A father who kidnapped his 18-year-old gay son and tried to drive him to their native Lebanon so he could marry him off and 'cure' his homosexuality has been fined £1,000. Nasser El-A. came out as gay at the age of 15 but his Muslim family considered it an affront on their faith and said it was unacceptable. His relatives tried to force him into a marriage to 'put him back on the right path' - and led by Nasser's father, later kidnapped him with the intention of taking him back to Lebanon. Kidnapped by his family: Nasser El-A. was violently abused and kidnapped by his Muslim family for being gay . Today the teenager's father and two uncles stood trial at Berlin Criminal Court and escaped with a fine of £1,000 each as punishment. Nasser is hoping his plight will raise awareness of the challenges faced by many gay Muslim men, The Local reports. When he first told his family about his sexuality in 2012, he was threatened with shocking violence. His uncle covered him in petrol and threatened to set him alight and later poured boiling water all over him. Speaking to Tagesspiegel, he said: 'I'm not someone who hides away. I don't want to suppress my sexuality. My father said he would personally ram a knife into my throat. Nasser ran away from home rather than face the the physical and mental abuse. Meets gay icon: The 18-year-old met German filmmaker and gay activist Rosa von Praunheim (left) at court in Berlin today . At first he struggled to find refuge and says the lack of accommodation or shelter for vulnerable young men is another important point he wanted to highlight with his case. He eventually found a home with an organisation called Papatya, which is aimed at housing vulnerable girls and young women. He was later invited back home by his mother, with his father supposedly at work, and returned only to be kidnapped. The family had hoped to smuggle him back to Lebanon with a forced marriage in mind, but were stopped by authorities on the Romanian-Bulgarian border and brought back to Berlin. Despite Nasser's father and uncles not turning up in court for their sentence, the defiant teenager saw the day as a victory. He was pictured wearing a badge saying 'Stop homophobia' and a rainbow wristband in widely-circulated photos - making sure that he brought his cause to the widest audience he could reach. Making a stand: The teenager hopes his case will raise the profile of the struggles faced by gay Muslim men .

Summary: Nasser El-A, 18, came out as gay to his family when he was 15 years old . Teenager, from Berlin, was violently abused by his strict Muslim relatives . His uncle even doused him petrol and threatened to set him alight . Family eventually kidnapped him and tried to force him into a marriage . They were stopped at the Lebanese border and brought to justice in Berlin .


Manchester United are seeking confirmation from Porto over Danilo's proposed switch to Real Madrid. Louis van Gaal is in the market for a new right back this summer, with the 23-year-old Brazilian a primary target. But Sportsmail understands Danilo has agreed to join Real Madrid ahead of next season, despite manager Carlo Ancelotti insisting a deal has not been completed. Porto defender Danilo (right) is a target for Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal . The 23-year-old Brazilian right back looks to have secured a summer transfer to Real Madrid . And United have contacted Porto chiefs for definitive confirmation over the Brazil international's mooted switch to Spain. Van Gaal remains a big admirer of Danilo and is reluctant to end his interest in the defender. But United do not want to waste their time in pursuing Danilo if a move to Real has already been rubber-stamped. Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne and Barcelona's Dani Alves are also on United's radar. And the Old Trafford club will look to press ahead with moves for Clyne or Alves should they hear Danilo's move to the Spanish capital is agreed. Dani Alves (left) is available in the summer and is a transfer alternative for Van Gaal . Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne (right) is another right back on United's radar .

Summary: Manchester United are checking on the availability of Porto defender Danilo . Danilo has agreed to join Real Madrid ahead of next season . But Manchester United want to make an offer if Real deal is not finalised . New Man Utd right back is high on Van Gaal's wish list for next season . CLICK HERE for all the latest Man United news .


Scotland's UKIP leader is today facing calls to resign after he compared the country’s only Muslim minister to the convicted terrorist Abu Hamza. In conversation with the Scottish Daily Mail, David Coburn, who was elected as an MEP last year, referred to ‘Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza’. Mr Yousaf, the SNP’s Minister for Europe and International Development, said the ‘Islamophobic’ comment was one of the worst insults he had ever received. David Coburn (left), Scotland's Ukip leader, is facing calls to resign after he compared the country's only Muslim minister, Humza Yousaf (right), to convicted terrorist Abu Hamza . He has written to party leader Nigel Farage to call for Mr Coburn to be expelled and is also planning to complain to the EU Ombudsman and European Parliament president Martin Schulz. The row comes in the same week that Mr Farage was embroiled in a racism row, after he suggested most of Britain’s race relations laws should be scrapped. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said comparing her colleague to a ‘convicted terrorist’ was ‘reprehensible’ and said Mr Coburn should ‘face consequences for that’ and be kicked out of UKIP. Last night, Mr Coburn – who is also standing to be the MP for Falkirk in May’s General Election – offered his ‘sincerest apologies’ for his comment. Ironically, earlier this year he sparked controversy by branding the SNP a ‘racist party’. Hook-handed Abu Hamza was earlier this year handed a life sentence by a New York judge for supporting terrorism. Abu Hamza was this year handed a life sentence by a New York judge for supporting terrorism . The hate cleric was convicted last May of multiple charges, including hostage-taking and plotting to set up a terrorism training camp in America. His trial followed his extradition from the UK to the US in 2012 at the end of an eight-year legal battle. Mr Coburn’s comment was made during a telephone conversation, in which he spoke about his appearance on BBC Two show The Big Immigration Debate on Tuesday. He claimed that Mr Yousaf was supposed to be on the show, and said: ‘Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza, didn’t seem to turn up.’ Challenged by the Mail during the conversation, Mr Coburn said the remark was intended to be private. However, there had been no prior agreement that the discussion was off-the-record. Glasgow-born Mr Yousaf was yesterday alerted to the comment by the Mail, and replied: ‘I am utterly appalled, disgusted and hurt by the comments allegedly made by David Coburn MEP. ‘This is Islamophobia of the worst kind. If this was shouted at a Muslim on the street none of us would tolerate it, the fact this abuse has come from an elected member of the European Parliament is completely unacceptable. 'Nigel Farage has been plagued by accusations of leading a racist party and this outburst from David Coburn MEP shows that UKIP are not just a party with a few rotten apples but rotten to the core. ‘If Nigel Farage is serious about UKIP being

Summary: David Coburn apologised after comparing Humza Yousaf to Abu Hamza . He made comment in conversation over BBC's The Big Immigration Debate . Mr Yousaf, SNP minister, wrote to Nigel Farage calling for his expulsion . First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the comparison was 'reprehensible' She is also calling for Scotland's Ukip leader to be kicked out of the party . Hate cleric was handed a life sentence for supporting terrorism this year .


The most amazing thing about Murray State University pitcher John Lollar's ridiculous wind-up is that it feels totally natural to him. Before every pitch the 6-foot-1 lefty kicks his leg so high it appears for a moment that he's doing the vertical splits. Lollar gained attention last week during his game against the University of Kentucky when a photographer for scouting site AllWildcats.com captured a shot of him at the height of his wind-up. Defying physics: Photographer Jeff Drummond captured John Lollar in the middle of his incredible wind-up during his game against the University of Kentucky last week . John Lollar became an internet sensation for his incredible wind-up mechanics that show him kicking his leg up to his head for every pitch . The Murray State University pitcher, seen here on spring break with girlfriend Haley Atkins, lost the game to the Wildcats, but won national attention for his unique movement . The sophomore appeared to defy not just bio-mechanics and physiology, but also the laws of physics. He told Yahoo Sports: 'My dad always told me to do whatever felt natural and whatever came easy for me.' He says he's emulating Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan - who surely had a high leg kick, though nothing like Lollar's. Despite exaggerated mechanics, of his pitch, Lollar was unable to hold off the Wildcats. He gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings. Murray State fell 4-1. But the result didn't matter. The picture made him famous overnight - for something he says was perfectly natural to him. Lollar says he patterns his movements after Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan (left), though his MLB idol didn't quite get his left as high as the Murray State pitcher. Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez (right) also made a name for himself with his high leg kick .

Summary: John Lollar became an overnight sensation after a picture of his unorthodox pitching mechanics made the rounds online .


QPR defender Mauricio Isla is convinced his Chile international colleague Alexis Sanchez will become the best player in the world after a sensational start to his Arsenal career this season. Sanchez and Isla were this week included in a 20-man Chile squad to play a friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium on March 29, and also against Iran. Sanchez, who has scored 18 goals this season, has helped fire Arsenal to third in the Premier League table, where they sit just a point behind Manchester City. And Isla, who is on a season-long loan deal at Loftus Road from Juventus after impressing for Chile at last summer's World Cup in Brazil, believes Sanchez has all the ingredients – and the temperament – to eclipse even Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the business. Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez can become the best players in the world, according to Mauricio Isla . 'I have known him for ten years and I think Alexis has shown what he is made of,' said Isla. 'He has always said that he wanted to be the best in the world and now he has arrived in a team where this can truly become a reality. 'He can build confidence and where they play for him and he transmits the confidence that his teammates give him but honestly, I am not at all surprised by the quality of Alexis as a player. 'I am proud to play alongside him for Chile, as I am proud to play alongside Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Claudio Bravo of Barcelona among others. I think together we are able to succeed and it would be fantastic for our country. Sanchez was one of Chile's star men at the World Cup and will be a key man at the Copa America . 'Alexis Sanchez is a leader as are the other two. Of course, the team is a group but there are always role models in any team and I think these three in particular are fundamental to ours. 'There are always high quality players and these three are the pillars of our team and the rest of us must accompany them to achieve great things. 'Firstly Alexis Sanchez provides what I believe we lacked before which are his goals. 'It's fantastic that he is scoring so much which fills him with confidence and joy and I hope he continues to keep scoring always more. 'If we were to talk about his characteristics, we could be here all day but for me, I love playing with a player who's so bold, who is a fighter, runs for 90 minutes and always loves training. 'I have heard from many of his Arsenal teammates also that he never tires in training or on the pitch and this is fundamental for the team.' QPR's Mauricio Isla is proud to play for Chile alongside the likes of Sanchez and Arturo Vidal of Juventus . Also included in the squad is Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, former Cardiff midfielder Gary Medel, Fiorentina's David

Summary: Alexis Sanchez has made a big impact for Arsenal since joining . Mauricio Isla and Sanchez are both in the Chile squad to face Brazil at The Emirates later this month . Isla wants revenge over Brazil after losing on penalties at the World Cup .


Federal prosecutors could file corruption charges against New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez by the end of the week, ending a years-long saga that has had the Democratic politician livign and working under a shadow of criminal suspicion. The Wall Street Journal reported that the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would see charges filed in his native New Jersey, citing people familiar with the FBI's investigation. The allegations against Menendez involve claims that he used his office to promote the business interests of a Democratic Party donor and close friend in exchange for personal gifts. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing, vowing that he is 'not going anywhere.' But a grand jury probe that has lasted for two years coudl complicate his future. THE SENATOR: Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, may soon face criminal charges related to alleged corruption . POLITICS: (l-r) Menendez, donor Salomon Melgen, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and her husband Paul, posed in February 2012 at a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials gala . Menendez, 61, has seen pressure from the Obama administration over his positions on Cuba and Iran, leading some Republicans who share his foreign policy views to suspect that the White House is exacting retribution on him. But more troubling are the ethics questions lingering about Menendez's relationship with Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, a wealthy and prolific donor. The senator's aides admitted in 2013 that he had intervened a year earlier with the acting chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on his friend's behalf, pushing back against accusations of overbilling the Medicare system by $8.9 million. Menendez has also repaid Melgen $58,500 for the value of plane trips he took on the doctor's private jet, mostly to the posh Dominican Republic resot Casa de Campo. But his spokeswoman fiercely denied he has done anything illegal even as a conservative group is calling for him to resign and face the music. Tricia Enright, Menendez's communications director, told Daily Mail Online in a statement earlier this month that 'we believe all of the Senator's actions have been appropriate and lawful and the facts will ultimately confirm that.' 'Any actions taken by Senator Menendez or his office have been to appropriately address public policy issues and not for any other reason.' 'The Senator has counted Dr. Melgen as one of his closest personal friends for decades,' Enright said. 'The two have spent holidays together and have gone to each other’s family funerals and weddings and have exchanged personal gifts.' COY: Attorney General Eric Holder wouldn't talk on Friday about whether charges are forthcoming for Menendez, saying 'I can't comment' She called the investigation's beginnings 'suspect,' referring to 'false allegations' that have been 'discredited' in the past. Meanwhile, the conservative activist group American Commitment has called on Menendez to resign his office. On a new website called ByeBob.com, the group claims he 'unethically, and likely criminally, compromised his ability to represent the people of New Jersey.' CNN reported that the investigation into Menendez is reaching a crescendo, with prosecutors

Summary: New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez could be charged in a matter of days . Federal grand jury has been probing whether he traded political donations from eye doctor Salomon Melgen for improper government favors . Menendez spokeswoman said doctor has been 'one of his closest friends for decades' and insists everything he did was lawful . HHS accused Melgen of overbilling Medicare by $8.9 million and ordered him to pay it back; Menendez intervened about his case . Senator also paid Melgen back $58,500 for trips on the donor's private jet, calling his failure to reimburse him an 'oversight' Allegedly pressured US Customs to stop giving the Dominican Republic used cargo x-ray equipment so a company Melgen controlled would win a contract for new machines . His aides refused to testify before a federal grand jury about conversations their boss had with HHS officials and a lawyer engaged to lobby for Melgen .


Death by drugs: Luke Goodman, 23, died in Colorado over the weekend after he took too many marijuana edibles and shot himself in the head . A popular college graduate died this past weekend in Colorado, after his family say he took too many marijuana candies and killed himself. Luke Goodman, 23, of Tulsa, Oklahoma ate four times the prescribed amount of a peach tart marijuana edible candy in addition to a THC-laced red velvet cookie and proceeded to shoot himself in the head with a gun he brought on the trip for protection. Goodman's family say he was a charismatic and outgoing young man who never showed signs of depression or suicidal thoughts before. They blame his death solely on the edibles. 'It was 100 per cent the drugs. It was completely because of the drugs - he had consumed so much of it,' his mother Kim Goodman told CBS Denver. Goodman was on a two-week ski trip with his family and friends when his parents dropped him off at the bus stop Saturday to go snowboarding with his cousin, Caleb Fowler. Goodman's parents were on their way back to Tulsa, and their son was going to spend the rest of the trip with his cousin. During their day out, Goodman and Fowler went to Silverthorne where the two purchased $78 worth of pot and edibles. They then went back to their lodgings and proceeded to get high. Fowler says his cousin started off by eating two peach tart candies at the same time - despite the fact that the suggested dosage is just one candy. Each candy contains 10mg of THC - the active ingredient in marijuana. When Goodman didn't immediately feel the effects of the drug, he took two more and also ate red velvet cookie baked with marijuana (his cousin had three cookies). Goodman's mother fears her son didn't read the warning label on the candies, which say the effects can take hours to kick in. Scroll down for video . Too much: Goodman's cousin Caleb Fowler says he ate five peach tart edibles, which is five times the suggested dosage. Above a stock image of a peach tart edible. It's unclear the specific brand Goodman ingested . Several hours later, Goodman's behavior changed drastically and he became jittery, incoherent and started talking nonsensically. 'He would make eye contact with us but didn’t see us, didn’t recognize our presence almost. He had never got close to this point, I had never seen him like this,' Fowler said. Apparently unaware of his serious condition, Fowler left Goodman in the condo to hop in the hot tub with other members of their vacation party. Only his cousin's mother was in the apartment, when Goodman grabbed his handgun, which he traveled with for protection, and shot himself. The single shot was fired just five minutes after Fowler left Goodman to use the hot tub. The Summit County Coroner says toxicology reports due back in a few weeks will shed more light on the edibles impact on Goodman's death. However, his family

Summary: Luke Goodman bought $78 worth of edibles and marijuana with his cousin on Saturday and the two went back to their condo in Keystone to get high . When the effects of the edibles didn't immediately kick in after taking two, Goodman ate two more and a THC cookie - five times the recommended dosage . A few hours later, the college grad became withdrawn and started mumbling incoherently . Apparently unaware of his serious condition, his cousin went outside to use the hot tub and that's when Goodman shot himself in the head . Goodman shot himself with his personal gun he brought on the vacation . Goodman's family blame the tragedy on the edibles, since he had never appeared depressed or suicidal before taking the drugs .


Inhaling deeply, the BBC’s ex-royal correspondent tries cannabis as part of a TV experiment examining the effects of types of the drug on the brain. In another scene Jennie Bond, 64, is seen giggling and talking about how much she loves eating grapes after experimenting with hash. A trailer for tonight’s programme asks: ‘Has Jennie got the munchies?’ Scroll down for videos . Jennie Bond, who worked as the BBC's royal correspondent for 14 years, inhaled potent 'skunk' cannabis as part of a six-month scientific experiment for a new Channel 4 programme called Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial . The 64-year-old mother said she didn't like the experience of taking cannabis but 'certainly didn't hate it' Yesterday critics and experts accused Channel 4 of turning Drugs Live: Cannabis On Trial into little more than a stunt designed to boost ratings and glamorise the Class B drug. The programme sees 22 volunteers including Miss Bond, presenter Jon Snow and former Tory MP Matthew Parris take two sorts of cannabis – hash and high-strength skunk – plus a placebo. Each has tests including a brain scan, while changes to their mood, memories and emotions are monitored. Professor David Nutt, 63, who was sacked as the Government’s drugs tsar in 2009 for saying cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and nicotine, will appear as an expert, with University College London professor Val Curran. Professor Nutt’s charity DrugScience contributed funding towards the Channel 4 trial. She could be seen giggling with researchers at University College London where the six-month trial took place . Mary Brett, chairman of campaign group Cannabis Skunk Sense, said: ‘Skunk is a dreadful drug and it is very irresponsible to have a show with such biased experts. It will be a platform for Professor Nutt to peddle what he thinks about drugs to an audience of young people.’ Julia Manning, chief executive of independent think-tank 2020 Health, said: ‘What I don’t think we should be doing is encouraging experimentation with substances when there is no doubt these substances have significant side-effects. This is not about science, it’s about viewing figures. The legislation we have seems to be deterring drug taking so why do we need to open the Pandora’s box and encourage more experimentation? ‘It’s glamorising and trivialising the issue.’ Snow, 67, who was given a brain scan after trying the drug, said: ‘I’ve worked in war zones, but I’ve never been as overwhelmingly frightened as I was when I was in the MRI scanner after taking skunk. I would never do it again.’ The scientific experiment, which has been approved by the Home Office, is being documented to try and demonstrate the effects potent 'skunk' cannabis has on the brain. Ms Bond said the drug made her feel 'floaty' In the footage, Ms Bond can be seen discussing her love of red grapes after inhaling the potent cannabis . But critics were concerned the programme would not show the long-term impact of cannabis use. Fay Watson, secretary general of Europe Against Drugs, said: ‘Placing someone into a MRI scanner when they

Summary: Jennie Bond inhaled cannabis for experiment on Channel 4 documentary . Former BBC royal correspondent said it 'reminded her of her student life' Mother of one, 64, said she didn't like experience but 'didn't hate it' either . Broadcaster Jon Snow and former MP Matthew Parris also involved in trial . Channel 4's Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial is to be aired tomorrow evening .


The new Republican governor of Illinois has said New Jersey is 'going down the drain' - despite it being run by fellow Republican Chris Christie, who sent $7million his way in the latest election campaign. Bruce Rauner said the Garden State was 'lost', thanks in part to its high property taxes. Rauner hit out at New Jersey, which has had Christie as governor since 2010, during a speech at the Illinois Farm Bureau last week. Sniping: Bruce Rauner, right, has said that New Jersey, the state run by his ally Chris Christie, left, is 'a disaster' because of its tax regime . Rauner's backer: Christie's Republican Governors Association gave $7million to Rauner's campaign in the 2014 governor elections . He said: 'We've got the highest property taxes in America other than New Jersey. I don't want to compete with New Jersey on anything, especially that. That's a disaster.' The State Register-Journal of Springfield, Illinois, reported that he continued: 'New Jersey is lost. They're going down the drain, and they ain't turning it around.' The staunch criticism may come as a surprise to Christie, who as the head of the Republican Governors Association funneled $7million in campaign funds to help him topple Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn. Christie often showed up on the campaign trail alongside Rauner, and boasted that he 'didn't come empty-handed' after making a $2.5million top-up to the coffers. He's behind you: Rauner, left, stands behind Christie during a Chicago fundraiser in which the two ate jumbo hotdogs . CBS Chicago reported how during the campaign Rauner and Christie made a public appearance to order jumbo hotdogs together before a hotel fundraiser. In return, Rauner has often been a vocal Christie fan. NJ.com reports that he has described him as 'one of the greatest public servants in America today' and 'a superstar'. Rauner spent a total of $37million on TV ads alone in the campaign, in which he outspent Quinn by some $9million, according to the Center for Public Integrity. The Center's records from the 2014 governor elections show Christie's association sent a total of $7million Rauner's way. Spokesmen for Christie and Rauner have yet to comment.

Summary: Bruce Rauner said the state was 'lost' and its tax regime 'a disaster' Rauner won Illinois governor's race in November after huge donations . Chris Christie's Republican Governor's Association gave him $7million . Rauner and New Jersey governor Christie have been chummy in public .


A thousand year-old potion made out of onions, garlic, wine and bile from a cow's stomach can kill hospital superbugs, scientists claim. The potent 10th century brew - used by Anglo Saxons to treat a stye (an abscess on the eyelid) destroyed 90 per cent of the bacteria on scraps of skin taken from mice with MRSA. Interestingly, the ingredients had little effect unless they were all brought together into the concoction, the study by Nottingham University researchers found. The garlic-based 'potion', listed in a thousand-year-old Anglo-Saxon manuscript, has been found to kill off the MRSA superbug . Nottingham University microbiologists Dr Freya Harrison and Dr Steve Diggle with the garlic-based 'potion' The ancient remedy, called Bald's eyesalve, originates from a manuscript in Bald's Leechbook - an Old English leatherbound volume in the British Library. The Leechbook is widely thought of as one of the earliest known medical textbooks and contains Anglo-Saxon medical advice and recipes for medicines, salves and treatments. After using the solution on lab animals with MRSA - one of the most antibiotic-resistant bugs costing modern health services billions - the researchers described their results as 'astonishing.' Associate Professor Dr Christina Lee, of the University of Nottingham, said: 'Medieval leech books and herbaria contain many remedies designed to treat what are clearly bacterial infections - weeping wounds and sores, eye and throat infections, skin conditions such as the erysipelas rash, leprosy and chest infections. A strain of the hospital superbug MRSA can be carried by pets and livestock, say scientists who have found evidence the infection can pass from animals to humans. Researchers at Cambridge University have found two separate cases where people were infected with the strain of infection, and livestock were found to be the cause. And genetic tests show cats and dogs have the same strain of the bacterium as people. It means MRSA could spread between animals at veterinary clinics in a similar way to hospital infections. But scientists at the university moved to reassure pet owners, adding there is very little risk of them falling ill as a result of an infection passed from their pets. It comes after cats passed TB to humans for the first time in an outbreak in Newbury, Berkshire last year, feared to have been caused by badgers. Two people from the same household were treated for bovine tuberculosis after they caught the disease from their kitten. 'Given these remedies were developed well before the modern understanding of germ theory, this poses two questions. 'How systematic was the development of these remedies and how effective were these remedies against the likely causative species of bacteria? 'Answering these questions will greatly improve our understanding of medieval scholarship and medical empiricism and may reveal new ways of treating serious bacterial infections that continue to cause illness and death.' The Anglo Saxon expert came up with the idea of trying out the recipe. It describes a very specific method of making the solution, including the use of a brass vessel to brew it in, a strainer to purify it and an instruction

Summary: Bald's eyesalve is a 10th century brew used by Anglo Saxons to treat styes . Scientists found it killed 90% of bacteria on scraps of MRSA-infected skin . Ingredients had little effects unless they were brought together in a mix . Brewing method - using a brass vessel - was also found to be important .


Spain's Supreme Court has dismissed a second paternity suit brought against former King Juan Carlos, accepting the ex-monarch's argument that the claim had no basis. The court said Wednesday the decision was backed by seven judges to three. Juan Carlos, 77, lodged an appeal after the court in January agreed to consider a claim by a Belgian woman, Ingrid Sariau, that her mother had a relationship with Juan Carlos which lasted into 1966, when she was born. Spain's Supreme Court has dismissed a second paternity suit brought against former King Juan Carlos (pictured) In January, the court dismissed a similar claim by a Spanish man. Juan Carlos married former Queen Sofia in 1962 and became king in 1975. He was immune from lawsuits while king, but lost the privilege on abdicating in June in favor of his son, Felipe. Juan Carlos was for decades held in high esteem for steering Spain from military dictatorship to democracy. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, 2005. His reputation plummeted after he took a secret elephant hunting trip to Botswana in 2012 while honorary president of the World Wide Fund for Nature . He took over the throne in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Gen. Francisco Franco. But his reputation plummeted after he took a secret elephant hunting trip to Botswana in 2012 at the height of Spain's financial crisis, despite being honorary president of the WWF. He later apologized for the trip.

Summary: He lodged an appeal after a claim by a Belgian woman, Ingrid Sariau . She claimed her mother had a relationship with him in the 1960s . Juan Carlos married former Queen Sofia in 1962 and became king in 1975 .


Kell Brook is willing to break with convention and give Amir Khan the lion's share of any payday in an effort to finally lure him into a blockbuster world title fight. Brook has the bargaining chip of a world championship belt but so far that has proved ineffective in drawing the Bolton welterweight into a fight that would attract huge British interest. Sportsmail understands Khan would pocket in the region of £4 million if he met the 28-year-old at Wembley on June 13 – a date Brook's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has penciled in with the national stadium. IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook poses at a press conference at Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield . Amir Khan hits Devon Alexander during their welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last year . Khan chats to Liverpool midfielder and fellow Maxi Nutrition ambassador Jordan Henderson in a promo . Brook has gone to claim he would be prepared to accept a smaller payday as IBF champion to make the fight. But despite sporadic positive feedback from the Khan camp, who told Hearn at a recent meeting in Blackpool that the bout 'will happen one day', the trail has since gone cold. Brook, who defends his title on March 28 against Jo Jo Dan, said: 'I think he is avoiding me like the plague. He said that I'm an easy fight but how long have we been banging on about wanting the fight with him? 'After I'm done with Amir Khan he will just be a mere memory. 'He wants to fight some of these kids who have been super-featherweights. I am a genuine big welterweight who can seek and destroy him.' Hearn added: 'We want the fight so badly. We don't believe we should take anything less than 50-50 but until we talk maybe we do. Kell has not been in a mega-fight and has masses of monster paydays in front of him. If he has to give Amir a little something to knock him out he probably will.' Khan's fight in Sheffield on March 28 will be his first since the horrific stabbing incident in Tenerife last September that could have cost his life. At the very least it has meant a major delay in Brook defending his world title for the first time. He intends on three more fights this year, though he believes he has a greater chance of attracting the winner of Floyd Mayweather's showdown with Manny Pacquiao than he does of landing a Khan bout that would draw enormous domestic interest. Brook hits the bag during a media workout session at Bary's Gym in Las Vegas in August 2014 . Brook lands a punch on Shawn Porter on his way to becoming world champion in August 2014 . Khan's apparent interest in fighting America's Adrien Broner would indicate that Brook is low on his agenda, with Brook saying: 'I think it is more likely I will end up fighting one of Mayweather or Pacquiao than Khan, the way he is dragging his feet. A Khan fight is so easy

Summary: Kell Brook will offer Amir Khan the majority of the purse should they fight . The IBF welterweight champion has so far not managed to tempt Khan . Sportsmail understands Khan could pocket in the region of £4m if he accepts . Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn says he is desperate for the fight to happen . However, it appears Khan would prefer to face American Adrien Broner .


Jurgen Klinsmann has lavished praise on Nicklas Bendtner after the Denmark striker netted his first international hat-trick in the 3-2 win over USA. Despite being on the receiving end of the former Arsenal striker's treble, the USA manager paid compliment to the Dane who scored in the 33rd, 84th and 90th minute to help Denmark claim victory in the friendly. 'When you score three goals in a game you deserve all the compliments in the world. Bendtner deserves them,' Klinsmann said. Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick, including two in the last seven minutes, as Denmark beat USA 3-2 . Bendtner celebrates with his team-mates after firing the home side level during the first half . 'Sometimes it goes well and you score and gain confidence, and three goals is the right medicine for Bendtner. I wish him the best in the future.' Denmark boss Morten Olsen was also quick to acknowledge Bendtner's performance, even claiming the Dane could have grabbed five goals. 'Nicklas might have scored four or five goals. On the other hand, though, we can not demand that he should score all of his chances. 'It is clear to see that the training efforts have been good for Nicklas recently. I have spoken with Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking and he has been very pleased with the effort Nicklas has put in. Jurgen Klinsmann watched his side fall to a 3-2 defeat in Denmark but was quick to praise Bendtner . Jozy Altidore is congratulated by his team-mates after giving the visitors the lead after 19 minutes . 'It has been difficult for him to get playing time because his competitor [Wolfsburg team-mate], Bas Dost, has scored every time he has hit the ball. Nicklas has kept his mouth shut and just kept on training.' Bendtner admitted that the hat-trick was a defining moment in his career. 'Of course it was very special for me to score hat-trick for the national team, and it is something I will never forget,' Bendtner said. On an evening when Tottenham's Christian Eriksen became the youngest Dane to win 50 international caps, Jozy Altidore, who could only muster a single goal in the English top flight during an 18-month spell at Sunderland, put the USA ahead after 19 minutes in Aarhus. But the Danes were soon level through Bendtner. Aron Johannsson restored the vicitors' lead before Bendtner scored twice in the final seven minutes to seal his hat-trick and earn victory for Olsen's side.

Summary: Nicklas Bendtner scored his first international hat-trick in win over USA . Former Arsenal striker scored in final minute to help Denmark win 3-2 . Jurgen Klinsmann and Morten Olsen heap praise on Wolfsburg star .


A woman whose fiancé passed away suddenly while at work has won a battle to be refunded the cost of the wedding dress she had ordered to wear during their nuptials. Fiona Mullins, 44, from Workington in Cumbria was left devastated when her factory worker boyfriend Kevin Elliott, 34, dropped dead of unknown causes in December. As Fiona was too devastated with grief to contact the various wedding companies to start cancelling her plans for the big day, her daughter Rhiannon Clark took it upon herself to call the bridal shop where the dress had been ordered. Fiona Mullins with a picture of her and her deceased fiancé Kevin Elliott . But according to Rhiannon, staff at The Wedding Warehouse in Carlisle said they were unable to refund the £1,200 deposit. Rhiannon told The Mirror: ‘They told her they could cancel the dress but the money would be held as a cancellation fee or they could carry on making it in case of a change of circumstances. ‘We could not believe what she was hearing, what was her fiancé going to do - come back from the dead?’ Rhiannon then launched an online petition to get support for the deposit to be refunded, which attracted 6,000 signatures in the first day. After the store started to receive death threats to staff, they contacted the family to say that they would be refunding the deposit in full. Rhiannon said: I’m so pleased they agreed to pay the money but the whole family are still upset this was deal with so badly.’ Bridal stores often have strict cancellation policies as many events can disrupt a wedding (picture posed by model) But the bridal store was forced to stump up the cash from their own tills though, as the designer who they had commissioned to make the dress had already started work on the garment and refused to hand back the money. Ailsa Taylor, Managing Director of The Wedding Warehouse, told MailOnline: ‘We are very sorry for her loss but we have to deal with emotional situations all the time and each situation is different. ‘We have people whose dad passes away or brides who are dying from ovarian cancer. ‘In my personal situation, I would love to give everyone their money back but I have to have a viable business to look after our existing brides, pay my staff wages at the end of the month and put a roof over my family’s head.’

Summary: Fiona Mullins, 44, from Cumbria, was engaged to marry Kevin Elliott, 34, . But the factory worker died suddenly last December . Fiona's daughter tried to get her £1,200 deposit back but struggled . After launching an online petition, the bridal store returned the cash .


Unmasked:Jihadi John has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi . A charity that funded the human rights group which described Jihadi John as a ‘beautiful young man’ has been forced to halt further donations. The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust had made six-figure donations to Cage, but links with the ‘warped’ campaign group prompted outrage from Westminster and the threat of a Charity Commission inquiry. The Mail has also highlighted criticism of Cage and its pronouncements about Jihadi John, identified as Mohammed Emwazi, for the past week. Last night the Rowntree trust reluctantly agreed to stop bankrolling Cage after officials at the Charity Commission – furious over Cage’s support for the IS killer – threatened a statutory inquiry into its leadership if it refused to give ‘unequivocal assurances’ it would withdraw funding. Cage caused outrage last week over its attempts to justify the killings meted out by Kuwaiti-born Briton Emwazi, because he had claimed to have been harassed by MI5. The campaign group gave an extraordinary press briefing about Emwazi – carried live at length on the BBC and Sky – after he was identified as the man behind the mask of Jihadi John. Asim Qureshi, its research director, described one of the world’s most wanted terrorists as a ‘beautiful young man’, ‘extremely gentle’ and ‘the most humble young person that I ever knew’. The 32-year-old blamed British security services for Emwazi’s radicalisation, saying he had tried to fit in but had been made to feel like an ‘outsider’. And on Thursday night, Qureshi was a guest on BBC1’s This Week, which appeared to expose him as a cheerleader for jihad. Scroll down for video . When presenter Andrew Neil confronted him with a previous interview in which he had appeared to support executing adulterers by stoning, he refused to give a straight confirmation or denial, instead repeatedly stating: ‘I’m not a theologian.’ Cage has been propped up largely by grants from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust since 2007, making a combined total of £305,000. The trust said its last grant payment to Cage was in January 2014. A separate charity, The Roddick Foundation, has also handed over £120,000 to Cage. The Charity Commission wrote to the Rowntree and Roddick charities on Monday, giving them 24 hours to give unambiguous assurances they would stop funding Cage. 'Warped' Cage's research director Asim Qureshi (left) at a press conference about Jihadi John last week . While officials at Roddick gave ‘immediate’ guarantees they would pull the plug, the Rowntree charity dragged its heels and agreed to stop funding Cage only after the Charity Commission threatened to launch an inquiry into how it is run. A source said Rowntree complained of ‘unprecedented regulatory pressure’ when they eventually backed down. The source added: ‘Very reluctantly, and with very little grace, Rowntree caved in at the 11th hour. It is extraordinary how they dithered over whether Cage was a suitable organisation to fund.’ The Charity Commission started investigating both the Rowntree and Roddick charities over their funding of Cage in 2013. Much of the rest of its income comes

Summary: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust had made six-figure donations to Cage . But links with the campaign group prompted outrage from Westminster . The Mail highlighted criticism of Cage and its statements about Jihadi John . The Rowntree trust has now reluctantly agreed to stop bankrolling Cage . Officials at Charity Commission threatened an inquiry into its leadership if it refused to give ‘unequivocal assurances’ it would withdraw funding .


For anyone packing for their holidays this year, getting their clothes to fit neatly inside their bags is always a struggle. But robotics engineers have now come up with what they say is the best way to fold a variety of clothes into neat little rectangles. Their findings, of course, are intended to help a new generation of robots take on some of our more monotonous household chores. The diagram above shows the approach outlined by the scientists for folding a jumper or long sleeved t-shirt . However, their work has also revealed the most effective ways of folding clothing so it can be stacked and packed away that may also help humans too. They use a principal that they have called the 'g-fold' - where clothing is laid out on a flat surface and gravity is used to help assist the folding of clothing. It could be the ultimate home help - able to find your dirty clothes, wash them, and even fold them before neatly putting them away. The robot developed by researchers at the University of California Berkeley is able to wash and fold clothes, recognise different items so they can be folded neatly away. Using Willow Garage's $280,000 Personal Robot 2, the researchers have been able to get their robot to take washing out oa basket, place them in a washer. The semi-humanoid robot is 'roughly the size of a person' and features two arms, claw-like 'gripper' hands, a front-facing screen head, and a tilting Hokuyo laser scanner that continuously flaps up and down like an ever-chattering mouth. For a jumper, for example, they suggest folding the sleeves in half first at the elbow and then folding them in at the shoulders. They then suggest folding the body of the jumper into the middle from both sides before then folding it in half. With a pair of trousers they suggest folding them along the crotch and then down the middle. The approach is published in a research paper describing how domestic robots can help around the home. Dr Pieter Abbeel, an associate professor in computer science at the University of California Berkeley, and his colleagues who have been conducting the research, said they attempted to solve the problem of folding clothing by treating it as a problem of geometry. They said: 'Spread crudley on a table, real-world clothing items do not perfectly resemble simple polygons. 'They contain curves rather than straight lines, corners which are rounded rather than sharp, and small intricacies which no two articles of a given class will necessarily share. 'Rather than reason explicitly about these complex shapes, we wish to transpose them as best we can into a shape which we know how to fold.' The researchers have now used their findings to help develop a robot that is able to sort and fold laundry. They developed software that allowed the Willow Garage Personal Robot to grip clothes with claw like gripper hands and lay it out on a flat surface. This is the technique the engineers recommended for folding up a standard t-shirt

Summary: Engineers at University of California Berkeley assessed folding techniques . They conducted the work to help develop robots that can do the laundry . They recommend using a 'g-fold' where clothes are folded on a flat surface . T-shirts, jumpers and trousers can be folded with this into neat rectangles . Researchers hope it will lead to robots that can take on household chores .


Tragic: Humberto Moura Fonseca, 23, died after attempting to drink 25 vodka shots in 60 seconds . A drinking competition went tragically wrong when a student died after downing 25 shots of vodka. Humberto Moura Fonseca, 23, had been partying at the university of Julio de Mesquita in the city of Bauru, in southwest Brazil, when organisers suggested the drinking game to see who could drink 25 shots in less than 60 seconds. His friend Rodrigo Pancetti, 23, said: 'We were all having a great time and someone came up with the idea of the drinking competition. 'I knew I'd already had too much and there was no way I was going to be able to drink five, let alone 25. But Humberto and the others were really up for it. 'On his Facebook there is a quote, a motto, from the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky which says it is better to die from vodka than from boredom. I never thought that would become reality. 'But once he had finished he said he felt ill and suddenly collapsed. 'We assumed it was because he was drunk but then six others also collapsed, including the winner, so we called an ambulance.' Medical crews rushed the students to hospital but Mr Fonesca died on the way. A hospital spokesman said: 'They all had alcohol poisoning and are in a critical state, with three still in intensive care.' Now police say they are looking to charge the organisers with homicide. Ironic: A quote on Humberto Moura Fonseca's Facebook page says: 'It is better to die from vodka than from boredom' Drinking competition: Medical crews rushed the students to hospital but Mr Fonesca died on the way . A police spokesman said: 'Two fourth year students at the university have been arrested for organising the event without a licence and for potentially causing the death of the student.' A spokesman for the university said: 'We very much regret the death of this young man and our condolences go out to his family and friends. 'We would like to remind students that drinking alcohol in the university is banned.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Summary: A student has died after attempting to drink 25 vodka shots in 60 seconds . Humberto Moura Fonseca, 23, collapsed after completing the challenge . The group were partying at the university of Julio de Mesquita, Brazil . A hospital spokesperson said six others also had alcohol poisoning . Police are now considering whether to charge organisers with his death .


Last night's highly publicised television debate between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition was intended to focus the watching audience's attention acutely on them ahead of the general election in May. However, the morning after the night before, another name is grabbing the headlines. As Jeremy Paxman's co-host on Cameron & Miliband Live: The Battle for Number 10, Sky News anchor Kay Burley, 54, was charged with managing the audience's questions. Kay Burley, pictured with David Cameron and Jeremy Paxman, was accused of giving the PM an easy ride . Narrowing her gaze at Mr Miliband: The Sky News anchor was trending on Twitter after the programme aired with one user, Imperial Aerosol Kid accusing her of being 'biased' towards Cameron . Perched to left of the stage, wearing a bright pink dress, the presenter caused such a storm while interviewing David Cameron and Ed Miliband, that her name promptly trended on Twitter. Imperial Aerosol Kid wrote: 'I'm not sure how any sensible person can say Kay Burley was neutral last night. I laughed a few times at how biased she was.' While Tommy Ball wrote sarcastically: 'Just watched Kay Burley. Really hard to see where her political loyalties lie. Wonderfully even-handed.' The audience at home also derided the co-host, accusing her of giving the Prime Minister an easy ride, as she asked him questions about Shredded Wheat (in reference to leading for three terms) and even his favourite colour. A spokesman for communications watchdog Ofcom said it had received 131 complaints by late morning today, all of which were about perceived bias against the Labour leader. An Ofcom spokesman said: 'We are assessing the complaints before deciding whether or not to investigate.' Channel 4 also confirmed today that they had received around 300 complaints following the show last night although a spokeswoman couldn't confirm specifically what they were about. Burley was charged with managing the audience participation section of Cameron & Miliband Live . Viewers at home took to Twitter to say they felt Burley, 54, was noticeably softer on the PM . Kay has responded to many of the Twitter responses...surmising that both herself and Jeremy Paxman were 'alternately accused of being pro and anti both Cameron and Miliband' The news anchor took to Twitter herself to refute accusations of bias. She posted after the debate: 'I see JP [Jeremy Paxman] and I are being alternately accused of being pro and anti both Cameron and Miliband. Our work here is done #BattleForNumber10.' Later, when another user accused her of 'telling porkies' about the reaction of viewers on Twitter, Burley responded that '@Ed_Miliband team disagreed', suggesting the Labour party team were happy with Burley's questioning of Mr Miliband. A Channel 4 spokeswoman said both parties had been happy with the format: 'Both politicians, one of whom is likely to be the next Prime Minister, agreed to the format and were prepared for and actively participated in robust questioning about their policies and abilities. Neither party has expressed any dissatisfaction to Channel 4.' Burley, 54, responded on Twitter that

Summary: Kay Burley co-hosted C4's Cameron & Miliband Live with Jeremy Paxman . Viewers on Twitter accused Burley of being 'biased' towards Tories . The presenter seemed to introduce audience member as Zayn Malik . Latest in a series of gaffes for the Sky News anchor .


This is the heartbreaking moment a dog desperately chased after the owner who abandoned it at a gas station on the side of a Louisiana road. A witness snapped the photograph after she saw a man drop off the dog on Highway 11 in Slidell. She said the owner yelled at his pet to 'Go! Go over there!' Lorie Hollis said the dog, a black German shepherd mix, was confused and jumped up, putting his paws on the tailgate of the man's pickup truck. This is the heartbreaking moment a German shepherd desperately chased after the owner who abandoned it at a gas station on the side of a road in Slidell, Louisiana . The dog then gave chase after the truck sped off, trying desperately to keep up. Hollis told the Louisiana Humane Society that she got into her car and tried to follow the dog and truck, watching the shepherd cross two lanes of traffic as it attempted to reach its owner. But after driving for a couple of miles, Hollis lost sight of them both. 'My heart is broken,' she told WDSU. 'I am in shock that someone would treat a dog like this.' A spokesman for the Humane Society said it is all too common for dogs to be abandoned and 'left to fend for themselves' on the sides of highways or back country roads. 'People can be cruel and heartless,' Jeff Dorson told WDSU. 'If people feel they can no longer care for a pet, all they have to do is surrender him or her to a nearby rescue group or shelter.' Dorson said when animals are abandoned in a 'random location' they have 'almost zero' chance of survival. 'This is truly a cowardly act and a punishable offense,' he added. The Humane Society of Louisiana said they will accept custody of the German shepherd and find it a home when it is returned. They are also offering a $250 reward for any information that could lead to the owner's arrest or his abandoned dog's safe return. A nearby woman snapped the photograph after she saw a man drop off the dog on Highway 11 (pcitured) and yelled at his pet to 'Go! Go over there!' The dog then gave chase after the truck sped off .

Summary: The dog was dropped off at a gas station in Slidell, Louisiana . A witness heard its owner yell 'Go! Go over there!' at the German shepherd . The dog then put its paws on its owner's pickup truck, but he drove off . Shepherd ran after it across two lanes of traffic for miles . Witness tried to chase after it but lost sight of both the owner and the dog . Humane Society offering $250 for owner's information or dog's safe return .


The 14-year-old student who severely beat a Missouri sixth grader with Asperger's syndrome has been sentenced to taken into the state's juvenile jail system for treatment. The eighth grader, whose name has not been released, admitted to savagely beating Blake Kitchen, 12, in their school's lunchroom. He was was told by the judge to get his anger under control and to change his behavior during a hearing on Thursday at Clay Count family court. The teen will be assessed by Missouri youth workers to determine what kind of treatment he will receive while in the custody of the state-run agency, which is for youths placed by juvenile courts, according to the Kansas City Star. Scroll down for video . The 14-year-old student who severely beat a Missouri sixth-grader with Asperger's syndrome will be taken into custody by the state's youth services division for treatment. The teen, whose name has not been released, admitted to striking Blake Kitchen (above), 12, in their school's lunchroom last month . In the February 19 attack, Blake (above) was knocked unconscious and suffered from a cracked skull, a fractured jaw and damage to his ear after the incident in the lunchroom at Liberty Middle School . 'They can pretty much tailor a program to each individual kid based on their needs,' said Janet Rogers, interim juvenile officer for Clay County. 'Their goal is to get these kids turned around so they can make better choices before they hit adulthood.' In the February 19 attack, Blake was knocked unconscious and suffered from a cracked skull, a fractured jaw and damage to his ear after the incident in the lunchroom at Liberty Middle School. Blake has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, and likes to sit at the same spot each day in the Liberty Middle School cafeteria. His parents said that turned troublesome when last month, a boy moved Blake's belongings from his seat. When Blake asked the boy to move, another boy began hitting him. 'Then I blacked out,' Blake told WDAF. 'My ear hurts, my jaw hurts, my back hurts and that's all.' Blake (pictured left and right) has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, and likes to sit at the same spot each day in the Liberty Middle School cafeteria. The altercation occurred after some other schoolchildren moved his stuff in the cafeteria one morning . Blake's mother, Destiny, said the boy continued to beat her son even after he had blacked out, but she said luckily he does not remember the attack, according to Fox2Now. 'He doesn't remember any of that. I guess that was a blessing. He was unconscious and doesn't remember being violently attacked. It's sad he didn't stop,' she said. 'Anytime they moved him he would vomit. Dry heaving constantly, just dry heaving. Him crying and saying it was so painful and he was afraid he was going to die. He was like 'I don't want to die'.' Blake spent five days at Children's Mercy Hospital and was later released. His injuries have left him facing a second surgery

Summary: Missouri sixth grader Blake Kitchen, 12, who has Asperger's, was severely beaten at school by a student over a seat in the cafeteria . Juvenile, whose name has not been released, knocked Blake unconscious leaving him with fractured jaw and damage to ear after February 19 attack . Eighth grader has been ordered into custody of Missouri's youth services division for treatment by judge after case was settled in court on Thursday .


Mexicans take it literally when they amp themselves up for a night out in their country's capital. A drinking game popular in Mexico City takes shock-factor to the extreme as friends affirm their macho status by competing over who can handle the most electricity, and they connect themselves to a live current. Known as 'toques' - Spanish for 'touches' - the game has seen a recent surge in popularity through the city, and has seen players' nights-out cut short by urgent visits to the emergency room. 'The drunker people get, the more voltage they can generally handle,' says Javier Rodriguez, who has worked the lively Condesa neighbourhood of Mexico City for the past 35 years. Scroll down for video . Electricuting: Javier Rodriguez has been offering drinkers the chance to play 'toques' for 35 years . Painful: It requires a player to withstand as many volts of electricity coursing through their body as possible . Cheap thrills: People pay £1.50 for a round, and Javier can expect to make more than £300 in a weekend . 'I've seen party-goers pass out after passing 100 volts, although it usually has something to do with what they've been drinking.' 'It's fun,' said Leonardo Flores, who eagerly took up the challenge when Javier passed by clicking the metal handles to make the sound known throughout the capital as a toques vendor. 'It gives you a jolt and you feel good afterwards,' he told the MailOnline, who watched as he withstood 85 volts of electricity passing up his left arm and then down his right. 'People also say it makes hangovers less painful, but that hasn't ever been my experience.' Javier walks a circuit of the bars and restaurants in the trendy party district from 3pm until the early hours of the morning, clicking together the metal handles that players hold onto to complete the electric circuit, which can reach up to 120 volts. UK mains supply runs at around 240 volts. 'It's a long-standing tradition here in Mexico,' he said. 'I've been hired to offer the game at private events: weddings, funerals, Sweet 16 birthday parties, town fairs, political dinners, pretty much everything. 'It's become part of our country's drinking culture. Wherever Mexicans are drinking in large numbers, you can be certain someone is going around offering the electrocution game.' 'Fun': Despite pictures suggesting the contrary, some people claim they enjoy the sensation . Device: The two handles send volts of electricity through the player's body, starting off at just 20 volts . Secret cure: It is also claimed a game of toques can make your hangover less severe in the morning . Each round costs £1.50, and Javier can expect to make more than £300 on a lively weekend in Condesa, one of Mexico City's most popular nightlife districts. Good business, given that that Mexican minimum wage stands at under £150 a month, and that his only expenses are eight AA batteries every three or so weeks. He claims Mexicans are always his best clients, and that not only are international visitors less likely

Summary: 'Toques' - touch in Spanish - sees people electrocute themselves for fun . Drinkers compete to see who can cope with the highest voltage . The average people can withstand is 70 to 85 volts, but can reach 120 volts . Game so popular it is played at political dinners, weddings - and funerals . MailOnline sent their reporter down to give it a go - with electrifying results .


Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has experienced the harsh realities of his philosophies being called into question but unlike some critics he has no doubt about the credentials of Louis van Gaal to get things right at Manchester United. When the pair last met back in December at Old Trafford United won 3-0, a result which bizarrely actually had more of an effect on the beaten visitors. They have not lost in the Premier League since and, ahead of the clash at Anfield on Sunday, the perception of Liverpool - and Rodgers - has changed completely. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has lavished praise on opposite number Louis van Gaal (pictured) Rodgers has lauded Van Gaal ahead of Liverpool's home match against Manchester United . United are currently two points ahead of Liverpool . That loss against United was the last in a run of eight matches which brought just eight points and left Liverpool in 10th place, seven points off fourth. However, after taking 33 points from a possible 39 they are just two points behind United, who occupy the final Champions League spot. United, by contrast, are still failing to impress in Van Gaal's first season in charge despite their league position with many questioning whether he actually knows what his best side is and whether he is getting the best out of the talent he has at his disposal. But Rodgers believes that should not reflect badly on the Dutchman. 'I don't think there is any convincing (required). He has shown over his career that he is a top-class manager,' he said. 'He will have seen, coming into this country for the first time, the challenges of this football - it is why it is the most competitive league in the world. 'The Premier League is different from the leagues he will have worked in before but I don't think you can argue with his credentials. Van Gaal's Manchester United go into the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield in fourth position . 'There is no question about the philosophies he has put in place at Ajax or Barcelona or his achievements and when he leaves Manchester United he will still be one of the great managers.' Rodgers found himself under similar scrutiny after Liverpool's poor first half of the season but things have turned around and he is flavour of the month once again. He admits August to December was a tough period for him, when his methods were being called into question, but believes he has come out the other side stronger for it. 'I've said to coaches and players that when the criticism comes, deserved or undeserved, you won't like it but you have to accept it as it is part of the game,' he added. 'As a manager you have to take the circumstance of where you are at. That won't fit with results but it is quite easy, you have to stay focused. 'You have to have an inherent belief of how you work and when it is scrutinised and ridiculed you go back to that

Summary: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on Louis van Gaal . Rodgers believes Van Gaal is one of football's 'great managers' Liverpool host arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon .


Troubled Hollywood star Charlie Sheen has launched a bizarre, racist Twitter rant at Barack Obama where he calls the President 'Barry Satera Kenya'. Sheen, who starred in Platoon, Young Guns and The Three Musketeers, sent the tweet after President Obama chose Kansas for the NCAA college basketball tournament live on ESPN's SportsCenter. The actor wrongly accused President Obama of failing to send official representation to the funeral of Major General Harold Greene who was killed in Afghanistan in 2014. In reality, the administration was represented by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Scroll down for video . Offensive: Charlie Sheen launched a bizarre twitter rant against US President Barack Obama . Prediction: The President was making his annual selection for the NCAA Men's basketball tournament . Bizarre: Sheen claimed the President refused to attend the funerals of soldiers but had time to talk about basketball . The bizarre tweet said, 'Barry Satera Kenya u won't attend a soldier's funeral uhkros da street that u kild yet u hav time 4 brackets? s a d' Mr Obama's father, Barack Snr, was born in Kenya but met his mother while a student in Hawaii, where the future president was born. One Twitter user defended the President, suggesting that Sheen 'avoid drinking the bong water'. Others suggested that mentioning Kenya in his tweet was racist. Sheen, who famously entertains a number of conspiracy theories, has been a vocal critic of President Obama, criticizing his failure to sponsor armed guards in schools to prevent future massacres. Last month, Sheen admitted that he would like to run for President himself, despite his well-chronicled problems with drugs, with his father Martin - who played the President in the well-known television show The West Wing - as his vice-President. He said: 'I conducted a poll - it was like ten guys. In every situation - it doesn't matter the ethics scenario or the social scenario - when I say, "Hey, what if I ran for president?" It's a hundred per cent.' 'Guess who my vice president is? My dad. 'It would be Sheen and Sheen 2016. Running on a platform of truth and transparency. Seriously.' Love: President Obama is an avid basketball fan and has been making his annual NCAA selections since 2009 . The actor is a so-called 9/11 'truther' who believes in a range of implausible conspiracy theories surrounding the attacks 2011 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. President Barack Obama predicted that Kentucky will remain undefeated during the NCAA tournament and will win the title. The President is a massive basketball fan and has delivered his NCAA selections live on ESPN since taking office. However, despite the President's familiarity with basketball, he has not picked the correct national champion since his first year in office when North Carolina won in 2009. In 2010 he backed Kansas, who went out to North Iowa. In 2011, the President once again backed Kansas, who were defeated in the south west final. In 2012, Mr Obama switched to North Carolina, who were defeated by his previous team Kansas. In 2013,

Summary: Charlie Sheen launched his rant after seeing President Obama on ESPN . The President was making his selection for the NCAA finals . President Obama has predicted Kentucky for greatness in 2015 . However, since 2009, President Obama has failed to select the winner .


The melting snow has revealed the frozen carcasses of more than a dozen more dead goats at a farm whose operators have been charged with animal cruelty. More than 70 dead animals have been found at the Butterfield Farm Co. in Cornwall, Connecticut, over the past few months. The Department of Agriculture seized 74 sickly goats from the property in January. The Butterfield Farm Co, in Cornwall, Connecticut (pictured in January 2015), where more than 70 dead animals have been found since the state Department of Agriculture seized 74 sickly goats from the property . Tara Bryson and Michael Hearl, both of West Suffield, are facing prosecution on animal cruelty charges in Bantam Superior Court in Litchfield . Farm owner Buddy Hurlburt told The Republican-American that carcasses have been turning up in 'nooks and crannies' of the property. Two goat carcasses were found stuffed under a lawn tractor and a packing blanket, the site reported. Tara Bryson and Michael Hearl, both of West Suffield, are facing prosecution on animal cruelty charges in Bantam Superior Court in Litchfield. They were free on bond and have declined to comment. The dozens of animals taken from the farm are now at a state animal rehabilitation facility in Niantic. It is unclear when the animals will be adopted. Bryson posted pictures of healthy goats frolicking in the field in what is believed to be the farm in Connecticut on her social media pages .

Summary: More than 70 dead animals have been found at the Butterfield Farm Co. in Cornwall, Connecticut . Tara Bryson and Michael Hearl, both of West Suffield, are facing prosecution on animal cruelty charges .


Lee Bowen returned to a house he had burgled overnight to apologise almost a year after the crime . A burglar with a guilty conscience returned to a family's home to give them £400 in cash and apologise for breaking into their home while they slept, almost a year after the crime. Lee Bowen, 27, turned up at the house in Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales with a wad of bank notes to apologise for stealing mobile phones, a laptop and cash cards while they slept on New Year's Eve. But the astonished family decided his apology was not enough and reported him to police, with Bowen being promptly arrested. Jason Williams said the money was 'no compensation' for what Bowen had put his family through. The 'habitual criminal' had broken into the family home on New Year's Eve 2013 as they slept, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard. But plagued by a guilty conscience, he returned to the house in November and said 'I burgled your house last year.. I'm very sorry. Here's £400.' The family reported him to police and Bowen was arrested the following day. He admitted everything to officer, even taking them to the street and pointing out the house he had targeted. The court heard Bowen has appeared in court 19 times for 45 offences including six previous house burglaries. Andrew Davies, defending, said: 'Although a habitual criminal he is trying to get his life on track. He is attempting to turn his life around.' A judge let Bowen walk free from Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court because he is trying to 'turn his life around'. Recorder Paul Hopkins QC told him: 'I am satisfied that the time is right to give you the opportunity to make a life for yourself.' Bowen offered the family £400 in cash by way of apology but they reported him to the police over the burglary . Bowen, of Merthyr Tydfil, was given a 12-month community order with supervision after he admitted burglary. He was warned that if he breached it he could be looking at at least four years in jail. Bowen was also told to pay the family £700 compensation - £300 more than he offered on their doorstep.

Summary: Lee Bowen burgled a house on New Year's Eve 2013 as the family slept . He stole mobile phones, a laptop and cash cards from Merthyr Tydfil home . Bowen returned to scene of the crime almost a year later to apologise . He appeared at front door and said he was sorry, offering £400 in cash . But the Williams family reported him to police and Bowen was arrested . Judge said he was trying to 'turn his life around' and told him to pay £700 .


When applying for a job as a litter picker, a 'head for heights' is not usually required. But for these abseiling cleaners collecting rubbish thrown down the cliff of a Chinese mountain, it's a necessity. The 'spider men' abseil from the side of the 4,500ft cliff edge of Tianmen Mountain, risking their lives to pick up litter thrown away by visitors, according to The People's Daily Online . A cleaner abseils down the side of Tianmen Mountain to collect rubbish thrown over the cliff edge by tourists . Easy does it: The painstaking process is necessary because tourists chuck food packets, empty bottles and cans down the cliffside, defacing its natural beauty . A worker throws a sack tied on a long rope onto the cliff before abseiling to clean the side of the mountain, located in the central Chinese province of Hunan . After finishing cleaning a section, a litter picker pulls himself back over the boundary fence onto the path. The beauty spot is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable cars and visit the temple at the summit . Despite repeated calls by the Chinese Tourism Administration urging tourists not to throw their rubbish over the cliff edge, they continue to chuck empty food packets, bottles and cans into the mountain, as well as spitting and defacing the mountain. The beauty spot, located in Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan province, is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable car route, reportedly the longest in the world. There is also a large temple on the summit, dating back to the Tang Dynasty which ruled the region for two periods between 610-690 and 705-907. A similar cleaning operation is in place takes place on Mount Emei in Sichuan province, China, where cleaner Peng Wencai has spent 14 years descending down the mountain to collect trash thrown away by tourists. The little pickers risk their lives to clean away the food packets and drinks containers thrown away by visitors . A sack of rubbish is pulled up onto safe ground after being collected by a litter picker. Chinese authorities are urging visitors to stop throwing their litter over the cliff edge . A worker pours the litter, including plastic bags and food containers, into a rubbish bin on Tianmen Mountain . The rope holding the litter picker stay taut as he gathers the rubbish, which is then brought back up to the public pathway before being removed from the mountainside .

Summary: 'Spider men' litter pickers use ropes to abseil down Tianmen Mountain . Tourists have thrown plastic bags, bottles and food containers off edge . Chinese authorities urging visitors to stop defacing the beauty spot .


The drawbacks of being a working Mum caught up with Madison Ashton when on a trip to her son's school the teenagers gathered around, not to chat to their mate's parent, but to get a good look at a high-class escort, porn star and mistress. For a change the teenagers had no problems doing their homework as they'd obviously been studying the notorious Ms Ashton for quite a while. 'The boys were swarming around me, and I could hear them mentioning my work name under their breath,' Ms Ashton told New Idea magazine. 'Unfortunately, they'd been online and obviously knew just who I was.' Scroll down for video . Madison Ashton (pictured here at court in 2012) lost her appeal against the estate of the late cardboard billionaire, Richard Pratt, in February . It was an experience that she worried would have a bad effect on her 13-year-old son Xavier, but she had no need to worry. 'I asked what was going on and he said a few boys had told him: "Hey your Mum's a prostitute." But he didn't take any notice,' she explained. 'He just went back to playing handball, because he thought they were d**kheads anyway. I was totally blown away by how brave and mature Xavier is.' Ms Ashton - who also has a 17-year-old daughter Indra - only tells Xavier that she goes to work and can't discuss it in detail because it involves adult services. The 40-year-old made it clear that she was always honest with her children about what she does and kept everything very 'matter-of-fact'. But considering her notoriety it's hard for her at times to stay out of the news. Last month she lost her appeal against the estate of billionaire Richard Pratt, who she said promised her millions. Ms Ashton launched an appeal against the 2012 decision to reject her bid for part of the cardboard king's estate. Ms Ashton said Mr Pratt had promised to set up two trust funds, worth $2.5 million each, for her two children and pay her $500,000 as a 'retainer' to stop working as an escort and become his mistress. Although the Supreme Court agreed the pair had the conversation, it found Ms Ashton's acceptance of $100,000 and the transfer of car into her name was done in full satisfaction of the trust claim. In November 2005, Ms Ashton signed a document from a employee of Mr Pratt's company, Visy Industries, that released Mr Pratt from any financial responsibility in exchange for a payment of $50,000 to the former mistress. Mr Pratt died in 2009. Billionaire Mr Pratt died in 2009 . Ms Ashton appeared before the Supreme Court of NSW in February but her case was dismissed . In appealing the decision, Ms Ashton sought a declaration that Mr Pratt's 2003 promises constituted a legally binding contract and anything she signed in November 2005 was void. She also sought damages from Mr Pratt's widdoe, Jeanne Pratt. But on Monday, the Court of Appeal dismissed her bid, saying the arrangement failed to spell out important terms

Summary: Ms Ashton's had gone to see her 13-year-old son Xavier at his school . His friends knew exactly who she was though, and soon surrounded her . 'I could hear them mentioning my work name under their breath,' she said . However, she was impressed at the 'maturity' her son showed at it all . Last month Ms Ashton lost her appeal against the estate of Richard Pratt . Former escort said she was promised two trust funds worth $2.5m each . Claimed Pratt promised her $500,000 to stop her working as an escort . Pratt, late cardboard king billionaire, died in 2009 .


Still a virgin: Zumreta Strsevic, 30, who was forced to get a report proving she had never had sex to quell vicious rumours about affairs at work . A Serbian woman asked doctors to vouch for her virginity after she was dogged by accusations of affairs with a former boss and other colleagues. Zumreta Strsevic, 30, chief accountant at the Cultural Centre in the western town of Prijepolje, said she was fed up with hearing rumours about her sex life come back to her. So she proved she didn't have one by commissioning a report from a gynaecologist which conclusively proved her virginity was still intact. It is now evidence in a claim against her workplace. 'It got so bad that it was becoming impossible to do the job properly,' she was quoted as saying by Central European News. 'So I decided the only way to prove I wasn't sleeping with other people I was supposedly having an affair with us to prove that actually I've never slept with anyone.' She told Serbian news website Blic that she realises the gynaecologist's findings means she will be subject to a new whispering campaign, but said she felt she had to do it to protect her honour. 'I don't care the price I'll pay to save face,' she said. 'I don't want to be drawn into their dirty games, and if they find any evidence of my alleged dishonest behaviour I'll leave work without saying anything.' Rumours about Miss Strsevic's sex life spread so far they were even brought up at a meeting of Prijepolje's Municipal Council, Blic reported. Miss Strsevic said the allegations were led by her current boss, who spread the rumours to colleagues. 'He accused me repeatedly over my alleged love affairs including one with a former director. When you make accusations like that, it sticks,' she said. Hard worker: Miss Strsevic says she suspects rumour-mongers wanted her to move to another job 'because they don't want me continuing to check what they are doing with public money' The career-focused bean counter, who had tackled financial irregularities at the Cultural Centre, said she had always focused on making a success of her business life before concentrating on her personal life. 'I don't know what they wanted to achieve with the rumours,' she said. 'Maybe they wanted me to move on to another job because they don't want me continuing to check what they are doing with public money. 'But at least now they know they can't get rid of me this way.'

Summary: A gynaecologist's report proves Zumreta Strsevic, 30, is still a virgin . The rumours spread so far they were mentioned in a city council meeting . She says she suspects people were angry at her checks on spending .


Even the world-renowned composer himself might have struggled to orchestrate better than Arsenal's 'Little Mozart' on his day. Rosicky earned that nickname during his five years with Borussia Dortmund, yet it was in Germany where he was labelled 'wasted talent' and Arsenal gladly signed the maestro in May 2006. 'When he is fit...' seem to be the same, old four words that crop up when Rosicky becomes the topic of discussion yet, even at the age of 34, he still knows how to make Arsenal tick. Tomas Rosicky earned the nickname 'Little Mozart' in Germany and he continues to make Arsenal tick at 34 . Olivier Giroud celebrates with Rosicky during their Premier League win against Queens Park Rangers . Rosicky has found minutes hard to come by at Arsenal previously but injuries can prove problematic . Pulling on the yellow of Dortmund from 2001, the all-round midfielder's potential was recognised. Remember Nike's Scorpion advert in 2002? Francesco Totti, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Ronaldinho, among others, playing in a 'secret tournament' hosted by Eric Cantona. Then, among the world's finest footballers, was a 20-something Rosicky. More than a decade on he is in his mid-thirties, and getting better with age. Take the former Sparta Prague youth's cameo against Everton on March 1, for example. There was a moment when Rosicky chased the ball from Phil Jagielka, to Ross Barkley, to Steven Naismith, then back to Barkley, and won the tackle. It merited a standing ovation, before he settled the bag of nerves the Emirates Stadium had become with an 89th-minute goal to make it 2-0. 'This geezer's unreal, how is he 34? Still producing moments of class like that, he's a brilliant player,' one supporter said in his analysis on ArsenalFanTV afterwards. Rosicky scores against Everton previously as he came on as a substitute with just eight minutes remaining . Rosicky shoots to make it 2-0 to Arsenal against Everton on March 1 and settle their nerves . Rosicky should start against Manchester United but is not guaranteed to do so under Wenger . Rosicky mocked up as his nickname 'Little Mozart' 87 - vs QPR (March 4) 8 - vs Everton (March 1) 9 - vs Monaco (February 25) 14 - vs Crystal Palace (February 21) 18 - vs Middlesbrough (February 15) That's exactly how it comes – in 'moments'. The Czech Republic captain doesn't devastate week in, week out yet he is guaranteed to put in a shift. The mentality to pass sideways is lost on Rosicky, who prefers to move the ball quickly and forward, showing as much energy and pace as those with years on him in the Premier League. Yet Rosicky – a one-two kind of player, who bleeds the Arsenal way – has averaged just 19 games per Barclays Premier League season under Wenger in his nine years in north London. The injury-prone playmaker has been unlucky, rupturing his knee tendon in 2008 before requiring surgery on an Achilles tendon in 2012. It cost him

Summary: Tomas Rosicky's career has been hampered by injury at times . Rosicky earned the nickname 'Little Mozart' at Borussia Dortmund . The 34-year-old averages just 19 games per season under Arsene Wenger . Rosicky starred in Nike's Scorpion advert in 2002 with others such as Francesco Totti, Thierry Henry, Luis Figo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo .


LANDMARKS . by Robert Macfarlane . (Hamish Hamilton £20) At University College London in the Sixties, one door in the English Department was marked The English Place Name Society. During my three years as a student I never saw anyone enter or leave that room, and imagined mountains of dusty books and documents, rambled by spiders, forgotten maps of a dead world. A ciste: Gaelic for burial chamber. Because the original meanings of place names are largely forgotten and ancient local names for hills, streams and bogs have fallen out of use, Robert Macfarlane performs a miracle of resurrection in his new book. Reviving a fascinating archive of old terms from Anglo-Saxon to Old Norse, he dances through the closed door of the past — a labour of love as well as learning. Original meanings of place names are largely forgotten and ancient local names for hills, streams and bogs have fallen out of use . For years he’s been passionately engaged with the work of men and women who have written about the natural world, such as Richard Jefferies, Barry Lopez, Jacquetta Hawkes and Roger Deakin. These are his spiritual guides to the landscape he loves. For, as well as the milestones of the mind (those books and encounters which shape us), there are the landmarks all around us: from the smallest tussock to trees, rocks, beaches and hidden valleys. All of these were named by our ancestors with particular, peculiar and poetic terms which probably fell out of common use in the last 100 years. So, each chapter describes the work of one or two writers who have shaped Macfarlane’s thinking, and takes us on an imaginary walk into their worlds. And then comes a ‘glossary’, lists of names for things specific to one aspect of landscape. These lists are fascinating. For example, eit: a tiny word from the Isle of Lewis with a huge meaning: ‘The practice of placing quartz stones in moorland streams so they would sparkle in the moonlight and thereby attract salmon to them in the late summer and autumn.’ People in Essex used to call you ‘watery-headed’ if you were anxious about rain. And how about the glorious list of words for icicle: aquabob (Kent), clinkerbell and conkerbell (Dorset), daggler and dagglet (Hampshire), ickle (Yorkshire) and shuckle (Cumbria). Macfarlane says: ‘This is a book about the power of language — strong style, simple words — to shape our sense of place.’ He begins and ends this impressive and unusual book with children — which is as it should be. For who else will inherit the Earth? Like many of us, he was deeply shocked when the new edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary left out words no longer seen as ‘relevant’ to modern childhood, including acorn, bluebell, buttercup, catkin, conker, dandelion, fern, heather, heron, ivy, lark, mistletoe, newt, otter, pasture and willow. That’s why Macfarlane ends by describing a thrilling project with primary school children given free access to explore a park in winter. Their writing about this experience, over months, turned the ordinary park

Summary: Original meanings of place names have been largely forgotten . Robert Macfarlane has resurrected the past with his research into this area . Macfarlane believes the power of language can shape our sense of place .


Crude roadside bombs filled with toxic chlorine gas are now being used by Isis terrorists, it has been reported. Iraqi officials say government forces have defused dozens of the devices in the course of their war with the fanatics and have produced video footage which backs up their claim. One Iraqi bomb disposal expert said that the use of the chemical is a sign of desperation. Crude roadside bombs filled with chlorine gas are now being used by Isis terrorists, it has been reported . Haider Taher told the BBC: 'They're resorting to this new method, putting chlorine in these home-made roadside bombs, which is toxic to those that inhale it.' He described how his team detonated a bomb in Tikrit that, unbeknown to them, contained chlorine. They immediately began feeling the effects of the chemical, experiencing 'painful choking' and blocked throats. The BBC has been shown footage of bright yellow gas rising up from a roadside bomb explosion that the Iraqis say is chlorine, as well as film of the Tikrit explosion. Jennifer Cole, Senior Research Fellow at defence thinktank Royal United Services Institute, told MailOnline that although chlorine can be lethal, it does appear that it's being used to spread fear by Isis. She said: 'Chlorine is easily available from a number of industrial sources and is very hazardous – causing breathing difficulties in particular and in extreme cases prolonged exposure can kill. 'Used in roadside bombs such as this, in the open air, it disperses reasonably quickly and so appears to be intended to cause panic rather than serious harm.' She added: 'There is no doubt that public perception often sees chemical weapons such as this as more dangerous than conventional weapons such as explosives, even though it may not be the case that a chlorine bomb could cause more harm. In fact, the most damage is likely to be done by the explosion created to disperse it.' Chlorine was used by the British in the First World War, but it proved to be unreliable. In one attack in 1915 the gas blew back into British trenches after canisters of the chemical were fired from heavy guns at the Germans. Shocking: This footage purportedly shows toxic chlorine gas which was released from a roadside bomb destroyed by Iraqi soldiers in Tikrit recently . The use of chlorine bombs by Isis (pictured) is a sign of desperation, one expert told the BBC . The U.N. Security Council recently approved a United States-drafted resolution that condemns the use of toxic chemicals such as chlorine in Syria, while threatening militarily enforced action in the case of further violations. All members of the 15-seat council approved the resolution except for Venezuela, which abstained. The resolution follows last month's condemnation by the world's chemical weapons watchdog of the use of chlorine in Syria as a breach of international law. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' fact-finding mission concluded 'with a high degree of confidence' that chlorine was used on three villages in Syria last year, killing 13 people. The OPCW did not

Summary: Iraqi officials say they've defused dozens of the devices in past few months . Bomb disposal expert says the use of the chemical is sign of desperation . Video footage has emerged of yellow smoke rising up from detonations .


Liverpool's crunch Premier League clash against Manchester United on Sunday is gearing up to be a pivotal one in the race for the top four. The match will also be a poignant one for Reds skipper Steven Gerrard too - in what will be his last-ever against Manchester United before his move to MLS side LA Galaxy at the end of the season. Here Sportsmail looks back on the 34-year-old's career against the Red Devils. Steven Gerrard's (right) first game for Liverpool against Manchester United came in a 3-2 home defeat on September 11 1999 . It was over a year before Gerrard (left) faced the Red Devils again, but this time he was victorious as Liverpool won 1-0 at Old Trafford . Gerrard's (right) first-ever goal against United came via a beautiful long-range effort at Anfield on March 31 2001 . Gerrard (right) celebrates John Arne Riise's (centre) stunning strike as Liverpool won 3-1 against United in November 2001 . Gerrard (left) celebrates with matchwinner Danny Murphy as the Reds scored a late goal to beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford in January 2002 . Gerrard (left) battles for the ball against Phil Neville during United's 2-1 win at Anfield in December 2002 . Just a few months later though, Gerrard (left) and Liverpool got revenge as they won the League Cup final against United . The midfielder's deflected strike off David Beckham left United goalkeeper Fabian Barthez (centre) helpless as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners . Gerrard (right) fouls England team-mate Beckham as Liverpool were thrashed 4-0 in the league by United less than a month later . Gerrard (left) takes a free-kick against United as the Reds slump to a 2-1 defeat at home on November 9 2003 . United captain Roy Keane (left) challenges for the ball with his Liverpool adversary Gerrard during their league encounter in April 2004 . Gerrard (centre) had to leave their clash at United in September 2004 early after coming off injured at Old Trafford . Gerrard (left) tackles Keane from behind during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at home to United in January 2005 . Wayne Rooney (right) tackles Gerrard during their 0-0 stalemate at Anfield in September 2005 . Ryan Giggs (left) and Gerrard came face-to-face in many United-Liverpool clashes over the years - including this one in January 2006 . The two sides met again in the FA Cup fifth round later that season - with Liverpool coming out on top 1-0 in February 2006 . Gerrard (left) fouls United left back Patrice Evra in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October 2006 . The Liverpool captain (left) tries to fend off the attention of United stalwart Giggs during their league clash in March 2007 . Gerrard (left) and United midfielder Anderson go head-to-head, literally, as tempers fray during their Premier League tussle in December 2007 . Gerrard (left) walks off the pitch as Liverpool lose 1-0 at home to United at full-time - thanks to a Carlos Tevez strike . Gerrard (centre) tries to calm down Javier Mascherano (second left)

Summary: Liverpool host Manchester United in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday afternoon . Steven Gerrard played his first game against United in a 3-2 home defeat on September 11 1999 . Gerrard's most recent match was a 3-0 defeat away at the Red Devils earlier this season .


One hundred and 10 years to the day since the club was formed at a meeting in the Rising Sun pub, Chelsea's players were out in the watery spring sunshine preparing for their Champions League clash with PSG. All of Jose Mourinho's squad were present at their training ground in Cobham in Surrey, apart from John Obi Mikel, who trained alone with a physio as he continues to recover from minor knee surgery. Mourinho was first out with assistant Rui Faria followed by the players in vibrant yellow training kit, all looking happy and positive ahead of tomorrow's clash at Stamford Bridge as they launched into their stretching exercises. John Terry, Thibaut Courtois and Didier Drogba laugh and joke ahead of Chelsea's Champions League tie against PSG on Wednesday . Keeper Courtois gets his own back on Drogba in the team's traditional ear-flicking punishment in training exercises . Midfield Maestro Fabregas gets involved in the mock battle between old stalwarts Terry and Drogba . Recent signing Juan Cuadrado (centre) heads the ball while team-mates Drogba, Cesc Fabregas, Courtois and Terry look on . Stats provided by Squawka . The tie is poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Paris, but Chelsea No 1 Thibaut Courtois insists he holds no fear in facing Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Speaking to RMC, the Belgium international said: 'No, I'm not afraid. I played against him three weeks ago, and I played well. I hope to stop him again on Wednesday. I know he's a great striker, and that it's always difficult to stop him, but we have to do that if we want to go through.' 'We're confident, but we expect a very difficult game. Paris are going to come here to score goals. It'll be a very complicated game. We're ready, and we hope to win in front of our fans. We'll have to see the tactics the coach puts in place. What is certain is that we cannot sit back and wait. 'We have to defend well, but we mustn't go for the 0-0 because if we concede a goal, Paris will qualify by winning 1-0. We have to play to our strengths by trying to score goals and win the game.' Blues boss Jose Mourinho heads out to training as the club celebrate their 110th anniversary, having been formed in 1905 . Cesar Azpilicueta (left), Gary Cahill, Terry and Fabregas walk out to training on a crisp morning at Cobham .

Summary: Chelsea face PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday after drawing 1-1 in Paris . The Blues celebrate their 110th anniversary on Tuesday, being formed in the Rising Sun pub in 1905 . John Obi Mikel was the only player not to be involved in the session ahead of the crucial tie . READ: PSG players to pocket £180k EACH if they beat Chelsea . CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news .