File photo of Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe escorted out of the courtroom at the Milimani law court. PHOTO: AP
AP – A Kenyan man wanted in Massachusetts to face murder charges has been extradited nearly a year after he fled the United States (US), authorities said yesterday.
Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe is wanted for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu, whose body was found in a car at Logan International Airport in Boston on October 31, 2023.
Kangethe left Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Sunday, and he’s set to face murder charges at Suffolk Superior Court in Boston tomorrow, Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga said.
“I wish to reiterate my commitment and support, whenever needed, to the US, and in particular the prosecution team as they proceed with the next phase of the case,” Ingonga said yesterday.
The prosecution said that the extradition order has earlier been issued by the court in July.
Kangethe, who has renounced his US citizenship, was involved in a dramatic escape from a police cell after his Kenyan lawyer visited him in January. Disciplinary action was taken against four police officers who were on duty when he escaped. He was rearrested a week later, and his extradition case continued.Kangethe’s girlfriend Mbitu was a health care aide in Halifax, Massachusetts, and was last seen leaving work on October 30 and reported missing by her family.
The preliminary investigation showed Mbitu had left her workplace and travelled with Kangethe to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he lived, the prosecution in Kenya said during the extradition case hearing.
Kangethe was also found in possession of personal items belonging to the deceased, prosecutors said.
File photo of Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe escorted out of the courtroom at the Milimani law court. PHOTO: AP
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador delivers a speech at the El Zocalo Square in Mexico City. PHOTO: AFP
MEXICO CITY (AFP) – Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Sunday presented the final report of his government, defending his legacy a month before turning power over to his successor – along with a congressional supermajority and a highly controversial judicial reform plan.
In the Zocalo, Mexico City’s sprawling central square, Lopez Obrador bade farewell to thousands of enthusiastic followers, buoyed by what polls say is a lofty 73 per cent approval rating as his six-year term winds down.
“We are living in a true democracy, building a new homeland” and “laying the foundations to begin a new stage”, he said in a speech that lasted nearly two hours.
A party-like atmosphere pervaded the square, which was filled with supporters – and animated by musical groups and folk dancers – two hours before the speech began. Some attendees ate snacks under umbrellas, seeking relief from a hot sun, as they waited for Lopez Obrador, widely known by his initials AMLO.
“I came because it is the farewell of one of the most historic presidents in the country,” 39-year-old entrepreneur Jose Luis Diaz told AFP. “We won’t see another president like him for 100 years.”
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador delivers a speech at the El Zocalo Square in Mexico City. PHOTO: AFP
SANTO DOMINGO (AFP) – At least six people died on Sunday in the Dominican Republic after a truck crashed into an establishment on the Caribbean island nation’s south coast, officials said.
The accident occurred in the early hours in the town of Azua, about 100 kilometres west of the capital Santo Domingo.
A police source originally put the preliminary death toll at nine, but director of public health in Azua Joel Montano lowered it to six, with three people in critical condition.
An additional 32 people were injured in the accident.
Local media published photos of a red truck loaded with avocados that crashed into the bar, and of dead and injured people strewn around the ground.
The driver of the truck fled the scene but police detained a person riding with him as they investigate the accident.
Yoji kanro pudding is typically served in a mango and coconut milk mixture, topped with tapioca and a citrus. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS
ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS – As the oppressive heat in Japan continues to make it difficult to venture outside, chef Ryo Imai said making a cold Hong Kong sweet treat might be just what is needed to help people feel and stay cool.
Yoji kanro pudding is typically served in a mango and coconut milk mixture, topped with tapioca and a citrus.
In recent years, it has become popular in Taiwan, where it is sold at drink stands.
The cold dessert was also sold at convenience stores in Japan, and more and more shops and restaurants are offering it on their menus.
“The first time I tried it was at a restaurant in Japan, and I really liked how refreshing it tasted,” Imai said.
The recipe is simple, but there are a few important points to remember when preparing the tapioca. Use the small, white tapioca pearls instead of the large, black ones that are often used in bubble tea. The white tapioca pearls blend in easily with the mixture and are more aesthetically pleasing, as they become transparent when heated.
After boiling the mixture for about five minutes, turn off the heat and let it cook through the residual heat.
Imai said: “Because the pearls are starch, the water might easily spill. They will gradually become transparent while they are left to sit. Use a ladle to see if the white core is gone.
After the pearls are boiled, thoroughly rinse them under running water. If they are not thoroughly rinsed, the tapioca pearls will stick together and become unappealing to the palate.”
Crush the mangos with a masher or another tool to the point that only small lumps remain. Maintaining the mango’s consistency will help the mixture come together.
In Hong Kong, a citrus called a pomelo is used as a topping. For his recipe, Imai uses grapefruit instead.
“Using grapefruits makes it easier to prepare,” Imai said. “It’s also good to be able to taste the freshness of citrus fruits.” Scooping up a spoonful, I found the dessert to be thicker than expected. When I tried all the ingredients together, I could taste the refreshing mango and grapefruit mixed with the rich, sweet coconut milk. I also enjoyed the texture of the tapioca pearls. It’s sure to become a regular summer treat.
Yoji kanro pudding is typically served in a mango and coconut milk mixture, topped with tapioca and a citrus. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWSCrushed mangoes. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWSSparkling water and ginger. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS
YOJI KANRO
Ingredients
– 150 grammes frozen mango
– 30 grammes tapioca (small white pearls)
– One grapefruit
– Half cup milk
– Half cup coconut milk
– 50 grammes granulated sugar
Directions
Thaw the frozen mangoes and set aside 50 grammes to use as a topping. Soak the tapioca pearls in water for 10 minutes.
Peel the grapefruit and cut into bite-sized pieces. Boil the tapioca in plenty of water for five minutes. Some of the cores will remain, so allow them to continue cooking for another 10 minutes after turning off the heat. Scoop up the tapioca pearls with a ladle and make sure they are completely transparent.
Once the pearls are transparent, rinse them under cold water and drain them in a colander. Place the mangoes in a bowl and crush them so only small lumps remain. Add the milk, coconut milk and granulated sugar into the bowl and mix, then refrigerate.
Place the mixture into a small bowl and top with the reserved mango, tapioca and grapefruit.
Wash 200 grammes of newly harvested ginger. Pat dry, then cut it into thin slices.
Add 200 grammes of granulated sugar, two pods of cardamom, two cloves and five black peppercorns to the ginger slices. Let sit for one hour to extract the liquid and flavour from the ingredients.
Then add one cup of water, bring to a boil and remove the scum. Add lemon juice and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid using a sieve and allow it to cool. Pour the syrup into a glass with ice and add the desired amount of sparkling water.
LOS ANGELES (XINHUA) – Four people, including the suspect, were dead, with another two getting injured in a shooting on Saturday night in Honolulu County in the United States (US) state of Hawaii, authorities said on Sunday.
Shortly after 11.15pm on Saturday local time, police officers responded to a residence in the Waianae Valley area, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
Multiple 911 calls coming from the Waianae residence reported that their neighbour was operating a front loader and using it to ram multiple cars into the home. Multiple individuals were in the carport and fled or tried to flee when the suspect opened fire, striking the victims, said the department in a press release, adding that at some point, a 42-year-old male resident of the home fatally shot the suspect with a handgun. The resident who shot the suspect has been arrested for murder in the second degree, according to the press release.
“Three individuals, including the suspect, were pronounced dead at the scene. Additional people were taken to the hospital,” said the department earlier in a Facebook post.
Hours later, the department confirmed in an update that one of the wounded died at a hospital and the other two remain hospitalised.
Honolulu police held a press conference on Sunday to discuss the incident. “There have been several incidents in the previous months and weeks, but this incident is not related to those. This incident happened as a result of neighbours,” Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan was quoted as saying by local news outlet HawaiiNewsNow.
GEORGETOWN (AFP) – Authorities in Guyana on the northern tip of South America on Sunday seized USD200 million worth of cocaine buried near a clandestine airstrip for shipment to Europe, a customs official said.
Around 4.4 metric tonnes of the drug were found in underground bunkers near the border with Venezuela to the west, said head of the anti-narcotics unit of Guyana’s customs agency, James Singh.
Traffickers dug holes in the ground to hide the cocaine, and then covered them with wooden planks, Singh said. No arrests have been made so far.
In March, the authorities in Guyana seized half a tonne of cocaine and arrested two Venezuelans who were transporting it in a speedboat.
Get ready for a sneak peek at the September 2024 line-up of Netflix Originals! We’re about to dive into all the confirmed new movies and series hitting the streaming platform this ninth month of the year.
APOLLO 13: SURVIVAL(SEPTEMBER 5)
In his latest project, Peter Middleton delves into the legendary Apollo 13 mission with a fresh perspective. This new documentary, set to redefine the narrative, combines rare footage with meticulous storytelling to offer an unparalleled look at the ill-fated space journey.
BOXER (SEPTEMBER 11)
Unveiled during the Polish slate reveal earlier this year, this riveting sports biopic promises to take you on a high-stakes journey through history. The film chronicles the remarkable story of a young boxer who escapes the grip of communist Poland, aiming to become the greatest fighter of all time. With a stellar cast featuring Eryk Kulum Jr, Adrianna Chlebicka, and Eryk Lubos, this movie is set to deliver a knockout performance.
EMILY IN PARIS SEASON 4 – PART 2 (SEPTEMBER 12)
The highly anticipated fourth season of Emily in Paris is serving up its latest instalment in two parts, so you won’t have to twiddle your thumbs for long before diving into the next chapter of Emily’s chic escapades.
Apollo 13: Survival. PHOTO: NETFLIXEmily in Paris Season 4 – Part 2. PHOTO: NETFLIXABOVE & BELOW: Nobody wants this; and Boxer. PHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXABOVE & BELOW: His three daughters; and Everything Calls for Salvation Season 2. PHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXABOVE & BELOW: The Queen of Villains Season 1; and Twilight of the Gods Season 1. PHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXUglies. PHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: ENVATO
UGLIES (SEPTEMBER 13)
Based on Scott Westerfeld’s novel, which is one of two of his works being adapted by Netflix, the film transports us to a dystopian future where mandatory cosmetic surgery at 16 is the norm. Joey King stars as Tally, a young woman excited for her societal debut, but her world is turned upside down when a friend goes missing. Tally’s quest to rescue her friend challenges everything she believed about her future.
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS SEASON 1 (SEPTEMBER 19)
Prepare for a spellbinding new adventure as Zack Snyder returns to Netflix with his third major project for the streaming giant. Following the success of Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon, Snyder’s latest creation delves deep into the rich tapestry of Norse mythology.
The series, inspired by ancient legends, explores the dramatic events leading to the cataclysmic destruction of Midgard and Asgard. Fans can look forward to a stellar voice cast featuring Jessica Henwick, Peter Stormare, Lauren Cohan and Jamie Chung, each bringing their own unique flair to this epic saga.
THE QUEEN OF VILLAINS SEASON 1 (SEPTEMBER 19)
Netflix is set to make waves with this new Japanese drama exploring the 1980s wrestling scene and the legendary Dump Matsumoto. Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi, this series stars Yuriyan Retriever, Karata Erika and Goriki Ayame.
As Netflix expands its global content, this dramatic portrayal of Matsumoto’s revolutionary impact on women’s wrestling promises action-packed storytelling and captivating performances.
HIS THREE DAUGHTERS (SEPTEMBER 20)
After making waves at film festivals and catching Netflix’s eye late last year, the much-anticipated drama is set to premiere on the streaming platform in mid-September 2024.
Directed by Azazel Jacobs, this poignant film stars Elizabeth Olsen as Christina, Carrie Coon as Katie and Natasha Lyonne as Rachel, who reunite in New York to care for their ailing father.
NOBODY WANTS THIS (SEPTEMBER 26)
From the creative mind of Erin Foster and the powerhouse team at 20th Television, comes a comedy series that’s set to shake up the streaming scene. Featuring an ensemble cast that promises plenty of laughs, this show could very well be the next big sleeper hit for the platform.
EVERYTHING CALLS FOR SALVATION SEASON 2 (SEPTEMBER 26)
This Italian drama returns for a gripping second season, unfolding over five weeks of captivating episodes. This season follows Daniele, played by Federico Cesari, as he battles to reclaim his life and prove his worth as a father to Maria, his daughter with Nina (Fotinì Peluso).
Each episode intertwines the lives of returning favourites with intriguing new characters, blending the personal struggles within the psychiatric ward with the vibrant outside world. – Izah Azahari
AFP – Starting a diet is no small undertaking, and certainly not one to be taken lightly.
In fact, a new American study urges people to think twice about dieting, pointing to the notorious yo-yo effect, the result of medically unnecessary diets. The findings of this research alert people to the importance of making informed choices, rather than succumbing to societal pressure.
“Yo-yo dieting – unintentionally gaining weight and dieting to lose weight only to gain it back and restart the cycle – is a prevalent part of American culture, with fad diets and lose-weight-quick plans or drugs normalised as people pursue beauty ideals,” said the study’s corresponding author, Lynsey Romo, an associate professor of communication at North Carolina State University, quoted in a news release.
This was the starting point for a team of American researchers to investigate why and how men and women enter this vicious cycle, and what the harmful effects are.
For the purposes of their research, the scientists conducted in-depth interviews with 36 adults who had suffered the torments of the yo-yo effect, having first lost weight before regaining more than five kilogrammes (kg).
Importantly, the vast majority of participants had not started dieting for medical reasons, but because of societal pressures, whether to look like their favourite celebrities or to achieve certain beauty ideals.
PHOTO: FREEPIKPHOTO: FREEPIKPHOTO: FREEPIK
The adults involved in this research said they had tried various strategies to lose weight, with satisfactory results at first and then failure in the long term.
Published in the journal, Qualitative Health Research, the results of this research highlight the harmful effects of such diets, which generally lead to the yo-yo effect.
In particular, the researchers observed a feeling of shame, as well as a tendency to internalise the stigma associated with weight, in participants who had regained weight following their diet.
As a result, the adults concerned felt even worse about themselves than before starting the diet in question, and consequently… started dieting again. “Many participants engaged in disordered weight management behaviours, such as binge or emotional eating, restricting food and calories, memorising calorie counts, being stressed about what they were eating and the number on the scale, falling back on quick fixes (such as low-carb diets or diet drugs), overexercising, and avoiding social events with food to drop pounds fast. Inevitably, these diet behaviours became unsustainable, and participants regained weight, often more than they had initially lost,” continued Associate Professor Romo.
But this “vicious circle,” as many of the participants called it, also had harmful consequences for the social relationships of the people involved.
“Almost all of the study participants became obsessed with their weight,” said co-author of the study and graduate student at NC State Katelin Mueller.
“Weight loss became a focal point for their lives, to the point that it distracted them from spending time with friends, family, and colleagues and reducing weight-gain temptations such as drinking and overeating.”
While the majority of participants were unable to overcome the yo-yo effect, some were able to break the vicious circle.
And they did so by focusing more on their health than on the number on the scales, say the researchers.
“Ultimately, this study tells us that weight cycling is a negative practice that can cause people real harm.
“Our findings suggest that it can be damaging for people to begin dieting unless it is medically necessary.
“Dieting to meet some perceived societal standard inadvertently set participants up for years of shame, body dissatisfaction, unhappiness, stress, social comparisons, and weight-related preoccupation.”
Vendors in boats offer products to customers at a floating market in South Kalimantan. PHOTO: XINHUA
ANN/THE STAR – Indonesia’s annual inflation rate was 2.12 per cent in August, essentially unchanged from 2.13 per cent in July, official data showed yesterday, holding comfortably within the central bank’s target range and matching market expectations.
The August headline inflation rate was the lowest since February 2022, and matched the forecast in a poll. Bank Indonesia (BI) has a target range of 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent for inflation.
The annual core inflation rate edged up to 2.02 per cent last month from 1.95 per cent in July, the data showed, slightly above the 1.98 per cent forecast in the poll.
Inflation in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has held within the central bank’s target range since the middle of last year, but BI has kept interest rates relatively high to focus on anchoring the rupiah currency and weathering global market volatility.
Governor Perry Warjiyo has said currency stability was the policy focus for this quarter, but he saw a room for a monetary policy easing to boost economic growth in the next quarter.
Vendors in boats offer products to customers at a floating market in South Kalimantan. PHOTO: XINHUA
BANGKOK (XINHUA) – Thailand’s manufacturing sector maintained its expansion for the fourth successive month in August as new orders rose amid further strong increases in output and purchasing, a survey showed yesterday.
The Southeast Asian country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was recorded at 52.0 last month, easing from the 13-month high of 52.8 in July, signaling an overall improvement in manufacturing sector performance, according to S&P Global.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
The volume of new orders increased for the second straight month, driven by both new customers and larger contracts with existing clients. As a result, output grew significantly, despite at a slightly slower pace compared to June and July, S&P Global said in a statement.
Employment growth remained robust, nearly matching the survey record high posted two months earlier, while the goods-producing sector was on track for its strongest quarter since the second quarter of 2023, said Trevor Balchin, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
