Supreme Court

Justices take up Maryland parents’ challenge to LGBTQ books in schools

Justices take up Maryland parents’ challenge to LGBTQ books in schools

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The Supreme Court will decide whether a group of Maryland parents can opt to have their children exempted from LGBTQ-themed storybooks. The justices on Friday afternoon granted Mahmoud v. Taylor, in which a coalition of parents from Montgomery County, Md., contend that requiring their children to participate in instruction that violates their religious beliefs violates their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion.

The announcement once again puts the justices in the center of the culture wars. … Read the rest

Civil Law

Red dye No. 3 now banned; consumer groups applaud FDA’s action

The Food and Drug Administration this week banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in foods, meeting requirements of the 1960 Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The action comes after years of public requests for the FDA to take action against harmful chemicals added to foods. In 1990 the agency banned the use of Red No. 3 in cosmetics, but had not taken similar action for foods and drugs until this week.

“The FDA is amending … Read the rest

Civil Law

Hong Kong investigates flight-related food poisoning cases

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong is investigating reports of food poisoning involving passengers on flights from Nepal.

A total of 36 people have fallen ill on two Cathay Pacific flights from Kathmandu to Hong Kong.

The first cluster of patients developed food poisoning symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever, about 10 to 30 minutes after having meals served on a flight on Jan. 8.

After speaking with people on an exchange trip to Nepal, … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Supreme Court skeptical of ban on TikTok

Supreme Court skeptical of ban on TikTok

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The Supreme Court on Friday was divided over the constitutionality of a federal law that would require social-media giant TikTok to shut down in the United States unless its Chinese parent company can sell it by Jan. 19. During two hours of oral arguments, the justices raised questions about whether the law at the center of the case actually restricts TikTok’s freedom of speech, as well as about what will happen if there is no sale by the deadline.… Read the rest