The Daily Populous

White House says National Guard members deployed to D.C. "may be armed"

A White House official told CBS News Saturday that the National Guard members deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump's effort to address crime in the nation's capital and take control of the city's police force "may be armed," but that Guard members would not make arrests.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Saturday that National Guard soldiers in D.C. are prepared to start carrying weapons in the coming days — a shift from previous guidance.

In a statement provided Saturday to CBS News Saturday, a National Guard spokesperson reiterated that deployed Guard members "may be armed consistent with their mission and training," adding that "their presence is focused on supporting civil authorities and ensuring the safety of the community they serve.".

Members of the D.C. National Guard position their Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles as they arrive at Union Station on Aug. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Getty Images.

A Defense Department official told CBS News Thursday that the deployed National Guard members would not be armed at the request of law enforcement partners.

The president deployed the National Guard to D.C. on Monday.

The president also deployed 800 National Guard members to the city. »

Ukraine claims battlefield success in Donetsk Oblast

Authored by kyivindependent.com

The Armed Forces of Ukraine has made gains in eastern Donetsk Oblast, the General Staff reported on Aug. 17.

The escalation in Donetsk Oblast follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Aug. 15 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, which ended without a deal amid Putin's reported demand that Ukraine cede the entire oblast.

From Aug. 4 to 16, Ukrainian forces cleared Russian troops from several villages in Donetsk Oblast. »

A record low level of Americans drink, and a majority now say alcohol is bad for your health

Authored by edition.cnn.com

Gallup has been tracking Americans’ drinking behavior since 1939, and their views of the health implications of drinking since 2001.

For the first time, a majority of Americans – 53% – said that moderate drinking, defined as one or two drinks per day, is bad for your health.

“Certainly, the scientific evidence that we have would support lowering the recommended alcohol intake for Americans below what it is now. »

Waving Israeli flags, Syrian Druze call for intervention in unprecedented push for self-determination

Authored by ynetnews.com

minority, in the largest protests to take place since. »

Call to ban ‘intolerant’ child-free resorts and hotels in France

Authored by theguardian.com

But Rossignol said the government must go further, and called for a parliamentary debate on her proposal to make it illegal to ban children from venues in France.

Rossignol said child-free spaces amounted to “organising society around people’s intolerance of others” and served to “institutionalise and legitimise intolerance”.

France has relatively few adult-only hotels and resorts, estimated to account for 3–5% of overall tourism, far less than neighbouring Spain, a market leader. »