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In recent decades, most Western nations have seen a downturn in church attendance and identification with the Christian faith. Many Westerners are simply abandoning religion altogether, and with the arrival

The FAA has issued a 60-day warning to airlines citing potential hazards from military operations spanning Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and adjacent Pacific airspace amid heightened

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNAA bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to reassure leaders and residents of continued American support, seeking to cool tensions

As the Indigenous people of North America stood up for their culture in the late 19th century, heroes rose, becoming symbols of the fight for freedom across the land. As various tribes faced off against the US government and military, treaties were made and broken, battles ensued, and lifeways were forever altered. When it came to war on the Plains, Red Cloud is one of the enduring figures of the era. In his lifetime, he saw his culture go from its pinnacle to its suffocation.1. Red Cloud Was Named for an Unusual Weather EventRed Cloud may have been named for a meteor like this one. Source: David Warrington / Wikimedia CommonsAn infrequent event was noted in the night sky not long before Red Clouds birth in 1822. A red streak slashed across the night sky, possibly a meteor, viewed by many in his future community. His father named his son Mahpiya Luta, Red Cloud, in deference to this natural phenomenon. Red Cloud was born into the Lakota tribe, though his parents were of two different divisions within the group. His mother, Walks as She Thinks, was Oglala, and his father, Lone Man, was Brule. Red Cloud was raised within the Oglala faction upon the death of his father when he was only a toddler. He spent his early life on the Plains, living the nomadic lifestyle of the buffalo-hunting Lakota.2. Red Cloud Had a TwinRed Cloud with fellow chief American Horse in 1891. Source: Grabill Portrait & View Co. / Wikimedia CommonsRed Cloud had a twin brother, Roaring Cloud, who was nicknamed Sky. Virtually nothing is known about Sky, and he does not appear in common written or oral histories about Red Clouds later life. He may have died as a child or simply taken a smaller role in history than his famous brother.3. He Is Credited With 80 CoupsHollow Wood, a Lakota chief, is photographed with a coup stick around 1890. Coup could be counted with the hands or with a ceremonial coup stick. Source: National Park Service / Wikimedia CommonsLike many young Lakota men, Red Cloud began his warrior training in childhood and participated in battles in his adolescence. He killed his first man in combat, from an enemy tribe, at age sixteen. However, among many Plains tribes, counting coup is considered even more honorable than fatally defeating the enemy.Counting coup, or striking an enemy, was the highest accomplishment in many warrior societies, as it required courage in getting close enough to an enemy to touch them. It was considered humiliating to have coup counted on oneself, as it demonstrated to the enemy that they were not worth wasting arrows or bullets on. Counting coup was a tradition that dated back decades in Plains societies, and has continued into modern warfare. Joseph Medicine Crow, who served in World War II, was credited with a number of coups in Germany. Red Cloud allegedly counted over eighty coups, a record that was unmatched.4. He Was a Non-Hereditary ChiefRed Cloud, second from left, seated, photographed with a number of other Lakota leaders. Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia CommonsRed Cloud did not earn his title as chief through family means. Instead, he acquired his title through his deeds. He was a natural leader who was noted for his bravery and impressive deeds in battle. While he was accomplished militarily and looked upon with reverence, Red Cloud could also be a controversial leader at times. He caused division in 1841 when he was involved in a dispute that resulted in the death of Bull Bear, a man who had been a prominent Oglala leader for decades. In his autobiography, Red Cloud claimed to have fired the shot that killed Bull Bear, a rival of his uncle for many years. Nonetheless, he would retain his reputation within his tribe as a capable leader, an opinion that also spread to the white military men and settlers who soon infiltrated his homeland.5. A War Is Named After HimThe original Fort Phil Kearny was one of the three burned in compliance with the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAs white settlers colonized the American West, conflict with Indigenous tribes such as the Lakota increased. The US military soon became involved, building a number of forts in the area of Red Clouds homelands in what would become the Dakotas and Wyoming. The Lakota and their allies organized a firm resistance to the incursion, and a series of battles began in 1866.A contingency of US soldiers was wiped out in Fettermans Fight, or the Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands, led by Red Clouds contemporary Crazy Horse. This was followed by other battles that, as a whole, were referred to as Red Clouds War. Although Red Cloud was not the sole leader of the armed resistance, he was perhaps the most recognizable due to his history of outspokenness and reputation among white America, thus, the conflict was named for him by the United States.The Wagon Box fight in 1867 was considered part of Red Clouds War. Source: US Army Center of Military History / Wikimedia CommonsThe fighting resulted in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which was signed by Red Cloud, among many other Lakota leaders. The stipulations of the treaty included the complete destruction of three forts in the Lakota lands. They were burned by the allied Indigenous forces, and the conflict went down as one of the few times in American history when Indigenous tribes forced the US government to comply with their treaty terms. It would also be considered the only war in which Indigenous forces defeated the US.6. Red Cloud Visited the White HouseRed Cloud and his Washington Delegation. Source: National Archives via PBSRed Cloud visited Washington DC and the White House numerous times during his life. In 1870, he visited DC, meeting sitting President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1875, Red Cloud met with Grant again, accompanied by other leaders. During this visit, Grant offered the Lakota money to give up hunting rights along the Platte River. Red Cloud and his delegation refused on behalf of their people. Even in his twilight years, he continued to make a stand for his people, visiting Washington DC one final time in 1897 to campaign for better living conditions on the reservations, including the one on which he lived.7. He Opposed the Ghost DanceArapaho people gather for a Ghost Dance in artwork based on photographs. Source: National Archives at College Park / Wikimedia CommonsIn 1890, the Ghost Dance, a new spiritual movement that moved through numerous Indigenous tribes, was becoming popular. Believers were confident that participating in the movement would eventually rid the earth of the white man, based on visions from a Paiute elder. While it was a social-religious movement among Indigenous people, the US government saw the Ghost Dance as a threat and began cracking down on participants. Red Cloud was against the Ghost Dance, and his opposition contributed to his influence among the tribe becoming diminished as time went on.8. Red Cloud Holds a Photography RecordRed Cloud in a War Bonnet, 1878. Source: National Archives & Records Administration / Wikimedia CommonsUnlike his counterpart Crazy Horse, who was never photographed in his lifetime, Red Cloud didnt seem to mind being in front of the camera. He is considered the most photographed Indigenous person of the 19th century. The number of photos he posed for, over one hundred, rivals that of another contemporary, Abraham Lincoln.9. He Focused on Peace in His Later YearsRed Cloud circa 1880. Source: Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library / Wikimedia CommonsAfter the conclusion of Red Clouds War, Red Cloud began erring more on the side of peace. Though he had been a great warrior for his entire life, he had concerns about what the future held for his people when faced with the might of the US Army. As his people geared up for more fighting in 1876, including the Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn), Red Cloud suggested peacemaking measures. However, the Lakota legions pushed forward. They would soundly defeat General Custers command at Greasy Grass, but more intense measures of genocide on behalf of the United States would follow as a result. Partly as a result of his support of peace, Red Cloud was deposed as chief in the early 1880s and gained a reputation as a friendly Indian among many whites.10. He Died on a ReservationRed Cloud, center, in his eighties, was featured in the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. Source: C. D. Arnold / Wikimedia CommonsDespite spending the majority of his life fighting for the rights and freedom of his people, Red Cloud spent the last of his days confined to a reservation. He died on the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota in 1909, aged eighty-eight. He was buried on the reservation in a cemetery that now bears his name. In the years since his death, a number of other place names have honored Red Cloud, including a town in Nebraska, his birthplace.

From revolutionary high-speed rail networks to everyday devices, Japan has long been at the forefront of global technological innovation. The ability of Japanese companies to merge cutting-edge technologies with cultural insights has led to a number of completely unique inventions that have reshaped modern life. From the portable Walkman to the world-famous Shinkansen and groundbreaking LED technology, Japanese innovation has changed how we live.1. The WalkmanThe original Sony Walkman. Source: Binaryseqeunce/Wikimedia CommonsWhen Sony released the Walkman in 1979, it was a groundbreaking moment in personal entertainment technology. The lightweight cassette player did not simply become a new gadget; it became a cultural phenomenon that changed how people interacted with music. Before the Walkman, listening to music was largely confined to home stereo systems, car radios, or live events. The Walkman allowed people to carry their favorite music anywhere, creating a new entertainment medium.The Walkman began as the brainchild of Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka. It was developed to meet his personal desire to listen to his own music while traveling on long-haul flights. Sony engineers Akio Morita and Nobutoshi Kihara were tasked with turning this dream into reality. The marketing team at Sony also played a role in making the Walkman a cultural phenomenon. They sold the device as a lifestyle accessory, and within just a few weeks, the Walkman became something that could be seen everywhere in public. The compact nature of the Walkman opened up a new wave of technological advances in home entertainment systems that eventually led to CD players, MP3 players, and eventually the smartphone.2. The Bullet TrainThe bullet train passing Mount Fuji, 1999. Source: Shellparakeet/Wikimedia CommonsThe bullet train, or Shinkansen, was a revolutionary development in the field of rail transportation. It was first introduced during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a deliberate symbol of Japans technological prowess and post-war recovery. The first Shinkansen rail line connected Tokyo and Osaka, drastically reducing travel time between the two major Japanese cities.The design of the bullet train was just as incredible as its incredible speed. Developed to take advantage of the latest innovations in aerodynamics, the Shinkansen was shaped in such a way as to reduce speed resistance and limit the impact of noise pollution on the surrounding area. Safety was another key component of the Shinkansen project. The development of a number of innovations has ensured that Japans entire bullet train network has remained virtually accident-free in the decades since 1964. Thanks to a complex network of sophisticated earthquake detection and braking systems, the bullet train remains one of the safest ways to travel in Japan.Beyond the technological achievement of the bullet train, the Shinkansen network has had a significant socio-economic impact on Japan. It has facilitated rapid regional development by connecting major economic hubs such as Tokyo and Osaka with the rest of the country. This has enabled Japanese workers to travel great distances without resorting to driving a car or flying.3. The QR CodeA Japanese billboard with a QR code, 2009. Source: Nicolas1981/Wikimedia CommonsThe QR code, a small black-and-white matrix of squares that can be scanned with a camera, is a perfect example of how Japanese innovation has revolutionized certain aspects of global communication. It was originally developed by Masahiro Hara at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of the automotive manufacturer Toyota. Hara developed the Quick Response code to efficiently keep track of car parts during the manufacturing process. Unlike the traditional barcode, the QR code can be scanned from multiple angles and can store a substantial amount of information.The adaptability of the QR quickly saw it become used in a multitude of real-world applications. It has transformed the logistics, retail, and marketing sectors by enabling the rapid dissemination of URLs that can link to product information and promotional content. The advent of smartphones in the early 2000s led to the QR code becoming a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Today, mobile payments, ticketing, and even public health campaigns are all reliant on the QR code. Surprisingly, Denso Wave chose not to patent the QR code and instead allowed anyone to take advantage of the invention. This allowed it to become universally accessible, spurring its widespread adoption across a number of industries.4. The Digital CameraThe Sony Mavica. Source: Morio/Wikimedia CommonsIn 1981, Sony released the Mavica magnetic video camera, sparking a paradigm shift in the field of photography that has continued to this day. While digital imaging existed before the Mavica, Sonys release of the first commercially available digital camera was a game-changer for personal electronics. In place of film, the Mavica used floppy disks to store digital images, which could then be viewed on a television screen. While the early models of Sony digital cameras did little to dent the huge market share of traditional film cameras, they laid the groundwork for a full-scale digital revolution in photography.The Mavica allowed consumers a glimpse into the future. The floppy disk system addressed some long-standing limitations with film photography and allowed users to easily overcome storage and processing constraints. Moreover, the early digital photography system allowed images to be viewed instantly, transforming professional and amateur photography. Over the ensuing decades, digital cameras continued to rise in capability and popularity until, eventually, major manufacturers stopped producing traditional film cameras.5. Light Emitting DiodesVarious LEDs. Source: Afrank99/Wikimedia CommonsJapanese engineers Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura invented blue light-emitting diodes, which completely changed modern electronics and earned them the Nobel Prize in physics. The invention of blue LEDs allowed researchers to complete the color spectrum, enabling the creation of white light. This breakthrough allowed for the mass production of energy-efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly light bulbs.Before the invention of the blue LED, consumer lighting solutions were almost impossible due to the inability to create white light. The three inventors used a gallium nitride semiconducting material to emit the blue light component with minimal energy input. Their groundbreaking discovery paved the way for a host of energy-efficient lighting solutions to be used around the world. Since their discovery, LED lighting technology has also been used in consumer televisions, medical devices, and even agriculture.6. Instant NoodlesThe Laboratory of Momofuku. Source: Mr./Wikimedia CommonsA great deal of Japanese innovation was born out of a desire to combat the challenges of a post-war society. Inspired by the need to create an affordable and long-lasting meal, Momofuku Ando spent years perfecting a flash-frying method that could be used to preserve noodles for quick rehydration. His first successful product came to market in 1958 and was followed in 1971 by the iconic Cup Noodle.Andos instant ramen recipe quickly gained popularity for its convenience, adaptability, and relatively low cost. The product became a staple for low-income households and students, while its portability made it a key component of Japans disaster relief efforts. Today, instant noodles are a billion-dollar industry that has had a huge global impact. Andos humble product is eaten by people in almost every country of the world. It is an important part of humanitarian aid packages and a cultural symbol of Japans ingenuity and innovation.7. The Hybrid CarThe first model Prius. Source: IFCAR/Wikimedia CommonsIntroduced in 1997, the Toyota Prius was the worlds first mass-produced hybrid car. It was a revolutionary step towards green transportation and combined a highly efficient internal combustion engine with an electric motor. When it was released, the Prius signified a pivotal moment in automotive history as it showcased how eco-friendly transportation could be made available to a wide audience.The engine inside the Prius was not the only innovation Toyota brought to the market in 1997. The car utilized sophisticated regenerative braking technology, which meant that kinetic energy lost during deceleration could be converted into electricity that would recharge the battery. Early Prius models achieved remarkable fuel economy, attracting environmentally conscious consumers and making the Prius a byword for eco-friendly transportation.In the years following its release, the Prius sparked a wave of investment into hybrid and fully electric vehicle technologies, which pushed traditional automakers around the world to rethink their usual design paradigms. Moreover, the Prius laid the groundwork for newer automakers such as Tesla, to capitalize on the growing electric car market and create an entirely new market share for eco-friendly vehicles.8. The Home Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System. Source: Evan-Amos/Wikimedia CommonsReleased in 1983, and following the great video game crash, the Nintendo Entertainment System revolutionized the gaming industry and cemented Japanese game maker Nintendo as a household name. Initially released in Japan under the name Famicom, the NES debuted internationally with legendary titles like Super Mario Bros., the Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. The home console introduced an entire generation of gamers to immersive storytelling and complex gameplay mechanics.The NES was a new standard for game console design. The controller introduced to the world the now ubiquitous directional pad, allowing players to precisely control their characters position on the screen. Moreover, Nintendos commitment to quality ensured that almost every game released on the system became a smash hit. This helped to restore consumer confidence in an industry that had been rocked by a global crash just years before. The NES also paved the way for further advancements in graphical capability, sound design, and gaming mechanics that inspired rival tech companies such as Sega and Sony to push the boundaries of home entertainment.