China expels former Politburo member Ma Xingrui over corruption

Ma Xingrui, a former member of China's elite Politburo and a top official in the Xinjiang region, has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and public office on corruption charges. The announcement was made by the state-run Xinhua News Agency. This marks the third purge of a sitting Politburo member since 2022, as President Xi Jinping intensifies his anti-graft campaign. Investigators found that Ma sought benefits for others in the selection and appointment of officials, improperly arranged jobs, illegally accepted gifts, and engaged in exchanges involving power for sex. His family members also leveraged his official influence for significant benefits, leading to what authorities described as "family corruption." Ma has been transferred to judicial authorities for criminal prosecution.