News in pictures: Dhoni hails 'Dads Army', coronavirus herbal medicine, minor girl raped in India, US delays TikTok ban, Taj Mahal to reopen, who will succeed Ginsburg?, $13,000 COVID fine...

CRICKETER DHONI PRAISES CHENNAI 'DADS ARMY': Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has heaped praise on the experienced players in his side after they toppled defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Indian Premier League cricket match in Abu Dhabi. Once labelled "The Dads Army" by the media, Chennai have a number of players over the age of 35, including Dhoni, Australia's Shane Watson, du Plessis and South African Imran Tahir. The 53-day IPL is being held in the UAE this year because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in India, which has the second-highest number of known infections in the world. https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/ipl

SINGLE-DAY COVID CASES IN FRANCE HIT NEW HIGH: France reported 13,498 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, a new record in the number of single-day confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the country's Public Health Agency. The previous highest single-day cases was 13,215 reported on Friday, while Saturday's figure increased the overall caseload in France to 442,194, reports Xinhua news agency. https://gulfnews.com/world/europe

TAJ MAHAL, AGRA FORT TO REOPEN: India's star tourist attraction, the 17th-century monument of love, the Taj Mahal, and the Agra Fort, are all set to reopen from Monday, after an unprecedented closure of six months, due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Archaeological Survey of India officials have made all necessary COVID precautionary arrangement for the reopening. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

BANK OF INDIA TO RAISE RS 8,000 CRORE: Bank of India has received its shareholders approval to raise up to Rs 8,000 crore through several modes, including equity shares. The shareholders gave the approval in its Extraordinary General Meeting on Saturday, the bank said in a regulatory filing. Several public and private sector banks are raising capital to strengthen their buffer amid the pandemic. https://gulfnews.com/business/banking

WHO WILL SUCCEED GINSBURG ON THE US SUPREME COURT? The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers US President Donald Trump an opportunity to replace the progressive Supreme Court justice. Ginsburg, so popular on the left that she has become a cultural icon, had fought cancer for years, and Trump has had ample time to weigh possible nominees for the 87-year-old's spot. Here are some names considered among the favorites: Amy Coney Barrett, a defender of religious rights; Thomas Hardiman, a fierce pro-gun advocate; Joan Larsen, a conservative pillar; Raymond Kethledge, a strict constitutionalist; Republican senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley are also on Trump's list of candidates. https://gulfnews.com/world/americas

$13,000 FINE FOR BREAKING VIRUS RULES IN ENGLAND: People in England who refuse to self-isolate to stop the spread of coronavirus could face fines of up to #10,000 ($13,000, 11,000 euros) under tough new regulations announced to tackle a surge in cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week that Britain was seeing a second wave of Covid-19, and introduced new restrictions for millions of people across northwest, northern and central England. https://gulfnews.com/world/europe

CORONAVIRUS HERBAL MEDICINE TRIALS: The World Health Organization endorsed a protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatments for the coronavirus and other epidemics. COVID-19 has raised the issue of using traditional medicines to battle contemporary diseases, and the endorsement clearly encouraged testing with criteria similar to those used for molecules developed by labs in Asia, Europe or the Americas.

US DELAYS BAN ON DOWNLOADING TIKTOK: The US Department of Commerce announced that it is postponing until at least September 27 the ban on downloading the popular TikTok video-sharing app in the United States, which was to take effect on Sunday. This decision was taken "in light of recent positive developments," according to a press release issued shortly after Chinese-owned TikTok confirmed a proposed agreement on the management of its US operations involving Oracle as a technology partner and Walmart as a business partner. https://gulfnews.com/world/americas

STRICT MASK, VISOR RULES MAKE PHILIPPINE COMMUTERS SWEAT: In the sweltering heat and humidity, 31-year-old Caitlyn Tojanes grumbles about having to wear a face shield over her mask as she waits in line for her bus in the Philippine capital Manila. "It's uncomfortable. Combined with the long queues it means we get to work already tired and bathed in sweat," said Tojanes, whose commute involves three buses and takes several hours. But she is resigned to the new normal in the Philippines, where it is now compulsory to wear both masks and plastic shields in indoor public spaces and on public transport to curb the spread of the coronavirus. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines

MAN WHO CARVED OUT 3 KM-LONG CANAL RECEIVES TRACTOR AS GIFT: Laungi Bhuiyan, who carved out a three kilometres long canal to take rainwater coming down from nearby hills to fields of his village in Indian state of Bihar received a Mahindra tractor free of cost. On receiving the tractor, Laungi said that he never dreamt of getting one. "I am very happy today." Laungi had carved out a canal to take rainwater coming down from nearby hills to the fields of his village in Gaya's Lahthua area. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

MAN ARRESTED FOR RAPING MINOR GIRL IN NOIDA, INDIA: A man has been arrested in connection with the rape of a minor girl in India's Noida Sector 39. "We have managed to gather evidence against the accused which proves that he had committed the crime," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ranvijay Singh said. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india