<p>A special flight carrying 55 Afghan Sikh minorities fleeing from Afghanistan arrived in India at New Delhi airport on Sunday, as a part of efforts to evacuate the distressed minorities in the Taliban-led nation.</p>

<p>International President of World Punjabi Organisation and Punjab Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Vikramjit Singh Sahney received the Afghan refugees who arrived at the Indira Gandhi Airport today.</p>

<p>A special flight operated by Ariana Afghan with a number 315 was organised by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee, Amritsar in coordination with the Indian World Forum and the Government of India to evacuate these Afghan minorities. "The 55 families which were stranded in Kabul, Jalalabad have arrived safely in Delhi today. I am thankful to the Indian government to facilitate e-visas. We will rehabilitate them in the "My family My responsibility" programme." Punjab MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney said.</p>

<p>Sahney is running a programme "My family My responsibility" under which 543 Afghan Sikhs and Hindu families are being rehabilitated in West Delhi by providing them with all facilities.</p>

<p>He said, "We are already rehabilitating 543 families by providing them with monthly household expenditures, house rent and medical facilities, and the rehabilitation of these people will be a part of the same programme."The Afghan refugees thanked the Indian government and Prime Minister to provide urgent e-visas and safely evacuating them.</p>

<p>An Afghan Sikh, Baljeet Singh, who returned on the same flight, said, "The condition is not very well in Afghanistan. I was imprisoned for four months. Taliban have cheated us, they butchered our hair in prison. I am thankful and happy to return to India and to our religion. There are 11-12 people left behind who will also return soon, I hope."</p>

<p>"We would like to thank the Indian government to give us urgent visas and help us to reach India. We are 55 families who have arrived here today, but many of us still have families left behind as around 30-35 people are left stranded in Afghanistan. They have been issued visas from the Indian government, but it is their wish now if they want to return or not," Sukhbeer Singh Khalsa, another Afghan Sikh refugee said. Mansa Singh, a sevadar at Kabul gurdwara said, I would like to thank the Indian government and PM Modi to facilitate with e-visa and help us return to India. Besides, I would like to thank Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Puneet Chandowk and all other organisations who made this a success; hence, we returned safely."</p>

<p>"The situation of Afghanistan is not hidden, we have come here for the safety of our kids, and urge the Indian government to evacuate our other 30 brothers who are left behind in Afghanistan," he added. The Sikh refugees told that there are still some 30-35 Afghan Sikhs who are stranded in Afghanistan, and said that the government has provided them e-visas but it is their own wish to stay back. On being asked about the remaining Sikh nationals in Afghanistan, the AAP MP Sahney said that they are the sevadars and others in the service of gurudwaras, the Indian government is trying to evacuate them as well.</p>

<p>"The remaining Afghan Hindus and Sikhs in the country are sevadars and those in the service of gurudwaras, the Taliban has urged to let them stay there saying that those gurudwaras are a part of national heritage. But the government is in talks with the Taliban to evacuate the remaining Sikh and Hindu nationals, and we will hopefully bring them back to their country," the AAP MP said.</p>

<p>He thanked the government of India and all other organisations who helped to make the mission successful. "Since the Taliban took over the country situation is not under control, and an evacuation process was underway. The Government of India played a significant role and held talks with the Taliban to evacuate the Sikh nationals. We are working as a family and would like to thank all the teams and organisations who have helped in this," Sahney said.</p>

<p>Indian World Forum has coordinated and facilitated humanitarian evacuation for more than 300 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs post the regime change in Kabul.68 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have arrived till date after the attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. SGPC is bearing the airfare for the same.</p>

<p>On August 3, at least 30 Afghan Sikhs including children and infants, arrived in Delhi by a non-scheduled commercial flight from Kabul, operated by Kam Air.On July 14, a total of 21 Afghan Sikhs, including an infant, were evacuated from Kabul to New Delhi on Kam Air, the largest private Afghan airline.</p>

<p>There were about 700 Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan in 2020, but a large number of them left the country following the Taliban's takeover on August 15, 2021.Four Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib still remains in Afghanistan. Due to a lack of cooperation from the local administration in Kabul, the same could not be transferred to India as per religious protocol.</p>

<p>Ever Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there has been a series of attacks on Sikhs. On June 18 this year, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) attacked Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul which claimed the lives of about 50 people.In October, last year 15 to 20 terrorists entered a Gurdwara in the Kart-e-Parwan District of Kabul and tied up the guards.</p>

<p>In March 2020, a deadly attack took place at Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Gurudwara in Kabul's Short Bazaar area in which 27 Sikhs were killed and several were injured. Islamic State terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;</p>

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A special flight carrying 55 Afghan Sikh minorities fleeing from Afghanistan arrived in India at New Delhi airport on Sunday, as a part of efforts to evacuate the distressed minorities in the Taliban-led nation.

A special flight carrying 55 Afghan Sikh minorities fleeing from Afghanistan arrived in India at New Delhi airport on Sunday, as a part of efforts to evacuate the distressed minorities in the Taliban-led nation. International President of World Punjabi Organisation and Punjab Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Vikramjit Singh Sahney received the Afghan refugees who arrived at the Indira Gandhi Airport today. A special flight operated by Ariana Afghan with a number 315 was organised by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee, Amritsar in coordination with the Indian World Forum and the Government of India to evacuate these Afghan minorities. "The 55 families which were stranded in Kabul, Jalalabad have arrived safely in Delhi today. I am thankful to the Indian government to facilitate e-visas. We will rehabilitate them in the "My family My responsibility" programme." Punjab MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney said. Sahney is running a programme "My family My responsibility" under which 543 Afghan Sikhs and Hindu families are being rehabilitated in West Delhi by providing them with all facilities. He said, "We are already rehabilitating 543 families by providing them with monthly household expenditures, house rent and medical facilities, and the rehabilitation of these people will be a part of the same programme."The Afghan refugees thanked the Indian government and Prime Minister to provide urgent e-visas and safely evacuating them. An Afghan Sikh, Baljeet Singh, who returned on the same flight, said, "The condition is not very well in Afghanistan. I was imprisoned for four months. Taliban have cheated us, they butchered our hair in prison. I am thankful and happy to return to India and to our religion. There are 11-12 people left behind who will also return soon, I hope." "We would like to thank the Indian government to give us urgent visas and help us to reach India. We are 55 families who have arrived here today, but many of us still have families left behind as around 30-35 people are left stranded in Afghanistan. They have been issued visas from the Indian government, but it is their wish now if they want to return or not," Sukhbeer Singh Khalsa, another Afghan Sikh refugee said. Mansa Singh, a sevadar at Kabul gurdwara said, I would like to thank the Indian government and PM Modi to facilitate with e-visa and help us return to India. Besides, I would like to thank Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Puneet Chandowk and all other organisations who made this a success; hence, we returned safely." "The situation of Afghanistan is not hidden, we have come here for the safety of our kids, and urge the Indian government to evacuate our other 30 brothers who are left behind in Afghanistan," he added. The Sikh refugees told that there are still some 30-35 Afghan Sikhs who are stranded in Afghanistan, and said that the government has provided them e-visas but it is their own wish to stay back. On being asked about the remaining Sikh nationals in Afghanistan, the AAP MP Sahney said that they are the sevadars and others in the service of gurudwaras, the Indian government is trying to evacuate them as well. "The remaining Afghan Hindus and Sikhs in the country are sevadars and those in the service of gurudwaras, the Taliban has urged to let them stay there saying that those gurudwaras are a part of national heritage. But the government is in talks with the Taliban to evacuate the remaining Sikh and Hindu nationals, and we will hopefully bring them back to their country," the AAP MP said. He thanked the government of India and all other organisations who helped to make the mission successful. "Since the Taliban took over the country situation is not under control, and an evacuation process was underway. The Government of India played a significant role and held talks with the Taliban to evacuate the Sikh nationals. We are working as a family and would like to thank all the teams and organisations who have helped in this," Sahney said. Indian World Forum has coordinated and facilitated humanitarian evacuation for more than 300 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs post the regime change in Kabul.68 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have arrived till date after the attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. SGPC is bearing the airfare for the same. On August 3, at least 30 Afghan Sikhs including children and infants, arrived in Delhi by a non-scheduled commercial flight from Kabul, operated by Kam Air.On July 14, a total of 21 Afghan Sikhs, including an infant, were evacuated from Kabul to New Delhi on Kam Air, the largest private Afghan airline. There were about 700 Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan in 2020, but a large number of them left the country following the Taliban's takeover on August 15, 2021.Four Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib still remains in Afghanistan. Due to a lack of cooperation from the local administration in Kabul, the same could not be transferred to India as per religious protocol. Ever Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there has been a series of attacks on Sikhs. On June 18 this year, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) attacked Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul which claimed the lives of about 50 people.In October, last year 15 to 20 terrorists entered a Gurdwara in the Kart-e-Parwan District of Kabul and tied up the guards. In March 2020, a deadly attack took place at Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Gurudwara in Kabul's Short Bazaar area in which 27 Sikhs were killed and several were injured. Islamic State terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Special flight carrying 55 Afghan Sikh refugees arrives in India

<p>Italy's right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy (FdI) party came top in Italian elections, said that the voters had given a clear mandate to the right to form the next government. She is now on a course to guide Italy's right-wing government since World War II.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is certainly expected that Meloni will get the nod from the head of state to form a new government. She also called for unity to help confront the country's many problems as, after the exit poll results, she said that they are a "starting point, not a finish line".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the provisional results from Sunday's general election, Meloni's party topped the polls with almost 26 per cent of the vote. The results showed that an alliance of right-wing parties have a clear majority in both houses of parliament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meloni's coalition allies, Matteo Salvini's right League and former premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, lagged behind her in the polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, full results are not due until later Monday. However, the centre-left Democratic Party, the coalition's main rivals, conceded stating that it was a "sad" day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/far-right-leader-girogina-meloni-set-to-win-italys-election-exit-polls-519614">Girogia Meloni set to win Italy's election: Exit poll</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="qme"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElezioniPolitiche2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElezioniPolitiche2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meloni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meloni</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZVtLmYqPkI">pic.twitter.com/ZVtLmYqPkI</a></p>
— Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1574204119367155713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="it">Non tradiremo la vostra fiducia. Siamo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pronti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pronti</a> a risollevare l’Italia<br />
<br />
GRAZIE! 🇮🇹 <a href="https://t.co/DabIIuhORK">pic.twitter.com/DabIIuhORK</a></p>
— Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1574200445769334784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>"When this night is over we have to remember we must remember that we are not at the endpoint, we are at the starting point. It is from tomorrow that we must prove our worth," the 45-year-old Meloni told the party faithful early Monday morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You know better than me that data is not final, but it seems to me, from the first projections, that we got from Italians, on this national election, a clear indication. The clear indication for a centre-right government led by Brothers of Italy," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-claimed-he-was-not-watching-television-during-capitol-hill-riots-new-book-says-519635">Donald Trump claimed 'he was not watching television during Capitol Hill riots', new book says</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElezioniPolitiche2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElezioniPolitiche2022</a><br />
Seguitemi in diretta: <a href="https://t.co/wUexOoWSlm">https://t.co/wUexOoWSlm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meloni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meloni</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEuSsuc8W3">pic.twitter.com/jEuSsuc8W3</a></p>
— Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1574196972441194498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>During her address, Meloni mentioned the crises faced by the country as she is set to take charge when the nation&nbsp;faces issues like rapid rise in energy prices and the ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She also said, "It's important to understand that if we will be called to lead this country we will do that for all. We will do that for all Italians, we will do that with the aim to unify these people, to underline what unifies it rather than what divides it."&nbsp;</p>

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Italy's right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy (FdI) party came top in Italian elections, said that the voters had given a clear mandate to the right to form the next government.

Italy's right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy (FdI) party came top in Italian elections, said that the voters had given a clear mandate to the right to form the next government. She is now on a course to guide Italy's right-wing government since World War II. It is certainly expected that Meloni will get the nod from the head of state to form a new government. She also called for unity to help confront the country's many problems as, after the exit poll results, she said that they are a "starting point, not a finish line". According to the provisional results from Sunday's general election, Meloni's party topped the polls with almost 26 per cent of the vote. The results showed that an alliance of right-wing parties have a clear majority in both houses of parliament. Meloni's coalition allies, Matteo Salvini's right League and former premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, lagged behind her in the polls. Notably, full results are not due until later Monday. However, the centre-left Democratic Party, the coalition's main rivals, conceded stating that it was a "sad" day. ALSO READ | Girogia Meloni set to win Italy's election: Exit poll #ElezioniPolitiche2022 #Meloni pic.twitter.com/ZVtLmYqPkI — Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 26, 2022 × Non tradiremo la vostra fiducia. Siamo #pronti a risollevare l’Italia GRAZIE! 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/DabIIuhORK — Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 26, 2022 × "When this night is over we have to remember we must remember that we are not at the endpoint, we are at the starting point. It is from tomorrow that we must prove our worth," the 45-year-old Meloni told the party faithful early Monday morning. "You know better than me that data is not final, but it seems to me, from the first projections, that we got from Italians, on this national election, a clear indication. The clear indication for a centre-right government led by Brothers of Italy," she added. ALSO READ | Donald Trump claimed 'he was not watching television during Capitol Hill riots', new book says #ElezioniPolitiche2022 Seguitemi in diretta: https://t.co/wUexOoWSlm #Meloni pic.twitter.com/jEuSsuc8W3 — Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 26, 2022 × During her address, Meloni mentioned the crises faced by the country as she is set to take charge when the nation faces issues like rapid rise in energy prices and the ongoing war in Ukraine. She also said, "It's important to understand that if we will be called to lead this country we will do that for all. We will do that for all Italians, we will do that with the aim to unify these people, to underline what unifies it rather than what divides it." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy's right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni calls for unity after election win

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<p>Social media rumours from multiple sources claiming an attempt of a military coup in China and President Xi Jinping being under house arrest went viral in the past couple of days. The shocking, but unverified,&nbsp;claims tried to paint a chaotic picture of China and a dramatic shift in politics, which was a farce.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As WION dissected the viral news, it appears that those were just baseless claims shared by unverified social media handles and no concrete pieces of evidence were provided. It is most likely a meal cooked on Twitter and served with extra salt and pepper by the Twitterati with the hashtag #ChinaCoup trending on Twitter heavily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The claims created a buzz on social media after some top news channels, including in India, carried it as "exclusive news". But, the rumour mill has now stopped ahead of a key meeting of China's ruling Communist party next month, when Xi is expected to be granted an unprecedented third term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that Xi is expected to be re-appointed as leader of the party and military commission at the once-in-five-years meeting. The list of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) central committee delegates for the party congress was announced by state media on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>When did it start?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The rumours started just a couple of days after senior security officials were jailed for corruption in China. Former vice-minister of public security Sun Lijun, former justice minister Fu Zhenghua, and former police chiefs of Shanghai, Chongqing and Shanxi were sent to prison&nbsp;by Chinese courts on corruption charges last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>How did it start?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It started when unfounded claims accompanied by videos of military vehicles - without attributing sources - were circulated on social media. Some shared videos claiming them to be the actual footage of military vehicles moving to Beijing, which came after the so-called "grounding of 59 per cent of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials". It showcased a coup-like situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Twitter user with an account identified as New Highland Vision wrote that former Chinese president Hu Jintao and former premier Wen Jiabao persuaded Song Ping, the former member of the Politburo Standing Committee, to take the control of the Central Guard Bureau (CGB) from Xi. The tweet was posted on 22 September. The account has over 20,000 followers.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today in Beijing, I investigated the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chinacoup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chinacoup</a> so you don’t have to. At considerable personal risk, I ventured out to some neuralgic key points in the city. Disturbing finds. Brace yourselves. /1 <a href="https://t.co/z4CJYpQbbk">pic.twitter.com/z4CJYpQbbk</a></p>
— Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) <a href="https://twitter.com/schorselysees/status/1573949280234008576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nearby Tian’anmen Square swarms with thugs in plainclothes. I’ve been in China long enough to know these are not tourists. /3 <a href="https://t.co/xTwglk4v8i">pic.twitter.com/xTwglk4v8i</a></p>
— Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) <a href="https://twitter.com/schorselysees/status/1573949307316600832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Second Ring Road close to the Foreign Ministry.<br />
<br />
One of Beijing’s main thoroughfares, it has been closed off to civilian traffic. A column of military vehicles stretches about 80 kilometers from here to some place in Hebei. /5 <a href="https://t.co/eCIjUIalNS">pic.twitter.com/eCIjUIalNS</a></p>
— Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) <a href="https://twitter.com/schorselysees/status/1573949338987900928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This video of military vehicles moving to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beijing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Beijing</a> comes immediately after the grounding of 59% of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials. There’s a lot of smoke, which means there is a fire somewhere inside the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CCP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CCP</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> is unstable. <a href="https://t.co/hSUS3210GR">https://t.co/hSUS3210GR</a></p>
— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) <a href="https://twitter.com/GordonGChang/status/1573481779163447297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Of direct concern to us here in India. Many Flights to Lhasa Gonggar are also being cancelled. We have to see if there is an uptick in military air traffic over the Tibetan plateau or not. # XiJinping <a href="https://t.co/xFvJDL6xhp">pic.twitter.com/xFvJDL6xhp</a></p>
— Saurav Jha (@SJha1618) <a href="https://twitter.com/SJha1618/status/1573568343436496896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The rumours were fueled further when some claimed that a few flights in and out of Beijing were said to be cancelled as were some trains and buses.</p>

<p>On China's social media, there was no specific mention of the coup rumours.&nbsp;However, a Weibo hashtag related to "airports across the country cancel flights" was viewed by more than 200,000 people over the weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, flights were canceled when there were rise in Coivd cases in the country.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nearly 60% of flights were canceled across <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> yesterday (Sep 21). No reasons were offered.<br />
As of 22:35 on September 21, 16,062 flights were planned for the day, and 9,583 flights were canceled. <a href="https://t.co/jUrbJh4Jum">pic.twitter.com/jUrbJh4Jum</a></p>
— Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferzeng97) <a href="https://twitter.com/jenniferzeng97/status/1572978679692533762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>What's the truth?</strong></p>

<p>Drew Thompson, who is a scholar with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said a coup in China wasn't entirely implausible. Thompson mentioned that Xi had reportedly shown concern about the prospect in the past, but the weekend's rumours looked more like "wishful thinking".&nbsp;</p>

<p>They appeared to originate in accounts associated with the Falun Gong movement, which Thompson said was "essentially not credible".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The rumour that Xi Jinping has been arrested has legs because it is such a sensitive political moment in China, and the recent trials (and convictions) of long-serving senior officials creates a hothouse atmosphere," he said on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other analysts like Sinocism author, Bill Bishop, said he thought the rumours were "BS" but the "inherent opacity" of the CCP mechanisms easily fuelled their spread.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I don’t follow “Zhao Lanjian” on Twitter, and when I looked for his account, I could not find it.<br />
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Falungong media is amplifying the rumor which makes it suspect too.<br />
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Zhao has written several articles for New Tang Dynasty TV, which is a Falungong outlet.</p>
— Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) <a href="https://twitter.com/TangAnZhu/status/1573459299770454016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The claimed source of the information is an “investigative journalist” named Zhao Lanjian who tweeted that 60% of China’s flights have been cancelled, which is an indication of a coup.<a href="https://twitter.com/ELuttwak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ELuttwak</a> might agree that flight cancellations are not the opening phase of a coup.</p>
— Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) <a href="https://twitter.com/TangAnZhu/status/1573459297102888960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The rumor that Xi Jinping has been arrested has legs because it is such a sensitive political moment in China, and the recent trials (and convictions) of long-serving senior officials creates a hothouse atmosphere.</p>
— Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) <a href="https://twitter.com/TangAnZhu/status/1573459302479990785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Xi's absence fuelled rumours</strong></p>

<p>The Chinese president has been absent from the public eye since he returned to China from the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan. Some say he might be quarantined, considering the dire Covid situation in China. It surely doesn't mean there's a military coup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think the fact this rumour spread so far, and was considered plausible enough to analyse is really a reflection of an underlying shortcoming of Chinese governance," said Thompson.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Role of social media&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It also leads to one question whether or not the public should believe what social media has to offer. &nbsp;As in this case, the rumours related to the "China coup" could have led to national security issues and a state of chaos and disorder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The role of social media has also been questioned in the case as the rumours were circulating for several days and the misleading tweets are still live. What are tech giants doing to curb the spread of this fake news?&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Social media rumours from multiple sources claiming an attempt of a military coup in China and President Xi Jinping being under house arrest went viral in the past couple of days.

Social media rumours from multiple sources claiming an attempt of a military coup in China and President Xi Jinping being under house arrest went viral in the past couple of days. The shocking, but unverified, claims tried to paint a chaotic picture of China and a dramatic shift in politics, which was a farce. As WION dissected the viral news, it appears that those were just baseless claims shared by unverified social media handles and no concrete pieces of evidence were provided. It is most likely a meal cooked on Twitter and served with extra salt and pepper by the Twitterati with the hashtag #ChinaCoup trending on Twitter heavily. The claims created a buzz on social media after some top news channels, including in India, carried it as "exclusive news". But, the rumour mill has now stopped ahead of a key meeting of China's ruling Communist party next month, when Xi is expected to be granted an unprecedented third term. Reports have mentioned that Xi is expected to be re-appointed as leader of the party and military commission at the once-in-five-years meeting. The list of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) central committee delegates for the party congress was announced by state media on Sunday. When did it start? The rumours started just a couple of days after senior security officials were jailed for corruption in China. Former vice-minister of public security Sun Lijun, former justice minister Fu Zhenghua, and former police chiefs of Shanghai, Chongqing and Shanxi were sent to prison by Chinese courts on corruption charges last week. How did it start? It started when unfounded claims accompanied by videos of military vehicles - without attributing sources - were circulated on social media. Some shared videos claiming them to be the actual footage of military vehicles moving to Beijing, which came after the so-called "grounding of 59 per cent of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials". It showcased a coup-like situation. A Twitter user with an account identified as New Highland Vision wrote that former Chinese president Hu Jintao and former premier Wen Jiabao persuaded Song Ping, the former member of the Politburo Standing Committee, to take the control of the Central Guard Bureau (CGB) from Xi. The tweet was posted on 22 September. The account has over 20,000 followers. Today in Beijing, I investigated the #chinacoup so you don’t have to. At considerable personal risk, I ventured out to some neuralgic key points in the city. Disturbing finds. Brace yourselves. /1 pic.twitter.com/z4CJYpQbbk — Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) September 25, 2022 × Nearby Tian’anmen Square swarms with thugs in plainclothes. I’ve been in China long enough to know these are not tourists. /3 pic.twitter.com/xTwglk4v8i — Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) September 25, 2022 × The Second Ring Road close to the Foreign Ministry. One of Beijing’s main thoroughfares, it has been closed off to civilian traffic. A column of military vehicles stretches about 80 kilometers from here to some place in Hebei. /5 pic.twitter.com/eCIjUIalNS — Georg Fahrion (@schorselysees) September 25, 2022 × This video of military vehicles moving to #Beijing comes immediately after the grounding of 59% of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials. There’s a lot of smoke, which means there is a fire somewhere inside the #CCP. #China is unstable. https://t.co/hSUS3210GR — Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) September 24, 2022 × Of direct concern to us here in India. Many Flights to Lhasa Gonggar are also being cancelled. We have to see if there is an uptick in military air traffic over the Tibetan plateau or not. # XiJinping pic.twitter.com/xFvJDL6xhp — Saurav Jha (@SJha1618) September 24, 2022 × The rumours were fueled further when some claimed that a few flights in and out of Beijing were said to be cancelled as were some trains and buses. On China's social media, there was no specific mention of the coup rumours. However, a Weibo hashtag related to "airports across the country cancel flights" was viewed by more than 200,000 people over the weekend. Notably, flights were canceled when there were rise in Coivd cases in the country. Nearly 60% of flights were canceled across #China yesterday (Sep 21). No reasons were offered. As of 22:35 on September 21, 16,062 flights were planned for the day, and 9,583 flights were canceled. pic.twitter.com/jUrbJh4Jum — Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferzeng97) September 22, 2022 × What's the truth? Drew Thompson, who is a scholar with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said a coup in China wasn't entirely implausible. Thompson mentioned that Xi had reportedly shown concern about the prospect in the past, but the weekend's rumours looked more like "wishful thinking". They appeared to originate in accounts associated with the Falun Gong movement, which Thompson said was "essentially not credible". "The rumour that Xi Jinping has been arrested has legs because it is such a sensitive political moment in China, and the recent trials (and convictions) of long-serving senior officials creates a hothouse atmosphere," he said on Twitter. Other analysts like Sinocism author, Bill Bishop, said he thought the rumours were "BS" but the "inherent opacity" of the CCP mechanisms easily fuelled their spread. I don’t follow “Zhao Lanjian” on Twitter, and when I looked for his account, I could not find it. Falungong media is amplifying the rumor which makes it suspect too. Zhao has written several articles for New Tang Dynasty TV, which is a Falungong outlet. — Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) September 23, 2022 × The claimed source of the information is an “investigative journalist” named Zhao Lanjian who tweeted that 60% of China’s flights have been cancelled, which is an indication of a coup.@ELuttwak might agree that flight cancellations are not the opening phase of a coup. — Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) September 23, 2022 × The rumor that Xi Jinping has been arrested has legs because it is such a sensitive political moment in China, and the recent trials (and convictions) of long-serving senior officials creates a hothouse atmosphere. — Drew Thompson 唐安竹 (@TangAnZhu) September 23, 2022 × Xi's absence fuelled rumours The Chinese president has been absent from the public eye since he returned to China from the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan. Some say he might be quarantined, considering the dire Covid situation in China. It surely doesn't mean there's a military coup. "I think the fact this rumour spread so far, and was considered plausible enough to analyse is really a reflection of an underlying shortcoming of Chinese governance," said Thompson. Role of social media It also leads to one question whether or not the public should believe what social media has to offer. As in this case, the rumours related to the "China coup" could have led to national security issues and a state of chaos and disorder. The role of social media has also been questioned in the case as the rumours were circulating for several days and the misleading tweets are still live. What are tech giants doing to curb the spread of this fake news? WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The truth behind 'China coup' and Xi Jinping being 'under house arrest'. Did social media cross the line?

<p>US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's funeral on Tuesday (September 27) in Tokyo. It is a sombre event, and Harris' Asia visit is not going to be an easy assignment.&nbsp; She has more than a couple of vital issues to address. Controversies are likely to happen as the vice president has begun her second trip to Asia since taking office in January 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Harris will meet Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday, and she will visit South Korea later to strengthen US diplomatic links in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-claimed-he-was-not-watching-television-during-capitol-hill-riots-new-book-says-519635">Donald Trump claimed 'he was not watching television during Capitol Hill riots', new book says</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>China will keep a close watch on her movement because tensions between the nations are expected to escalate as Harris' visit came just days after US President Joe Biden committed to defending Taiwan from a "potential attack" from the Chinese. A similar visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this year&nbsp;had raised the heckles in Beijing.<br />
<br />
So the question remains, will Harris do a Pelosi?&nbsp;</p>

<p>North Korea will also keep a close eye on Harris, even as it fired a ballistic missile on Sunday as a veiled warning just hours ahead of the planned military drills by South Korean and US forces involving an aircraft carrier, which started on Sunday.&nbsp;South Korean and US officials have been warning for months that Kim is preparing to conduct another nuclear test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korean president's office said on Saturday that they had detected signs the North was preparing to fire a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), a weapon Pyongyang last tested in May.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>At the Abe funeral on Tuesday, Harris will head a delegation that includes the US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the visit, a senior White House official told reporters, "We anticipate that they will also have a discussion on issues such as the strength of the US-Japan alliance, our broad cooperation on many issues including space."&nbsp;</p>

<p>And also, a range of regional and global issues including the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," the official added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Key issues that might dominate her visit:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>-Joe Biden's comment to send troops to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion.&nbsp;<br />
-Recent provocations by North Korea and possibility of a nuclear test by Pyongyang.&nbsp;<br />
-New US law that makes electric vehicles built outside of North America ineligible for subsidies.<br />
-South Korean president's recent controversies, when he insulted US lawmakers in a viral hot mic moment.&nbsp;</p>

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US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's funeral on Tuesday (September 27) in Tokyo. It is a sombre event, and Harris' Asia visit is not going to be an easy assignment.

US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's funeral on Tuesday (September 27) in Tokyo. It is a sombre event, and Harris' Asia visit is not going to be an easy assignment. She has more than a couple of vital issues to address. Controversies are likely to happen as the vice president has begun her second trip to Asia since taking office in January 2021. Harris will meet Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday, and she will visit South Korea later to strengthen US diplomatic links in the region. ALSO READ | Donald Trump claimed 'he was not watching television during Capitol Hill riots', new book says China will keep a close watch on her movement because tensions between the nations are expected to escalate as Harris' visit came just days after US President Joe Biden committed to defending Taiwan from a "potential attack" from the Chinese. A similar visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this year had raised the heckles in Beijing. So the question remains, will Harris do a Pelosi? North Korea will also keep a close eye on Harris, even as it fired a ballistic missile on Sunday as a veiled warning just hours ahead of the planned military drills by South Korean and US forces involving an aircraft carrier, which started on Sunday. South Korean and US officials have been warning for months that Kim is preparing to conduct another nuclear test. South Korean president's office said on Saturday that they had detected signs the North was preparing to fire a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), a weapon Pyongyang last tested in May. Watch this report: × At the Abe funeral on Tuesday, Harris will head a delegation that includes the US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Ahead of the visit, a senior White House official told reporters, "We anticipate that they will also have a discussion on issues such as the strength of the US-Japan alliance, our broad cooperation on many issues including space." And also, a range of regional and global issues including the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," the official added. Key issues that might dominate her visit: -Joe Biden's comment to send troops to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion. -Recent provocations by North Korea and possibility of a nuclear test by Pyongyang. -New US law that makes electric vehicles built outside of North America ineligible for subsidies. -South Korean president's recent controversies, when he insulted US lawmakers in a viral hot mic moment. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WIll Kamala Harris do a Nancy Pelosi? US veep's Asia tour to attend Shinzo Abe's funeral is in sharp focus

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<p>Public outrage and massive anti-hijab&nbsp;protests are continuing in Iran and abroad after death of a woman who was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a headscarf in an "improper" way. The 22-year-old Mahsa Amini is thought to have died in custody earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>State media reported on Sunday that a fifth member of an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group Basij died after clashing with the protesters, and termed them&nbsp;"rioters and thugs".&nbsp;State news agency IRNA said the person died from injuries sustained on Thursday in Urmia city in northwest Iran.</p>

<p>Previously, some other members of Basij have been killed in Qazvin, Tabriz, Mashhad and Qouchan. Basij is a paramilitary organisation linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per official toll,&nbsp;at least 41 people have died since the unrest began, including members of the Islamic republic's security forces. But some source-based reports say the toll is likely much higher.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-iranians-continue-to-protest-for-the-10th-consecutive-night-violating-judiciarys-warning-519612">Iranians continue to protest for the 10th consecutive night, violating judiciary's warning</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>'Female protester shot&nbsp;dead'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to multiple reports on Sunday, a 23-year-old Iranian woman Hadis Najafi died in the protest. Her videos went viral on social media as she was apparently preparing to join anti-governmental protests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports mentioned that she was shot dead by Iranian security forces. Masih Alinejad, a journalist and women's rights advocate, announced her death on September 25. Alinejad wrote in a tweet that Najafi was shot six times by authorities after tying her unscarved hair back.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This 20 Yr old girl who was getting ready to join the protest against the murdering of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> got killed by 6 bullets.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HadisNajafi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HadisNajafi</a>, 20، was shot in the chest, face and neck by Islamic Republic’s security forces.<br />
Be our voice.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#مهسا_امینی</a><a href="https://t.co/NnJX6kufNW">pic.twitter.com/NnJX6kufNW</a></p>
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1573963922306129920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Woman cuts hair off at brother's funeral</strong></p>

<p>In another powerful footage, a woman was seen chopping off her hair at the funeral of her brother who reportedly died during the anti-hijab&nbsp;protests.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the viral videos on social media platforms, the woman was seen cutting her hair in front of her brother's body as she cries inconsolably. She is also seen putting bits of the hair on the coffin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the video here:&nbsp;<br />
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<em>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify pictures or videos sourced from social media</em></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Javad Heydari's sister, who is one of the victims of protests against the murder of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mahsa_Amini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mahsa_Amini</a>, cuts her hair at her brother's funeral.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranRevolution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranRevolution</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#مهسا_امینی</a><a href="https://t.co/6PJ21FECWg">pic.twitter.com/6PJ21FECWg</a></p>
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/1500tasvir_en/status/1574110465776574467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Amid the nationwide unrest, which has spread to other parts of the world, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the protesters would be dealt with "decisively".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raisi and Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on Sunday "emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency" against the core instigators of the "riots", the judiciary's Mizan Online website mentioned.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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Public outrage and massive anti-hijab protests are continuing in Iran and abroad after death of a woman who was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a headscarf in an "improper" way.

Public outrage and massive anti-hijab protests are continuing in Iran and abroad after death of a woman who was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a headscarf in an "improper" way. The 22-year-old Mahsa Amini is thought to have died in custody earlier this month. State media reported on Sunday that a fifth member of an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group Basij died after clashing with the protesters, and termed them "rioters and thugs". State news agency IRNA said the person died from injuries sustained on Thursday in Urmia city in northwest Iran. Previously, some other members of Basij have been killed in Qazvin, Tabriz, Mashhad and Qouchan. Basij is a paramilitary organisation linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As per official toll, at least 41 people have died since the unrest began, including members of the Islamic republic's security forces. But some source-based reports say the toll is likely much higher. ALSO READ | Iranians continue to protest for the 10th consecutive night, violating judiciary's warning 'Female protester shot dead' According to multiple reports on Sunday, a 23-year-old Iranian woman Hadis Najafi died in the protest. Her videos went viral on social media as she was apparently preparing to join anti-governmental protests. The reports mentioned that she was shot dead by Iranian security forces. Masih Alinejad, a journalist and women's rights advocate, announced her death on September 25. Alinejad wrote in a tweet that Najafi was shot six times by authorities after tying her unscarved hair back. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. This 20 Yr old girl who was getting ready to join the protest against the murdering of #MahsaAmini got killed by 6 bullets.#HadisNajafi, 20، was shot in the chest, face and neck by Islamic Republic’s security forces. Be our voice.#مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/NnJX6kufNW — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) September 25, 2022 × Woman cuts hair off at brother's funeral In another powerful footage, a woman was seen chopping off her hair at the funeral of her brother who reportedly died during the anti-hijab protests. In the viral videos on social media platforms, the woman was seen cutting her hair in front of her brother's body as she cries inconsolably. She is also seen putting bits of the hair on the coffin. Watch the video here: Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify pictures or videos sourced from social media Javad Heydari's sister, who is one of the victims of protests against the murder of #Mahsa_Amini, cuts her hair at her brother's funeral.#IranRevolution #مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/6PJ21FECWg — 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) September 25, 2022 × Amid the nationwide unrest, which has spread to other parts of the world, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the protesters would be dealt with "decisively". Raisi and Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on Sunday "emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency" against the core instigators of the "riots", the judiciary's Mizan Online website mentioned. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Anti-hijab protests: Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead'

<p>State-organised&nbsp;rallies took place in several Iranian cities on Friday to counter nationwide anti-government unrest triggered by the death of a woman in police custody, with&nbsp;marchers&nbsp;calling for the execution of "rioters".</p>

<p>The pro-government marches followed the strongest warning yet from authorities when the army said it would confront "the enemies" behind the unrest - a move that could signal the kind of crackdown that has crushed protests in the past.</p>

<p>The crowds condemned the anti-government protesters as "Israel's soldiers", live&nbsp;state&nbsp;television coverage showed.</p>

<p>"Offenders of the Koran must be executed," they chanted.</p>

<p>The Twitter account 1500tasvir, which has 117,000 followers, reported heavy clashes in the central city of Isfahan between anti-government protesters and security forces.</p>

<p>It also showed anti-government street protests in several parts of the capital and in Shahin Shahr in central Iran.</p>

<p>State&nbsp;TV said 35 people had been killed in the unrest so far based on its own count and an official figure would be announced.</p>

<p>Many Iranians are fuming over the case of Mahsa Amini, 22, who died last week after being arrested by the morality police for wearing "unsuitable attire".</p>

<p>The morality police, attached to Iran's law enforcement, are tasked with ensuring the respect of Islamic morals as described by the country's clerical authorities.</p>

<p>Amini's death has reignited anger over issues including restrictions on personal freedoms in Iran, strict dress codes for women and an economy reeling from sanctions.</p>

<p>The anti-government protests are not expected to pose an immediate threat to Iran's clerical rulers, who have security forces which have put down one protest after another in recent years, analysts say.</p>

<p>But the protests have clearly made the authorities nervous. Women, who have played a prominent role, have challenged the country's Islamic dress code, waving and burning their veils.</p>

<p>Some have publicly cut their hair as furious crowds called for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.</p>

<p><strong>'OUR RED LINE'</strong></p>

<p>Iran's police chief Hossein Ashtari weighed in with tough words in an attempt to stop the protests.</p>

<p>"The people's security is our red line," he told&nbsp;state&nbsp;TV. "Those involved in sabotage and creating insecurity based on directives from outside the country should know that they will be strongly dealt with."</p>

<p>The army's message on Friday, seen as a warning to protesters, read: "These desperate actions are part of the evil strategy of the enemy to weaken the Islamic regime."</p>

<p>The military said it would "confront the enemies' various plots in order to ensure security and peace for the people who are being unjustly assaulted".</p>

<p>Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi on Friday also warned "seditionists" that their "dream of defeating religious values and the great achievements of the revolution will never be realized", according to the AsrIran website.</p>

<p>Friday's pro-government demonstrations showed the strength of the Islamic Republic, President Ebrahim Raisi said, adding that turmoil would not be tolerated.</p>

<p>"The people's presence (in the marches) today, is the power and the honour of the Islamic Republic," Raisi, facing the biggest protests since 2019, said on live television after returning from New York where he attended the United Nations General Assembly.</p>

<p>U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Raisi in New York on Thursday and raised human rights issues, a U.N. spokesperson said.</p>

<p>The United Nations is concerned "about reports of peaceful protests being met with excessive use of force leading to dozens of deaths and injuries", spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.</p>

<p><strong>HACK ATTACKS, ARRESTS</strong></p>

<p>Human rights group Hengaw said a general strike was held on Friday in Oshnavieh, Javanroud, Sardasht and other towns in the northwest where many of Iran's up to 10 million Kurds live.</p>

<p>Internet blockage watchdog NetBlocks said mobile internet had been disrupted in Iran for a third time.</p>

<p>Twitter accounts linked to Anonymous "hacktivists" voiced support for the protests and said they had attacked 100 Iranian websites, including several belonging to the government.</p>

<p>Websites of the central bank, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several&nbsp;state-affiliated news agencies have been disrupted in recent days.</p>

<p>Iran's clerical rulers fear a revival of the protests that erupted in 2019 over gasoline price rises, the bloodiest in the Islamic Republic's history. Reuters reported 1,500 people were killed.</p>

<p>Rights groups such as Hengaw and HRANA, lawyers and social media users reported widespread arrests of students and activists at their homes by security forces in an apparent effort to curb protests.</p>

<p>Majid Tavakoli, a student leader turned human rights activist, was detained overnight, his brother Mohsen said.</p>

<p>"They raided the home and arrested Majid while he was asleep ... We are unable to do anything. Please spread the word," Mohsen Tavakoli tweeted.</p>

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State-organised rallies took place in several Iranian cities on Friday to counter nationwide anti-government unrest triggered by the death of a woman in police custody, with marchers calling for the execution of "rioters".

State-organised rallies took place in several Iranian cities on Friday to counter nationwide anti-government unrest triggered by the death of a woman in police custody, with marchers calling for the execution of "rioters". The pro-government marches followed the strongest warning yet from authorities when the army said it would confront "the enemies" behind the unrest - a move that could signal the kind of crackdown that has crushed protests in the past. The crowds condemned the anti-government protesters as "Israel's soldiers", live state television coverage showed. "Offenders of the Koran must be executed," they chanted. The Twitter account 1500tasvir, which has 117,000 followers, reported heavy clashes in the central city of Isfahan between anti-government protesters and security forces. It also showed anti-government street protests in several parts of the capital and in Shahin Shahr in central Iran. State TV said 35 people had been killed in the unrest so far based on its own count and an official figure would be announced. Many Iranians are fuming over the case of Mahsa Amini, 22, who died last week after being arrested by the morality police for wearing "unsuitable attire". The morality police, attached to Iran's law enforcement, are tasked with ensuring the respect of Islamic morals as described by the country's clerical authorities. Amini's death has reignited anger over issues including restrictions on personal freedoms in Iran, strict dress codes for women and an economy reeling from sanctions. The anti-government protests are not expected to pose an immediate threat to Iran's clerical rulers, who have security forces which have put down one protest after another in recent years, analysts say. But the protests have clearly made the authorities nervous. Women, who have played a prominent role, have challenged the country's Islamic dress code, waving and burning their veils. Some have publicly cut their hair as furious crowds called for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'OUR RED LINE' Iran's police chief Hossein Ashtari weighed in with tough words in an attempt to stop the protests. "The people's security is our red line," he told state TV. "Those involved in sabotage and creating insecurity based on directives from outside the country should know that they will be strongly dealt with." The army's message on Friday, seen as a warning to protesters, read: "These desperate actions are part of the evil strategy of the enemy to weaken the Islamic regime." The military said it would "confront the enemies' various plots in order to ensure security and peace for the people who are being unjustly assaulted". Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi on Friday also warned "seditionists" that their "dream of defeating religious values and the great achievements of the revolution will never be realized", according to the AsrIran website. Friday's pro-government demonstrations showed the strength of the Islamic Republic, President Ebrahim Raisi said, adding that turmoil would not be tolerated. "The people's presence (in the marches) today, is the power and the honour of the Islamic Republic," Raisi, facing the biggest protests since 2019, said on live television after returning from New York where he attended the United Nations General Assembly. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Raisi in New York on Thursday and raised human rights issues, a U.N. spokesperson said. The United Nations is concerned "about reports of peaceful protests being met with excessive use of force leading to dozens of deaths and injuries", spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. HACK ATTACKS, ARRESTS Human rights group Hengaw said a general strike was held on Friday in Oshnavieh, Javanroud, Sardasht and other towns in the northwest where many of Iran's up to 10 million Kurds live. Internet blockage watchdog NetBlocks said mobile internet had been disrupted in Iran for a third time. Twitter accounts linked to Anonymous "hacktivists" voiced support for the protests and said they had attacked 100 Iranian websites, including several belonging to the government. Websites of the central bank, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several state-affiliated news agencies have been disrupted in recent days. Iran's clerical rulers fear a revival of the protests that erupted in 2019 over gasoline price rises, the bloodiest in the Islamic Republic's history. Reuters reported 1,500 people were killed. Rights groups such as Hengaw and HRANA, lawyers and social media users reported widespread arrests of students and activists at their homes by security forces in an apparent effort to curb protests. Majid Tavakoli, a student leader turned human rights activist, was detained overnight, his brother Mohsen said. "They raided the home and arrested Majid while he was asleep ... We are unable to do anything. Please spread the word," Mohsen Tavakoli tweeted. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iranian state-organised marchers call for execution of protesters

<p>Pakistan once again launched an anti-India tirade and raked up the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (September 23) even and levelled unsubstantiated charges while claiming that it wants peace with all its neighbours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began his address on the fourth day of the 77th session of UNGA by referring to the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and their disastrous impact on the residents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, he soon switched to mentioning the much-anticipated topic—Kashmir. Sharif said, "Sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution to Jammu &amp; Kashmir dispute."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharif, who has been seeking aid from all countries for flood relief besides monetary assistance from IMF and other nations for its economy which is in dire straits, further alleged, “At the heart of this longstanding dispute lies the denial of the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination."</p>

<p>Sharif added that only peaceful dialogue can resolve issues so that the world becomes more peaceful in the time to come. He said Pakistan wants peace with all its neighbours, including India.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Exclusive | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-us-pakistan-had-constructive-conversation-at-unga-says-hina-rabbani-khar-518921">US, Pakistan had a constructive conversation at UNGA, says Hina Rabbani Khar</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Sharif alleged that New Delhi has ramped up its military deployment in Jammu and Kashmir to 900,000 troops, but did not deny India’s allegations of constant cross-border infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan territory. India has deployed forces in the border areas to counter the influx of terrorists from the Pakistan side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Without providing any substantive evidence, Sharif said that millions of fake domicile certificates have been issued to non-Kashmiris. He further made fake claims that Kashmiri land and properties are being seized.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In spite of having to deal with a severe economic crisis and massive devastation caused by floods back home, Sharif spoke of the possibility of war and said that India must understand that "both countries are armed to the teeth and war is not an option".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Pakistan needs a stable external environment. We look for peace with all our neighbours, including India. I think it's high time that India understood this message loud and clear that both countries are armed to the teeth. War is not an option. It is not an option. Only peaceful dialogue can resolve these issues so that the world becomes more peaceful in time to come," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WION Exclusive with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif &amp; ministers Hina Rabbani Khar &amp; Maryyium Aurangzeb</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Sharif's message on climate change</strong></p>

<p>During his address, Sharif warned the United Nations that climate disasters will not remain confined to his country. He said, "What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharif talked about the injustice inherent in the crisis, with his country at "ground zero" of climate change but responsible for less than one percent of carbon emissions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Why are my people paying the price of such high global warming through no fault of their own? Nature has unleashed her fury on Pakistan without looking at our carbon footprint, which is next to nothing," he said.</p>

<p>"It is therefore entirely reasonable to expect some approximation of justice for this loss and damage, not to mention building back better with resilience," he added.&nbsp;</p>

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Pakistan once again launched an anti-India tirade and raked up the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (September 23) even and levelled unsubstantiated charges while claiming that it wants peace with all its neighbours.

Pakistan once again launched an anti-India tirade and raked up the Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (September 23) even and levelled unsubstantiated charges while claiming that it wants peace with all its neighbours. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began his address on the fourth day of the 77th session of UNGA by referring to the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and their disastrous impact on the residents. However, he soon switched to mentioning the much-anticipated topic—Kashmir. Sharif said, "Sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution to Jammu & Kashmir dispute." Sharif, who has been seeking aid from all countries for flood relief besides monetary assistance from IMF and other nations for its economy which is in dire straits, further alleged, “At the heart of this longstanding dispute lies the denial of the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination." Sharif added that only peaceful dialogue can resolve issues so that the world becomes more peaceful in the time to come. He said Pakistan wants peace with all its neighbours, including India. Exclusive | US, Pakistan had a constructive conversation at UNGA, says Hina Rabbani Khar Sharif alleged that New Delhi has ramped up its military deployment in Jammu and Kashmir to 900,000 troops, but did not deny India’s allegations of constant cross-border infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan territory. India has deployed forces in the border areas to counter the influx of terrorists from the Pakistan side. Without providing any substantive evidence, Sharif said that millions of fake domicile certificates have been issued to non-Kashmiris. He further made fake claims that Kashmiri land and properties are being seized. In spite of having to deal with a severe economic crisis and massive devastation caused by floods back home, Sharif spoke of the possibility of war and said that India must understand that "both countries are armed to the teeth and war is not an option". "Pakistan needs a stable external environment. We look for peace with all our neighbours, including India. I think it's high time that India understood this message loud and clear that both countries are armed to the teeth. War is not an option. It is not an option. Only peaceful dialogue can resolve these issues so that the world becomes more peaceful in time to come," he said. WION Exclusive with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif & ministers Hina Rabbani Khar & Maryyium Aurangzeb × Sharif's message on climate change During his address, Sharif warned the United Nations that climate disasters will not remain confined to his country. He said, "What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan." Sharif talked about the injustice inherent in the crisis, with his country at "ground zero" of climate change but responsible for less than one percent of carbon emissions. "Why are my people paying the price of such high global warming through no fault of their own? Nature has unleashed her fury on Pakistan without looking at our carbon footprint, which is next to nothing," he said. "It is therefore entirely reasonable to expect some approximation of justice for this loss and damage, not to mention building back better with resilience," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif launches anti-India tirade at UNGA, yet claims he wants 'peace'

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<p>Russia is aiming to annex&nbsp;four occupied regions of Ukraine and hence the launched referendums on Friday (September 23). The referendums can prove to be a turning point in the seven-month-old war but Kyiv has termed them&nbsp;sham.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukraine&nbsp;also claimed that it saw residents threatened with punishment if they did not vote. The Ukrainian officials have claimed that people were banned from leaving some occupied areas until the four-day vote was over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the officials, armed groups were going to homes to force people to cast ballots, and employees were threatened with sacking if they did not participate.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italys-silvio-berlusconi-says-putin-pushed-into-ukraine-war-519112">Italy's Silvio&nbsp;Berlusconi says Putin 'pushed' into Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Yuriy Sobolevsky, the displaced first deputy council chairman of the Kherson region, said, "Today, the best thing for the people of Kherson would be not to open their doors."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The results of the referendums will be extremely important for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently announced a military draft this week to enlist 300,000 troops to fight in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Voting is underway in the provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the east and southeast. These regions represent about 15 per cent of Ukrainian territory. The voting was due to run from Friday to Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>'We struggled for eight years for this'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The military of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) is voting on the referendum on joining Russia as military personnel of Luhansk cast their votes. "We've been waiting for it for a long time. It was a tortuous time for us. A lot of lives were lost for it," said Sergey Moiseenko, a member of the LPR military.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-army-warns-anti-hijab-protesters-says-will-confront-enemies-to-ensure-peace-519087">Iran's army warns anti-hijab protesters, says will 'confront enemies' to ensure peace</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Ukraine says recaptured territory in east</strong></p>

<p>As the annexation polls opened, Ukraine on the other hand claimed on Friday that its forces had recaptured a village in the eastern Donetsk region and territory around another war-scarred town there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oleksiy Gromov, a senior army official, told reporters: "The Ukrainian army has retaken the village of Yatskivka in Donetsk region." He said that Kyiv's forces had "regained control over positions to the south of Bakhmut".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yatskivka sits on the eastern bank of the strategic Oskil river, which Kyiv's forces crossed after recapturing swathes of territory in the neighbouring Kharkiv region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Bakhmut is an important city located in the Donetsk region.&nbsp;</p>

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Russia is aiming to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine and hence the launched referendums on Friday (September 23). The referendums can prove to be a turning point in the seven-month-old war but Kyiv has termed them sham.

Russia is aiming to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine and hence the launched referendums on Friday (September 23). The referendums can prove to be a turning point in the seven-month-old war but Kyiv has termed them sham. Ukraine also claimed that it saw residents threatened with punishment if they did not vote. The Ukrainian officials have claimed that people were banned from leaving some occupied areas until the four-day vote was over. As per the officials, armed groups were going to homes to force people to cast ballots, and employees were threatened with sacking if they did not participate. ALSO READ | Italy's Silvio Berlusconi says Putin 'pushed' into Ukraine war Yuriy Sobolevsky, the displaced first deputy council chairman of the Kherson region, said, "Today, the best thing for the people of Kherson would be not to open their doors." The results of the referendums will be extremely important for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently announced a military draft this week to enlist 300,000 troops to fight in Ukraine. Voting is underway in the provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the east and southeast. These regions represent about 15 per cent of Ukrainian territory. The voting was due to run from Friday to Tuesday. 'We struggled for eight years for this' The military of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) is voting on the referendum on joining Russia as military personnel of Luhansk cast their votes. "We've been waiting for it for a long time. It was a tortuous time for us. A lot of lives were lost for it," said Sergey Moiseenko, a member of the LPR military. ALSO READ | Iran's army warns anti-hijab protesters, says will 'confront enemies' to ensure peace × Ukraine says recaptured territory in east As the annexation polls opened, Ukraine on the other hand claimed on Friday that its forces had recaptured a village in the eastern Donetsk region and territory around another war-scarred town there. Oleksiy Gromov, a senior army official, told reporters: "The Ukrainian army has retaken the village of Yatskivka in Donetsk region." He said that Kyiv's forces had "regained control over positions to the south of Bakhmut". Yatskivka sits on the eastern bank of the strategic Oskil river, which Kyiv's forces crossed after recapturing swathes of territory in the neighbouring Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, Bakhmut is an important city located in the Donetsk region. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine says residents coerced into Russian referendum vote

<p>Man, who was the main perpetrator of an assault against a group of women in China at a barbecue restaurant in China was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Friday (September 23).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court said in a statement said that Chen Jizhi started hitting the women after they rejected his "harassment" in the early hours of June 10 in Tangshan city, east of the capital Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The shocking incident was captured on a CCTV camera. The footage showed men viciously attacking the women. The incident led to a national debate over gender-based violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the video, a man can be seen approaching a table at a barbecue restaurant. He was visibly seen touching a woman. When she pushed him away, he was seen striking her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moments after that, a group of men can be seen brutally attacking the woman and her apparent friends who were dining with her. Two women had sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the brawl.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch the video here (Sensitive video. Viewer discretion is advised):&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>The court said a police investigation after the attack found that Chen had been the ringleader of a gang that "menaced the public", and that he had committed crimes including opening gambling dens since 2012.</p>

<p>Chen was found guilty of a list of offences, including disorderly behaviour, intentional injury, robbery and "gathering a mob to fight". &nbsp;He was fined 320,000 yuan in addition to the 24-year prison sentence, and 27 accomplices were given sentences ranging from six months to 11 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Man, who was the main perpetrator of an assault against a group of women in China at a barbecue restaurant in China was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Friday (September 23).

Man, who was the main perpetrator of an assault against a group of women in China at a barbecue restaurant in China was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Friday (September 23). The court said in a statement said that Chen Jizhi started hitting the women after they rejected his "harassment" in the early hours of June 10 in Tangshan city, east of the capital Beijing. The shocking incident was captured on a CCTV camera. The footage showed men viciously attacking the women. The incident led to a national debate over gender-based violence. In the video, a man can be seen approaching a table at a barbecue restaurant. He was visibly seen touching a woman. When she pushed him away, he was seen striking her. Moments after that, a group of men can be seen brutally attacking the woman and her apparent friends who were dining with her. Two women had sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the brawl. Watch the video here (Sensitive video. Viewer discretion is advised): × The court said a police investigation after the attack found that Chen had been the ringleader of a gang that "menaced the public", and that he had committed crimes including opening gambling dens since 2012. Chen was found guilty of a list of offences, including disorderly behaviour, intentional injury, robbery and "gathering a mob to fight". He was fined 320,000 yuan in addition to the 24-year prison sentence, and 27 accomplices were given sentences ranging from six months to 11 years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China: Man who attacked women at restaurant sentenced to 24 years

Today, an estimated one third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste. Wasted food is not just a social or humanitarian concern, it's also a major environmental one.

WION Climate Tracker | Global food wastage poses major environmental problem

<p>Rohit&nbsp;Sharma's unbeaten 20-ball 46 helped India seal a six-wicket victory over visitors Australia in the second T20 which was cut to eight overs a-side on Friday.</p>

<p>Home skipper Sharma won the toss and chose to field first in Nagpur and was helped by key cameos by Dinesh Karthik, unbeaten two-ball 10, and Virat Kohli (11) as India hit 92-4 with four balls remaining in reply to Australia's 90-5.</p>

<p>Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa took 3-16 in his impressive two over spell when most of the other bowlers looked ineffective against in-form Sharma.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pacer Pat Cummins was the only other wicket-taker for the visitors and finished with 1-23.</p>

<p>Matthew Wade's unbeaten 20-ball 43 propelled Australia to a formidable 90-5 after a wet outfield in the rain-hit city delayed the start and shortened the game.</p>

<p>It was Wade's second consecutive impressive innings in the series.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday, the Australia wicketkeeper hit 21-ball 45 in the first match to help the visitors chase down a mammoth 209-run victory target.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The visitors' captain Aaron Finch on Friday hit a 15-ball 31 before an impressive spell by left-arm spinner Axar Patel put a brake on Australia's scoring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Patel finished with 2-13 and was the most impressive bowler for India.</p>

<p>Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who returned to the team on Friday took one wicket for 23 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharma, who was also player-of-the-match, said that Indian bowlers "used the conditions pretty well".</p>

<p>"You just have to play the situation and use conditions to your advantage," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was good to see Bumrah on the park. Slowly and steadily he is coming back into his rhythm," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finch said "Rohit&nbsp;was brilliant" and praised Wade as "a calm customer at the back end of the innings" who "did a wonderful job for us".</p>

<p>The three-match series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month, concludes Sunday in Hyderabad.</p>

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Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 20-ball 46 helped India seal a six-wicket victory over visitors Australia in the second T20 which was cut to eight overs a-side on Friday.

Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 20-ball 46 helped India seal a six-wicket victory over visitors Australia in the second T20 which was cut to eight overs a-side on Friday. Home skipper Sharma won the toss and chose to field first in Nagpur and was helped by key cameos by Dinesh Karthik, unbeaten two-ball 10, and Virat Kohli (11) as India hit 92-4 with four balls remaining in reply to Australia's 90-5. Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa took 3-16 in his impressive two over spell when most of the other bowlers looked ineffective against in-form Sharma. Pacer Pat Cummins was the only other wicket-taker for the visitors and finished with 1-23. Matthew Wade's unbeaten 20-ball 43 propelled Australia to a formidable 90-5 after a wet outfield in the rain-hit city delayed the start and shortened the game. It was Wade's second consecutive impressive innings in the series. On Tuesday, the Australia wicketkeeper hit 21-ball 45 in the first match to help the visitors chase down a mammoth 209-run victory target. The visitors' captain Aaron Finch on Friday hit a 15-ball 31 before an impressive spell by left-arm spinner Axar Patel put a brake on Australia's scoring. Patel finished with 2-13 and was the most impressive bowler for India. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who returned to the team on Friday took one wicket for 23 runs. Sharma, who was also player-of-the-match, said that Indian bowlers "used the conditions pretty well". "You just have to play the situation and use conditions to your advantage," he said. "It was good to see Bumrah on the park. Slowly and steadily he is coming back into his rhythm," he added. Finch said "Rohit was brilliant" and praised Wade as "a calm customer at the back end of the innings" who "did a wonderful job for us". The three-match series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month, concludes Sunday in Hyderabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 46 helps India beat Australia in 2nd T20I to level series

<p>There was a&nbsp;massive security breach at Laver Cup, which is underway in London, UK, when a&nbsp;protester on Friday (September 23) set his arm on fire on the court during the match between Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Team World's Diego Schwartzman.</p>

<p>A man, wearing a white T-shirt, came onto the court in London's O2 Arena and set his arm on fire to protest the use of private jets in Britain. The incident halted the match between Tsitsipas and Schwartzman for some time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The shocking incident happened ahead of tennis legend Roger Federer's final professional match of his career. Federer will partner with his great rival Rafael Nadal to face the American duo of Sock and Frances Tiafoe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-sincerely-have-good-hopes-andre-villas-boas-on-portugals-chances-in-qatar-world-cup-519010">I sincerely have good hopes: Andre Villas-Boas on Portugal's chances in Qatar World Cup</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Authorities and security personnel present in the court acted immediately and dragged the man out. The match was resumed following a quick check of the surface which was not damaged during the bizarre incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the British media reports,&nbsp;the protester was a member of the End UK Private Jets group, which claims "carbon emissions in 2022 are genocide".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A man has set his arm on fire after invading the court at the Laver Cup on Roger Federer's last day as a professional tennis player. <a href="https://t.co/g0LcBU8PeJ">pic.twitter.com/g0LcBU8PeJ</a></p>
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There was a massive security breach at Laver Cup, which is underway in London, UK, when a protester on Friday (September 23) set his arm on fire on the court during the match between Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Team World's Diego Schwartzman.

There was a massive security breach at Laver Cup, which is underway in London, UK, when a protester on Friday (September 23) set his arm on fire on the court during the match between Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Team World's Diego Schwartzman. A man, wearing a white T-shirt, came onto the court in London's O2 Arena and set his arm on fire to protest the use of private jets in Britain. The incident halted the match between Tsitsipas and Schwartzman for some time. The shocking incident happened ahead of tennis legend Roger Federer's final professional match of his career. Federer will partner with his great rival Rafael Nadal to face the American duo of Sock and Frances Tiafoe. EXCLUSIVE | I sincerely have good hopes: Andre Villas-Boas on Portugal's chances in Qatar World Cup Authorities and security personnel present in the court acted immediately and dragged the man out. The match was resumed following a quick check of the surface which was not damaged during the bizarre incident. As per the British media reports, the protester was a member of the End UK Private Jets group, which claims "carbon emissions in 2022 are genocide". A man has set his arm on fire after invading the court at the Laver Cup on Roger Federer's last day as a professional tennis player. pic.twitter.com/g0LcBU8PeJ — Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) September 23, 2022 × WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Laver Cup: Security nightmare before Federer-Nadal match as man sets arm on fire on court - Watch

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