All articles tagged with #flag
Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams questioned President Trump’s order to lower flags to half-staff for Dolly Parton, arguing such honors should be reserved for truly significant national events and that local leaders should decide city-level tributes, while affirming respect for Parton.
Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams defied a half-staff directive for Dolly Parton, arguing the flag-raising gesture should be reserved for military heroes and major national figures. He cites Mississippi Home Rule and says local leaders should use their judgment, while acknowledging Parton’s contributions; the move drew social-media backlash even as President Trump and Gov. Reeves ordered half-staff.
Ukrainian flag was removed from a building in central Pristina, with the mayor saying 'the state of Kosovo must be respected,' highlighting tensions around Kosovo’s independence amid regional diplomacy involving Ukraine and Serbia.
A skydiver participating in a July 4 celebration near Folsom, California crashed when a large American flag snagged on a tree, sending him into a tent and narrowly missing grandstands and spectators; he sustained a cut lip but was told he could resume skydiving the next day, with no other injuries reported.
The United States flag was adopted in 1777 with 13 red-and-white stripes and a blue field of stars, colors that have remained constant even as states joined the union. Although the 1777 resolution didn’t assign color meanings, Charles Thomson later linked red to valor, white to purity, and blue to vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The flag’s design briefly featured 15 stars and 15 stripes in the 1790s, then the 1818 Act fixed 13 stripes and allowed the star field to grow with new states, until Hawaii’s 1960 admission produced the current 50-star, 13-stripe flag.
A skydiver at the Folsom Pro Rodeo survived a crash landing when his American flag snagged on a tree, causing him to crash into a small tent. He was unharmed and, per organizers, will skydive again that night.
In Los Angeles, Iran's World Cup opener against New Zealand drew a spectrum of reactions from the Iranian diaspora: some waved the pre-revolution lion-and-sun flag in defiance of FIFA’s ban to show solidarity with Iranians, while others argued the symbol is political and should not be tied to sport. The split underscores a long‑standing tension between national pride and opposition to the Islamic Republic, amplified by recent unrest at home and regional tensions, with watch parties like Meymuni Cafe and demonstrations outside stadium gates highlighting the complexity of diasporic identity during the tournament.
A backlash surrounds Donald Trump’s gold T1 phone after a major US flag error appeared in its branding or display, drawing criticism from opponents and attention from supporters. No fix or official statement has been detailed yet, underscoring ongoing debates about patriotism in political tech and symbolism.
The Interior Department and National Park Service agreed to keep a rainbow Pride flag flying at Stonewall National Monument as part of a settlement with LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups; three flags will be installed within a week with the Pride banner displayed between the U.S. and Park Service flags, and removal allowed only for maintenance or practical purposes, pending court approval of the deal.
The American flag was raised Saturday over the U.S. Embassy in Caracas for the first time since 2019, signaling a shift in U.S.–Venezuela relations as negotiations and diplomatic ties continue after Maduro’s ouster and amid support from U.S. leaders for his successor, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The embassy, now housing the Venezuela Affairs Unit, remains under renovation and a full reopening date is unclear. Residents welcomed the gesture, but many Venezuelans remain skeptical of U.S. influence and Trump-era moves, while the broader political establishment remains divided over the change.
Rep. Dave Taylor from Ohio condemned the display of an altered American flag with a swastika in his office, calling it 'vile' and stating that an investigation is ongoing with Capitol Police.
Russian soldiers accidentally revealed their firing positions when they attempted to shoot down a Ukrainian flag attached to helium balloons flying over occupied territory in eastern Ukraine. The flag launch, commemorating the founding of Avdiyivka, was successful in flying over Russian-occupied Donetsk for several hours. The Ukrainian military used the revealed positions to launch an attack on the Russian soldiers, although specific details and the success of the attack were not provided. The occupied territories are currently holding elections, which have been dismissed as "fake" by Kyiv and the West.
Ukraine's blue-and-yellow flag, which has been the official state flag since independence in 1991, holds deep historical and symbolic significance. The colors have been observed in flags and banners dating back to the 13th century, representing Ukraine's national revival and resistance against oppression. The flag has been banned and raised throughout history, including during the Soviet era and recent Russian invasion. The red-and-black flag, associated with Ukrainian nationalism, also holds historical significance. Despite controversies surrounding its past associations, the flag represents pride and resistance for many Ukrainians. The flag has been present in various milestones, from scientific expeditions to space missions, and has gained international recognition.
The Biden administration's Pride Month celebration at the White House included a new "Progress Pride Flag" that represents transgender, non-binary, and intersex Americans, as well as people of color and AIDS victims and survivors. However, some critics have taken issue with the flag, claiming it represents a cult of pedophilia and an unwanted takeover of traditional gay symbolism. The flag's designer, Daniel Quasar, says it forces viewers to confront their feelings towards the original pride flag and its meaning, while also highlighting the current needs within the LGBTQ+ community. The White House has been flying the flag at pride celebrations for the past three years.
A Ukrainian official, Oleksandr Marikovskyi, punched a Russian representative after the unidentified man ripped a Ukrainian flag from Marikovskyi’s hands during the Summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Ankara, Turkey. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine reached new extremes this week when Moscow accused its enemy of trying to assassinate President Vladimir Putin with two drones aimed at the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied his military was responsible for the strikes during an appearance at the International Criminal Court at The Hague in the Netherlands on Thursday.