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

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US urged to respect facts, discard prejudice: FM

A Chinese foreign ministry official said China opposes the US side using Xinjiang-related and religion issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs.

A spokesperson was referring to reports that the US government is considering slapping sanctions on Chinese government officials involved in so-called human rights abuses in Xinjiang. 

He said the Chinese government protects its citizens' right to freedom of religious belief and people of all ethnic groups enjoy the full freedom of religious belief.

The New York Times reported that the Trump administration is considering sanctions against senior Chinese officials and companies to punish Beijing’s detention of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uighurs and other minority Muslims in large internment camps. (People’s Daily app)

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China launches book donation program in Johannesburg

Wednesday marked the launch of the "Belt and Road Heart-to-Heart" China Bookshelf Donation Program in Johannesburg, South Africa, where more than 1,000 books were donated to the city by the Consulate General, Chinese-funded enterprises, and Chinese citizens.

The donated books were from a variety of genres, including politics, economics, culture, and other aspects of Chinese culture. They will be given to local school libraries, government offices, and reading rooms at various non-governmental organizations in Johannesburg.

Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Johannesburg Ruan Ping said the program is meant to strengthen people-to-people bonds between Chinese and African citizens. (People's Daily app)

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EU's Juncker calls for efforts to promote euro as global trade currency

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for a bigger role for the euro as a global trade currency to displace the primacy of the US dollar. 

The Commission president from Luxembourg said the European single currency had "come a long way" in its 20-year history, despite criticism.

He added that the European Commission would present new initiatives before the end of the year to strengthen the euro’s international role.

The euro is the official currency of the European Union. Among its 28 member states, 19 use it as their official currency, and make up a group known as the eurozone.

The euro is the second most-traded and second-largest currency in foreign exchange markets, behind the US dollar. (Xinhua)

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Gunman kills 5, self in Southern California rampage

A gunman killed five people, including his wife, before turning the gun on himself as a Kern County sheriff's deputy closed in Wednesday, authorities said.

There was no immediate word on what sparked the shootings that took place at a home and a business in Bakersfield, which is some 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said that these were not random shootings. When a sheriff’s deputy confronted the gunman at gunpoint the man shot himself in the chest.

About 30 people saw the shootings and were being interviewed by deputies, Youngblood said. (AP)

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Typhoon Barijat lands in south China's Guangdong with strong winds

The 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, Barijat, landed in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday.

Forecasters said cities in Guangdong and nearby areas will face heavy rain within the next 24 hours.

Authorities in the southern province have taken measures to ensure the safety of residents. As of 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, nearly 12,000 residents have been evacuated in Guangdong.

Meanwhile, super typhoon Mangkhut was estimated to edge closer to the cities in southern China on Saturday. (CGTN)

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China's cultural relic exhibition kicks off in Saudi Arabia

An exhibition featuring Chinese civilization opened on Wednesday at the National Museum in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, marking one of the largest cultural relic exhibitions hosted by China in the kingdom.

The exhibition "Treasures of China" includes 264 items provided by 13 museums and cultural institutions, among which 173 are Chinese cultural relics. Close to half the items have never been showcased outside China before.

Jointly hosted by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China (SACH) and Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the exhibition also displayed the objects from Chinese-Saudi joint archaeological excavations.

The exhibition, which lasts until Nov. 23, aims to introduce the development of Chinese civilization, as well as showcase social life, culture and the arts of the country over thousands of years. (Xinhua)

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Migrants on Greek islands surpass 20,000 for the first time

And the number of migrants and refugees crammed into overcrowded camps on five Greek islands surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time.

The Aegean islands of Lesvos and Samos are particularly affected by the migrant crisis. 

Lesvos is currently hosting close to 11,000 people, with 9,000 living at its reception center, which is designed to hold 3,100.

Conditions are no better on Samos, where a reception center with a capacity of 648 is serving as an accommodation for 4,000 people. (CGTN)

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

(Produced by David Nye and Cheng Weidan)