• Barcelona's midfielder Ivan Rakitic. All photos courtesy of FC Barcelona
    Barcelona's midfielder Ivan Rakitic. All photos courtesy of FC Barcelona
  • Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
    Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
  • Barcelona attacker Martin Braithwaite
    Barcelona attacker Martin Braithwaite
  • Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal.
    Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal.
  • Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen
    Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen
  • Barcelona defender Nelson Semedo.
    Barcelona defender Nelson Semedo.
  • Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong.
    Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong.

Griezmann, Pique, Rakitic and other Barcelona stars model club's designer protective masks


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Two days after they went on sale, Barcelona's first team stars were pictured at the Ciutat Esportiva modelling the club's new designer protective masks.

Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic and striker Martin Braithwaite were among the players sporting the face covers, on sale for €18 (Dh72) each.

According to the Barcelona website, "the masks are the reusable hygienic type for daily use and protection against the transmission of Covid-19 is guaranteed up to 40 washes with a recommended use of 8 hours between washes."

Barca fans can now go one step further than just wearing the club shirt to show their support, with three colours on offer.

The launch was greeted with a mixed reaction on social media, with some questioning the cost and the club's attempt to monetise the health situation in Spain.

Barcelona are two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with nine games to be played when the action resumes on the weekend June 12-14.

  • Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi take part in a training session. Getty Images
    Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi take part in a training session. Getty Images
  • Barcelona manager Quique Setien oversees a training session. Getty Images
    Barcelona manager Quique Setien oversees a training session. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Junior Firpo, right, Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique, left, during a training session in Barcelona. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Junior Firpo, right, Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique, left, during a training session in Barcelona. Getty Images
  • Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Nelson Semedo, Clement Lenglet, Ivan Rakitic and Martin Braithwite during a training session. EPA
    Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Nelson Semedo, Clement Lenglet, Ivan Rakitic and Martin Braithwite during a training session. EPA
  • Frankie de Jong and Arthur Melo and defender Clement Lenglet during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Frankie de Jong and Arthur Melo and defender Clement Lenglet during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Ivan Rakitic during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Ivan Rakitic during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Leo Messi and midfielder Arturo Vidal during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Leo Messi and midfielder Arturo Vidal during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Leo Messi during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
    Leo Messi during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
  • Barcelona head coach, Quique Setien (C), leads a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
    Barcelona head coach, Quique Setien (C), leads a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
  • Leo Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Leo Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA

Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
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Scoreline

Liverpool 4

Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'

Manchester City 3

Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

RESULTS

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
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8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
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9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID

1st row 
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

2nd row 
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)

3rd row 
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)

4th row 
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)

5th row 
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)

6th row 
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)

7th row 
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)

8th row 
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)

9th row 
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)

10th row 
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

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Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

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

Rating: 4/5