2,400 athletes swim in Bosphorus Strait from Asia to Europe
Istanbul, July 22: Around 2,400 athletes swam from Asia to Europe on Sunday, in a cross-continental swimming race in Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait.
The swimmers began the 6.5-kilometer-long race in the Kanlica neighbourhood in the Asian part of the city and swam along the strait towards Kurucesme on the European side, reports Xinhua news agency.
Dogukan Ulac won gold in the men's category with a time of 46 minutes 58 seconds, while Hilal Zeynep Sarac took the spoils in the women's race in 50 minutes 30 seconds.
The strait, one of the most important waterways in the world, was closed to sea traffic for hours for the 30th Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race.
Over 4,400 swimmers from 55 countries applied to participate in the race, but only around 2,400 of them were qualified to compete, according to organisers.
The strong current of the strait and the wind were determined as the most challenging aspects of the event.
The race was first launched in 1989, when four women and 64 men took part, and has gradually become an important event for swimmers across the world.
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Mangaluru: Man sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in POCSO case
Mangaluru: A court in Mangaluru has sentenced a 44-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to Deccan Herald, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-II (POCSO), Maanu K S, delivered the judgment.
The convict has been identified as Dayanand Moolya (44).
According to Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor, the incident occurred on November 16, 2025, when a seven-year-old girl was studying alone at home and the accused illegally entered the house and raped her. He threatened to kill her and throw her into a well if she revealed it to anyone.
The survivor later informed her mother, following which a complaint was registered at Mulki Police Station on November 22. Police Inspector Manjunath B S investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet to the court.
For the rape, under POCSO Section 6, along with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act 65(2) and POCSO 4(2), the man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30,000. For illegal entry into the house, under BNS Section 332(B), the convict has been sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000. For issuing death threats, under BNS Section 351(3), he has been sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000.
The court also directed payment of Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the survivor, including Rs 40,000 from the fine amount, and instructed the District Legal Services Authority to provide the remaining Rs 3.60 lakh.
