How Bombay went from a fort city to a bustling metropolis

DAG A panoramic night view of the queen's necklace in Mumbai as seen from Malabar Hill. Painting by an unidentified artist. DAG
A painting of a night view of Marine Drive, called the 'Queen's Necklace', captures Bombay's modern glow

From seven islands to a city of 20 million, Bombay (now Mumbai) has been shaped over centuries by political, economic and social forces.

From Koli fisherfolk to colonial planners, and from Bollywood stars to textile barons, many have shaped the western Indian city's landscape and identity.

The city is ever-evolving, the past giving way to the future

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Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer

AFP via Getty Images A photograph taken on November 21, 2025 shows the nuclear plant of Doel, in Antwerp AFP via Getty Images
Belgium is one of a number of European countries revising their nuclear strategy

With a pit in their stomach, families and industries across Europe are watching gas prices and the cost of filling vehicles with petrol spiral.

While the UK government has told voters pretty much to keep calm and carry on, the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - has called on people to work more from home and to travel a lot less.

Policymakers warn things could get much worse - depending on what happens next in

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After 16 years in power, can Viktor Orban finally be unseated?

BBC Peter Magyar (left) and Vikor Orban (right) in black and white photographs against a red backdrop with a green dot BBC

"All they stand for is anger, hatred, and destruction," roared a hoarse Viktor Orban. The Hungarian prime minister was speaking at a mass election rally in Györ in western Hungary on 27 March, referring to opposition protesters who chanted "Filthy Fidesz" during his speech. For just a moment, his carefully cultivated image as the voice of calm navigating his country through stormy seas was shattered. His bad-tempered outburst showed a different side of a man used to cracking jokes and charming even

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Meet the elite US teams tasked with combat rescues

Getty Images US Air Force Pararescueman during a training exercise. Getty Images
US Air Force pararescue units train extensively to recover downed aircrew behind enemy lines

Early reports indicate that the pilot of a US F-15 fighter aircraft downed over Iran was rescued - which, if confirmed, would be the latest in the long history of US combat search-and-rescue missions over decades.

The search operation is ongoing deep inside Iran for a second crew member, according to CBS, the BBC's US partner.

Combat search and rescue, or CSAR, missions are considered among the

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Unanswered questions remain after death of Australia's most wanted fugitive

Watch: How Australia’s seven-month-long manhunt came to an end

Just weeks ago, from the foothills of the mountains Dezi Freeman had disappeared into months before, police told the world they "strongly" believed Australia's most wanted man was dead.

The well-known conspiracy theorist and self-described "sovereign citizen" had escaped into dense bushland near the small Victorian town of Porepunkah in August, immediately after shooting and killing two police officers who had come to search his home in

Australian Broadcasting Corporation An aerial view of a grassy area with containers in the middle surrounded by trees and a mud track
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Artemis II crew take 'spectacular' image of Earth

Nasa/Reid Wiseman A picture of the Earth from space, which centres the planet against the dark background of space. It's a round blue planet. Clouds can be seen and a thin green aurora at the top. Nasa/Reid Wiseman
The image, titled Hello, World, shows the Earth and Venus as seen from the Orion capsule

Nasa has shared the first high-resolution images of the Earth taken by the Artemis II crew as they head on their trip around the Moon.

The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, took the "spectacular" images, Nasa says, after the crew completed a final engine burn that set them on a trajectory towards our closest celestial neighbour.

The first image, called Hello,

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French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz

Getty Images An aerial view of a container ship on a blue-green sea. Getty Images

A French-owned ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, more than a month after the US-Israeli war with Iran effectively closed the vital transport route.

The Malta-flagged container ship owned by French company CMA CGM crossed the Strait, media organisation BFM TV - which is owned by the shipping company - confirmed on Friday. CMA CGM declined to comment.

It is the first ship owned by a major Western European firm to go through the strait since the conflict began, shipping analysts Kpler confirmed.


Rapper Gucci Mane kidnapped and robbed by fellow artist, prosecutors say

Getty Images A close-up of Gucci Mane. He wears sunglasses and a red shirt. Getty Images

Rapper Gucci Mane was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint in Dallas earlier this year, leading to the arrests of eight men, including a fellow artist signed to his label, officials say.

Prosecutors allege rapper Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams Jr, led the ambush under the guise of a meeting, holding Mane captive inside a recording studio and forcing him to sign papers releasing him from his contract.

Mane is an Atlanta-based artist who has collaborated with Usher, Doja Cat, Drake and other stars.


US deports eight people 'of African origin' to Uganda

EPA/Shutterstock A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is pictured from behind, wearing a flak jacket that says EPA/Shutterstock
US President Donald Trump's administration has been cracking down on migration

Eight people from different African countries have been deported to Uganda from the United States, the first such transfer under a migration deal signed last year.

The group arrived on Wednesday after a US judge approved their cases, Uganda's foreign ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that its deal with the US designated Uganda as a safe third country for migrants who cannot return to their countries, for reasons such as persecution

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Trump seeks massive $1.5tn for defence alongside cuts in domestic spending

Getty Images Donald Trump next to an image of the new Trum-class battleships. Getty Images
Trump has long signalled a desire to increase domestic defence manufacturing capabilities, including new Trump-class battleships unveiled in December

The White House is asking Congress to boost the US defence budget to $1.5tn (£1.1tn), a sweeping rise that would mark the largest expansion in military spending since World War Two.

It includes funding for the Trump administration's proposed Golden Dome missile defence system, as well as a boost in domestic production of naval vessels, including .

The administration said