designed St Andrews Cathedral.

Built in the 1800s it was originally home to the Head Office for the North of Scotland Bank.

It later became the headquarters of Clydesdale Bank, before opening as a Wetherspoon pub in 2003, and could soon be a hotel too.

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Earlier this year, the pub submitted proposals for development which would see its unused first and second floors being converted into 29 hotel rooms.

Inside would be comprising 21 double rooms, three family suites, two twin rooms and two singles.

It wouldn’t just be built upon though, as part of the project would require some demolition.

At the back, the pub’s rear extension would be knocked down to make way for a 51-seat beer garden to encourage al fresco dining and drinking during the summer.

On Tripadvisor, most of the reviews go on to compliment the pretty building. One visitor wrote: “Huge building high vaulted ceilings marbled pillars and tiled floors. Lovely bar.”

If the plans go ahead, it will join the other 55 Wetherspoon hotels across the UK.

One Wetherspoon pub that has been converted is The Cabot Court Hotel in the coastal town of Weston-super-Mare

It’s also been listed in CAMRA’s The Good Beer Guide naming the UK’s best pubs.

Along with having a bar, the Cabot Court Hotel also has 21 rooms for visitors to stay in, and lots have views across the beachfront.

All of the rooms are en suite with Freeview TV, tea and coffee making stations, and unlimited free Wi-Fi.

In the morning, visitors can head down to the bar to enjoy a Wetherspoons breakfast and classic pub meals at dinner.

The pub sits right on the waterfront, on Knightstone Road, so it’s in a great spot for anyone heading onto the beach or taking a walk along The Grand Pier.

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Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding visited the smallest Wetherspoons in the world…

Here’s what Cyann had to say when she headed to the tiny pub…

WHO can say no to a Wetherspoons? And what if I told you the smallest one in the world is just as good as the rest, if not better.

Not only is it the smallest Spoons, but it is also in a rather bizarre location – a train station.

Of course, some UK airports have Wetherspoons, but I have never come across one in a train station before.

Sat at one end of Cannon Street Station in London, you will find the Sir John Hawkshaw, complete with just 42 tables.

Whilst that might sound a lot, compared to the usual London Spoons, this is considerably less.

And the obscurities about this spot just continue – if you need to use the toilet, well then you’ll need to head to the other end of the station and down a set of stairs.

For those who love to train spot, sit outside on the terrace, which is essentially like sitting on one of the platforms.

Despite its small size, the pub still features Spoons’ extensive menu and the service isn’t impacted either.

For more Wetherspoons, here are the best ones from one man who has spend £30K visiting every one in the UK.

And for Wetherspoons fans, there’s more good news as a new location has opened inside an abandoned UK attraction.

Stepping into some hotels, old houses or historic buildings converted into a place to stay can feel like stepping back in time. Perhaps it was a Tudor manor house, a grand chateau or a 1970s-themed B&B with authentic decor and ambience. We’d love to hear about accommodation in Europe, including the UK, that really brought history alive and made your stay particularly special.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

The competition closes on Monday 3 November at 10am GMT

Have a look at our past winners and other tips

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Bolivia’s presidential runoff on October 19^th 2025, marked a major political shift for the country. For the first time since 2005, no candidate from Evo Morales’s Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party is on the voting ballot. In the August primary, centrist Rodrigo Paz won 32.2% of the vote versus only 3.2% for the official MAS ticket, while conservative former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga was second with about 27%. With MAS’s candidate trounced, Paz and Quiroga, both market-friendly, right-leaning politicians advanced to the runoff.

This officially put an end to MAS’s two-decade dominance and will establish Bolivia’s first non-MAS government in nearly twenty years. Analysts see this as a turning point, a moment when Bolivia moves away from the leftist model that defined the Morales era.

Legacy of Morales and the “MAS” Era

MAS, founded by President Evo Morales in the early 2000s, reshaped Bolivia’s politics and economy. Morales, who served from 2006 to 2019, was the country’s first indigenous head of state. Under his rule, poverty fell sharply, and millions of bolivians moved up into the middle class.

Critics say the party became overly centralized and failed to diversify the economy before gas revenues fell. Questions over term limits and alleged corruption defined Morales’s later years, culminating in his ouster in 2019 amid disputed elections and unrest. Even after Morales went into exile, MAS remained powerful, with Luis Arce, Morales’s former economy minister, winning the presidency in 2020.

By 2025, MAS no longer had the popularity it once took for granted. Voters cited inflation at a 40-year high and fuel shortages.

The Two Right-Wing Contenders

Rodrigo Paz, a senator and son of a former president, ran as a centrist populist in the Christian Democratic Party. He vowed to maintain social programs for the poor while promoting private-sector-led growth. Paz campaigned on a moderate platform: decentralize government spending, give tax incentives to small businesses, and phase out fuel subsidies gradually.

Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga is a veteran conservative. He served briefly as president in 2001-02 and campaigned on a bold austerity agenda, deep cuts to public spending and wanting to abolish or privatize loss-making state firms. Quiroga pitched himself as a reformer, arguing that the country is broke and pledging dramatic, radical change. In debate, he framed Bolivia’s last 20 years as lost and promised a return to business-friendly policies and property rights.

Shifting Alliances Abroad: From China and Russia to the U.S.

The expected rightward turn will reshape Bolivia’s foreign policy. Under Morales and Arce, Bolivia had aligned itself mostly with China and Russia. Chinese firms had multibillion-dollar lithium contracts, and Russia’s Rosatom planned a lithium plant in return for Bolivian uranium access. The MAS government often distanced Bolivia from Washington.

Now, both Paz and Quiroga pledge the opposite: a return to the U.S. orbit. They argue that better U.S. relations can bring investment, aid and energy deals. The U.S. State Department has already praised the election as a transformative opportunity, with Secretary Marco Rubio saying both candidates want stronger, better relations with the United States.

The U.S. may seize the chance to expand its footprint, as it did recently in Argentina, by offering aid or investment in exchange for political alignment. That would be a dramatic flip, with some observers framing the vote as a pro-market shift and U.S. embrace. Argentina and Bolivia’s swings may reveal the fate of other similar political regimes in Latin America, such as Chile’s and Colombia’s upcoming elections.

Domestic Impact and the Path Ahead

Domestically, the new government will face immediate challenges, like the economy having inflation above 20%, empty reserves, and protests over low growth. Paz and Quiroga both promise stimulus, insisting that fuel and social programs will not vanish overnight. Economists warn the fiscal hole is immense, meaning politically unpopular changes are unavoidable.

Any cutbacks will anger MAS’s former base. The powerful miners’ union COB has already warned it will oppose any threats to the social and economic gains of the 2010s. Indigenous groups and rural voters, whose support lifted MAS to power, may feel betrayed if subsidies and jobs are slashed. Paz and Quiroga will need to show voters they can fix the economy without undoing all of Morales’s legacy.

Both candidates have signaled that Bolivia will de-emphasize its former leftist alignment and turn east to west. For U.S. and European observers, that could perhaps mean more cooperation on trade, investment and regional security. But it also raises questions: will Bolivia’s rich lithium and natural-gas resources be opened more to Western firms and can the country still maintain the social gains of the MAS years under a pro-market agenda?

As Paz himself said, “ideologies don’t put food on the table”. Voters clearly decided they wanted change, but whether that leads to better conditions or new problems for Bolivia will depend on how this new government balances its reforms.

With information from Reuters.

Oct. 17 (UPI) — King Charles III plans to visit Pope Leo XIV next week in the Vatican as the first reigning English monarch since 1534 to pray in a service with the pontiff.

Charles, along with his wife, Queen Camilla, will visit the Vatican on Wednesday and Thursday. They will appear with the pope during a service on Thursday at the Sistine Chapel, where a special seat has been created for Charles.

The chapel was dedicated on Aug. 15, 1483. Michelangelo painted the ceiling from 1508 to 1512.

Henry VIII split from the Vatican 22 years later.

Buckingham Palace on Sept. 26 announced the state visit to the Holy See for late October in the church’s 25th Jubilee Year to “celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.'”

The royal couple had a private meeting with Pope Francis on April 9 in celebration of their 20th wedding anniversary. It took place at Casa Santa Marta hospital in Rome, 12 days before he died.

In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch since the Reformation to visit the Holy See. Queen Elizabeth died on Sept. 8, 2022, and Charles became king.

“It marks a historic moment in the journey of reconciliation between our Churches,” Archbishop Flavio Pace said in a Vatican press briefing Friday. “It celebrates how far we’ve come — and offers hope for the future.”

This gathering will bring together members of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which the king is the supreme governor.

“This will be the first state visit, since the Reformation, where the pope and the monarch will pray together in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, and the first time the monarch will have attended a service in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with an historic connection to the English crown,” a Buckingham spokesman told the Guardian.

They also will visit the adjacent Benedictine Abbey. This church, which contains the tomb of St. Paul, had been associated with the English monarchy dating to medieval and Anglo-Saxon rulers who helped with the upkeep.

King Charles will also be honored with the title of Royal Confrater, “recognizing the long-standing ties between the British Crown and the Benedictine abbey attached to the basilica,” Vatican News said.

During the service with the pope, there will be a hymn by Saint Ambrose of Milan sung in an English translation by Saint John Henry Newman, who was canonized in 2019. King Charles attended that event.

Music will be provided by the Sistine Chapel Choir, alongside choristers from the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace and the Choir of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The king and queen will also meet Vatican officials.

The Vatican said the “two central themes of the Royal visit are Christian unity and care for the planet.”

The Roman Catholic Church has approximately 1.4 billion members with 20.4% in Europe, including 6.2 million baptized Roman Catholics in England and Wales, and 676,000 in Scotland.

The Church of England is the largest Christian denomination in Britain with 13.3 million followers. The church originated in the break from the Vatican and features Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.

A HISTORIC village made famous by Bridget Jones has been locked in a bitter row over strict planning rules.

Locals in Snowshill, Gloucestershire, which appeared in the 2001 film, ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, have been left divided over the rules.

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The Cotswold village appeared in the much-loved classic as the home of Bridget’s parents, played by Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones, and it is often called “the jewel of the Cotswolds”.

But now, planning rules mean real-life residents must seek permission if they want to paint their front door a new colour, erect a gate or lay a patio.

Tewkesbury Borough Council has put Snowshill under an Article 4 Direction.

The change has been made by the council to preserve the picturesque village’s “exceptional historic character”.

As a result, any work or alterations to the buildings will have to be cleared by the authority.

Alterations include, putting in a patio, changing the colour of an outside wall, installing roof lights or replacing exterior windows and doors.

But the new rules have left residents who call the picturesque village home divided.

Some supporters reckon the rules will stop the slow creep of white plastic windows and modern black doors from ruining the honey-stone cottages and old leaded windows that bring in coachloads of selfie-snapping tourists.

But others reckon it’s all got a bit too much and claim a small group are using the red tape to control what others do with their homes.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised the measures could place “undue burdens on property owners” carrying out routine maintenance.

One newer resident, who asked not to be named, told The Times that the new rules are “way too strict”.

They claimed they have had several spats with neighbours while fixing up their crumbling cottage over the past ten years.

The resident told the outlet: “It’s just a small group pushing for this, but they’re the ones being heard.

“Our house was falling apart when we bought it — we’ve poured our heart, soul and savings into making it liveable.

“Now if we want to put up a simple fence or a greenhouse, it feels like climbing Everest. We love it here, but it really does make you think twice.”

But other residents had an opposing point of view.

Long-time resident Sheila Wilkes told The Times: “Everybody wants to build bigger these days — all the little country cottages are being replaced with flashy big houses.

“I’ve lived here forever and I hate change — the houses are beautiful as they are. They don’t need tarting up.”

And Grant Brooker, 64, a retired architect who is restoring a 17th-century house, said the rules would stop people using cheaper materials which devalue properties and damage the character of the village.

Snowshill, part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is known for its historic buildings.

According to the council, the “majority” of buildings in the village are not listed and are “at risk” from changes that could have a “significantly harmful effect”.

Councillor Sarah Hands, from Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “If you want to paint your door in the same or a similar colour – no one’s stopping you from doing that – [but] a different colour, would have to be put in as a planning application.”

Ms Hands added: “Changing a window here, changing a door there – you think it isn’t making much difference.

“But accumulatively over the village, if everyone started making these changes, those things that make it a beautiful, unique, preserved village would start to chip away.”

It comes after residents in another village said strict rules mean they all have to paint their doors the same colour.

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A TENNIS star fell off stage in agony after losing to his COUSIN in a historic final.

Arthur Rinderknech faced his relative Valentin Vacherot, the world No204, in a shock Shanghai Masters final line-up.

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Vacherot was an alternate for qualifying, getting in when others withdrew, then came through the entire field, beating Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.

And the emotional showdown was set when Frenchman Rinderknech won the second semi, leading to a lovely embrace on the court between the relatives.

Vacherot, 26, had only won one ATP Tour-level match before his extraordinary week, sealing the title with a comeback 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory in the final in front of Roger Federer.

That made him the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion in tennis history, 52 places lower than the previous record, and the first man from Monaco to win an ATP crown in the Open Era.

The cousins hugged at the net and Vacherot wrote on the TV camera lens: “Grandpa and Grandma would be proud.”

They both then paid tearful tributes to one another during the presentation speeches.

But as Vacherot – whose ranking will soar a whopping 164 places to 40th – spoke on the microphone, crouching Rinderknech, 30, took a tumble off the back of the stage.

He had been struggling physically during the match and there was a dramatic thud.

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Commentators thought he may have cramped up – but laughing Vacherot saw the funny side of his cousin’s discomfort.

He joked: “I think we need some help please!”

Tennis stars following in parents’ footsteps

TALK about pressure…

These rising stars are all making their way in tennis.

But they have got something in common – they’ve got a famous parent who also made their name in the sport.

So who are the players hoping to follow in the footsteps of their tennis mums and dads?

And a physio quickly arrived on the scene with a seat and started massaging Rinderknech’s leg.

A stunned Vacherot – cheered on by his girlfriend Emily Snyder in the crowd – said: “I mean, just all like crying, it’s just unreal.

“What just happened? I have no idea what’s happening right now.

“I’m not in a dream, it’s just crazy.

“I’m just so happy with my performance these last two weeks i just want to thank everyone that has put a brick in my career since the beginning.

“Sharing this final was really tough, there has to be one, but I think there’s just two winners today, one family that won and I think for the sport of tennis, this story is just unreal.

“I wish there could be two winners but unfortunately there’s only one and, for myself, I’m happy it could be me.”

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On the campaign trail eight years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom famously promised to support the construction of 3.5 million new homes in California by the end of this year. He’ll probably fall short by millions, but his latest move reaffirms the effort.

Newsom signed Senate Bill 79 into law Friday. The historic bill, which looks to add density to transit hubs across California, is one of the most ambitious state-imposed housing efforts in recent memory.

“All Californians deserve an affordable place to live — close to jobs, schools, and opportunity. Housing near transit means shorter commutes, lower costs, and more time with family. When we invest in housing, we’re investing in people — their chance to build a future, raise a family, and be part of a community,” Newsom said in a statement.

The sweeping bill — which takes effect July 1, 2026 — upzones areas across California, overriding local zoning laws to allow taller, denser projects near transit hubs such as subway stops, light rail stops and bus stops with dedicated lanes.

Developers will be permitted to build up to nine-story residential buildings adjacent to subway stops, seven stories within a quarter-mile of them and six stories within a half-mile. The bill will also allow residential buildings that reach five to eight stories near light rail and dedicated bus lanes, depending on how close a piece of property is to a particular station or bus stop.

It’s the second major housing reform Newsom has greenlighted this year. In June, he signed a landmark bill that streamlines housing construction and cuts through the regulatory red tape brought by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Newsom’s decision caps months of debate and weeks of pleas from residents, advocacy groups and cities imploring him to either sign or veto.

It’s a huge win for YIMBY groups and developers, who claim the quickest way to address California’s housing crisis is to build housing — especially near transit stops to encourage public transportation and cut down on car pollution.

“With his signature on SB 79, Governor Newsom cements his legacy as one of the most transformative pro-housing leaders in California history,” California YIMBY Chief Executive Brian Hanlon said in a statement. “Now we begin the work of making sure its provisions are fully and fairly implemented.”

It’s a blow for some cities, including Los Angeles, which claim that the bill brings a one-size-fits-all approach to a problem that needs local control. Mayor Karen Bass asked Newsom to veto the bill, and the L.A. City Council passed a motion opposing it.

Now, the chaotic scramble begins as cities, developers and residents try to figure out who is affected by the bill — and who is exempted.

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced the legislation in January, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the housing crisis. But as the bill wound its way through the Legislature, a host of amendments, exemptions and carve-outs were added in order to secure enough votes to pass through the Assembly and Senate.

What was left was a wordy, at-times confusing bill. Wiener’s spokesperson Erik Mebust acknowledged that it’s “incredibly challenging to visualize.”

First, the bill’s scope was narrowed from all of California to only counties with at least 15 passenger rail stations, leaving only eight: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sacramento.

The biggest impact will probably be felt in Los Angeles, which has an estimated 150 transit stops covered by the bill, according to the city’s preliminary assessment.

Transit hubs are being targeted for taller, denser housing

Senate Bill 79 would override local zoning laws, allowing buildings of five to nine stories in areas close to many public transit stops in Los Angeles, according to the city’s preliminary analysis. Still, some properties would be eligible for exemptions or a multi-year delay.

Distance from transit hub

Los Angeles Dept. of City Planning

Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES

Next, lawmakers added several deferral options, allowing cities to postpone implementation in selected areas until approximately 2030 — one year after they must submit their latest plan for spurring new housing construction and accommodating growth.

For the next five years, cities can exempt properties in high-risk fire areas, historic preservation zones and low-resource areas — an attempt to mitigate the bill’s effect on gentrification in low-income neighborhoods.

Transit stops and fire zones

Under Senate Bill 79, cities can seek a delay in upzoning for areas located in very high fire hazard severity zones. In northeast Los Angeles, these zones overlap with transit stops in multiple places.

Distance from transit hub

Los Angeles Dept. of City Planning, California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection

Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES

In addition, to eke out votes from lawmakers representing smaller cities, SB 79 zones shrank to a quarter-mile in cities with fewer than 35,000 residents, compared with a half-mile everywhere else.

Known as the “Beverly Hills carve-out,” the amendment shrinks the upzoning responsibility for certain small, affluent cities around Southern California including Beverly Hills and South Pasadena. As a result, the eligibility map gets weird.

For example, the law will only affect a quarter-mile area surrounding South Pasadena’s Metro A Line station, but a half-mile in its adjacent communities — Pasadena and L.A.’s Highland Park neighborhood. In L.A.’s Beverly Grove neighborhood, the law covers properties within a half-mile of the Metro D Line subway, but in Beverly Hills right next door, it only affects areas within a quarter-mile.

Before Newsom signed it into law, Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky called it unfair.

“Beverly Hills gets off the hook, and Los Angeles is left holding the bag,” she said in a statement.

Other oddities abound. For example, a city can exempt a particular property that is half a mile from a transit station as the crow flies but has physical barriers — railroad tracks, freeways — that make it more than a mile away on foot.

Several online maps attempted to show which areas would be upzoned under SB 79, but no one has produced a parcel-specific overview. L.A. planning officials recently published a draft map showing the places that they believe would be upzoned under SB 79. But they cautioned that the online tool is for “exploratory purposes only” — and that a binding eligibility map will eventually be published by the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

Cities, developers and homeowners will have to wait for clarity until that map is published. In the meantime, YIMBY groups are hoping the bill spurs multi-family development in L.A., which has waned in recent years due to unprofitable economics and regulatory uncertainty.

“A lot of people don’t want California to change, but California is changing whether they want it to or not,” said Matt Lewis, spokesperson for California YIMBY, one of the bill’s sponsors. “The question is whether we allow those changes to be sustainable and affordable, or chaotic and costly.”

The Pantiles Christmas Markets will return this year, and will run between November 14 until Christmas Eve, December 24

An enchanting Christmas market is set to transform a historic quarter of the elegant Kent town, Tunbridge Wells, known for its great rail connections. The festive spectacle will feature timber chalets, twinkling lights and a decorated tree on the bandstand, and if we’re lucky, there might even be snow.

The area, known as The Pantiles, is such an idyllic setting for festivities that it has been chosen as the backdrop for at least two Christmas television adverts, one for Morrisons supermarket and another for online retailer Very. This year, The Pantiles Christmas Markets are making a comeback, running from November 14 right up until Christmas Eve, December 24.

When this Georgian colonnade is adorned with festive decorations, bustling with people against the backdrop of period architecture, it’s the perfect scene for a Christmas jigsaw puzzle.

There will be performances from musicians, choirs and local theatre groups, along with family-friendly entertainment including a lights switch-on, reports Kent Live.

Pantiles Events, which organises the market and others throughout the year, said: “This Christmas, The Pantiles will once again be transformed into a festive spectacle, offering an enchanting experience for traders and over 170,000 visitors alike.

“Join us for a celebration filled with festive cheer. Our annual Big Reveal takes place as part of the launch of our Christmas market, including a grand switch-on of The Pantiles’ dazzling lights, followed by family-friendly entertainment.

“Plus so much more. There’s sure to be something for everyone this Christmas at The Pantiles.”

The Christmas Markets are set to run on the following dates, all from 10am to 7pm:

November: 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30.

December: 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

The Pantiles, a Georgian walkway and popular spot for visitors, was previously named one of the UK’s Top 10 High Streets for Independent Shops by American Express, as reported by KentLive.

In recent years, there have been several new openings in the area, including Charlotte’s on The Pantiles, Essence by Atul Kochhar, and Kypseli Greek Taverna, which is run by the same family that operates the co-working space Hive on the same site.

You can learn more about the Christmas market here.

Nepal beat the West Indies by 19 runs in the first of their three T20I matches in Sharjah, spurring wild celebrations.

Cricket fans in Nepal are celebrating their team’s historic win over the West Indies in a T20 international match, the country’s first-ever triumph over a Test-playing nation.

Nepal defeated the two-time former world champions by 19 runs in the first fixture of their three-match T20I series in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday.

Nepal’s fans cheered for their team wildly in the stands at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium well after the match had ended, and the celebrations continued overnight back in the South Asian nation.

After being asked to bat first, Nepal posted a competitive total of 148-8 in their 20 overs, with contributions from captain Rohit Paudel (38) and middle-order batter Kushal Malla (30).

The Rhinos then put on a spirited bowling and fielding performance to restrict the West Indies, who won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, led by Kushal Bhurtel’s spell of 2-17 from his four overs.

🇳🇵A new chapter written in Nepal’s cricketing story! 📣

Rhinos 🇳🇵 defeats West Indies by 19 runs our first-ever triumph against a full member nation! pic.twitter.com/98cJlLMAwP

— CAN (@CricketNep) September 27, 2025

The win represents a major milestone for the rising cricketing nation.

“It is a historic win for us and helps improve our players’ standing in the cricketing world,” Chatur Bahadur Chand, president of the Cricket Association of Nepal, told the AFP news agency.

Nepali fans in replica team shirts cheered and waved the national flag as they watched the game in the stadium, TV images showed.

“It was not expected, but as the game progressed, we saw there was a chance we could win,” said Pujan Thapa, 27, who watched the game with family and friends on TV in Kathmandu.

“We were so happy, we stood up and danced.”

The win came as Nepal recovers from deadly anticorruption protests that killed at least 72 people and toppled the government.

Paudel dedicated the win to the protesters who lost their lives, saying it was for “the martyrs back home”, and that it would be great if they could give people “a little bit of happiness”.

Former chief selector Dipendra Chaudhary said the win was a result of the team’s hard work.

“It will motivate them to play well and inspire other young cricketers,” he said.

Social media platforms were also flooded with congratulatory messages for the players.

Cricket has been growing in popularity in the mountainous nation, with Nepal given one-day international status by the world governing body ICC in 2018.

Nepal made its ICC T20 World Cup debut in 2014 and returned to the tournament in 2024, when it came agonisingly close to defeating eventual finalists South Africa.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Bad Bunny fans drowned out memories of Hurricane Maria in one booming voice on the anniversary of the devastating storm.

Saturday was a concert for Puerto Ricans by Puerto Ricans to remind the world about the power of la isla del encanto — the island of enchantment.

“We’re not going to quit. The entire world is watching!” Bad Bunny thundered into his microphone as he looked into a camera streaming his last show in Puerto Rico this year to viewers around the world, concluding a historic 30-concert residency in the U.S. territory.

The crowd roared as thousands watching via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch joined them, marking the first time Bad Bunny was streamed across the globe.

The residency was more than just a series of concerts. Saturday marked the end of an extended love letter that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio sang to his homeland. He tapped into what it means to be Puerto Rican, to delight in the island’s beauty, to defend its land and fight for its people.

“This is for you,” Bad Bunny said from the rooftop of a famed Puerto Rican house installed at the concert venue as he raised his glass and the crowd raised their glasses in return.

‘We are still here’

Saturday marked the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which slammed into Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20, 2017.

An estimated 2,975 people died in the sweltering aftermath of the storm that crippled the island’s electric grid, leaving some communities without power for up to a year. Anger and frustration over the pace of reconstruction continues to simmer as chronic power outages persist.

In a report issued Sept. 11, the U.S. Office of Inspector General found that 92% of approved and obligated projects related to Puerto Rico’s crumbling grid were incomplete and that $3.7 billion of available funds had not been obligated.

“Over seven years after Hurricane Maria, FEMA does not know when Puerto Rico’s electrical grid will be completely rebuilt. The grid remains unstable, inadequate, and vulnerable to interruptions,” the report stated.

On Saturday, the number of estimated deaths was printed on the backs of T-shirts and written on Puerto Rican flags that the crowd waved.

“We are still emotional and carry the trauma of having gone through a horrible thing,” said Marta Amaral, 61, who attended Saturday’s concert. “Beyond the sadness and remembering the negativity of having gone through a traumatic event, this is a celebration that we are still here, standing.”

A surprise guest

At every concert this summer, Bad Bunny invited new celebrities — among them LeBron James, Penélope Cruz, Darren Aronofsky, DJ Khaled and Kylian Mbappé — and sang with different musicians, including Rubén Blades, Residente, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rai Nao and Jorge Drexler.

But Saturday, the noise from the crowd hit new levels as Bad Bunny rapped with Puerto Rico heavyweights Ñengo Flow, Jowell y Randy, Dei V and Arcángel and De la Ghetto. Thousands of fans flexed their knees in unison to thumping rap and reggaetón.

Then, the crowd gasped in disbelief as Marc Anthony appeared on stage after Bad Bunny pleaded with his fans to join him because he was going to sing a song he hadn’t sung in public in some 20 years.

“Yo te quiero, Puerto Rico!” the crowd cried as the two singers embraced at the end of the iconic “Preciosa,” whose lyrics say, “I love you, Puerto Rico.”

‘An emotional night’

Thousands gathered outside the concert venue Saturday hours before the concert, with Puerto Rico’s national flower, the flor de maga, tucked behind their ears and the traditional straw hat known as a pava set at a jaunty angle on their heads.

But not all were celebrating.

Darlene Mercado milled around, asking strangers if they knew of anyone with tickets she could buy for herself and her daughter, who had flown in from New Jersey.

They were around number 122,000 in a virtual waiting line to buy tickets for Saturday’s sold-out concert and weren’t able to get any after waiting eight hours online.

“This is not only the anniversary of the hurricane, but it’s also the anniversary of me no longer having cancer and it’s my birthday. We wanted to celebrate everything with a bang,” Mercado said.

Saturday’s concert was open only to residents of Puerto Rico, as were the first nine concerts of Bad Bunny’s residency, but the others were open to fans around the world.

Overall, the concerts attracted roughly half a million people, generating an estimated $733 million for Puerto Rico, according to a study by Gaither International.

Most foreign visitors came from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Spain, with an average stay of nearly nine nights, the study found. Overall, about 70% of concertgoers were female, with an average age of 33, according to the study.

Among those attending was Shamira Oquendo. “It’s going to be an emotional night,” the 25-year-old said, noting that Hurricane Maria was her first hurricane. “It was very sad. A lot of people around me lost their things.”

‘Yo soy boricua!’

Puerto Rico’s party with Bad Bunny ended early Sunday, but the superstar who recently clinched 12 Latin Grammy nominations will go on a worldwide tour in December, with concerts planned in Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Spain, France and Sweden. Notably, he is skipping the mainland U.S., citing concerns over the federal government’s immigration arrests.

On Saturday, Bad Bunny thanked his fans for their love.

“I’m going to miss you a lot. I’m going to miss this energy,” he said as he urged the crowd to embrace love no matter the situation.

At that moment, friends and family in the crowd began to hug one another, some with tears in their eyes.

After more than three hours of singing with Bad Bunny, fans were not quite ready to let go. As the crowd filed down the stairs and into the night, one man yelled, “Yo soy boricua!” and the crowd responded, “Pa’ que tú lo sepas!”

It’s a traditional cry-and-response yell that lets people around them know they’re Puerto Rican and proud of it.

Coto writes for the Associated Press.

The city is a global tourist destination, but locals are growing increasingly frustrated with the influx of visitors, with many saying they only come to the area ‘for work’

Cambridge, a city brimming with more than 800 years of history, draws in admirers from across the globe who are eager to take in its stunning architecture, world-famous universities and quintessential English charm. Yet, locals lament that the city centre is swamped by tourists, with most people “only coming in for work”.

Cambridge’s economy leans heavily on its tourism and hospitality sectors, playing host to an impressive 8.1 million visitors annually.

Despite its historical richness, Cambridge is surprisingly small, leading most tourists to visit for just a day. The sector accounts for nearly a quarter of local jobs and continues to expand, but residents aren’t exactly overjoyed.

Street performer Ray Brenan voiced his annoyance, stating: “Apart from a few old stones and its cobbled streets, I have nothing else nice to say anymore. Take away the universities and there’s really nothing else to it, it’s overrun with people visiting.”

Cambridge is globally acknowledged as the home of one of the world’s top universities. As a collegiate institution, administration is divided among smaller establishments, with over 25,000 students living and studying within their individual colleges, reports the Express.

Among the most esteemed colleges is King’s College, famed for its iconic chapel and prime city centre location. Long queues of people can be spotted outside the entrance gates along the pavements, filled with sightseers snapping photographs.

Local market trader Lorain Cheeseman revealed: “Everyone just comes here to visit people at the university”.

“We get a really huge amount of visitors, everyone is always here on holiday,” Cheeseman added. “There are a lot of students in the city, I don’t live here anymore, I just come in to work.”

Another market vendor expressed similar views: “I don’t live here and I don’t know many people who do nowadays.”

The majority of tourists who descend upon Cambridge are day-trippers. They arrive in crowded coaches, where large groups of sightseers are dropped off.

They spend several hours exploring the city before hopping back onto their transport. Express services from London also enable tourists to reach Cambridge in under an hour.

However, some local workers view the influx of people positively.

“I love selling ice cream to the visitors. Everyone is so nice and really friendly, but it does get very very busy at the stall,” shared Kristof Santha, a local ice cream stand worker.

Masters student at Cambridge, Muhammad Mudassar, echoed this sentiment: “People here are more friendly than other cities, but most people are students here like me.”

A recent list has named the top 16 European city-break destinations that can be easily reached by train and one Belgian spot has been called as a must-visit in the region

Belgium, a country adored by many for its blend of medieval heritage and modern flair, offers more than just the popular city of Bruges.

For those seeking to avoid the crowds while still experiencing the enchantment of Belgium, Ghent could be your next destination. This region is brimming with architectural wonders, historical landmarks, and a vibrant arts scene, all set against the backdrop of cobblestone streets ideal for leisurely strolls and cycling.

Ghent was highlighted in a list by Which? as one of the top 16 European city-break destinations easily accessible by train. This lesser-known Belgian gem outshone Paris and Amsterdam, proving it deserves a spot on your next European travel bucket list.

READ MORE: Countries that could require your photo and fingerprints from next month – full listREAD MORE: ‘World’s most beautiful city’ has ‘peaceful’ Christmas market without the crowds

Which? members voted for their favourite European locations, rating each out of five stars in categories such as accommodation, food and drink. While Bruges took the top spot, Ghent made an impressive showing, coming in 5th with a city score of 80 per cent.

Located northwest of Belgium, Ghent is a port city renowned for its Gothic architecture. As the fourth largest city in Belgium, it is home to approximately a quarter of a million people.

The region is steeped in culture, boasting a captivating arts scene, thriving culinary cuisine, lively street life, and a historic centre. Furthermore, the city’s picturesque canals offer ample green spaces, boat tours, walking hotspots, and cycling trails for visitors to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

READ MORE: ‘Prettiest’ capital city in the world is less than three hours from UK with £25 flights

Described as a captivating spot with a relaxed atmosphere and fewer tourists than many other European hotspots, Ghent is a hidden gem. The town is home to numerous museums, medieval streets, three towers and the Ghent Altarpiece, a large 15th-century polyptych altarpiece also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb that’s a must-see.

Ghent holds the title of Europe’s largest car-free zone, boasting vast pedestrianised areas. After a long day of exploring, you can look forward to an unparalleled culinary experience.

The region is renowned for its top-notch mustard, which perfectly complements traditional dishes such as ganda ham, kroakdemandels, Ghent-style stoverij or waterzooi. And for those who enjoy a pint, beer is practically a way of life here, with several breweries offering a taste of their delightful brews.

You can get to Ghent from London St Pancras to Brussels, followed by a transfer to Ghent, all in less than three hours, making it a must-visit European destination.

According to some research, healthcare stocks are about as cheap as they have been in three decades. Many have experienced significant headwinds recently, but for opportunistic investors, now may be a great time to explore the industry for potential deals. Plenty of promising, yet beaten-down, healthcare stocks can be had at reasonable valuations relative to their growth potential.

Two that are worth serious consideration are Pfizer (PFE -0.50%) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX -1.00%). Here’s more on these drugmakers.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Pfizer

Pfizer is staring down the barrel of several patent cliffs that should happen by the end of the decade. For example, the company’s anticoagulant, Eliquis, will lose patent exclusivity by 2029 at the latest. The market is factoring that in, and in addition to the poor financial results Pfizer has produced lately, it explains its terrible performance on the market over the past few years.

However, Pfizer is rebounding. In the second quarter, Pfizer’s revenue increased by 10% year over year to $14.7 billion. The company’s adjusted earnings per share grew 30% year over year to $0.78. These are strong results for a pharmaceutical giant.

Furthermore, Pfizer’s pipeline should enable it to overcome the upcoming loss of patent exclusivity. The company has earned approval for several new products in recent years that are still in their early growth stages, especially considering that some of them are expected to receive label expansions. Abrysvo, a vaccine for the respiratory syncytial virus, is one such newer product whose second-quarter revenue increased by 155% year over year to $143 million.

Elsewhere, Pfizer has significantly improved its pipeline in recent years through licensing deals in acquisitions. The company’s oncology pipeline appears particularly promising, boasting dozens of programs, at least some of which should yield excellent clinical results in the coming years.

Lastly, Pfizer has been engaged in cost-cutting efforts. The company is on track to deliver net cost savings of $4.5 billion by the end of the year and $7.2 billion by the end of 2027. These initiatives should help boost Pfizer’s bottom line, and they are even more important considering President Trump’s aggressive tariffs.

Pfizer’s overall business still looks robust enough to recover, despite upcoming headwinds. The stock’s forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.7 appears dirt cheap when compared to the industry average of 16.5 for the healthcare sector. The stock is a great choice for value investors right now.

2. Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ forward P/E tops 20, which makes the stock look fairly expensive compared to its healthcare peers. And when we consider that the company has encountered setbacks this year, including clinical trial failures and the distribution of some illegal knockoffs of its medicines in Russia, which has impacted its sales, the picture looks even bleaker.

But at current levels, Vertex Pharmaceuticals looks attractive considering its potential. For one, the company still holds a monopoly in cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare lung disease. And in that niche, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a reasonable amount of whitespace. Although its first CF medicine has been on the market for over a decade, Vertex has developed newer and better products.

Trikafta and Alyftrek, Vertex’s newest launches in CF, won’t lose patent exclusivity until the late 2030s. In the meantime, thousands of patients eligible for these medicines remain untreated. Translation: Expect reasonable revenue growth from this franchise for the foreseeable future.

Now add to that the company’s newer launches: Journavx in acute pain and Casgevy in beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. The former fills a need: It became the first approved oral, non-opioid pain inhibitor. Opioid-based therapies come with the risk of addiction and other potentially severe adverse reactions. Journavx was only approved in January. It should make a meaningful impact on Vertex’s results sooner rather than later.

Casgevy’s case is a bit different. It first earned regulatory approval in late 2023, but it has not yet contributed significantly to Vertex’s sales. That’s because it is an expensive gene editing therapy that is complex to administer. However, Vertex Pharmaceuticals is making progress in securing deals with third-party payers. Casgevy has little competition and should also, eventually, see its sales ramp up.

Beyond that, Vertex Pharmaceuticals could earn approval for zimislecel, a therapy for type 1 diabetes, within two years. The company also has late-stage candidates that could make significant progress in the meantime. Vertex still has significant upside from its current levels. The stock has faced headwinds this year, but a turnaround is, indeed, on the horizon for the biotech stock.

TOKYO — When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone powered though the final curve of the 400-meter final at world championships, she glanced to her right and saw something that hadn’t been there in a while.

Another runner.

She had a race on her hands.

The best way to explain how McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman in nearly 40 years to crack the all-but-unscalable 48-second mark in the 400 is that the opponent she beat Thursday night on a rain-glistened track in Tokyo, Marileidy Paulino, broke 48 seconds, too.

“You don’t run something like that without amazing women pushing you to it,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.

The final numbers in this one: McLaughlin-Levrone 47.78 seconds. Paulino 47.98.

They are the second and third fastest times in history, short only of the 47.60 by East Germany’s Marita Koch, set Oct. 6, 1985 — one of the last vestiges from an Eastern Bloc doping system that was exposed years after it ended, but too late for the records to be stripped from the books.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who stepped away from hurdles to see what she might be able to do in the 400 flat, said she was every bit as focused on winning the title in a new event as going after a record that had always been thought unapproachable.

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reacts after winning gold medal in the women’s 400 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday.

(Eugene Hoshiko / Associated Press)

And Paulino, the reigning Olympic and world champion in this event, wasn’t just going to give it away.

This was an even race, the likes of which McLaughlin-Levrone hadn’t been part of in at least three years in the hurdles, as the runners rounded the stretch. McLaughlin-Levrone opened a gap of about four body lengths with 30 meters left, but Paulino was actually gaining ground when they both lunged into the finish line.

“At the end of the day, this wasn’t my title to hold onto, it was mine to gain,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “Bobby uses boxing terms all the time. He said, ’You’ve got to go out there and take the belt. It’s not yours. You’ve got to go earn it.’”

Bobby is Bobby Kersee, the wizardly coach who helped transform McLaughlin-Levrone into the greatest female hurdler ever and might be doing the same in the 400. Brutal training sessions with one-time UCLA quarter-miler Willington Wright were part of the regimen.

“I felt that somebody was going to have to run 47-something to win this,” Kersee told The Associated Press. “She trained for it. She took on the challenge, took on the risk. She’s just an amazing athlete that I can have no complaints about.”

As the times came up on the scoreboard, the crowd roared. The enormity of the moment wasn’t lost on anyone.

Nobody had come within a half-second of Koch’s mark until this race. Third-place finisher Salwa Eid Nasar clocked 48.19, a time that would have won the last two world championships.

“It’s just amazing what the 400 has become the last couple years,” said Britain’s Amber Anning, who finished fifth in 49.36. “I love it, it makes me want to step up my game. To see it done, it gives hope to us that anything’s possible in the 4.”

Paulino, meanwhile, was more focused on her unique place in history than not winning the race.

“I’m thankful for having the opportunity to break 48,” she said. “I still feel like a winner. I’ve spent five years every day training for this.”

McLaughlin-Levrone took up the 400 flat in 2023, but injuries derailed her run at a world championship that year. She focused on hurdles last year for her second Olympic gold medal in the event, then came back to the flat for 2025.

When she ran 48.29 in the semifinal, she broke a 19-year-old American record and said she still felt she had “something left in the tank.”

Then, with a push from Paulino, she let it loose.

“Today was a really great race for track and field, and I’m grateful to put myself in position to bring an exciting event to our sport,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.

It’s still an open question as to whether she will stick around in this race long enough to go after Koch’s record, or return to the hurdles, where the number “50” hangs out there much like “48” did in the race she won Thursday night.

Nobody had thought much about 50 seconds in hurdles until McLaughlin-Levrone started breaking the record in that event on a semi-regular basis. Four years ago at the Olympics, she lowered it to 51.46 in the empty stadium in Tokyo.

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crosses the finish line, winning the women’s 400 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday.

(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)

She broke it three more times and then, in Paris last year, took it down by another .28 seconds to 50.37.

Over time, those races became mere matters of McLaughlin-Levrone against the clock.

This time, something different — a bona fide showdown for the gold medal that knocked down a once-unthinkable barrier in racing.

Whatever McLaughlin-Levrone’s next move is, it’s bound to be fast.

“I think, now, 47 tells her that she can break 50,” Kersee said. “Knowing her, she’s probably going back to the hurdles and try to take what she learned now in the quarter(-mile) and try to execute a plan to run 49.99 or better.”

Pells writes for the Associated Press.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has made history as the first woman to lead Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations in 215 years, delivering a resolute message against foreign intervention amid ongoing diplomatic pressure from the United States.

From the National Palace balcony in Mexico City, Sheinbaum presided over the traditional “grito” ceremony on Monday night, ringing the bell that symbolises the call to arms during Mexico’s 1810-21 independence struggle against Spain. While Independence Day is officially marked on September 16, the “grito” has been performed the evening before for more than a century.

During Tuesday’s military parade, Sheinbaum firmly declared, “No foreign power makes decisions for us.” Speaking before her cabinet and thousands of soldiers, she emphasised that “no interference is possible in our homeland”. Though she named no specific nation, her statement comes as the US government increases pressure on Mexico to combat drug cartels and enhance border security.

The Trump administration has offered to deploy US troops against cartels — some of which his government has designated as “terrorist” organisations — but Sheinbaum has consistently rejected such proposals.

Her administration has taken stronger action against cartels than her predecessor, extraditing numerous cartel figures to US authorities and highlighting reduced fentanyl seizures at the Mexico-US border. However, Sheinbaum maintains these efforts serve Mexico’s interests rather than responding to US pressure.

Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October, is Mexico’s first female president.

Sept. 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump was due to touchdown in Britain later Tuesday as he embarks on an unprecedented second state visit to the United States’ closest ally as the guest of King Charles.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will be met from Air Force One by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens and Viscount Hood, King Charles’ lord-in-waiting, before being whisked off to Windsor Castle, their main base for a packed schedule of events.

The visit gets underway in earnest Wednesday morning when the Trumps will be formally welcomed with a gun salute fired from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and the Tower of London, 25 miles away, simultaneously.

They will then ride a carriage through the estate in the company of the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine along a route lined with military personnel and music provided by the bands of the Royal Marines, army and Royal Air Force.

They will be greeted by a honor guard on arrival at the castle before lunch in the state dining room, followed by a tour of the royal art collection.

After lunch, the president and first lady will lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St. George’s Chapel, which is in the grounds of the castle, followed by a tour and a recital by the chapel choir.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, will join the group to view the “beating retreat,” a military ceremony involving the beating of drums and parading of Post Guards that dates back to the 17th century, followed by a fly past of the Red Arrows and U.S. and British F-35s, weather permitting.

The main event, the state banquet, comes up on Wednesday evening, a traditional white-tie event at which the king and Trump will deliver speeches.

Trump will begin the final day of his visit on Thursday by traveling to Chequers, Starmer’s country residence, 40 miles northwest of London.

This will be the business part of his visit, although there will still be a full honor guard complete with bagpipers — a nod to Trump’s Scottish roots — when he is greeted by Starmer ahead of bilateral talks.

Afterward, they will host a reception with executives from British and American companies, including GSK, Microsoft and Rolls-Royce, followed by lunch, before wrapping up their mini-summit with a news conference at which they will announce deals on technology and financial services.

Investment in AI and super and quantum computing is expected to be the focus of the tech agreement.

While a second visit is unknown for a non-royal, it will differ from Trump’s first visit in 2019 — which attracted both large protests and controversy after he walked ahead of Queen Elizabeth and intervened in domestic politics — in that there will be no public appearances or events.

He will not be able to address Parliament as Tuesday was the last day it sits before a month-long recess for party conferences.

At least one demonstration, however, is expected to be held on Windsor’s main street on Tuesday.

Security will be tight across the three days the Trumps are on the ground, with British authorities expected to mount one of the largest ever operations for a visiting foreign leader with a price tag running into the tens of millions of dollars.

La Gomera is one of the smallest island in the Canaries and offers a cheaper and more relaxing option, the weather reaching 26C in October is perfect for an autumn getaway

The Canary Islands are a top pick for Brits seeking sun-soaked holidays abroad.

In 2023, the Canaries welcomed a record-breaking 16 million visitors, with 14.1 million from overseas, including a whopping 5.7 million Brits, marking a 13 percent surge from the previous year.

While Tenerife and Lanzarote are popular choices, La Gomera, the third smallest island in the archipelago, is being touted as an excellent alternative. Offering a more affordable and tranquil experience, La Gomera boasts fantastic weather, reaching highs of 26C in October.

READ MORE: Pretty UK village with ‘miles of golden sand’ is a must-visit this autumnREAD MORE: UK households urged to make one bedroom change in autumn to slash heating bills

Famed for its black sandy beaches and balmy climate, it’s a paradise waiting to be discovered, reports the Express. San Sebastian, one of Spain’s most underappreciated towns, calls La Gomera home.

Travel website Cosa Crusies describes San Sebastian de la Gomera as a place where “time seems to have stopped a hundred years ago”. Perched on volcanic rock, the town has ties to the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus and features several monuments dedicated to him.

Among these is Columbus’ House, known for its “amorous” rendezvous. Adding to the town’s allure is the quaint stone watchtower, Torre del Conde.

The Church of the Assumption, with its stone archways, bell tower and artwork, is another must-visit spot. In a blog post titled “Go here, not there”, traveller Loria Zaino declared that La Gomera outshines Tenerife.

Loria expressed: “Paradise offering incredible hikes and gorgeous scenery. The island is ideal for anyone looking to trade the busy city for lush greenery.” La Gomera could be perfect for the next trip to escape the cold, rainy autumn season here in the UK.

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The F-35B stealth fighters that landed in Puerto Rico on Saturday joined a growing U.S. military presence at the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads. Though the Navy disposed of this sprawling facility more than two decades ago, it is now a major staging area for the Trump administration’s battle against narco traffickers and pressure campaign against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. These counter-drug activities have some asking whether Roosevelt Roads, once considered surplus by the U.S. Navy, should be permanently reopened as a military installation.

Before the F-35s arrived, cargo aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III were seen at the facility, now known as José Aponte de la Torre Airport. There were also U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and USMC CH-53K King Stallion helicopters present. The Marine aircraft are part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which began a training exercise on Puerto Rico on August 31.

In addition to the aircraft, images showed U.S. Air Force personnel restoring the airport communications control tower, while others loaded and unloaded cargo and prepared for future operations.

Analysis of Reuters photographs indicates extensive activity at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, which officially closed in 2004.

The images show heavy transport traffic and rapid efforts to restore key infrastructure to operational status.

It… pic.twitter.com/hBd5jBFZU7

— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) September 14, 2025

Though images emerging on social media showed MQ-9 Reaper drones at Rafael Hernández Airport on the other side of the island, open-source flight tracking data points to at least one possibly operating out of Roosevelt Roads. It is believed that a Reaper was used to destroy what Trump said was a cartel drug boat with 11 people and a load of narcotics.

All this activity is taking place as the U.S. is once again turning to Roosevelt Roads, which had provided support for America’s invasions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Grenada and Panama in decades past. While there are other facilities on the island also taking part, Roosevelt Roads has become a nexus of activity for this effort.

The 8,650-acre facility, located in the easternmost point of Puerto Rico’s main island in the town of Cieba, was opened in 1943. Its centerpiece is an 11,000-foot runway capable of supporting the U.S. military’s inventory of aircraft.

Roosevelt Roads also has a deep-water port enabling the Navy’s surface and subsurface vessels to dock.

The concept of a military facility on the eastern part of Puerto Rico began in 1919, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt, then Assistant Navy Secretary, conducted a surveying trip to the area. The future president saw the location as a strategic asset in the Caribbean. But Roosevelt’s vision would not become a reality for another three decades.

The base was first built during World War II and named for Roosevelt, who came up with the concept. The initial plan was that it would become the keystone of U.S. defenses in the Caribbean, “with a well-protected anchorage, a major air station and an industrial establishment capable of supporting 60 percent of the Atlantic Fleet under wartime conditions,” according to GlobalSecurity.org. “There were even rumors that if the British Empire ever fell to Axis powers, Roosevelt Roads would become the new operating base for the British Fleet.”

However, with the U.S. military’s efforts focused on Europe and the Pacific, the Navy put expansion plans for the base on hold. In 1957, during the height of the Cold War, Roosevelt Roads was redesignated as a Naval Station. With the Soviet Union-aligned Cuba perceived as a growing threat, the facility’s footprint on the island began to grow. Its port facilities made the base a major support facility for the Sixth Fleet.

After two terrorist attacks on the island damaged equipment at another location, the Naval Communications Station Puerto Rico was relocated to a new, state-of-the-art communications facility at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads because it was considered far more secure.

The station “would eventually become one of the largest naval facilities in the world, encompassing more than 100 miles of paved interior roads,” according to the Navy. However, in the early 2000s, its future grew cloudy.

The facility’s main mission was serving as a coordinating facility and mission staging point for the U.S. Navy’s bombing range on the island municipality of Vieques, about 10 miles to the southeast. The bombardments were carried out for six decades and generated massive protests over civilian deaths and environmental destruction.

The base was also home to Fleet Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8), the Navy’s last operator of the A-4 Skyhawk. The unit began operations there in 1965 and became the last Navy squadron based at Roosevelt Roads. The unit provided training assistance through acting as aggressors and towing targets, among other roles, for units visiting the Caribbean outpost. The Navy’s maritime patrol operations were also a major presence at the base.

The Navy finally ended the bombing in 2003. With the Vieques bombing range closed, the Navy also decided it no longer needed Roosevelt Roads or its units there. It was proposed to be closed under the Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC) process used to dispose of unwanted U.S. military installations. By that time, just two years after 9/11, the U.S. had rapidly shifted its focus to the global war on terror.

Without Vieques, Roosevelt Roads was considered obsolete,” Federico de Jesus, a former director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, told us.

As part of the Navy’s turnover of Roosevelt Roads to Puerto Rico, it transferred thousands of housing units, schools, utilities and a world-class hospital that were on the facility. The closure was welcomed by many in Puerto Rico who were opposed to the militarization of the island. However, that move also raised concerns about the loss of a huge economic driver.

After the base was shuttered, various parts of it were turned over to different Puerto Rican government organizations. Given its location, there have been efforts over the years to develop parts of Roosevelt Roads; however, those plans remain in flux.

Despite the closure, the U.S. continued to use the installation for contingencies and relief efforts, like the November 2017 missions to provide much-needed aid in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island.

The U.S. Navy began reusing Roosevelt Roads at a much larger scale on Aug. 31 to support training operations by the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd MEU. Operations at the base have since expanded.

Despite the facility’s ability to support the Trump administration’s current efforts, the Navy has no plans to permanently use Roosevelt Roads, a U.S. defense official told The War Zone.

However, there is an effort in Puerto Rico to re-establish the facility as a working military installation. 

Two weeks ago, New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico Sens. Nitza Morán Trinidad and Carmelo Ríos Santiago “introduced Senate Resolution 286, which calls for an investigation into the current state of the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba,” the San Juan Daily Star reported last week. “The measure aims to evaluate the feasibility and impact of potentially repurposing Roosevelt Roads for national security by the Army.”

“For decades, Roosevelt Roads represented an economic engine for the eastern region of the island,” Morán Trinidad said, according to the publication. “Today, we have a responsibility to seriously and strategically consider the possibility of its facilities once again playing a key role — not only in the defense of the Caribbean and the Americas but also in the economic revitalization of Ceiba and the surrounding municipalities.”

The future of that effort, however, remains unclear.

With the Trump administration giving no timeline for its Caribbean operation, it looks like Roosevelt Roads will continue to be a very active facility for the U.S. military in the short term. However, given the administration’s focus on Central and South America, it’s quite possible that larger plans for the installation could materialize. Regardless, at least for now, Roosevelt Roads has woken up from its long slumber.

Contact the author: [email protected]