The last Strategic Defence and Security Review, published three years ago, identified four main areas of threat, including the evolution of extremist terrorism, the resurgence of state-based threats, the rapid advance of technology on all fronts and the erosion of the rules-based international order.The sixth edition of the Global Strategic Trends report recognises the danger of those threats, but also sets out how they are continuing to speed up and intersect to create new and unparalleled risks.It outlines how regional powers could develop nuclear capabilities with global reach, internationally accepted rules on chemical weapons are ignored, and non-state actors could acquire sophisticated missile technology. It also describes how the interaction between climate change, demand for resources and over-population drives competition, that could lead to conflict.UK Defence has always been at the forefront of global military capabilities and has risen to meet threats ranging from global conflicts, insurgent warfare, disinformation campaigns and offensive cyber. This has ensured the UK maintains a military edge over adversaries.The MOD’s thinktank, the Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre, worked on this comprehensive report for two years. They drew on a range of analysis across academia, business, government departments and nations from across the globe. The findings support those who formulate Defence policy, strategy and capability development, and includes a range of innovations. This has been evident in the development of the MOD’s Arctic Strategy, Space Strategy and approach to future autonomous systems.The MOD’s research teams used a suite of research methods to provide insight into alternate, plausible futures, watchpoints and discontinuities. Through this analysis UK Defence has identified key areas that have the potential to profoundly change humanity over the coming years.The sixth edition of the Global Strategic Trends report can be read here. This report makes clear that we are living in a world becoming rapidly more dangerous, with intensifying challenges from state aggressors who flout the rules, terrorists who want to harm our way of life and the technological race with our adversaries. Identifying these threats means we can continue to build an Armed Forces that can stay ahead of them. The ‘Future Starts Today’ report indicates that the world has reached a critical point in the need to tackle the evolution of threats faced in the current climate.Welcoming the report, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
Budget News, Education, First Lady Frances Wolf, Schools That Teach, The Blog, Videos As my husband outlined in his address to the General Assembly this past week, we have a choice to make – a choice that has serious implications for the future of Pennsylvania’s schools. And for the future of our state.Watch First Lady Frances Wolf’s message on the future of our schools:We can choose to ignore the $2 billion structural deficit that Pennsylvania currently faces which will force an additional $1 billion in cuts to our schools.If we choose this path, we will bar tens of thousands of preschoolers from early childhood programs. We will force school districts to lay off thousands of dedicated public school educators. We will create significantly larger class sizes depriving our children of the attention and resources they need to succeed. We will reduce their possibilities for success not only in the classroom but in life.And we will force school districts to exact even higher property taxes – taxes that were already increased in 2011. To a greater degree than ever before we will force many homeowners to choose between paying their property taxes or keeping their homes.Or, we can choose to support the program my husband set out in his new budget proposal. His plan will restore investments to our schools and ensure that the state live up to its constitutionally mandated responsibility to fund our schools. His plan promotes brighter prospects for our children by investing in early childhood and higher education. His plan will reduce the property tax burden that homeowners currently face.If we choose this latter path, we will build a strong foundation for our educational system and our children. We will give our schools the important resources they need to teach. And we will give our children the quality public school education they deserve.As parents of two children who were educated in Pennsylvania public schools, Tom and I take education very seriously. We recognize that parents, like us, want the best outcomes for their children, and expect us to ensure a quality education for them. Not only are the futures of our children at stake but so is the future of our commonwealth.The quality of the education system we invest in and provide to our children is intricately intertwined with the jobs we can offer them in the future. Do we want a system that ill prepares them academically, rendering them less competitive in the job market? Or do we invest in a system that fuels their full competitive advantage?We are at a critical crossroads. The choice we make will have serious consequences for all of us. If we are to have strong prospects, we need to choose investing in our schools rather than depleting them. We need to relieve homeowners of the ever rising burden of funding education. In the end we need to do everything we can to do right by our children. They deserve it. Quite simply, we owe it to them. You can find updates and behind-the-scenes content on the 2016-2017 budget announcement on our Facebook and Twitter.Read more posts about Governor Wolf’s 2016-17 budget.Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf February 12, 2016 By: First Lady Frances Wolf
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NHS Digital NHS England and Improvement health organisations arm’s length bodies local authorities GPs The Secretary of State has issued 4 notices under the Health Service Control of Patient Information Regulations 2002 requiring the following organisations to process information: There is also a specific requirement related to the UK Biobank project. These notices require that data is shared for purposes of coronavirus (COVID-19), and give health organisations and local authorities the security and confidence to share the data they need to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19).For patients, this means that their data may be shared with organisations involved in the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), for example, enabling notification to members of the public most at risk and advising them to self-isolate.These notices may be extended by further notice in writing. If no further notice is sent, they will expire on 30 September 2021.The health and care system is facing an unprecedented challenge and we want to ensure that health organisations, arm’s length bodies and local authorities are able to process and share the data they need to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19), for example by treating and caring for patients and those at risk, managing the service and identifying patterns and risks.Compliance with data protection standardsData controllers are still required to comply with relevant and appropriate data protection standards and to ensure within reason that they operate within statutory and regulatory boundaries.The UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) allow health data to be used as long as one or more of the conditions under articles 6 and 9 are met. There are conditions under both articles that can be relied on for the sharing of health and care data, including ‘the care and treatment of patients’ and ‘public health’.We would expect any organisation to share information within legal requirements set out under UK GDPR.
While the beloved English alt-rock sensation confirmed the completion of recording their new album late last year, a new interview with Radiohead‘s art designer Stanley Donwood suggests it might not be as close as we thought. According to Donwood, the band’s 9th studio album is “a work of art,” but it is “not yet” finished, nor is there a time frame to expect its arrival.While it’s safe to bet there are new songs ready to be performed, considering Radiohead’s recent announcement of a 2016 world tour, Donwood told DIY, “there’s quite a lot [he] still [has] to do.” He continues, that his favorite work with the band thus far is “the one that’s non-one’s seen yet,” and that “it was made by the strong warm winds of Southern France.” We look forward to finding out exactly what that means.Check out the full tour schedule below, courtesy of the band’s official website:MAY 201620th Amsterdam, Heineken Music Hall21st Amsterdam, Heineken Music Hall23rd Paris, Le Zénith24th Paris, Le Zénith26th London, Roundhouse 27th London, Roundhouse28th London, RoundhouseJUNE 20161st Les Nuits Des Fourvieres, Lyon, France (just added)3rd Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain17th Secret Solstice, Reyjkavik, IcelandJULY 20162nd Openair St Gallen, Switzerland8th Nos Alive Festival, Lisbon, Portugal29-31st Osheaga Music And Arts Festival, Montreal, CanadaJULY 201626th New York City, Madison Square Garden27th New York City, Madison Square GardenAUGUST 20164th Los Angeles, Shrine Auditorium8th Los Angeles, Shrine AuditoriumAUGUST 201620th Summersonic Festival, Osaka, Japan21st Summersonic Festival, Tokyo, JapanSEPTEMBER 2016 11th Lollapalooza Festival, Berlin, GermanyOCTOBER 20163rd Mexico City, Palacio de los Deportes4th Mexico City, Palacio de los Deportes