President seeks to make Oval Office a national monument to ensure designs are not ‘ripped down by stupid people’

Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday that he says will prevent future administrations from changing his design of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, spaces which he declared as national monuments that should be preserved.

In the days since his party suffered historic defeats in the midterm elections, the president has seemingly turned his attention to the many renovation projects he has begun across the nation’s capital. Sitting behind the Resolute Desk on Thursday, Trump declared the Oval Office a “national monument”.

Georgia governor declares local emergencies as National Weather Service issues warning: ‘Seek higher ground now!’

Severe storms brought heavy rain and flash flooding to communities across the Georgia-Tennessee border area late on Wednesday and into Thursday morning that forced dozens of rescues, despite the hazardous conditions making evacuations and efforts to save people difficult.

McCaysville, in north central Georgia, was deluged with up to five inches (13cm) of rain by Thursday morning, triggering life-threatening flash flooding, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The town lies just across the Toccoa River from Copperhill, Tennessee.

Helicopter was carrying three people and crashed in waters of Biscayne Bay, east of Miami executive airport

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A helicopter crash in Miami on Wednesday morning has left one person dead and two others injured.

Authorities including the US Coast Guard responded to the crash at approximately 11.30am on Wednesday. According to the USCG, the helicopter – a Robinson R44 II – was carrying three people and crashed in the waters of Biscayne Bay, east of Miami executive airport.

Jacqueline Kelly, who took part in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs case, will head criminal inquiry into 2024 incident at university

The New York attorney general, Letitia James, has tapped a former prosecutor involved in the Sean “Diddy” Combs case to head a criminal investigation into 2024 sexual assault allegations at Cornell University.

On Wednesday, James appointed Cornell alum Jacqueline Kelly to serve as outside counsel and lead a “fair and comprehensive criminal investigation”. Kelly, formerly chief of the civil rights unit in the US attorney’s office for the southern district of New York, will report directly to James’s office.

500-plus-day search for Kylie Arellano ends as FBI warns of ‘gore groups’ targeting and exploiting children

A 17-year-old girl who disappeared last year from Garden City, Utah, has been found in Oregon, and a 39-year-old man has been taken into custody.

The recovery of the teenager took place last Sunday, following a 500-plus day search involving Oregon law enforcement, the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich county sheriff’s office in Utah.

Her latest plea comes three months after urging ‘someone to come forward’ with details about Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie has issued a new plea for help on the whereabouts of her 84-year-old mother, who authorities believe was abducted in February.

On Sunday, the Today show co-host shared a photo of an old drawing made by her daughter featuring an umbrella and the words: “I know it might not seem like it but I really need my mommy.”

Lawyers for Massachusetts mother who killed children argue new trial would violate double jeopardy rules

Lindsay Clancy returned to court on Monday in an attempt to dismiss the charges that she murdered her three young children.

The hearing Monday was the second time the Massachusetts mother has been in court since her trial ended with a deadlocked jury in September after jurors were unable to agree on a verdict.

Young voters have many of the same concerns as the larger voting cohort, even if many are not registered to vote

The 2026 US midterms are approaching against a backdrop of growing political uncertainty, with young voters increasingly mobilizing around concerns about the country’s future.

Although nearly 50 million Americans aged 18 to 29 are eligible to vote in the midterms, almost half remain either unregistered or civically disengaged, according to US Census Bureau data.

Guardian readers share their concerns and disillusionment with the political climate under Trump as elections loom

Millions of Americans will head to the polls on 3 November in elections that will determine control of the Republican-held House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the governorships of 36 states.

The midterms come amid mounting public frustration over issues ranging from the rising cost of living and immigration to the climate crisis, artificial intelligence, big tech and the US’s overseas wars. Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 36%, according to a New York Times/Siena poll conducted this month.