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On Wednesday, a State Department official announced the release of three American nationals who had been imprisoned in China for years. They are John Leung, Kai Li, and Mark Swidan. Long Island, New York native Li, 62, was arrested in 2016 and given a 10-year term in 2018 on espionage allegations that his family claims are unfounded. Swidan, a 40-year-old Texas businessman who had been in custody since 2012, was found guilty of drug-related accusations that a United Nations working group deemed lacked evidence, and in 2019 he was given a death sentence with a reprieve. The State Department deemed Li and Swidan "wrongfully detained". Last year, a court in eastern China found John Leung, a 70-year-old American with permanent citizenship in Hong Kong, China, guilty of espionage and sentenced ...

In what officials described as a "random" incident at a Florida golf course, a man was fatally battered with his own golf clubs. According to a probable cause affidavit, Junior Boucher, 36, of West Palm Beach, is accused of first-degree murder in connection with the death of golfer Brian Hiltebeitel, 65, at the Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens on Monday afternoon. As they wrestled physically in a pond close to the first hole, a witness informed police that the suspect appeared to choke the man and repeatedly struck him over the head with golf clubs. According to the affidavit, the man was declared dead at the golf course after authorities removed him from the pond and tried to save his life. According to Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Dominick Pape, Boucher did not seem to h...

The Republican Party has taken control of the Senate and the House, and President-elect Donald Trump has secured a second term in office. However, no congressional race has been called. With one House election still uncalled, Republicans will control both houses, but it is unclear how big their majority will be and how easily they will be able to carry out Trump's agenda. Here are the races that the NBC News Decision Desk has not yet called, with votes still being tabulated (learn more about how those races are called). House race left to call Republicans were urged to take control of the House, but it is still unknown how big—or, more precisely, how small—their majority will be. One race has not yet been called. California's 13th District: In this Central Valley district, Republican Re...

Sean Diddy Combs will spend the Christmas away from home. Combs must remain in jail until his criminal trial in May, according to a ruling made Wednesday by the judge presiding over his sex trafficking and racketeering case. There is "no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community" if the music mogul is given parole, according to Judge Aran Subramanian's judgment. Combs, 55, is incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The announcement was made a few days after Combs' legal team laid out their strategy for his potential release. They said that he would only be permitted to call his lawyers and receive visits from pre-approved family members while residing in an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side, which is guarded by a...

With Black Friday only a few days away, Target is already selling discounts on home goods, tech, kitchenware, and more. You may enjoy 50% off your first year of Target Circle 360 membership and save up to 50% off select products on the website until Saturday, November 30. Throughout the year, I regularly review every Target sale and meticulously compile a list of the finest offers that are actually worth it. I browsed the website and discovered noteworthy offers from well-known companies, top-rated choices, and NBC Select employees' preferences. Additionally, every item is discounted by at least 20%. Note that stock availability can change at any time. As we continue our coverage of Black Friday, I'll also be updating this piece. GO Ahead and SkipTop Black Friday Target offers| Additional ...

While navigating continuing disputes over its highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade and preparing for a long-awaited initial public offering, Panera Bread has recruited a well-known crisis management. A Panera representative confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday that Brooke Buchanan has been appointed as the company's new chief corporate affairs officer. Buchanan joined Panera from Edelman, a global communications firm, where she most recently held the position of U.S. crisis lead, assisting businesses in anticipating and addressing reputational threats. A request for comment from her was not answered. Buchanan, who was once called a corporate Ghostbuster by Vanity Fair, was the main spokesperson for the troubled blood-testing business Theranos during its fraud controversy after Elizabeth Holme...

In a statement removed from the school's website, Alabama A&M officials revealed the passing of football player Medrick Burnett Jr. on Wednesday. However, his family informed WFAF, an NBC News station, that the player is still in the hospital. According to HBCU officials, the 20-year-old sustained a head injury during a game four weeks ago. We will release a statement regarding our experiences when the time is appropriate. Denise Burnett, the mother of Burnett Jr., told the station. When the Bulldogs faced rival Alabama State in the yearly gridiron matchup known as the Magic City Classic, which pits the largest and most renowned HBCUs in that state against one another, the redshirt freshman linebacker sustained an injury on October 26. Burnett transferred from Grambling to Alabama A&a...

Professional teeth whitening procedures may be costly and time-consuming, as anyone who has had them knows. Appointments for professional treatments can last up to 90 minutes and usually cost more than $200. Fortunately, a lot of dental care companies provide more affordable, at-home, over-the-counter teeth-whitening solutions. Although they aren't as effective as in-office treatments, experts claim that with proper and persistent use, they can address mild discolouration. I spoke with two dentists below about what to look for and what to anticipate from at-home teeth whitening procedures. I also compiled our top picks from companies like Burt's Bees, Colgate, and Crest. GO Ahead and SkipWhich teeth-whitening product is best for you? How did I choose the best teeth-whitening products? Why ...

After a fierce contest that focused on the candidates' Asian American identities and use of strong anti-Chinese rhetoric, NBC News reports that Democrat Derek Tran has upset Republican incumbent Michelle Steel for a House seat representing Orange County and Los Angeles in California. Tran, a veteran of the Army, won by a slim margin in a contest that was decided by a few hundred votes. In a state that has gone heavily to the right, his victory over Steel turns the 45th Congressional District blue, making it one of only two districts to do so. The findings follow a costly election in which the district spent over $34 million, according to OpenSecrets, a group that monitors political spending. In Los Angeles County, where he has a sizable lead over Steel, Tran has done better with voters. Ho...

Four weeks after sustaining a brain injury during a game, Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. passed away on Tuesday, according to the HBCU's administrators. He was twenty years old. When the Bulldogs faced rival Alabama State in the yearly gridiron matchup known as the Magic City Classic, which pits the largest and most renowned HBCUs in that state against one another, the redshirt freshman linebacker sustained an injury on October 26. Burnett transferred from Grambling to Alabama A&M and participated in seven games this season. On September 21, Burnett had his best game when he recorded three tackles against Austin Peay. In a statement, Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said, "The loss of Medrick Burnett Jr. is heartbreaking for our Bulldog family." Be...