Life at extreme altitude is not limited to remote mountain villages. Some of the world's highest permanent settlements are home to hundreds of thousands, and in some cases more than a million people , who have adapted to thin air, freezing nights and reduced oxygen levels.

Leading the list is La Rinconada in southeastern Peru, the world's highest permanent settlement at approximately 5,100 metres (16,732 feet) above sea level. Located near the Ananea gold mines in the Andes, the town grew rapidly because of informal gold mining despite lacking many basic public services. Encyclopaedia Britannica and scientific studies describe it as one of the harshest places on Earth to live, where oxygen levels are roughly half those at sea level.

Bolivia is home to three of the ten highest settlements on the list.

El Alto, at around 4,150 metres, is the world's highest major city and one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centres. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, it has grown into an economic hub linked directly to neighbouring La Paz through highways and one of the world's highest urban cable car systems.

Nearby Potosí, sitting at about 4,050 metres, was once among the richest cities in the world after vast silver deposits were discovered at Cerro Rico in the 16th century. During the Spanish Empire, its mines supplied enormous quantities of silver that helped finance Spain's global ambitions.

Although often regarded as Bolivia's capital, La Paz is the country's administrative capital and lies at around 3,650 to 3,870 metres, depending on the district. Government offices are located there, while Sucre remains Bolivia's constitutional capital.

Living above 2,500 metres presents significant physiological challenges. The World Economic Forum notes that lower oxygen levels reduce physical performance for newcomers, while long-term residents often develop genetic and biological adaptations that improve oxygen transport.

Research published in scientific journals and summarised by IFLScience shows that populations in the Andes, Tibetan Plateau and Ethiopian Highlands have evolved different adaptations over thousands of years. Tibetans, for example, have genetic traits that allow more efficient oxygen use without producing excessive red blood cells, while many Andean populations tend to have higher haemoglobin concentrations.

China's Lhasa, standing at approximately 3,650 metres, is the historic capital of Tibet and home to the Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that served for centuries as the residence of the Dalai Lamas.

Peru's Cusco, at roughly 3,400 metres, was the capital of the Inca Empire before the arrival of the Spanish and remains one of South America's most important historical cities.

Further north, Quito in Ecuador sits at around 2,850 metres on the slopes of the Andes. Its historic centre is one of the best-preserved colonial districts in Latin America and was among the first sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1978.

Bogotá, Colombia's capital, stands at approximately 2,640 metres, while Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, sits at around 2,450 metres and is often described as Africa's highest capital city. Asmara, the capital of Eritrea at 2,325 metres, is recognised by UNESCO for its exceptionally preserved Italian modernist architecture.

Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Haiti has generated the biggest surge in Google searches worldwide since the tournament kicked off on June 11, according to Google Trends' global Rising Queries.

The match ranked first among football fixtures experiencing the fastest growth in search interest, ahead of Portugal versus Uzbekistan and France versus Iraq. Every fixture in the top 10 achieved Google's "Breakout" status, indicating search interest rose by more than 5,000% compared with the previous measurement period.

Google Trends' Rising Queries measures the fastest-growing searches rather than the highest total search volume. A "Breakout" label is assigned when search interest increases by more than 5,000%, highlighting topics experiencing exceptional spikes in public attention.

The rankings underscore the global appeal of traditional football powerhouses such as Brazil, Portugal and France, while also showing that matches involving emerging football nations can capture worldwide curiosity.

Brazil tops the list

Brazil's clash with Haiti led the rankings, reflecting intense international interest in one of football's most successful national teams.

Portugal featured twice in the top 10, with matches against Uzbekistan and DR Congo placing second and sixth, respectively. France's encounter with Iraq ranked third, while Algeria appeared twice through fixtures against Austria and Jordan.

The complete top 10 Rising Queries were:

According to Google Trends, these rankings reflect the fastest-growing searches globally since June 11 rather than the tournament's most-watched or highest-attended matches.

The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams competing across Canada, Mexico and the United States , making it the largest edition in the tournament's history. The increased number of participating nations has introduced new matchups, helping drive online interest beyond traditional football rivalries.

Inside the Association des Sénégalais d'Amerique (ASA) office, Senegal Rekk by legendary Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour and other songs composed for the World Cup blasted from a giant speaker. 

By kick-off, the room was packed with Senegalese, other African nationals, and fans from different countries as well as the New York City media. The chatter in the room was reduced to grunts and shouts at missed opportunities by Senegal to score in the early moments of the game. 

When Habib Diarra scored Senegal’s first goal in the 24th minute, there was an explosion of joy and hugs all around. With Senegal taking the lead, fans were hopeful they would win the match. Ismaila Sarr’s 51st-minute goal was greeted with shouts of celebration from the stores lining 116th Street. 

But the mood soon changed when Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute of the game. The disappointment of Senegal’s supporters was managed as they hoped the game would end 2-1 in their favour until Youri Tielemans’ equaliser a few minutes later. And when Belgium finally took the lead in extra time, most fans knew there was no coming back. 

The drumming, singing, and euphoria that preceded the game never returned after Belgium’s first goal. As fans walked out of the viewing centre, their disappointment with the team was evident. Some blamed the coach for his choices, particularly his latter substitutions, but others felt the team as a whole did not approach the match as though they really wanted to advance to the next stage. 

Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey is an award-winning international journalist, writer, and host of the A55 Podcast. Nii Akrofi has worked with local and international media in Ghana, Congo and the United States . He has contributed to news platforms like Zenger News, Africanews, W42ndST, and foreignpresscorrespondents.com.

From Breton to Walloon in southern Belgium, from the fading echoes of Picard in the north to the bold resilience of Occitan in the south, these linguistic zones tell a story far older than either republic.

According to UNESCO , several languages are classified as “severely endangered” or “definitely endangered,” including Breton, Alsatian, Provençal and Picard, reflecting a decline in use among younger generations.

For France, this linguistic diversity has long been a delicate topic. The country’s strict approach to linguistic unity dates back to the 19th century, when the government promoted French as the sole national language, at times forcefully.

Today, regional languages remain legally recognised as cultural heritage but not as official languages of education or public administration. A 2021 attempt to expand regional-language immersion schools triggered a national debate, eventually reaching France’s Constitutional Council, which struck down parts of the reform.

Belgium, however, offers a contrasting picture. There, language defines political organisation itself as Dutch (Flemish), French, and German, and each shapes the borders of the country’s federal regions.

Walloon and Picard, although less dominant than French today, continue to carry cultural influence in Wallonia. The Belgian government’s long-standing language policies and protections aim to keep multilingualism at the heart of national identity.

UNESCO’s report on AI and endangered languages argues that technological tools may play a key role in revitalising traditions once feared lost.

Meanwhile, political debates in France over decentralisation, rural identity, and cultural autonomy have intensified in the run-up to next year’s European elections. Several regional groups argue that cultural heritage, including language, should be part of broader European policies on diversity.

The first partition (1659) – Treaty of the Pyrenees

The Treaty of the Pyrenees concluded the long-running Franco‑Spanish War and marked the rise of France as a dominant European power. Spain gave up key fortresses like Montmédy, Stenay, and Thionville to France after this treaty. Luxembourg lost roughly 1,060 km², or 10% of its territory, too.

The second partition (1815) – Congress of Vienna

After Napoleon’s downfall, European powers met at the Congress of Vienna to redraw the continent’s borders and restore equilibrium. Luxembourg was elevated to a Grand Duchy, placed in a personal union with the Dutch crown, and made part of the German Confederation. Prussia gained strategically important northeastern areas, including Bitburg, Saint‑Vith, Schleiden, and Waxweiler, a loss totalling around 2,280 km², or 24% of Luxembourg’s contemporary territory.

The third partition (1839) – Treaty of London

Following the Belgian Revolution of 1830, much of Luxembourg aligned with Belgium, prompting diplomatic resolution via the 1839 Treaty of London. This resulted in the loss of the western, French-speaking portion, approximately 65% of its territory, to Belgium, becoming what is now the Belgian province of Luxembourg. The remaining rump Grand Duchy, smaller but sovereign, persisted under Dutch rule but gradually embraced its national identity.

The combined effect of the three partitions reduced Luxembourg from approximately 10,700 km² to 2,586 km², with the “lost” territories now parts of France, Germany, and Belgium. This resizing sculpted the geography and politics of modern Luxembourg, leaving behind a resilient, independent duchy.

According to Britannica, one method of releasing nuclear energy is by controlled nuclear fission in devices called reactors, which now operate in many parts of the world for electricity.

As of May 2024, the  World Nuclear Association  reported that Nuclear power supplies roughly 10% of global electricity via approximately 440 operational power reactors. It also contributes to nearly a quarter of the world's electricity with low carbon emissions.

However, there are several countries where nuclear energy is not just a part of the energy mix but a dominant force. Here is a list of countries based on  data  provided by Ember and Energy Institute:

France

France has the highest dependence on nuclear energy, with 65% of its electricity coming from nuclear power plants. It has a large nuclear power programme and is home to some of the oldest and most prominent nuclear power plants worldwide.

Slovakia

Slovakia relies heavily on nuclear energy, with 62% of its electricity generated from nuclear power plants. The country has four operational nuclear reactors, with two more under construction.

Ukraine

Ukraine relies heavily on nuclear energy, with 55% of its electricity generated from nuclear power plants. The country has 15 operational nuclear reactors, with more under construction.

Hungary

Hungary's dependence on nuclear energy stands at 44%. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant is the country's only nuclear power plant but is being expanded to increase its capacity.

Finland

Finland's dependence on nuclear energy stands at 42%. The country has four operational nuclear reactors, with a fifth under construction.

Belgium

Belgium's dependence on nuclear energy stands at 41%. The country has three operational nuclear power plants, which are scheduled to be shut down by 2025 to  diminish  dependency levels.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic's dependence on nuclear energy stands at 40%. The country has six operational nuclear reactors, with two more under construction.