Alexander Mayshera’s Blog

(CNN) -- Two Russian athletes issued angry denials Tuesday that their exchange of a kiss on the victory podium at the world championships was a protest against their country's strict new anti gay propaganda law. Kseniya Ryzhova and Yulia Gushchina were part of the Russian quartet who won the women's 4x400m relay Saturday in the Luzhniki Stadium, beating the favored United States team. All four embraced as they received their gold medals, but Ryzhova and Gushchina were pictured kissing each other on the lips, prompting reports that it was a symbol of defiance in face of the controversial new laws. Ryzhova told a media conference in Moscow that she and the three other members of the team had merely been overcome with emotion after finally topping the podium after a series of near misses. Russia will enforce anti-gay law Open Mic: Russia's Anti-Gay legislation "For eight years we have not won a gold medal. You can't even imagine what...

(CNN) -- King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has intervened to help a man who has become one of the heaviest people in the world. The king ordered Khalid bin Mohsen Shaari, who weighs 1,345 pounds (610kg) and is unable to move by himself, be transferred from the Southern border province of Jazan to the country's capital Riyadh to undergo treatment. According to Guinness World Records, the record weight for a living person is held by Manuel Uribe from Mexico, who weighed 1,235 pounds (560kg) in 2006. After making a television appeal for help, his weight in March 2012 had fallen to 980 pounds (444.6 kg.) Khalid bin Mohsen Shaari weighs 1,345 pounds (610kg) and is unable to move by himself. According to the official spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health, Shaari was due to arrive in Riyadh either later Monday or on Tuesday. Pictures showed a fork-lift truck lifting him in is bed. The spokesman said Shaari is aged between 18 and 20. He will be treat...

Wiltshire – Robert Newman, 23, from Wiltshire has been banned from all farms in the United Kingdom after sexually penetrating a goat, Huffington Post reports. Newman confessed to the crime and has been released on bail. He is also not allowed on property that houses farm animals and has to keep a curfew between 7 pm and 7 am.

Abuju – According to the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) the calls for Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to step down is undemocratic, AllAfrica reports. Mohammed Sale Hassan, the National Coordinator of the NGF, stated that such practices were illegal and unhealthy for Nigeria's young democracy. He also commented that those elected in government positions by popular vote should be allowed to serve as that is the only way that the democracy can grow.

Barcelona - Barcelona said their talismanic forward Lionel Messi injured his left leg during Wednesday's 1-1 Spanish Super Cup draw at Atletico Madrid. Messi was replaced by Cesc Fabregas at halftime in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. New signing Neymar scored the equaliser following David Villa's opener for Atletico. "Messi was substituted due to precaution for pain in the back of his left thigh caused by a knock," the club said. The Argentina star had a minor muscle injury in his left leg last week but was cleared in time for Sunday's Spanish league opener in which he scored two goals in a 7-0 rout of Levante. Messi missed several games at the end of last season with a right hamstring strain.

The Plateau State House of Assembly said it discovered over N3 billion unspent Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) fund in the state since January 2012. The Chairman of the House Ad hoc Committee on the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Mr Dalyop Mancha, said the committee discovered that both the State and Local Governments attracted fund from the SURE-P since January 2012, which the two tiers did not disbursed to the beneficiaries. He said the Commissioners for Finance, Local Government and Chieftaincy, the state Accountant-General, state and zonal Coordinators of SURE-P and the Director-General, Research and Planning, Plateau Government House, appeared before it. The chairman said the finance commissioner told the committee that the state started receiving monthly allocation of funds from the programme in January 2012, but a special account was created for it in April 2012. “He said the funds are intact and that the account...

Jude Okoye confirmed on twitter that P square’s record label has just signed Cynthia Morgan to their label. Looks like the Okoye’s have a new first lady.