service members

French public sector workers have walked out in protest at a pay freeze as the government prepares the 2027 budget. Union members in hospitals, schools and other state services are demanding wage increases amid rising living costs. The strike is being followed for what it signals about labour unrest and pressure on the government's budget plans.

The US military has moved to disable advertising trackers after concerns that the data they collect could expose the locations and movements of American service members. The reported worry is that ad-tracking information, if obtained by adversaries such as Iran, could be used to monitor or target troops. The move highlights growing alarm over how commercial data trails can compromise operational security.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that US military academies, including West Point and the Naval Academy, will not grant tenure to civilian faculty members. The move is part of the Pentagon's broader push to reshape academia at the service academies, with supporters calling it a step toward accountability and critics warning it could discourage qualified civilian instructors from teaching there.

Boulder County has opened applications for volunteers to serve in roles overseeing how behavioral health funding is allocated. The county is seeking residents to help monitor spending on mental health and substance use services. The announcement invites community members to apply for the oversight positions.

A new report finds that 86% of Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who hold a bachelor's degree or higher attend church weekly. The figure stands out because highly educated Americans across most religious groups tend to attend religious services less often, making Latter-day Saints a notable exception, and a reporter covering the story said the number did not surprise her.

A church has announced it will host a shredding event, inviting community members to bring documents for secure, free disposal. Such events are a common way congregations offer a practical service while connecting with neighbors, letting people safely discard paperwork with personal information. Specifics like the date, location and any limits on how much can be brought were not included in the available report.

A data breach at the Pentagon's Defense Manpower Data Center has exposed the personal records of more than three million people. The DMDC holds manpower, personnel and benefits data for US service members, their families and other DoD-affiliated individuals. The incident adds to a growing list of major breaches of US federal systems this year, raising fresh questions about the department's cybersecurity safeguards.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has held a debate on how European countries can provide systemic, long-term support for Ukrainian veterans of the war with Russia. Discussions centred on coordinated European frameworks for medical care, psychological rehabilitation and social reintegration. The session reflects growing attention across the continent to the lasting needs of wounded and demobilised Ukrainian service members.

Borough officials in Edgeworth, Pennsylvania, have turned down a proposal to install banners honoring local military service members, opting instead to direct resources toward upgrading the community's existing war memorial. The decision ends discussion of the banner program while committing the borough to maintaining and improving its tribute to local veterans.

The Council of Europe is consulting experts to develop a practical guide on how public service media can remain independent, sustainable and pluralistic. Announced through its freedom of expression work, the initiative aims to give member states concrete standards for protecting broadcasters from political and commercial pressure. The guide is expected to support reforms of media governance across Europe.

Experts from the Defense Health Agency's Public Health branch are highlighting three priorities for suicide prevention across the US military: leadership engagement, secure storage of lethal means such as firearms and medications, and better access to mental health resources. The guidance, published via military health channels, stresses that commanders and supervisors play a key role in recognizing warning signs and connecting service members to support.