Iraq closed public buildings and temporarily shut airports Monday as another sandstorm -- the ninth since mid-April -- hit the country, authorities said.

Doha and other parts of the country were on Thursday blanketed by a sandstorm that led to a sharp drop in visibility and prompted organisers to postpone events planned for Friday as well.

A northwest Chinese city was engulfed by a massive sandstorm that sparked rural fires, forced traffic to slow down and prompted residents to cover their faces, according to state media.

The launch of Saudi Arabia's main film festival has been postponed to next week due to a sandstorm, organisers said on Thursday.

Maersk Oil Qatar has hosted a Danish business delegation and delivered a presentation highlighting the company’s success in the Qatari market.

The remorse felt by Himali Chungda Sherpa after he killed three snow leopard cubs in retaliation for his lost cattle inspired him to set up a scheme to prevent other herders from doing the same.