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Chinese authorities were assisting India's search for 22 crew members missing after a Panama-flagged cargo vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal last week, the Indian Coast Guard said.The MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members including 20 Chinese nationals, was sailing from Paradip port in the eastern Indian state of Odisha to Singapore when it sent a distress alert on Saturday.The vessel reported trouble around 700 kilometres (435 miles) east of the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, prompting a rescue operation by Indian authorities.Two people have been rescued, leaving 22 still unaccounted for.Three crew members are from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.Despite locating an emergency beacon linked to the vessel, rescuers have yet to find any additional survivors, Indian Coast Guard spokesman Commandant Amit Uniyal said in a statement late Tuesday."Search and rescue efforts for the missing crew members of MV Ocean Winner have been further augmented in co-ordination with MRCC Beijing," Uniyal said, referring to China's Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.A lifeboat from the vessel has been spotted, but no survivors were found, he said.Local media reports said two Chinese vessels had joined the search operation.The cause of the sinking was not clear. 

 A delegation from the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) participated in a ceremony held to announce that the search and rescue team of the General Directorate of Civil Protection at Egypt’s ministry of interior had obtained international classification at the “Medium” level from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), affiliated with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).  The delegation was headed by Lekhwiya assistant commander (Administration and Supply) Staff Brigadier Mubarak Sherida al-Kaabi.  This achievement reflects the outcomes of joint co-operation in the field of search and rescue, with the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group contributing to the training and qualification of the Egyptian team in accordance with approved international standards.  Accordingly, the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group became the first Arab international team to train and qualify another Arab team to achieve international classification.  The ceremony was attended by Egypt’s Assistant Minister of Interior Major-General Amr Mustafa El-Baily, along with security leaders from both sides and INSARAG representatives.  On the sidelines of the announcement ceremony, al-Kaabi held a meeting with El-Baily.  During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of co-operation in the fields of security training and search and rescue, and discussed ways to further enhance and develop this co-operation.  El-Baily commended the prominent role of the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group, as an internationally accredited mentor, in training and qualifying the Egyptian team to obtain international certification.  He also emphasised the importance of continued co-ordination and co-operation in strengthening the joint Arab search and rescue system. –

The death toll from the earthquake that struck western Colombia last Monday has risen to 265, while nearly 500 people remain missing as search operations continue for survivors trapped under the rubble. In a speech broadcast on state television, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said that his country would establish an emergency fund to help rebuild hospitals, schools, homes, and infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake. He also declared an economic state of emergency to address the damage caused by the disaster, though he did not specify what measures would be taken under the declaration.**media[478628]**He added that the total number of affected families had exceeded 25,800, while official estimates indicated that the earthquake had also injured 3,770 people and destroyed more than 9,550 homes. Pereira, located in Colombia's coffee-producing region, and Cali, the country's third-largest city, recorded 83 and 74 deaths, respectively. Meanwhile, the Colombian Geological Survey recorded 130 aftershocks since the earthquake struck. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, causing widespread destruction and the collapse of buildings, homes, and healthcare facilities, particularly in Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. Remote areas of the Choco region were also affected, making rescue and relief operations more difficult. The earthquake was described as the strongest to hit the country in the 21st century, while continuing aftershocks have hampered search-and-rescue efforts.

In implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani a team from the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group departed Doha Thursday for Torrejon Airport to support efforts to combat wildfires in Spain. The team comprises 129 wildfire specialists and will provide technical and logistical support. It is equipped with advanced firefighting vehicles, trucks, and equipment, as well as one helicopter dedicated to firefighting operations and another for evacuation missions. The mission reflects Qatar's longstanding approach of supporting and assisting sisterly and friendly countries and underscores its commitment to backing international efforts to ensure a rapid response to disasters and crises, thereby helping to protect lives.

Pakistani authorities have launched a search and rescue operation after a Boeing 737 cargo aircraft carrying five crew members lost contact with air traffic control off the coast of Karachi following a reported navigation system malfunction.The Pakistan Airports Authority said the aircraft, operated by K2 Airways, was en route to Karachi when it reported a navigation system problem late Tuesday before communications with air traffic controllers were lost. Preliminary flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft made erratic altitude changes before disappearing from radar over the Arabian Sea, raising fears it may have crashed into the water.Authorities have mobilized a multi-agency search and rescue operation in the Sea to locate the missing aircraft and its crew.As part of the operation, the Pakistan Navy has deployed the frigate PNS Zulfiqar, while the Pakistan Air Force is assisting with aerial search missions. Merchant vessels in the area have also been directed to support the search efforts.The cause of the aircraft's disappearance has not been determined, and authorities said the search operation remains ongoing. 

Qatar, represented by the Qatar Mission to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), attended the 13th Session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 13), held at the IMO headquarters in London from June 22-26. The NCSR 13 advanced maritime safety by updating digital navigation standards, revising performance requirements for S&R (search and rescue) equipment, and integrating modernised communications into global shipping. The Qatari team underlined the importance of cementing international cooperation in navigation and S&R.  

His Excellency Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Thursday attended the conclusion of the joint trilateral exercise in urban search and rescue, with the participation of specialised teams from Qatar, France and Syria.  The closing ceremony was attended by Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh, French ambassador Arnaud Pescheux and a number of senior officials and officer Representing Qatar in the exercise was the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).  France was represented by the France 3 and France 2 search and rescue teams while Syrian participated through its Civil Defence Directorate.  The exercise included simulations of realistic urban search and rescue scenarios, enabling the participating teams to test their capabilities in dealing with complex situations, enhance operational coordination, and exchange expertise in carrying out international missions.  The exercise comes within the framework of strengthening international cooperation and developing the field capabilities of teams working in search and rescue, contributing to enhanced readiness and effective response to natural and humanitarian disasters.  It also reflects Qatar's commitment to consolidating its position as a regional centre for training and expertise exchange in search and rescue, and demonstrates Lekhwiya's dedication to developing an integrated system for rapid and effective emergency and disaster response, thereby strengthening the preparedness of search and rescue teams to address various challenges and humanitarian missions at both the regional and international levels. 

Apple has unveiled a redesigned web version of its App Store, offering users for the first time a full browsing and search experience directly from any web browser, without the need to use Apple devices. According to the company, the update marks a major step forward in accessibility, delivering an experience that closely mirrors the native App Store on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even the Vision Pro headset.The new web interface introduces a "Today" tab highlighting top apps and games of the day, along with editorial features, reviews, and App Store events. Individual app pages have been redesigned with richer visuals, interactive media, and new icons denoting categories, awards, and in-app events.Apple has also integrated a dedicated search engine into the platform — an upgrade from the previous version, where users had to rely on external search engines like Google to locate app pages.Additionally, users can now switch between regional App Stores using a new menu in the upper-left corner, share app links, or open them directly in the native App Store app if installed on their device.Apple stated that the move aims to expand access to its App Store ecosystem, making it universally available via any browser.The company noted that this step enhances convenience for both developers and users by simplifying app discovery and sharing.Previously, the domain apps.apple.com redirected users to a static informational page. With the latest update, it now functions as a fully interactive web-based App Store, enabling users to browse apps, explore categories, and follow special events seamlessly from any device.

Google has announced the expansion of its AI Mode search experience to more than 35 new languages, including Arabic, extending the feature's availability to over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company said the update is powered by its latest Gemini AI model, which provides advanced natural language understanding and enhanced handling of multimedia content. Google noted that Gemini's reasoning and multi-modal capabilities allow the search engine to deliver results that are more accurate and contextually relevant to each region's culture and language. AI Mode is designed to assist users with exploratory questions and complex tasks, offering more dynamic and conversational search interactions. According to Google, users engaging with AI Mode now tend to ask questions nearly three times longer than those in traditional searches, signaling a shift toward deeper and more analytical exploration. The company also introduced a new underlying technology called "Query Expansion," which breaks a user's question into multiple subtopics and runs numerous searches simultaneously. This approach allows users to explore a broader range of information compared to standard search queries. Google first launched AI Mode in the Middle East and North Africa region in English last August. The addition of Arabic marks a significant step toward providing more precise, culturally relevant, and linguistically accurate responses for Arabic-speaking users across various domains.