This is People’s Daily Tonight, your news source from China.
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China's central bank drains 90 bln yuan from market
China's central bank drained the equivalent of $13 billion from the financial system to ensure stable liquidity.
The People's Bank of China pumped 60 billion yuan into the market through reverse repos, with 150 billion yuan of contracts maturing.
The bank said the move was to maintain liquidity "at a reasonable and abundant level”, as the liquidity level in the banking system can offset the impact of maturing securities.
A reverse repo is a process by which the central bank bids and buys securities from commercial banks with an agreement to sell them back in the future. (Xinhua)
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Moscow accuses Norway of 'spy mania' after Russian man's arrest in Oslo
Moscow on Monday accused Norway of "spy mania" and vowed to retaliate after a Russian national was arrested by Oslo's PST intelligence service over suspected "illegal intelligence activity."
Russia also summoned Norway's Ambassador Rune Resaland on Monday to lodge its "strong protest" and demanded the immediate release of the detainee.
The "absurd" charges are part of the West's "spy mania," Russia's foreign ministry said while identifying the 51-year-old arrested man as M A Bochkaryov, who works as an aide at the Russian parliament's upper house.
The ministry has demanded an explanation from the Norwegian ambassador and demanded the "absurd" and "fictitious spy charges" against the man to be dropped and that he be released "immediately," Russia's RT news network reported. (CGTN)
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Kavanaugh launches counteroffensive against sex accusations
President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, rebutted twin accusations of sexual misconduct in his youth.
In an interview with Fox News, Kavanaugh said he "never" sexually assaulted anyone and was long a virgin.
With pressure mounting to put Kavanaugh's nomination on hold for the FBI to investigate his past, Trump stood firmly behind his embattled nominee, blasting the allegations as "totally political.”
The bombshell claims date back to the conservative judge's high school and college days, and threaten to derail what was seen as an all-but-certain confirmation to the lifelong post on the top court.
Instead, he now faces an explosive Senate showdown against the first of his accusers, university professor Christine Blasey Ford.
She is set to testify against him on Thursday. (AFP)
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Chinese girl killed in Texas, white male suspect still at large
A Chinese student was killed and another was stabbed in a home attack in Dallas, Texas, US, last Friday night.
The victim, who was walking her dog outside, was followed back to her flat by the attacker, stated the police report. Photos of the suspect's sketches have been released and local police are seeking information from the public.
The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston, Texas, US, urged Chinese citizens to pay attention to safety and security on Sunday. (People’s Daily app)
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Instagram co-founders resign from social media company
The co-founders of Instagram are resigning their positions with the social media company without explanation.
Chief Executive Kevin Systrom said in a statement that he and the company’s chief technical officer Mike Krieger plan to leave the company in the next few weeks and take time off “to explore our curiosity and creativity again.”
He said they remain excited for the future of Instagram and Facebook in the coming years, as they transition from leaders to two users in a billion. (AP)
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Chinese, Iranian FMs meet on nuclear issue
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed bilateral commitment to the international deal on Iran's nuke issue during their meeting here on Monday.
Wang extended condolences to the victims of the latest terrorist attack in Iran, and strongly condemned it.
Speaking of Iran's nuke issue, Wang said that China supports Iran to defend its own legitimate rights, opposes unilateralism and hegemonic moves, and calls for upholding the comprehensive deal on Iran's nuke issue.
Zarif spoke highly of China's important role in upholding the international nuclear deal on Iran's nuclear issue, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), noting that Iran believes most members of the international community would continue to support the deal. (Xinhua)
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Shenzhou-7: A milestone in China's aerospace history
And this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Shenzhou-7 manned space flight mission.
The Shenzhou-7 was China's third manned spacecraft and marked a milestone in China's space history.
Shenzhou-7 was launched by the Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 25, 2008.
During the mission, the astronauts carried out four major scientific experiments.
The most prominent one was China's first spacewalk by Zhai Zhigang.
Two days into the mission, Zhai conducted a 22-minute spacewalk wearing a Chinese-developed Feitian space suit. (People's Daily app)
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And that's People's Daily Tonight. Thanks for joining us.
(Produced by David Nye and Qu Qiuyan)