USPS Launches New US Flag Stamp
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has issued a new American flag stamp.
The stamp features the Star Spangled Banner, with its 13 stripes and 50 stars, fluttering in a breeze against a white background. It was designed by Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, featuring photography by Doug Haight.
A US flag.
A US flag.
Scott Boehm/Associated Press
Donald Dombrow Jr., the Postal Service's Michigan 2 District manager, who spoke at an unveiling ceremony at Vickers Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan, said: "An enduring emblem of freedom, national unity and patriotic spirit, the flag of the United States has flown proudly stateside, abroad and even on the surface of the moon."
This story will be updated.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Islam Is World's Fastest-Growing Religion
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Islam grew faster than any other major religious group globally from 2010 to 2020, according to estimates released on Monday from Pew Research Center, a U.S.-based think tank. Over the period, the number of Muslims worldwide increased by 347 million compared to 122 million for Christians, with the share of the world's population that is Christian actually falling, as the gains failed to keep up with population growth. The second biggest rise was recorded by the religiously unaffiliated. Why It Matters The rapid growth of Islam reflects significant demographic shifts that are altering the global religious landscape. For Americans, understanding these trends is vital as they influence migration, international relations and social dynamics both domestically and abroad. Experts found that higher birth rates and a younger median age among Muslims drove much of this surge, helping narrow the gap between Muslims and Christians worldwide. What To Know The Pew Research Center data from the time frame showed the number of Muslims globally reaching around 2 billion, as the proportion of the world's population that was Muslim rose from 23.9 percent to 25.6 percent. Over the same time, Christians' share of the global population fell from 30.6 percent to 28.8 percent. After Islam the biggest gains were recorded by the religiously unaffiliated, which saw their total increase by 300 million to 1.9 billion, representing 24.2 percent of the global population. This was a 0.9 percent increase in their share of the global population. Muslim worshippers walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 13, 2024, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Muslim worshippers walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 13, 2024, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. FADEL SENNA/AFP/GETTY Out of the religions surveyed, only Buddhism saw its number of global adherents fall in absolute terms, by 19 million, to 324 million people. Pew analyzed data from more than 2,700 sources spanning national censuses, demographic surveys and population registers. The study covered 201 countries or territories, accounting for nearly the entire world population. Separately, data from Pew's Religious Landscape Study found the number of religiously unaffiliated increased from 2007, or in some cases 2014, and 2023-24 in every U.S. state except South Dakota. Higher Birthrates The study found that birthrates were the main cause of the growing Muslim population, with the number of conversions to Islam roughly offset by the number of people leaving the religion. Muslim women had, on average, 2.9 children in their lifetime from 2015 to 2020, compared to 2.2 children for non-Muslim women. Conversion played a negligible role in Muslim population growth, with about 1 percent of those raised Muslim leaving the faith, offset by a similar number joining Islam. Growth stemmed nearly entirely from natural demographic trends. The median age for Muslims in 2020 was 24, which is nine years younger than the median for non-Muslims, suggesting the Muslim share of the global population will continue to increase. Global Distribution In 2020, the largest Muslim populations were in the Asia-Pacific region (1.2 billion), with smaller but quickly growing populations in the Middle East-North Africa (414 million) and sub-Saharan Africa (369 million). Countries with the most Muslims included Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Islam formed a majority in 53 countries or territories worldwide. What People Are Saying Speaking to Newsweek, Professor Faisal Devji, expert in Islam at the University of Oxford, said: "Having just read the report, I see that the increase in Muslim population is largely natural, due to younger populations and so higher birthrates in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, rather than due to any change in religious affiliation. In fact it appears that the real story here is the spectacular rise of disaffiliated or non-religious people globally, but especially in wealthy countries. At more than 24% of the global population they seem to point to the decline of formal religion as such. What we need to attend to in Islam, therefore, is not its growth so much as resilience for the time being." Professor Rumee Ahmed, expert in Islamic law at University of British Columbia, told Newsweek: "The biggest demographic story of the last decade has been sub-Saharan Africa, where the population grew by more than 70% from 2010-2020 due largely to improved health outcomes and infant mortality, and for the first time there are more Christians in sub-Saharan Africa than there are in Europe. About a third of this population is Muslim, and that coupled with a steady 15-20% population growth in Muslim-dense areas like South Asia and South-East Asia accounts for most of the growth in the Muslim population. "In many of these areas, religion is a state-defined identity marker and, unlike in most Western countries, citizens are asked to affiliate with one religious group and are registered with the state as such, with rights and responsibilities that go along with that identity. This is part of a legacy that goes back to the colonial period; the data tell us nothing about religiosity, beliefs, and practices, just how respondents identify." Ibrahim Hooper, communications director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said: "As to the growth of the Muslim community in the United States, we have previously noted that the increase is due to a number of factors, including conversion, a higher-than-average birth rate and immigration from Muslim-majority areas." Andrew Copson, president of Humanists International, a group which promotes secularism, commented: "All over the world people are finding that religious beliefs no longer offer them good guidance on morality, meaning in life, or effective ways to understand the universe. The rising number of people declaring themselves proudly not to be religious is a natural consequence of all of this." Melina Cohen, director of strategic communications and policy engagement at American Atheists, told Newsweek: "The Nones are not a monolith, and people are religiously unaffiliated for a number of reasons. Some never left religion but were raised secularly. Others leave after experiencing religious trauma and abuse. Many more are disturbed by the politicization of churches and turned off by dogmas that promote hate and discord, finding religious teachings and traditions to be outdated and incompatible with their values." What Happens Next The Pew center projects these demographic trends will continue over coming decades, potentially changing the relative sizes of global religious populations by midcentury.
National Geographic
2 hours ago
- National Geographic
These U.S. national parks and monuments honor the milestones of LGBTQ+ heritage
In the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, the Gay Liberation Monument in Christopher Park near the Stonewall Inn pays homage to the historically pivotal Stonewall Rebellion, which included prominent gay rights activists including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Photograph by Ed Rooney, Alamy Stock Photo See the country's past through a distinctly queer lens at these National Park Service-managed destinations. Just as it turned 100 in 2016, America's National Park Service (NPS) began to officially recognize the contributions that LGBTQ+ Americans have made to the rich and diverse history of the United States. Given the groundbreaking importance of New York City's Stonewall Inn to global queer history, the National Park Service (NPS) fittingly named New York City's Stonewall National Monument as its first site dedicated to preserving LGBTQ+ heritage. Since then, several other NPS sites nationwide have been acknowledged both officially and unofficially for their important ties to the queer past. Stretched across the country and spanning many eras, these places tell inspirational stories of bravery and individualism that deepen our understanding of American history. All free to the public, visits to the following six NPS-managed sites illuminate legacies not just of LGBTQ+ America, but of America itself. Stonewall National Monument, New York City On a warm summer night in 1969, long-brewing tensions between New York's LGBTQ+ community and its police force finally came to a boil. In the face of yet another NYPD raid on Greenwich Village's Stonewall Inn in the early morning hours of June 28, frustrated bar-goers had finally had enough, and they put up a collective fight. The Stonewall rebellion raged on for days and swelled across the Village, marking the birth of the modern queer movement and making legends out of key participants like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. 'Stonewall was about the fundamental right to live authentically,' says Ann Marie Gothard, co-founder of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. 'That spirit of resistance and the demand for equality still exist today. Stonewall serves as a reminder that progress isn't given, it is continually fought for. It also serves as a powerful reminder that we all stand on the shoulders of previous generations.' Established in 2016, the Stonewall National Monument became the first of its kind dedicated specifically to American LGBTQ+ rights and history. In addition to the Stonewall Inn, the monument encompasses Christopher Park and several surrounding streets where the 1969 riots took place. The interpretive Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center opened last year and includes innovative exhibits like the Mothers of STAR AR Experience, which brings trans and queer icons like Johnson and Rivera back into the Stonewall space. 'Through the Visitor Center, we hope to connect contemporary queer individuals to history while fostering a sense of belonging and community, prompting a call to action for continued progress toward full equality and acceptance for all,' says Gothard. Good to know: The Stonewall Visitor Center at 51 Christopher Street offers extended June opening hours for Pride month, Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Regular opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (See 100 years of LGBTQ history mapped across New York City.) Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi Visitors explore the Illinois State Memorial, based on Rome's Pantheon, at Vicksburg National Military Park in Miss. Although in secret, LGBTQ+ people served in the American Civil War, including transgender soldier Albert Cashier, who fought in Vicksburg and the Battle of Nashville. Photograph by Aaron Huey, Nat Geo Image Collection Waged for over six weeks in mid-1863, the Siege of Vicksburg in western Mississippi was one of the Civil War's most grueling and decisive conflicts. More than 110,000 soldiers from across the Union and Confederacy took part in the fighting, including 19-year-old Albert Cashier of the 95th Illinois Infantry. After the war, Cashier returned to Illinois and settled in the little town of Saunemin about 90 miles southwest of Chicago, where he lived quietly for decades—until his gender assigned at birth was revealed, threatening his military pension. 'Cashier served in Civil War fighting at Vicksburg, the Red River expedition, the Battle of Nashville, and more,' explains Rob Sanders, author of the children's book The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier. 'Every step this transgender soldier took during his three years of service was historic. In old age, when Albert's right to receive a military pension was questioned, the army finally declared in writing: 'Identity may be accepted.' Albert thus became the first transgender soldier in the United States to receive a military pension.' Today, the 2,500-acre Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the siege, including 1,325 historic monuments and markers, a 16-mile tour road, and a 12.5-mile walking trail. The park's Illinois State Memorial, located on Union Avenue at milepost 1.8, honors Cashier and his fellow Illinoisan veterans of the siege. Good to know: The Vicksburg National Military Park Visitor Center at 3201 Clay Street is open Wednesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vehicle access to the park's tour road is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:40 p.m. (7 places that honor LGBTQ+ history—during Pride Month and beyond.) President's Park, Washington, DC The District of Columbia's President's Park is arguably the most cherished of America's national parks, including as it does the White House, the official residence of the U.S. president. Less known to the general public is that President's Park also figures prominently in the LGBTQ+ history of DC and the nation. 'The history of President's Park illustrates the enormous progress gay men and lesbians have made in America, as well as the ways in which LGBT history is intertwined with the broader American story,' says James Kirchick, author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. 'Beginning in the late 19th century, directly across from the building where the most powerful man on earth resides, some of the capital's most despised citizens—gay men—congregated under cover of night in Lafayette Square,' Kirchick explains. 'For decades, the seven-acre grounds were the most popular nocturnal 'cruising' site in the city, a place for men leading secret lives to meet one another anonymously.' Later, President's Park would serve as the site of one of America's first protests for gay rights. 'On April 17, 1965, under the auspices of the Mattachine Society of Washington, a group of openly gay men and women met outside the White House to hold the first organized picket for gay rights on Pennsylvania Avenue,' Kirchick says. Good to know: The White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Celebrate Pride with 10 travel books by LGBTQ authors.) Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond, California The Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, Calif., highlights the experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the war in the on-site exhibition 'LGBTQ Histories: Stories from the WWII Home Front.' Photograph by Jason O. Watson, Alamy Stock Photo The national historical park commemorates cultural icon Rosie the Riveter, who inspired women to work in factories and shipyards to support the U.S. during the war. Photograph by Zachary Frank, Alamy Stock Photo She would go on to inspire generations of feminists, but Rosie the Riveter's status as a cultural icon began during World War II, when her bandana-clad, muscle-flexing character was created to inspire women to work in factories and shipyards in support of the American war effort. In 2000, the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park was established as a national park on the site of the former Richmond Shipyards near San Francisco. More ships were built at Richmond than at any other shipyard during World War II, and women made up much of its work force. Today, the park showcases the rich tapestry of Americans who came together to support the Allied cause. The exhibition 'LGBTQ Histories: Stories from the WWII Home Front,' created by independent public historian Donna Graves and now-retired park ranger Elizabeth Tucker, highlights the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the San Francisco Bay area during the war. 'We believe it is the first LGBTQ+ exhibit at a national park, and it was opened to enthusiasm in 2016,' says Graves. 'I continue to be amazed at how it speaks to issues we address today, from housing and health care to climate change. Good to know: The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center, located within the historic Ford Assembly Plant complex at 1414 Harbour Way South, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (These monuments honor LGBTQ history around the world.) Fire Island National Seashore, Ocean Beach, New York Fire Island has been a popular LGBTQ+ travel destination since the 1930s. It's also home to the historic Fire Island Lighthouse built in 1858 and it features a keeper's house, scenic views, and walking/biking paths such as Fire Island Lighthouse Trail, a six-point-five mile out-and-back trail near Bay Shore. Photograph by John Geldermann, Alamy Stock Photo New Yorkers have been drawn for decades to Fire Island, the beachy 30-mile-long barrier island tucked just beneath Long Island. Twenty-six miles of it are now protected as Fire Island National Seashore, easily accessible by a half-hour ferry ride from the mainland. 'There are very few places like Fire Island, which has been a summer destination for queer people since as early as the 1930s,' explains Jack Parlett, author of Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an American Paradise. 'The communities of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines—both of which were initially developed with heterosexual families in mind—were transformed by the queer people from the city who discovered them and decided to make a home there.' These enclaves have been bastions of art, drag, disco, and sexual liberation, Parlett says. 'They have also weathered numerous challenges in the last century, from homophobic policing to the devastation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,' he adds. 'Fire Island is also important to modern queer America, in part, because of its cultural heritage. It is a place where many beloved queer artists and writers have found solace, including James Baldwin, Patricia Highsmith and Frank O'Hara. Also, the parties are great.' Good to know: From mid-May to mid-October, visitors most commonly access Fire Island by ferry from the Long Island towns of Bay Shore, Sayville, or Patchogue, all reachable by car or the Long Island Railroad. (How historians are documenting the lives of transgender people.) Frances Perkins National Monument, Newcastle, Maine Her name might not be widely known, but all working Americans owe Frances Perkins a debt of gratitude. As Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor and the first woman to ever serve in a presidential cabinet, Perkins was instrumental in developing Social Security and forging federal relationships with labor unions. Perkins was one of only two Roosevelt cabinet members to serve for his entire 1933-1945 presidency, making her the longest-serving U.S. Labor Secretary in history. Established as a national monument in 2024—one of the newest in the National Park Service system—the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle, Maine had been in the Perkins family since the mid-18th century. It now encompasses the Frances Perkins Center, dedicated to highlighting Perkins' achievements. 'Perkins was the most effective social progressive in American history, responsible for crafting workplace safety laws that are universal today,' says Kirstin Downey, author of The Woman Behind the New Deal, the definitive Perkins biography, 'and as the primary architect of the Social Security program, which has provided an economic bedrock for generations of Americans.' Downey says Perkins' complex personal life included a marriage to a man and a series of intense relationships with women who shared her progressive ideals. 'She was probably the first [cabinet member] to live openly with a person of the same sex, Mary Harriman Rumsey,' Downey adds. 'She was supportive and encouraging of same-sex relationships, which she viewed as marriages.' Good to know: Accessible only by car, the Frances Perkins National Monument is located at 478 River Road. The Brick House residence remains closed for restorations during 2025, but from June 19 to September 28, the Welcome Center and Homestead Barn will be open Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Dan Allen is a Los Angeles-based writer focusing on travel, culture and queer history. Follow him on Instagram @danquests.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
President Jackson's legacy can be found throughout Middle Tennessee
MADISON, Tenn. (WKRN) — From schools, streets and neighborhoods, it seems like his name can be found on every corner. When you enter the zip code of 37076, it can feel like you're stepping back in time. President Andrew Jackson bought The Hermitage property in 1804. At first, he lived in his log cabin for 17 years before moving into the brick mansion. 'Andrew Jackson was probably one of the most well-known people in the United States of American during his day,' explained Tony Guzzi, Chief Experience Officer at The Hermitage. Andrew Jackson first moved to Tennessee to be the district attorney for the Nashville area. He became the major general for the Tennessee militia in 1802, catapulting Jackson in his career after his victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans and eventually winning the presidential election in 1828. 'It was the first time an American army on its own defeated a British army that decisively…and so there was a great sense of relief and national pride wrapped up in Jacksons story,' Guzzi said. News 2 On Tour | Explore the communities that shape Middle Tennessee That national pride can still be felt today. 'It's one of the reasons we see the Jackson name and version of the Jackson name like Old Hickory or The Hermitage attached to so many different things in Middle Tennessee,' explained Jason Zajac, President and CEO of Andrew Jackson Foundation. From the state Capitol, to Hermitage, streets, neighborhoods, businesses, schools are named after him and his family. Old Hickory was Jackson's nickname. Donelson was the name of Jackson's father-in-law. 'Jacksonville, Florida…Jackson, Mississippi, all connections back to Andrew Jackson,' Zajac said. But when thinking back on his legacy, there were some troubling aspects in Jackson's life and American history. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Jackson owned more than 300 slaves over the course of his life. News 2 visited several of the slave quarters on The Hermitage property. 'In his political years, he was an architect of Indian removal and relocation which had terrible consequences for the Native American population of course,' Zajac said. Today about 220,000 people visit The Hermitage from across the world to learn the history of the enslaved people and American history, learn about the property and pay their respects to our 7th president. 'Everybody's going to look at Jacksons legacy in retrospect now and they are going to have differing opinions on Jackson's legacy,' Guzzi said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
