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UK MPs have called on the government to halt a contract with Palantir, a US-based spy-tech company, after it was revealed that the firm will gain access to a vast trove of highly sensitive UK financial regulation data. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the watchdog overseeing thousands of financial bodies, has hired Palantir to apply its AI systems to two years' worth of internal intelligence data to help tackle financial crime. However, the Liberal Democrats and Green party have raised concerns over Palantir's ties to Donald Trump and the potential risks to national and economic security. The Liberal Democrats have called for a government investigation into the contract, citing concerns that it could be "a huge error of judgment". Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, a billionaire supporter of Trump, has built up over £500m in contracts in the UK, including with the NHS, police, and Ministry of Defence. The company supports the US and Israeli militaries and the ICE immigration crackdown. Insiders at the FCA have questioned whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to prevent the data from being exploited. There are concerns about the potential for data about sensitive FCA investigations into high-profile figures to be accessed during Palantir's work. The FCA has insisted that Palantir will be a "data processor", not a "data controller", meaning it can only act on instruction from the regulator. The FCA will retain exclusive control over the encryption keys for the most sensitive files, and the data will be hosted and stored solely in the UK. Despite these assurances, MPs have expressed concerns over the risks associated with the contract. Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesperson, called for an investigation into the FCA's Palantir contract, citing concerns over Palantir's ties to Trump. The Green party MP Siân Berry has called for the government to "step in immediately and protect our national and economic security by blocking this contract award". Palantir has denied claims that it may "use customer data for our own purposes", stating that this is "something that we have no business interest in, and that we are legally and contractually prevented from doing".

The documentary 'Breaking the Cycle' shines a light on Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a charismatic Thai politician and pro-democracy activist, who has captured the nation's attention with his progressive vision.As the founder of the Future Forward Party (FFP), Juangroongruangkit's message of correcting past wrongs and securing a brighter future resonated with students, working-class, and rural voters in Thailand.The FFP's campaign in the 2019 general election led to a stunning result, with the party securing the third-most seats in parliament, despite facing an onslaught of court cases from the ruling party.While the documentary provides an inspiring look at the progressive movement in Thailand, it could have benefited from a deeper analysis of Juangroongruangkit's policies and other key figures in the FFP.Nevertheless, 'Breaking the Cycle' serves as a vital reminder that progressive movements are thriving globally, even in the face of far-right rhetoric.

Moby, the renowned musician, has shared his honest playlist, offering a glimpse into his personal music preferences. He recalls the first song he fell in love with, 'I Fought the Law' by the Clash, which he would record on an old Dictaphone and listen to repeatedly.Moby also shares the first single he bought, 'Convoy' by CW McCall, which he played 40 times in a row, raising concerns for his mother about his future as a musician and addict.He takes pride in never doing the same karaoke song twice, with notable attempts at 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra and 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent. Moby also reveals the song he inexplicably knows every lyric to, 'I Know You Got Soul' by Eric B & Rakim, which he played 8,000 times while DJing in the 80s.Moby discusses the best song to play at a party, 'Been Caught Stealing' by Jane's Addiction, which surprised a crowd of 15 people at a house party in 1989. He also shares the song he can no longer listen to, 'Lola' by the Kinks, due to its gross and transphobic lyrics.Moby confesses to secretly liking 'My Heart Will Go On' by Céline Dion, a song he thought he'd never admit to enjoying. He also shares the best song to have sex to, '4′33″' by John Cage, and the song that changed his life, 'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer.Other songs on Moby's playlist include the song that makes him cry, 'Vincent' by Don McLean, and the song that gets him up in the morning, 'Not to Touch the Earth' by the Doors. He concludes by sharing the song he'd like played in his funeral, 'Last Night' from his 2008 album of the same name.

The recent decision by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to deny loans to small business owners who are not US citizens has raised concerns about the politicization of the agency. Kelly Loeffler, the new administrator of the SBA, announced that the agency would no longer approve loans to small business owners unless they are US citizens, effectively excluding legal immigrants with green cards and full residency from accessing loans.This move has been criticized for being a political decision that harms small businesses and the economy. The SBA's mission is to support small businesses, which are the backbone of the US economy. By denying loans to certain entrepreneurs, the agency is limiting access to capital and hindering the growth of small businesses that could benefit their communities and the country at large.The decision is also seen as a reaction against the Biden administration's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Under Biden, the SBA had often featured diverse groups of business owners in its marketing materials, but this new policy seems to be tailoring the message to serve the Trump administration's political agenda.Supporting small businesses should not be a controversial position, and most of the time it is not. However, the SBA's politicization has made it a propaganda tool for the party in power, rather than a neutral agency serving the interests of small businesses.To address this issue, some suggest taking the SBA out of the government and spinning it off into a separate entity, similar to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership or the MITRE Corporation. This entity would be funded by both the government and private industry and would be required to report to Congress through its existing small business committees.The goal of this new entity would be to coordinate government loan guarantees, assist with federal funding, and provide training, counseling, and support to small businesses. This would help to insulate the agency from political cycles and ensure that it serves the interests of small businesses, rather than the interests of the party in power.

The play 'Slippery' by Louis Emmitt-Stern delivers a knotty dissection of the queer dating scene and bereavement in many forms. The story revolves around Jude and Kyle, exes who reunite in Jude's Canary Wharf penthouse after a decade apart.Ten years ago, they were a hedonistic couple, partying into the early hours. Now, their lives have diverged: Kyle has left behind the party lifestyle, while Jude is grieving the death of his partner, Sam. As they catch up, their lies begin to crack open, revealing a complex web of emotions.John McCrea and Perry Williams shine as the exes, capturing the nuances of their characters' past and present selves. McCrea, in particular, is a standout performer, effortlessly shifting from grief-stricken to a magnetic seducer.The production, directed by Matthew Iliffe, effectively conveys the intimacy of a past love that still lingers. However, the script's constant revelations can feel forced, detracting from the realism of the story.Despite this, 'Slippery' remains a compelling exploration of queer relationships, grief, and the complexities of human emotions. The play is set to run at Omnibus theatre in London until 11 April.