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- Over 3,500 sign petition against Vincent Bolloré’s influence in French cinema
- US judge dismisses indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar García
- Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence following husband’s cancer diagnosis
- AI technology aids in translating 3,500-year-old cuneiform tablets in Turkey
- EU and Mexico sign revamped trade deal to strengthen economic ties
- House Oversight Committee investigates Kalshi and Polymarket for insider trading
- First images released from Maldives cave where six divers died
- Ireland warns against Ukraine associate membership risk, citing limbo
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Over 3,500 sign petition against Vincent Bolloré’s influence in French cinema
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Over 3,500 sign petition against Vincent Bolloré’s influence in French cinema
Cinema Protest
Over 3,500 professionals have signed a petition initiated by “Zapper Bolloré” against Vincent Bolloré’s increasing influence in France’s film industry.
Over 3,500 professionals have signed a petition initiated by “Zapper Bolloré” against Vincent Bolloré’s increasing influence in France’s film industry.
Legal Obligations
Canal+ is required to promote media pluralism under France’s 1986 foundational legislation, mandating diverse production investments and collaboration with independent filmmakers.
Canal+ is required to promote media pluralism under France’s 1986 foundational legislation, mandating diverse production investments and collaboration with independent filmmakers.
Official Response
“I experienced that petition as an injustice toward the Canal+ teams, who are committed to defending the independence of Canal+ and the full diversity of its choices,” stated Maxime Saada.
“I experienced that petition as an injustice toward the Canal+ teams, who are committed to defending the independence of Canal+ and the full diversity of its choices,” stated Maxime Saada.
Can France’s Canal+ legally blacklist film professionals for criticising owner Vincent Bolloré?
French cinema was shaken to its core just days ahead of the iconic Cannes Festival that took place between 12-23 May, as more than 600 professionals signed a petition protesting against the ever-growing hold of conservative businessman Vincent Bolloré on the country’s film industry.
Hollywood stars Javier Bardem and Ken Loach are among those who have since added their names to the petition, which includes names such as esteemed French actresses Adèle Haenel and Juliette Binoche.
The petition, which now counts almost 3,500 signatures, was initiated by the collective “Zapper Bolloré”, which translates to “Zap away from Bolloré”, calling out “the growing influence of the far-right” inside France’s film industry. It singles out Bolloré, who is the largest stakeholder of the country’s biggest film producer, Canal+.
The 74-year-old media mogul has been accused of using his empire to promote reactionary and far-right ideas.
In 2025, the Canal+ group announced that it had acquired a 34% stake in the UGC cinema chain, while also signalling its intention to pursue “a potential takeover” of the group in 2028.
Threats made by Canal+ CEO
In response to the petition, Maxime Saada, chief executive of Canal+, stated that the group should cease its collaboration with film professionals who signed the petition during an event for film producers held at the Cannes festival on 17 May.
“I experienced that petition as an injustice toward the Canal+ teams, who are committed to defending the independence of Canal+ and the full diversity of its choices,” Saada said.
“I will no longer work with, and I no longer want Canal to work with the people who signed that petition,” he added.
EU News contacted the Canal+ group to ask whether Saada’s threats would be carried through, but representatives declined to comment.
For many industry professionals and commentators, Saada’s comments amount to boycott threats, which could constitute a possible violation of freedom of speech.
In an address made to the National Assembly, socialist deputy Céline Hervieu accused Bolloré of “quashing freedom of speech and of creativity”, while French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos stated, “you cannot be afraid of losing your job simply for expressing a collective concern.”
Do Saada’s comments amount to a boycott threat?
“Those who signed the petition spoke out and exercised their right to freedom of speech, sharing their fears about a particular group”, Yann Personnic, a Paris-based lawyer specialised in media and intellectual property law, told EU News.
Personnic notes however that Saada’s comments are not an actual direct violation of France’s freedom of speech laws, as the media executive is also entitled to speak freely. For him, the thornier question revolves around where the law stands if Saada were to follow through with his threat.
“This would come into conflict with certain legal principles, notably non-discrimination in the workplace,” Personnic said. “One cannot discriminate against people or refuse to work with them based on their political opinions. If a distinction was made on this basis between two possible collaborators — disrupting a possible economic partnership — this could constitute a legal offence.”
“This principle applies to both employees in the context of employment law, but also to potential independent producers with whom contracts could be signed.”
Despite this, it would be difficult for signatories of the petition to prove any such discrimination before the courts.
“If the Canal+ group says ‘I do not want to work with you because you signed that open letter’, that is obviously reprehensible; but if it says ‘I will not work with you, I will not take part in this film for such-and-such artistic or financial reasons’ – reasons that are specific to it but legitimate – then that cannot be held against them.”
“That is why, in practice, we could not put forward non-discriminatory arguments, but perhaps argue that the hidden intention behind them is discrimination. But you cannot always prove that; it is up to the person who made the decision. Ultimately, it is a question of evidence and proof.”
A legal obligation for Canal+ to produce diverse range of films
As the debate in France centres around Bolloré’s political stance, legal experts warn that Canal+ remains bound to a string of legal obligations designed to protect media pluralism in France.
“While Canal+ is free to work with the individuals that it wants to work with, it has a legal obligation to invest in work produced in the French language, to work with independent productions, within set budgets — in short, obligations in general,” said Personnic.
France’s 1986 foundational legislation governing freedom of communication is a fundamental cornerstone upon which TV channels are required to ensure the pluralistic expression of different schools of thought and to promote diversity.
In the background, key figures in French cinema have attempted to defuse the heated situation, with France’s audiovisual regulatory body Arcom calling on all sides to “engage in dialogue” and to “lower the temperature”.
The French Society of Film Directors (SRF), which comprises around 500 filmmakers, also put forward a proposal for “mediation” between the signatories of the petition and the film teams at Canal+, with the aim of “rebuilding trust”.
It remains to be seen what the outcome of these efforts will be.
US judge dismisses indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar García
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Media Lens: US judge dismisses indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar García
Judge dismisses indictment against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been dismissed. The ruling was made by a judge who termed the case as vindictive, according to coverage in the latest US news and US and global politics.
What happened
A US judge has dismissed the criminal indictment against Kilmar Abrego García, ruling that the case was vindictive. The decision was influenced by allegations of misconduct in the handling of Garcia’s situation.
This ruling comes amid broader discussions regarding the treatment of migrants and the implications of legal proceedings against them. The dismissal highlights ongoing controversies surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States.
Key facts
- The criminal indictment against Kilmar Abrego García has been dismissed.
- A judge ruled the indictment was vindictive.
- The dismissal came from a U.S. judge.
- Reports state the ruling was publicized within the last few hours.
- Various news outlets reported on the case, including The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Where coverage differs
- The Washington Post emphasizes the dismissal ruling as vindictive, while The New York Times highlights the implications of the case being dropped.
- WBAL-TV foregrounds the human smuggling charges, rather than the broader context of the legal proceedings.
- The Guardian prioritizes international ramifications over domestic responses.
One story, four angles
The Washington Post – Judge drops criminal case against Kilmar Abrego García, ruling it vindictive
Publication: The Washington Post | Primary framing pattern: Legal | Tone: Neutral | Intensity: 5/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: High
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Espresso Shot: The article discusses a court ruling that dismissed a case against Kilmar Abrego García, emphasizing the judge’s decision as a response to perceived vindictiveness in the prosecution. It highlights the legal basis for the dismissal and the implications for immigration-related charges.
Publication emphasis: Judges are upholding the rights of defendants in legal proceedings involving immigration issues.
Framing analysis: The ruling is foregrounded as a matter of legal integrity, while the motivations of the prosecution are secondary. This positions judicial oversight as a critical aspect of legal proceedings affecting vulnerable populations.
Bias: Selection: Focuses on the judge’s rationale for the ruling. Language: Describes the ruling as “vindictive” without inflammatory language. Omission: Limited exploration of the broader implications for immigration law.
Assessment: This outlet presents a clear legal analysis that underscores judicial decisions regarding immigration cases.
The New York Times – Judge Dismisses Criminal Case Against Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia
Publication: The New York Times | Primary framing pattern: Legal | Tone: Informative | Intensity: 4/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: High
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Espresso Shot: The article reports that a judge dismissed charges against García, emphasizing the legal argument that the prosecution was based on improper motives. The focus is on the judicial responsibility to ensure fairness in legal proceedings.
Publication emphasis: Highlights the importance of judicial accountability in immigration-related cases.
Framing analysis: The judge’s dismissal is foregrounded as a legal corrective action, while the prosecution’s motives are deemed problematic but not deeply elaborated. This supports a narrative of defense against inappropriate legal actions.
Bias: Selection: Details the dismissal and the judge’s rationale. Language: Uses straightforward legal terminology. Omission: Lacks insights on broader implications for future immigration prosecutions.
Assessment: The outlet effectively communicates the legal basis for the judicial decision, maintaining a focus on accountability.
WBAL-TV – Judge dismisses human smuggling charges against Ábrego García
Publication: WBAL-TV | Primary framing pattern: Legal | Tone: Neutral | Intensity: 5/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: This report covers the dismissal of the charges against García, highlighting the judge’s justification that the case demonstrated prosecutorial overreach. It emphasizes the significance of legal standards in ensuring justice.
Publication emphasis: Points out the potential for prosecutorial misconduct in immigration-related cases.
Framing analysis: The dismissal is presented as a victory for legal propriety, while prosecutorial motivations are noted but underexplored. This creates a portrayal of judicial oversight in immigration prosecutions.
Bias: Selection: Summarizes the judge’s ruling effectively. Language: Maintains a professional tone. Omission: Does not elaborate on the broader implications for immigration law.
Assessment: WBAL-TV succinctly details judicial findings while ensuring that legal principles are front and center.
The Guardian – US judge dismisses criminal indictment against Kilmar Ábrego García
Publication: The Guardian | Primary framing pattern: Legal | Tone: Analytical | Intensity: 6/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: The article covers the dismissal of the case against García, emphasizing judicial scrutiny in immigration prosecutions. It critiques the underlying motivations behind the indictment, suggesting that they stem from broader political pressures.
Publication emphasis: Examines the judicial process and how it interacts with political context in immigration law.
Framing analysis: The emphasis is on the legal decision as a reflection of judicial integrity, while the political dynamics that may influence such cases are discussed in a secondary light.
Bias: Selection: Explores motivations behind the judicial decision. Language: Utilizes critical tones regarding institutional misconduct. Omission: Less focus on the implications for immigration policy as a whole.
Assessment: This outlet effectively blends legal analysis with an examination of political factors influencing judicial decisions.
Food for thought
The Washington Post employs the strongest legal framing by emphasizing the dismissal’s vindictive nature, hinting at possible judicial bias influencing the outcome. In contrast, The Guardian takes a more escalatory approach, underscoring the broader implications of this case for migrant rights and judicial accountability. Meanwhile, WBAL-TV presents a neutral account, primarily focusing on the fact of the case’s dismissal without deeper implications, while The New York Times addresses the rulings with a straightforward depiction of events. Each outlet’s framing significantly influences the reader’s perception of the event’s gravity and implications. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence following husband’s cancer diagnosis
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Get you up to speed: Tulsi Gabbard resigning as director of national intelligence, citing husband’s cancer diagnosis
Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as the director of national intelligence, effective June 30, following her husband Abraham’s diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. The announcement was made in Washington, where Gabbard stated that her decision was to support her husband during his treatment.
Tulsi Gabbard will officially step down as director of national intelligence on June 30, with Aaron Lukas set to serve as acting director in the interim. Her resignation marks the fourth departure from the Cabinet this year, following the exits of Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as director of national intelligence, effective June 30, citing her husband’s rare bone cancer diagnosis. President Trump endorsed her contributions, stating Gabbard “has done an incredible job,” while Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is confirmed.
What remains unclear — It is not specified who will be nominated to replace Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence following husband’s cancer diagnosis
Washington — Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that she is resigning as the director of national intelligence, stepping aside after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
In a letter to President Trump, Gabbard said her resignation would be effective June 30.
“My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” she said. “I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.”
Gabbard said her husband has been her “rock” during their 11-year marriage, which has included a deployment, political campaigns and her role in the Trump administration.
“His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge,” she said, adding that she is “fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks.”
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images 
Mr. Trump praised Gabbard in a post on Truth Social, saying she “has done an incredible job.” He said Aaron Lukas, Gabbard’s deputy at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, will serve as acting director in the interim.
Gabbard’s resignation was first reported by Fox News.
Gabbard is the fourth Cabinet member to leave the administration this year, following the departures of Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Her departure will create an opening in a crucial role overseeing the 18 agencies that comprise the nation’s intelligence community amid the war with Iran.
Gabbard’s tenure
Gabbard, a former Democratic lawmaker who broke with her party to endorse Mr. Trump in 2024, was sworn into her post in February 2025. She had been firmly opposed to military intervention in Iran throughout her political career.
Appearing before Congress earlier this year, Gabbard did not express support for the current war, telling members that it’s up to the president to determine what constitutes an “imminent threat.”
In March, Gabbard’s top aide Joe Kent, who led the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned, saying “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.” Gabbard told lawmakers that Kent’s statement concerned her, without elaborating.
“Ultimately, we have provided the president with the intelligence assessments and the president is elected by the American people and makes his own decisions based on the information that’s available to him,” she said.
Before the bombings of Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2025, Mr. Trump said Gabbard was “wrong” when she testified to lawmakers earlier that year that Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon. Following Mr. Trump’s dismissal of the assessment, Gabbard accused the media of “taking my testimony out of context.”
Gabbard also raised alarms in January when she appeared at elections headquarters in Fulton County, Georgia, while the FBI executed a search warrant and took ballots and other records related to the 2020 election. Democrats questioned why the intelligence chief was involved in domestic law enforcement operations.
As DNI, Gabbard said last summer she would slash her office’s staff by around 40%, cutting its headcount to around 1,300. She estimated the cuts would save around $700 million annually. Gabbard said at the time that the ODNI had become “bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power.”
In a statement about her departure, GOP Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Gabbard made “significant progress” on Mr. Trump’s priorities, including “implementing needed reforms to address the weaponization and politicization” of the intelligence community and “taking actionable steps to increase transparency.”
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that Gabbard’s replacement “must be committed to restoring trust in the office, protecting the integrity of our intelligence, and ensuring our nation’s intelligence professionals can speak truth to power, without fear or interference.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the president “must not treat this vacancy as another opportunity to reward loyalty over competence.”
“Senate Democrats will fight any nominee who puts Trump’s politics ahead of America’s security,” the New York Democrat said.
AI technology aids in translating 3,500-year-old cuneiform tablets in Turkey
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Get you up to speed: Scientists have just unlocked a 3,500-year-old ancient code that could rewrite human history | News Tech
Researchers at the University of Würzburg and the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz are using artificial intelligence to translate ancient clay cuneiform tablets in Anatolia, Turkey. The AI tool, known as ‘Palaeographicum’, is currently being refined and allows for faster analysis of cuneiform signs and handwriting styles.
The team has access to 70,000 photographs documenting over five million cuneiform characters, enhancing their capacity to analyse individual scribes’ handwriting styles. The AI tool, Palaeographicum, was developed through the DFG-funded CuKa project, which ran from 2018 to 2023 and established the foundational AI model now in use.
Researchers at the University of Würzburg and the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz have announced the successful development of ‘Palaeographicum’, a new AI tool that significantly speeds up the process of analysing cuneiform handwriting, enabling tasks that previously took days to be completed in minutes. The international Hittitology community has responded positively, with Professor Schwemer noting that all researchers “open the portal first thing in the morning; they simply can’t do without it.”
What remains unclear — It is not specified when the AI system will be fully refined to accurately identify the handwriting of individual scribes.
AI technology aids in translating 3,500-year-old cuneiform tablets in Turkey
This cuneiform tablet, just over ten centimetres wide, describes a ceremonial ritual (Picture: Dr Daniel Schwemer/Cover Media)
Artificial intelligence is being used to translate ancient clay cuneiform tablets that could give us clues to the origins of human civilisation.
The tech tools are able to decipher and reconstruct fragments Hittite texts in a fraction of the time it has taken humans to read and translate them.
In the three millennia before the Common Era, advanced civilisations in the Near East recorded information on clay tablets using cuneiform – a writing system in which wedge-shaped symbols were pressed into wet clay with a stylus before being dried.
The project, developed by researchers at the University of Würzburg and the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz, focuses on cuneiform tablets produced around 3,500 years ago in what is now Anatolia, in Turkey.
Many of those tablets have since broken apart, with fragments dispersed across museums worldwide.
Scholars in Ancient Near Eastern Studies have long faced the challenge of reassembling the pieces in order to recover complete texts and gain insights into life in the ancient world.
The Würzburg-Mainz research team has spent years developing digital tools to support that work, particularly in the study of the Hittites.
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A cuneiform Tablet from an Assyrian Trading Post (Picture: Los Angeles County Museum of Art/Cover Media)
Their cuneiform system was highly complex, containing 375 signs representing both syllables and entire words.
The group had already created the Hethitologie-Portal Mainz, an online catalogue containing all 30,000 known Hittite clay tablet fragments, alongside research materials and texts.
A decade ago, the team also introduced a digital system capable of capturing the unique three-dimensional characteristics of cuneiform signs, helping researchers reconstruct tablets with computer assistance.
In 2023, another tool, TLHdig, enabled searches in cuneiform script and transliteration.
The latest development, known as ‘Palaeographicum’, analyses digitised images from the Hethitologie-Portal and searches the collection for similarly written signs. It can isolate individual characters and organise them into image tables for comparison.
Researchers currently have access to 70,000 photographs documenting more than five million cuneiform characters. They say that the precise form of each sign is crucial because it reveals the distinctive handwriting styles of individual scribes.
Although cuneiform was impressed into clay rather than written with ink, personal styles are still visible. Some scribes drew the stylus away sharply, leaving flourishes, while others spaced their signs in recognisable ways.
‘With the naked eye, we can usually only do this slowly and with difficulty,’ said Professor Gerfrid Müller, an expert in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, adding that the three-dimensional nature of cuneiform often makes signs difficult to read in photographs.
‘The Palaeographicum is radically changing our work; it allows us to save thousands of hours,’ said Professor Daniel Schwemer, head of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Würzburg.
He revealed that a comparison of handwriting across five clay tablet fragments, which once took three days, could now be completed in five minutes.
Researchers also believe the tool could help date fragments more accurately. Since Hittite tablets rarely include dates, scholars rely on changes in handwriting styles over time – a field known as palaeography – to estimate when texts were produced.
However, the AI system is still being refined.
The Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar chronicle is imprinted with dense cuneiform (Picture: Jona Lendering/Cover Media)
‘We are continuously retraining the AI,’ said Professor Müller, adding that user feedback would shape future updates where technically feasible.
According to the team, the international Hittitology community has already responded enthusiastically to the tool.
‘All researchers in Hittitology open the portal first thing in the morning; they simply can’t do without it,’ said Professor Schwemer.
The researchers’ longer-term ambition is to train the AI to identify the handwriting of individual scribes automatically.
They say the task is challenging because scribes adapted their handwriting to different circumstances, producing more careful script in calm conditions and faster, less formal writing when drafting reports in the field.
‘If we achieve this goal, we could gain a better picture of what individual scribes produced over the course of their professional careers,’ Professor Schwemer said. “And we could compile a social history of Hittite writing culture.”
The foundations for the project were laid between 2018 and 2023 through the DFG-funded CuKa project, which developed the AI model underpinning Palaeographicum.
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EU and Mexico sign revamped trade deal to strengthen economic ties
10:00 pm
EU and Mexico sign revamped trade deal to strengthen economic ties
Trade Agreement
The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa signed a revamped trade deal with Mexico, updating a 20-year-old agreement.
The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa signed a revamped trade deal with Mexico, updating a 20-year-old agreement.
Strategic Access
The updated EU–Mexico trade deal enhances market access for agri-food products, pharmaceuticals, and machinery, reinforcing economic ties amid geopolitical volatility.
The updated EU–Mexico trade deal enhances market access for agri-food products, pharmaceuticals, and machinery, reinforcing economic ties amid geopolitical volatility.
Strategic Partnership
“Today’s modernised Agreements set out our shared vision of the future and will deliver many benefits for both sides,” stated Ursula von der Leyen.
“Today’s modernised Agreements set out our shared vision of the future and will deliver many benefits for both sides,” stated Ursula von der Leyen.
EU clinches new trade deal with Mexico to bolster its foothold in Latin America
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa signed on Friday a revamped trade deal with Mexico as part of the EU’s efforts to expand its influence in Latin America, shortly after the Mercosur pact entered into force.
The deal was signed at an EU–Mexico summit in Mexico, with von der Leyen and Costa joined by the country’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting global alliances following the return of US president to the White House.
The economic partnership between the two medium-sized powers reflects efforts on both sides to reduce their dependence on the US — the EU’s and Mexico’s largest trading partner—and on China, for which Mexico has become a hub for electric vehicle production.
“The EU and Mexico are committed to a close strategic partnership,” von der Leyen said, adding: “Today’s modernised Agreements set out our shared vision of the future and will deliver many benefits for both sides.”
The EU–Mexico trade deal strengthens the EU’s diversification strategy by updating a 20-year-old agreement that had already eliminated tariff barriers on bilateral trade.
Under the new deal, the EU will access new markets for products, such as agri-food (pork, dairy, cereals, fruit and pasta), pharmaceuticals and machinery.
EU tightens trade ties in Latin America
Mexico is the EU’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America and the EU is Mexico’s second-largest export market. Trade between both sides reached €86.8 billion in goods in 2025, alongside €29.7 billion in services in 2024.
The figures remain far smaller than Mexico’s trade with its neighbour, the US, which exceeded $900 billion in goods and services in 2024. But the deal comes as Mexico faces mounting pressure from a more protectionist White House.
For its part, the EU has been grappling with repeated tariff threats from Trump despite a trade deal clinched in 2025.
“At a time of growing global uncertainty, the EU and Mexico are choosing openness, partnership and ambition,” EU trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who was also in Mexico City, said. He pointed out that more than 43,000 European companies export to Mexico, while over 11,000 EU companies operate in the country.
On agriculture, the pact will open up new markets for Mexican products such as coffee, fruit, chocolate and agave syrup.
A total of 568 European and 26 Mexican geographical indications will also be protected, alongside the opening of public procurement markets, according to the Commission.
With this new deal, the EU also wants to signal its strengthened presence in Latin America, where China has expanded its influence.
“97% of the GDP of Latin America and the Caribbean will be covered by sophisticated preferential agreements with the European Union,” a senior EU official said, adding: “There is no other region in the world that has such a dense and connected network of agreements.”
The EU has already built new trade ties with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay through the Mercosur trade agreement, which provisionally entered into force on 1 May and liberalises trade flows between the EU and those countries.
However, its signing has faced strong opposition from EU farmers, who fear unfair competition from Latin American imports, and ratification was suspended after MEPs challenged the agreement before the EU court of Justice.
Brussels argues the Mexico agreement should avoid the backlash faced by Mercosur because sensitive agricultural imports remain capped through tariff quotas.
House Oversight Committee investigates Kalshi and Polymarket for insider trading
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Get you up to speed: House lawmakers launch insider trading probe into Kalshi and Polymarket
The House Oversight Committee is investigating Kalshi and Polymarket for alleged insider trading incidents by users of their prediction markets. Rep. James Comer, chairman of the committee, has requested internal documents from both companies to assess their measures against insider trading.
The House Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into Kalshi and Polymarket regarding alleged insider trading incidents, with Rep. James Comer requesting detailed internal documents from both companies. Recent reports indicated that 9 Polymarket accounts earned $2.4 million based on accurately predicting significant events related to the Iran war and the removal of Nicolás Maduro, raising serious concerns over market integrity.
The House Oversight Committee is investigating Kalshi and Polymarket for alleged insider trading, with Chairman Rep. James Comer requesting internal documents to assess their safeguards against such activities. In response, both companies stated they have implemented comprehensive measures to prevent insider trading and have recently tightened their rules regarding who can participate on their platforms.
What remains unclear — It is not specified what specific measures Kalshi and Polymarket are employing to investigate potential insider trading on their platforms.
House Oversight Committee investigates Kalshi and Polymarket for insider trading
The House Oversight Committee said on Friday that it is opening an investigation into Kalshi and Polymaket over alleged incidents of insider trading by users of the prediction markets.
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the panel’s chairman, sent letters to Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan requesting internal documents to determine what the companies are doing to deter insider trading.
Specifically, Comer asked Kalshi and Polymarket to provide information on how they investigate potential insider trading and on the identity verification processes for domestic and international account holders.
Polymarket and Kalshi allow users to speculate on the outcome of future events, such as elections, sports and geopolitical developments. While their popularity has skyrocketed, they’ve also drawn scrutiny from lawmakers after a series of suspiciously timed bets sparked concerns about insider trading.
In his letter on Friday, Comer requested information from Mansour and Coplan on trading activity on their platforms tied to the Iran war and to the Trump administration’s capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
According to a recent “60 Minutes” report, an investigation by data analytics firm Bubblemaps found that 9 Polymarket accounts made a total of $2.4 million by correctly guessing the dates of pivotal moments in the conflict.
In April, federal prosecutors charged a U.S. special forces soldier with allegedly using confidential government information to bet on Maduro’s removal from office, a trade that netted more than $400,000.
The soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, has been charged with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction. He has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement to WTX US News on Friday, a Polymarket spokesperson said the company “maintains a comprehensive market integrity framework.”
Kalshi also touted its efforts to prevent insider trading. Spokesperson Elisabeth Diana told WTX US News that the company has implemented “comprehensive” safeguards.
In recent months, both platforms have tightened their rules to prevent users from trading on confidential information.
In April, Kalshi fined three congressional candidates and suspended their accounts on the platform for five years after a company investigation found they gambled on their own elections. The prediction market platform now bans members of Congress from creating accounts.
A new rule Polymarket implemented in March also prohibits traders from betting on an event if they “hold a position of authority” or influence that could affect its outcome.
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