People take pictures with their phones near the Taj Mahal, which will reopen later this month. AFP
People take pictures with their phones near the Taj Mahal, which will reopen later this month. AFP
People take pictures with their phones near the Taj Mahal, which will reopen later this month. AFP
People take pictures with their phones near the Taj Mahal, which will reopen later this month. AFP

India's Taj Mahal to reopen in September with social distancing and face masks mandatory


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India's top tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal, is set to reopen more than six months after it was shut, even as the vast nation battles soaring coronavirus infections.

India, home to more than 1.3 billion people, on Monday, overtook Brazil to become the world's second most-infected nation with more than 4.2 million cases, behind only the US.

"The Taj Mahal will reopen on Monday, September 21. All Covid-19 protocols, such as physical distancing [and] masks, will be followed," Amit Srivastava, northern Uttar Pradesh state's Tourism Department deputy director, said on Tuesday.

Visitors will be limited to 5,000 a day, down from the usual daily average of 20,000, he said.

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the shining marble mausoleum south of the capital, New Delhi, has been closed since mid-March as part of India's strict virus lockdown.

Uttar Pradesh, home to the city of Agra where the Taj Mahal is located, is one of the worst-hit states in India, with more than 270,000 virus cases recorded so far.

India has pushed ahead with reopening to boost its virus-battered economy even as infections have steadily increased.

Since August, the country has been reporting the highest single-day rises in the world.

On Monday, the metro, which serves India's sprawling capital New Delhi and adjoining areas, also resumed operations after five months.

Safety precautions are in place to minimise the risk of transmission on the usually crowded service. Only asymptomatic people were allowed to board the trains, with masks, social distancing and temperature checks mandatory.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives. 

The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast. 

As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau

He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker. 

If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah

 

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'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap​​​​​​​
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal​​​​​​​
Rating: 3.5/5

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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final