• Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Martin Braithwaite controls the ball under pressure from Alex Collado (L) and Ramon Rodriguez 'Monchu' (C) during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Martin Braithwaite controls the ball under pressure from Alex Collado (L) and Ramon Rodriguez 'Monchu' (C) during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Alex Collado during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Alex Collado during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Ronald Araujo on the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Ronald Araujo on the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Ronald Araujo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Ronald Araujo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Inaki Pena during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Inaki Pena during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Marc-Andre Ter Stegen during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Marc-Andre Ter Stegen during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Norberto Murara Neto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Norberto Murara Neto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Sergio Busquets plays the ball under pressure from Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Sergio Busquets plays the ball under pressure from Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Sergio Busquets and Ansu Fati compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Sergio Busquets and Ansu Fati compete for the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Nelson Semedo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Nelson Semedo during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Arthur Melo controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Arthur Melo controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Clement Lenglet during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Clement Lenglet during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Riqui Puig during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Riqui Puig during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Sergi Roberto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Sergi Roberto during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Frenkie De Jong during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Barcelona manager Quique Setien looks on during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Barcelona manager Quique Setien looks on during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Riqui Puig controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Riqui Puig controls the ball during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Luis Suarez during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Gerard Pique during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Jordi Alba during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
  • Martin Braithwaite during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images
    Martin Braithwaite during a training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Getty Images

Frenkie de Jong glad to be back training with Barcelona but 'not ready to play a game yet' after coronavirus lockdown


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Dutch international Frenkie de Jong said on Thursday that he was glad to resume training with Barcelona but is "not ready to play a game yet" after a two-month stoppage because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Spanish clubs began training in groups of 10 players on Monday, in line with health protocols, as La Liga took another step towards the planned resumption of the season next month.

"I was missing training, my team-mates, playing football and all that," De Jong said in an interview on the club website.

"Two or three months apart were a long time. It is always nice to meet up again after a separation for holidays or whatever, but it's normally just three weeks or so and this was almost three months."

Teams in the top two divisions in Spain returned to their training grounds earlier this month, with players initially working individually as part of La Liga's staggered programme.

"I don't think I'm ready to play a game yet. We still need a few weeks of training. First individually, then in small groups and then as a whole team. We'll be ready to play again in a few weeks' time," said De Jong.

"I think it was good to start by training separately because everyone worked at their own pace and could see how their fitness was before working with the rest of the group. I think everything felt good enough! It was a good build-up."

La Liga chief Javier Tebas is hopeful matches will return from June 12 but admitted the exact timing will depend on the health authorities in Spain and the trajectory of the virus.

Bundesliga became the first major European league to return to action last weekend behind closed doors.

"I watched Dortmund against Schalke," said De Jong. "It was nice to see football on TV again but it’s not the same without fans. They create a special atmosphere and everything is better with fans. But we’ll have to play without them.

"Hopefully it’ll only be for this season and they will come back to the stadiums soon. Games will be more enjoyable with them.”

A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber

Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
  • Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported. 

Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

MADAME%20WEB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20S.J.%20Clarkson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dakota%20Johnson%2C%20Tahar%20Rahim%2C%20Sydney%20Sweeney%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5