Huge sandstorm engulfs northwestern China city, disrupts traffic

A huge sandstorm swept through parts of Jiuquan City, northwest China's Gansu Province on Tuesday, causing cancellation of events and temporary closures of highways.

The sandstorm, which hit Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County and Dunhuang City at around 18:50 local time, created massive walls of sand that reduced visibility to less than 100 meters.

The popular Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area canceled an evening concert as a safety precaution

The storm also forced temporary closures on several highways. Traffic police officers were deployed to affected sections, guiding vehicles to safety until the storm subsided.

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.