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National Geographic
08-08-2025
- Politics
- National Geographic
How the Confederate flag became an enduring symbol of racism
It was never the official flag of the Confederacy. But the Confederate flag has since been claimed by white supremacists and mythologized by others as an emblem of a rebellious Southern heritage. Confederate flag supporters climb Stone Mountain—the largest Confederate monument ever crafted—during a rally on August 1, 2017. They were protesting the appointment of the first African American to lead the board overseeing Stone Mountain Park, which is located in an area with centuries-old ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Rev. Abraham Mosley was appointed in 2019. Photograph by John Amis/AP Photo The Confederate flag has a complex history in the United States. Alongside the nation's growing acknowledgment of systemic racism in recent years, the flag predictably makes appearances at white supremacist gatherings. But how did the battle flag, also known as the 'Southern Cross,' come to represent the Confederacy in the first place? It's a story of rebellion, racism, and disagreement over the true history of the American Civil War. Here's the history of the flag. A lithograph from 1897 displays four prominent designs of the Confederate flag and states that the images 'help in keeping within us recollections of those who gave their lives to the 'Lost Cause,' and to perpetuate the memories and traditions of the South.' Photograph courtesy the Library of Congress Though it came to symbolize the Confederate cause, the flag was never the official symbol of the Confederate States of America. Instead, it was one of multiple banners that emerged during the brief Civil War. The CSA formed in the wake of the secession of 11 Southern states beginning in 1861. During the raid on Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, that kicked off the rebellion, members of South Carolina's militia identified themselves with a flag featuring a single white star on a dark blue background. Known as the 'Bonnie Blue flag,' the lone star was quickly picked up as a symbol of Confederate bravery. In 1862, the CSA adopted its first national flag, the 'Stars and Bars.' With a white star representing each Confederate state and three stripes, the flag riffed on the Union flag. Lithuania's timeless city On the battlefield, however, both looked similar enough to cause confusion among Confederate soldiers. The problem became tragically clear during the Civil War's first battle, First Manassas. As Confederate General Pierre Beauregard later recalled in his memoirs, he saw 'a flag which I could not distinguish … I could not tell to which army the [waving] banner belonged.' 'Friendly fire' and general disorientation caused frustration despite a victory for Confederate armies. Resolved never to inflict that type of confusion on his troops again, Beauregard asked his aide-de-camp, Confederate politician William Porcher Miles, to propose a design for a new battle flag. He came up with what is now known as the 'Confederate Battle Flag,' featuring an X-shaped cross and white stars representing each state to secede from the Union. The battle flag took hold in the public conscience. 'The flag would have meant treason' for loyal Unionists, independent historian Kevin Levin says. 'It would have been interpreted as [a symbol of] rebellion.' Meanwhile, the Southern Cross took hold in the South. It did not, however, become the CSA's official flag, though the Confederacy incorporated it in the left-hand corner of one of the three national flags it adopted over time. A symbol of segregation The Confederacy collapsed with its defeat in 1865, but its symbols retained their potency. 'There's continuity in how people understood its meaning,' says Levin. After the war, the reunified U.S. abolished slavery and attempted to confer civil rights on Black men. But that period, known as Reconstruction, ended in 1877. With its end, Southerners set to work rebuilding the segregated racial and social order they had fought a war to maintain. (Reconstruction offered a glimpse of equality for Black Americans. Why did it fail?) Part of that new social order was Jim Crow, a restrictive system of racial segregation laws that barred Black Americans from voting, education, and other civil rights. The newly founded Ku Klux Klan violently enforced this social order. Both used the Confederate battle flag to do so. At first, writes historian Gaines M. Foster for Zócalo Public Square, the battle flag was used regionally, tied to the memory of the war. By the early 20th century, it had become part of the myth of the 'Lost Cause,' whose proponents held that the Civil War was fought not to uphold slavery, but to protect Southern states from Northern aggression. The myth helped white Southerners come to terms with their defeat—and withstand the 'economic, racial, and social uncertainty' of the postwar period, writes Caroline E. Janney, a historian at the University of Virginia. It also kept the Confederate battle flag waving long after the war's end, as one of the most visible symbols of the Lost Cause. (Where did 'Jim Crow' come from?) Robed Ku Klux Klan members watch Black demonstrators march through Okolona, Mississippi, in 1978. The protesters were demanding diverse hiring and were boycotting the area's stores. A crowd of white teenagers protest school integration in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1963. Photograph by Flip Schulke, CORBIS/Corbis/Getty The flag remained largely local, but that changed in 1948 with the 'Dixiecrats,' or States' Rights Democratic Party, a racist, pro-segregation splinter party formed by Southern Democrats. They objected to the Democratic Party's adoption of a pro-civil rights platform and were dismayed when hundreds of thousands of African Americans registered to vote in Democratic primaries after the Supreme Court declared all-white primaries unconstitutional. The Dixiecrats's adoption of the Confederate battle flag as a party symbol led to a surge in the banner's popularity, and a 'flag fad' spread from college campuses to Korean War battlefields and beyond. The Southern Cross symbolized rebelliousness, historian John M. Coski writes in The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem. But now it gained 'a more specific connotation of resistance to the civil rights movement and to racial integration.' The identification stuck, and the flag's use proliferated. 'The flag emerges as a central symbol of massive resistance during the civil rights era,' says Levin. Within decades, it was a staple for artists attempting to portray anti-establishment cool. It flew onstage with Lynyrd Skynyrd and adorned the Dukes's car on the wildly popular The Dukes of Hazzard TV show. Some claimed their use of the battle flag meant nothing more than Dixie pride and regional affiliations. But it retained its associations with hatred and racial terror, especially during the 1994 trial of white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith for the assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers 31 years earlier in 1963. De La Beckwith wore a pin of the battle flag daily at the trial, making it impossible to forget his racial convictions. (He was convicted of murder.) (How the assassination of Medgar Evers galvanized the civil rights movement.) As the flag resurged in popularity, so did protests against its use. One noteworthy push against the flag was the NAACP's 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina for its use of the banner. Another was Coleman v. Miller, a 1997 lawsuit filed by a Black man who alleged Georgia's use of the flag infringed on his 14th Amendment rights. Coleman ultimately lost his suit, but the suit spawned other attempts to remove the flag from the grounds of multiple state capitols. Debates about the flag and its use never disappeared, says Levin—and it comes with a new set of potential meanings for different people. 'There's an eye of the beholder element in all this,' he says. (How the U.S. Voting Rights Act was won—and why it's under fire today) There was little question about what the flag meant to Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who shot and killed nine churchgoers at the Emanual AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. After images of the shooter carrying Confederate battle flags emerged, multiple states bowed to pressure to remove the symbol from public spaces. Men fly a massive Confederate flag during a Black Lives Matter protest in Charleston, South Carolina, in August, 2020. Photograph by Kris Graves, National Geographic Activist and filmmaker Brittany 'Bree' Newsome climbed a 30-foot pole outside of the South Carolina state capitol to remove the Confederate flag weeks after a shooting at a predominantly Black Charleston church in 2015. Newsome was arrested, but state officials voted to remove the flag from the building the following month. Photograph by Adam Anderson, REUTERS Levin doesn't see the flag falling out of favor among extremist groups or white supremacists anytime soon. But he adds that public outcries and the social upheaval of recent years means the flag has been semi-retired, at least in official life. 'There's still an element that will embrace the Confederate flag or other Confederate symbols,' he says, 'but I think the question of whether they're appropriate has already been answered.' This story originally published on January 12, 2021. It was updated on August 8, 2025.
India.com
10-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Anil Ambani Scores Major Win: Canara Bank Walks Back ‘Fraud' Tag Without A Fight – All Eyes Now On SBI
Mumbai: Reliance Group Chairman and Managing Director Anil Ambani has secured a legal victory against one of India's biggest public sector banks. Canara Bank, the lead lender in the Reliance Communications (RCOM) case, has backed off after branding Ambani a 'fraud'. And it did not even wait for a full trial. It simply folded. On July 10, the bank informed the Bombay High Court that it would unconditionally withdraw its 'fraud classification' against Ambani in the high-profile RCOM matter. No strings. No conditions. Just a quiet retreat. The announcement came before a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale. It marks a huge reversal, considering Canara Bank had aggressively labelled the RCOM account 'fraudulent' in November 2024. The move had triggered an intense legal battle after Ambani took the matter to court. Back in February 2024, the Bombay High Court had already slammed the brakes on Canara Bank's classification. The judges made it clear that the bank may have acted in violation of the Reserve Bank of India's own rules and possibly even flouted a Supreme Court ruling that requires borrowers to be granted a personal hearing before being stamped as fraudulent. Ambani's legal team had gone straight for the jugular. They argued that the Canara Bank ignored basic principles of natural justice. They said the bank did not give the businessman a chance to speak and show him the documents it relied on. The court agreed. In February, the judges had already raised red flags, highlighting that this was not a one-off. They had gone as far as to overserve, 'The RBI needs to take some action against banks as this is happening repeatedly.' Now that Canara Bank has pulled out, the spotlight has turned to the State Bank of India (SBI). The country's largest lender had also declared the RCOM account as fraudulent. And now it may be walking straight into the same legal trap. On July 2, Ambani's lawyers fired off a letter to the SBI, challenging the bank's classification of fraud on nearly identical grounds. They claimed the SBI passed the order ex-parte, meaning without giving Ambani a chance to respond. They also alleged the bank sat for months on Ambani's repeated requests for documents – the same documents it used to brand him a fraud. And they never gave a clear answer on the legitimacy of the Show Cause Notice that kicked off the whole process. Legal experts are already warning that the SBI's move could fall flat just like Canara Bank's did. 'This is classic déjà vu. Same facts. Same lapses. Same disregard for process. It is only a matter of time,' one senior banking lawyer told Zee Media. For now, Anil Ambani walks away with a clean slate from Canara Bank. But the battle is not over. With the SBI still in play, the courtroom drama around may be far from its final act.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GST's 8th Anniversary: With disputes piling up, India pushes for faster, fairer resolution framework
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is arguably India's most significant tax reform. It has simplified compliance and administration by replacing multiple indirect tax levies within a single unified system, thus harmonising tax across states. Although this reform has made considerable strides in digital compliance, the GST system is now facing a critical challenge: a rising number of tax disputes and a growing backlog within the adjudication system, that is delaying dispute resolution. While Government has taken several notable measures, as GST completes eight years, it might be the opportune time to look at the evolution of the GST adjudication system . Also Read: GST @8: India's tax landscape has changed but key reforms are still pending Current Pendency at Different Adjudication Levels Under GST Pending GST cases have more than doubled—from 10k cases involving disputed demands of INR 22k crore in 2021-22 to 22k cases amounting to INR 1.14 lac crore in 2023-24. Alongside this, the cash amount blocked in pending indirect tax appeals has more than doubled over the same period, rising from INR 3.67 lac crore to INR 7.40 lac crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout: New Apocalyptic MMO Crossout Play Now Undo Further compounding the issue is the extended timeline for dispute resolution. In 2023-24, approximately 22k indirect tax appeals have been pending across forums for over five years. For many taxpayers, particularly MSMEs, these blocked funds represent vital working capital frozen due to unresolved disputes, impacting operational liquidity. Challenges in the Current Adjudication System Live Events You Might Also Like: GST @8: PwC suggests petro-products' inclusion, lowering tax slabs Several factors such as differing legal interpretations across states have contributed to the challenge. Initially, businesses were not familiar with the laws and divergent positions were adopted, with minimal clarity and precedents. In adjudication, although the law imposes strict timelines for issuing Show Cause Notices (SCNs) and initial orders, the timelines for appellate decisions at first-level appeals or tribunal remain suggestive rather than binding. This has resulted in inconsistent adherence and rising case backlog. The pre-deposit requirement - mandating taxpayers to deposit 10% of the disputed tax upfront before filing appeals is another constraint. While intended to filter out frivolous cases, this requirement restricts cash flow for legitimate taxpayers, particularly smaller businesses with limited liquidity. While the Government has constituted the GST Appellate Tribunal and initiated the e-filing process, its operationalization is eagerly awaited. Measures Taken by Government You Might Also Like: Gross GST collections double in five years to hit record ₹22.08 lakh crore in FY25 The Government has introduced multiple measures aimed at reducing disputes and addressing systemic challenges. These include the issuance of FAQs, circulars, and advance rulings to clarify complex GST provisions and reduce misinterpretations leading to disputes. The National Litigation Policy was also introduced to rationalise government litigation by discouraging redundant appeals, thereby focusing resources on significant cases. Additionally, monetary thresholds for departmental appeals were established to prevent compulsive appeals by tax department from overburdening the system. In recognition of cash flow challenges faced by taxpayers, pre-deposit requirements have been relaxed. Additionally, Section 11A in the CGST Act was introduced, allowing regularisation of cases involving short levy or short payment of tax due to established trade practices on 'as is/ where is'. Once implemented, it will offer a mechanism to resolve disputes on controversial sectoral issues. Way Forward for the Current Adjudication System These measures undoubtedly point to Government's intention of addressing the backlog and improve dispute resolution. As next wave of reforms in dispute resolution, the operationalisation of GSTAT will enable faster, specialised resolution of appeals. Further, Government may consider possibility of mandating timelines for passing of appeal orders, to reduce adjudication delays. Awaited procedural guidelines for implementation of Section 11A will promote its use as an effective tool for reducing litigation volumes. Another step worth consideration is the establishment of a National Authority for Advance Ruling (National AAR), to harmonise legal interpretations across states, eliminate conflicting rulings, and reduce disputes caused by inconsistent legal views. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Arbitration To ease the burden on departmental infrastructure, perhaps ADR mechanisms like arbitration may offer complementary path for dispute resolution beyond the existing adjudication process. Incorporating arbitration within GST framework would provide taxpayers and authorities with a mechanism for settling disputes in a faster, cost-effective and flexible manner. While this would not replace current adjudication, its adoption can significantly reduce litigation volumes, expedite resolution, and improve taxpayer satisfaction. The GST framework faces a critical challenge of managing the rising volume of disputes and the growing backlog in the adjudication system. Government initiatives to clarify interpretation, rationalise litigation, relax pre-deposit norms, and introduce measures for dispute regularisation are laudable. Now swift operationalisation of GSTAT, enforcement of binding appellate timelines, establishment of a National AAR will further compliment these initiatives. Further, a broader adoption of arbitration as an ADR mechanism can also aid GST dispute resolution . Fair to say that these reforms will create a more transparent, efficient, and fair dispute resolution structure - key to supporting GST's objectives of simplicity, fairness, and ease of doing business. Saurabh Agarwal and Divya Bhushan are Tax Partners at EY India. Tanmay Chaturvedi, Tax Professional, EY India also contributed to the article.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Liver disease data hints at why related deaths are rising in india
Deaths due to liver diseases have been rising steadily in India. While this trend has been evident for some time, three patterns — across sex, age, and States — may offer some clues as to why. Diseases of the digestive system, with liver diseases accounting for a substantial share, was the eighth leading cause of death in 2022. It had not ranked among the leading causes of death in any of the previous five years. Chart 1 shows the sex-wise number of certified deaths due to 'diseases of digestive system' between 2012 and 2022. (It is important to note that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death uses the term 'sex'.) The number of men dying from digestive diseases was consistently more than three times higher than that of women. In fact, the number of male deaths rose more sharply. In 2022, the number of men who died from the disease was 3.5 times that of women — the highest ratio since 2016. A large proportion of deaths from digestive diseases are due to liver-related problems. Chart 2 shows liver disease's share among all digestive diseases. In 2022, 75% of men who died of digestive diseases had liver disease, compared to 57.5% of women. Other causes, which make up only a small share, include pancreatic disorders, peritonitis, and ulcers. The chart also highlights a clear sex gap. Among women who died from digestive diseases, the proportion attributed to liver problems ranged from 52% to 57% between 2012 and 2022. In contrast, for men, liver diseases accounted for a much higher share of digestive disease deaths, consistently ranging from 70% to 75%. Chart 3 shows the same information as in Chart 1, but only for deaths due to 'liver diseases'. A stark sex gap is seen here as well. Chart 4 shows the age-wise distribution of deaths due to digestive diseases across sexes in 2022. Among women, the burden of digestive disease deaths increased significantly with age: over 30% of female deaths occurred in the 65+ age group, suggesting that age-related liver complications could be a key factor. In contrast, among men, the highest share of deaths occurred in the 45–54 age group, followed closely by those aged 35-44. This indicates that men were dying from digestive diseases predominantly in their middle age. Map 5 shows the proportion of deaths caused by digestive diseases out of all medically certified deaths within each State in 2022. For instance, in Sikkim, nearly 20% of certified deaths were due to digestive diseases, the highest among all the States. Notably, the north-eastern States stand out: in five of them, over 10% of certified deaths were attributed to digestive diseases. No other State recorded a double-digit share. Research shows that alcohol consumption is strongly linked to a higher risk of liver disease. In India, only about 1% of women consume alcohol, compared to 19% of men. Read together with data from Charts 3 and 4, it may be worth investigating whether alcohol use among middle-aged men is contributing to the higher number of liver-related deaths. Studies have also shown that excessive meat consumption is associated with a higher risk of liver disease. Data from the National Family Health Survey shows that the combined prevalence of meat consumption and alcohol use is highest in the north-east. This overlap could explain the elevated burden of liver disease in the region. Given the patterns observed, it is important to further investigate the links between meat and alcohol consumption and liver disease. The data presented here shows correlation, not causation. More research is needed to establish any direct relationships. vignesh.r@ Source: Medical Certificiation of Cause of Death reports produced by the Officer of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India
Metro
03-06-2025
- Health
- Metro
The drug behind double death that's '500 times more powerful than heroin'
Deadly blue and green pills which have killed two people in London have finally been identified. The pills, which are marked with the number '80' on one side and possibly 'OP' on the other, contained nitazenes which can be up to 500 times stronger than heroin. A 28-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman died in Southhall, west London, on May 26 after taking an 'illicit substance in the form of a green pill', Met Police said. The pair are believed to have visited a nightclub in south London, and their bodies were discovered the next day at a home in Ealing. One more person is said to have been hospitalised after taking the pill, and London nightclubs have urged people to stay away from the drug. The Cause, in east London, said: 'We have been made aware of dangerous Blue/Green Pills marked with an '80'. Blue or pale lips or fingertips Falling unconscious Loud raspy 'snoring' or gurgling Very light, shallow breathing or no breathing 'Testing indicates they contain N-Pyrrolidino isotonitazene (a potent synthetic opioid) and traces of Ketamine and MDMA. 'With several hospitalisations across multiple London venues, we strongly advise you don't engage with it and warn your friends. 'Look after yourselves. If you, any of your close ones or someone in the crowd feels unwell this weekend, speak to any member of staff immediately.' The pills are expected to have either been sold as oxycodone or ecstasy. Fabric, near the City of London, said: 'Tragically, two people have lost their lives and another has been hospitalised. 'They are believed to have been sold as oxycodone, but investigations are ongoing.' The Metropolitan Police confirmed no arrests have been made. Charity drug checker The Loop the drugs are often sold under the pretence they are oxycodone, which is a prescription painkiller, or ectasy pills. Ealing Council said: 'Please remember, there is no way of knowing what is in any pill or drug that is bought illegally, or how your body will react. 'If you, or anyone you are with, starts to feel unwell after taking any pill or drug, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department or call 999. 'Always seek medical attention and do not try to sleep it off or drink lots of water.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Sainsbury's shoppers still losing millions of Nectar points in widespread scam MORE: 'Poisoned' beef wellington chef Erin Patterson tells murder trial exotic mushrooms 'have more flavour' MORE: Madeleine McCann police using radars to 'scour' trenches in fresh search after 'tip-off'
