Chinese shares close higher Friday as combined turnover tops 3 trln yuan

Chinese stocks closed higher on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.92 percent to 4,120.43 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.15 percent higher at 14,120.15 points.

The combined turnover of these two indices totaled 3.12 trillion yuan (about 444.9 billion U.S. dollars), up from 2.82 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.

Stocks related to printing and packaging, as well as media and entertainment sectors, led the gains, while financial shares suffered major losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 0.77 percent to close at 3,327.81 points.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 2.09 percent higher at 1,803.4 points.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday urged Iranians to preserve unity and said some protesters try to please the United States.

Khamenei made the remarks in a televised address to the nation as protests in the country are growing.

Protesters are "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy," the supreme leader said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Khamenei told the U.S. leader to focus on problems in his own country.

Iran "will not back down" in face of "saboteurs," he said, adding that the "arrogant" U.S. leader will be "overthrown."

Iran has sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council, rejecting what it calls destabilizing actions by the United States.

Tehran says U.S. practices undermine the UN Charter and violate fundamental principles of international law.

Iran's ambassador to the UN accused Washington of fueling unrest inside his country, blaming the U.S. for the transformation of peaceful protests into violent and subversive acts, including widespread vandalism.

Also on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States would "get involved" if Iranian authorities "start killing people" during the country's current unrest, but would not deploy ground troops.

Trump and other senior U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that Washington would take action if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."

The ongoing protests, triggered by the sharp fall in the rial and economic hardships in several Iranian cities since late December, show no sign of abating, with some deadly clashes reported between the police and what the government described as "rioters."

Since Thursday, Iran has been undergoing a widespread internet blackout, with local communications and media also facing significant disruptions.

Multiple flights of various countries, including Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, have canceled their services to and from Iran.