Baton Rouge - A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that certain forms of environmental contamination—specifically oil discharges tied to expressive conduct—may qualify as protected speech under the First Amendment, in a decision that legal analysts say could reshape environmental regulation and corporate liability.

Washington — The White House on Thursday formally appealed a federal court ruling that halted above-ground construction of a proposed new ballroom complex, arguing the project is integral to national security and cannot be separated from classified underground infrastructure.

The appeal follows a decision by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon, who reaffirmed that while limited subterranean work could continue, the administration must cease all above-ground construction unless authorized by Congress.

Sunnyvale - In a major legal development this week, Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle a nationwide class action lawsuit involving alleged data privacy violations affecting nearly 200 million Android users in the United States. The settlement, which received preliminary approval in federal court on Monday, marks one of the largest privacy-related payouts in Google’s history.

Sacramento - Congressman Eric Swalwell today said he will end his campaign for California governor and resign from Congress later this month, citing a “strategic recalibration” ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. State Department on Saturday issued a heightened travel advisory for Nigeria and Somalia, citing what officials described as a “rapidly deteriorating security situation” believed to be connected to recent waves of deportations from the United States involving individuals with criminal records.

Islamabad — U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s diplomatic visit to Pakistan this week took an unexpected turn when an apparently innocent dinner request drew attention away from a series of delicate negotiations intended to advance a peace framework between the United States and Iran.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — First Lady Melania Trump delivered an unusual public statement to reporters on Thursday, firmly denying any personal relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein amid renewed scrutiny tied to recently surfaced documents and longstanding public speculation.