People's Daily Tonight: Podcast News (2/5/2018 Mon.)

This is People's Daily Tonight, your news source from China.

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Gas leak kills 8 at Guangdong refinery

An early morning gas leak at a Guangdong province refinery kills 8.

Ten others were hospitalized for gas poisoning.

The local government says the incident is under investigation.

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Ex-Liaoning vice governor Liu Qiang expelled from Party, public office

Former Liaoning vice governor Liu Qiang has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for serious discipline violations.

China’s discipline watchdog says Liu was guilty of nepotism and sought favors in selecting officials.

The watchdog also accuses him of Liu of sloth at work and trading power-for-sex.

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15 Russians barred from Olympics despite lifting of life bans

It’s still no go for 15 Russian athletes and staff to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

That’s according to the International Olympic Committee.

Last week, the 15 had their life bans for doping lifted.

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Military helicopter crashes near school in SW Japan

A Japanese Self-Defense Force helicopter crashed in a residential area in Saga Prefecture in southwestern Japan. 

Footage showed flames engulfing a building and thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.

No casualties have been reported so far.

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Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong released after appeals trial

The vice chairman of electronics giant Samsung has been released from jail.

That’s because a South Korean appeals court handed down a suspended sentence to Lee Jae-yong.

The court says Samsung did not make any request to ousted president Park Geun-hye for Lee’s succession.

But the heir to Samsung was found guilty of bribing the daughter of Park’s longtime confidante, by sponsoring her equestrian career.

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China to rein in overseas virtual currency trading

China's central bank says it will tighten regulations on domestic investors' participation in overseas transactions of "initial coin offerings" and cybercurrency.

It says the risks remain high.

These include unauthorized and illegal public fundraising with ties to criminal activities.

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Air China to add flights from mainland to Taiwan during Spring Festival

And Air China will schedule extra flights from southwest China's Chongqing to Taiwan for 5 straight days during the Spring Festival travel rush.

That means two flights between Chongqing and Taiwan from Feb. 11 to Feb. 15.

An airline official says they added the extra flights to allow Taiwanese businessmen in the mainland enjoy a smooth homecoming experience for the Spring Festival.

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And that’s People’s Daily Tonight.  Thanks for joining us.

(Produced by David Nye and Wang Yi)