Israeli police have released two of three suspects in an alleged voter bribery case. The releases on Sunday seem to weaken accusations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party that Arab-led parties stole last week’s parliamentary election. Likud hasn't provided evidence for these accusations. Police arrested three political activists before the polls opened allegedly with cash to bribe voters. Local media said that the court found no evidence to support the bribery allegations. Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority of parliamentary seats and he appears to be trying to block any opposition alliance with Arab parties. The election results are due to be certified on Wednesday.
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Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have announced that a man involved in rigging college basketball games has been sentenced to six years in prison. This marks the first penalty in an investigation that authorities said uncovered a network of gamblers and players profiting from fixed games. Jalen Smith, 30, was involved in fixing games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 NCAA seasons. He recruited players to underperform in exchange for payment, allowing bettors to profit by wagering against their teams. The scheme affected nearly 30 games and resulted in over $3 million in fraudulent wagers. Smith must also pay $1.1 million in restitution.
A senior Iranian official says Tehran finds the latest U.S. response to a proposal to end the war “insufficient." Meanwhile, Israel's former attorney general has testified in Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial. Netanyahu, who is accused of fraud and bribery, denies wrongdoing. This comes weeks before national elections. Elsewhere, a projectile struck the same passenger terminal at the Riyadh international airport that was hit on Saturday. The airport had been closed after Saturday's attack, which killed 12 people, but Saudi authorities reported injuries.
A businessman wanted in the U.S. for allegedly bribing top Venezuelan officials has been taken into custody. Alvaro Pulido was indicted in Miami federal court in 2019 and again in 2021. The DEA and State Department had offered a reward for his arrest. Pulido was taken into U.S. custody after an investigation led by the DEA, FBI, and Homeland Security. He will make his initial court appearance Tuesday in Miami. Venezuelan authorities have been silent about the arrest. Prosecutors allege Pulido and his partner created a network of shell companies to funnel bribes in exchange for state contracts.