Swimmers race across Hong Kong’s Victoria Bay

Hong Kong: Over a thousand men and women plunged into the cool water of Hong Kong’s Victoria Bay on Sunday, competing to see who could swim the fastest across the harbour in open water. The New World Harbour Race, which was suspended the past two years due to the pandemic and the 2019 anti-government protests, was held with a limited field of 1,200 swimmers. AP

Dubai govt world’s 1st to go 100% paperless

Dubai: Dubai has become the world’s first government to turn 100% paperless, the Emirate’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced, pointing at savings of 1.3 billion Dirham (USD 350 million) and 14-million-man hours. PTI

Rice, author of gothic novels, dies at 80

Washington: Anne Rice, the gothic novelist widely known for her bestselling novel “Interview with the Vampire,” died late Saturday at the age of 80. Rice died due to complications from a stroke, her son Christopher Rice said. AP