Briefly

BEIJING

University's ex-VP expelled for graft

Cai Xiang, former vice-president of Communication University of China, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from his post, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission said on Wednesday. Cai violated Party discipline and obstructed investigation and review of his behavior, they said in a statement. He colluded with others to prevent investigators from accessing evidence and instigated others to interfere in verification work. He used public funds to travel abroad; buy gift cards, expensive alcohol and tobacco; maintain his private cars; and cover personal expenses, among other violations. Cai's case, and the money and property involved, have been transferred to prosecutors.

HUBEI

Eight pneumonia patients discharged

Eight patients who were diagnosed with unidentified pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei province, were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, according to the health commission of the city. The eight patients received treatment at the city's Jinyintan Hospital, which specializes in treating infectious diseases. They had not showed any clinical symptoms such as fever and pneumonia for many days and were discharged after appraisals from medical experts, the commission said in a statement. The cause of the pneumonia is still under investigation.