Various areas in northern China were struck by strong winds, dust storms, and snow on Friday, as a cold front swept through the region, causing disruptions and sharply reduced visibility.
Bayannur City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region experienced powerful winds and dust storms, with some traffic guardrails knocked over by the strong gales.
Meanwhile, sandstorms also struck cities in north China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, including Yinchuan and Shizuishan, as well as Wuwei in northwest China's Gansu Province. In Wuwei, visibility on the roads plummeted to under 50 meters.
In the southern part of northwest China's Qinghai Province, snow began falling late Thursday night. By 18:00 on Friday, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture recorded the heaviest precipitation, with 20.7 mm of rainfall.
Meteorological authorities forecast that strong winds with speeds up to 20-30 meters per second will persist across northwestern and northern China for the next three days, with gusts of 37 to 41.4 meters per second in areas such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.
Strong winds, dust storms, snow battering northern China
Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Islamic countries have condemned in the strongest terms recent "illegal" Israeli decisions and measures aimed at entrenching settlement activity and Israeli control in the West Bank.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their position that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory.
They warned against the continued "expansionist Israeli policies" and illegal measures pursued by the Israeli government in the occupied West Bank, voicing "absolute rejection of these illegal actions."
The ministers said Israeli measures constitute a blatant violation of international law and undermine the two-state solution, adding that such actions also undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region.
The statement urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities to compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank.
On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet approved several decisions aimed at altering the legal and civil status of the West Bank and strengthening Israeli control over the territory.
Among the controversial measures approved, the cabinet decided to repeal a law banning land sales to Jews, to remove the requirement for special transaction permits, and to revive a state land acquisition committee that had been inactive for about two decades.
Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East War. The settlements it has built there and its ongoing military occupation are widely regarded as illegal under international law.
Palestinian officials have repeatedly warned that measures expanding settlements and extending Israeli civilian authority in the West Bank undermine prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state.
Arab, Islamic countries condemn Israeli measures to deepen control in West Bank
