BEIJING (AP) — A former member of one of China’s top decision-making bodies has been formally charged with accepting bribes, state media reported Thursday, a week after Communist Party leaders confirmed his expulsion from the party.
Prosecutors in Yichang, a city in the central province of Hubei, accused Ma Xingrui of using his leadership positions to accept “exceptionally large” bribes and to secure benefits for others, while also accepting financial assets himself, Xinhua state news agency said.
Ma had been named to the Politburo in 2022 and his downfall became public in April, when authorities said he was being investigated for severe violations of party discipline and national laws, without providing details.
He had served in leadership positions for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, a state-owned company in charge of aspects of China's space program, as well as the party secretary of Shenzhen, China's technology hub, as well as the Politburo. Prosecutors accused him of using the benefits and powers afforded to him in these positions to carry out his crimes, according to Xinhua, without providing more detail on how he did so.
He was the latest senior official to fall in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign, a policy reinforced at last week’s closed-door meeting of the Central Committee’s fifth plenum, where the leaders adopted a resolution on strengthening discipline and combating corruption.
The leaders also ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials from the party, including Ma and one who was until early this year the army’s top general.
The Politburo had 24 members before three were recently purged — Ma and two military generals.
Analysts have said that the campaign is a way to enforce loyalty to Xi as well as root out corruption.
Ma was the Communist Party chief of the Xinjiang region until 2025, and before that the governor of Guangdong province, the manufacturing powerhouse bordering Hong Kong in China’s south. In the Chinese system, the party leader outranks the governor in a province or region.
FILE - Ma Xingrui, Party Secretary of Xinjiang, speaks during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe had a hat trick and an assist, Quinton Byfield scored two goals, and the Los Angeles Kings routed the San Jose Sharks 7-2 on Wednesday night.
Erik Haula and Joel Armia also scored for the Kings and Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves. Artemi Panarin had four assists.
It was the 37th multigoal game Kempe has had with the Kings, moving him past Dustin Brown for sole possession of ninth place in the history of the franchise. Kempe returned to the lineup after missing a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday because of an undisclosed injury.
Macklin Celebrini and Ivar Stenberg scored power-play goals and Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves for the Sharks, who have now lost three games in a row. Erik Gustafsson assisted on both goals.
Kempe scored his first goal just 1:23 into the game and added a second later in the first period as the Kings jumped to a 3-0 lead after one. Kempe completed the hat trick with a power-play goal with 4:09 left in the second period. The Kings were 3 for 5 on the power play in the game.
The game marked the NHL debut for San Jose defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, called up from the AHL before the game.
Sharks: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Friday night.
Kings: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry, left, shoots against San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Kings center Scott Laughton, left, moves the puck against San Jose Sharks center Michael Misa during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Erik Haula reacts after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, left, moves the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, right, celebrates with right wing Alex Laferriere, center, and right wing Quinton Byfield after scoring a hat trick during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
