Latest from South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Satono Reve brings Ka Ying Rising form to Royal Ascot as meeting wraps up on Saturday
Satono Reve (centre) finishes third behind Ka Ying Rising (left) and Helios Express (right) in December's Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Photo: Kenneth Chan The Japanese sprinter will clash with a swag of other international stars in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) Satono Reve could give a hefty boost to the formlines of Ka Ying Rising when he lines up in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Noriyuki Hori in Japan, the Lord Kanaloa galloper has twice chased home Ka Ying Rising this season, first when third in December's Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) before his second-placed finish in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) in April. In-between those runs was a fantastic win in the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in March and he is the joint-highest rated horse in the field. He shares that honour with Lazzat, a French raider who chased home Voyage Bubble in the Group One Hong Kong Mile (1,600m) at Sha Tin in December and has since dropped in distance to devastating effect. HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 The four-year-old decimated his rivals by five lengths in the Listed Prix Servanne (1,200m) at Chantilly in May and is unbeaten in two starts at the 1,200m distance. Storm Boy – placed at Group One level in Australia last year – was the talk of the town before his stable debut for Aidan O'Brien in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes (1,200m) at the Curragh, but he trailed in last as the short-priced favourite. His trainer has subsequently suggested he 'had never been galloped or worked' before that start, so an improved effort can be expected on that evidence. The chief British hope is the Kevin Ryan-trained Inisherin, who won the Group One Commonwealth Cup (1,200m) at last year's Royal meeting. Inisherin is the real deal and lands the Commonwealth Cup at Royal @Ascot! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 He has struggled with injuries since that run but reappeared this year with a cosy win in the Group Two Clipper Stakes (1,200m) at York and is still lightly raced for his age. The horse he beat at York, Flora Of Bermuda, has subsequently been bought by Wathnan Racing and the Dark Angel filly has a consistent record that makes her a place danger. The supporting card is spearheaded by the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m), where last year's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) winner Rebel's Romance bids for a maiden Royal Ascot success to add to his remarkable CV. Godolphin's globetrotter has struck at Group One level twice since his Sha Tin romp last May, most recently in the Group One Breeders' Cup Turf (2,400m) at Del Mar in November. Rebel's Romance is just too good! The boys in blue land the @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin... 🏆 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 26, 2024 He made his British return with a comfortable win in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup (2,600m) at York last month and is 5lb clear of his rivals on British ratings. Charlie Appleby's star will clash with Al Riffa, who wears blinkers for the first time. The Wootton Bassett galloper landed the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) at Hoppengarten last August and has been running well in defeat internationally this year, including when fourth in the Group One Prix Ganay (2,100m) at Longchamp in April. He is set to relish the extra 300m at a stiff Ascot track and looks a big danger to the likely short-priced favourite. Other dangers include Amo Racing's new purchase Ghostwriter, who is yet to strike at Group One level but posted a career-best effort when chasing home Soul Rush and Romantic Warrior in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan in April.
South China Morning Post
36 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Malaysian baby smothered to death by body of father, who died of heart attack
A family in Malaysia has suffered a heartbreaking double tragedy after a baby was smothered by his father, who had died in his sleep from a heart attack and rolled onto his child. Advertisement Three-month-old Muhammad Nur Daniel Nuruleffendy was pronounced dead by hospital officials in Melaka state, not long after he was brought in unconscious by his mother on Thursday morning. Azura Abdul Mallik, 40, found her third child on her bed with his face under her husband's right arm after coming back from her office at about 9.30am to take him for a check-up at a nearby clinic. Both Daniel and her husband, Nuruleffendy Ibrahim, 35, were unconscious but the baby was still breathing at the time. Nuruleffendy's sister, Masturadiana Ibrahim, said she learned of the incident only after Azura came to her house frantically asking for help. Advertisement 'She knocked repeatedly and called out my name saying: 'Help me, help me!',' Masturadiana, who lives opposite her brother and his family, told reporters at the Melaka general hospital.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Chinese scientists create edible fruit coating that ‘more than doubles' shelf life
Chinese scientists have developed an edible, washable protein-based coating that can extend the shelf life of fruits by 2½ times, by reducing moisture loss and microbial growth. Advertisement The low-cost coating was tested across 17 varieties of whole and cut fruits, including strawberry, tomato, kiwi and mango. It was shown to effectively delay rot by almost a week or more, at a cost of just 9 US cents per kilogram of fruit, according to a recent paper in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. The new strategy is as effective as existing preservation methods but reduces carbon dioxide emissions and the potential for toxicity, offering a promising solution to a major factor in global food waste 'Addressing critical challenges in perishable fruit preservation…we present an eco-friendly amyloid-like protein coating strategy developed through computer-aided molecular simulation,' the team led by researchers at Shaanxi Normal University said in their paper published on May 31. 'With edible properties, easy washability, and low cost, the coating demonstrates universal applicability for post-harvest and fresh-cut fruits.' Advertisement Around a third of all food produced globally is wasted, most of it perishable items like fruits and vegetables.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's 6G-powered warfare system, Xi urges ceasefire in Middle East: SCMP's 7 highlights
We have selected seven stories from the SCMP's coverage over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing Chinese researchers have developed a revolutionary electronic warfare weapon using 6G technology. Leveraging a next-generation signal processing mechanism, this system can deliver overwhelming advantages against modern military radars, according to researchers involved in the project. In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an end to the fighting between Israel and Iran, urging the countries, 'especially Israel', to cease fire to prevent the situation from escalating and avoid a spillover of the conflict. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Photo: Shutterstock Hong Kong aviation authorities have told Air India to submit a report after one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners departing the city on Monday had to return when the pilot suspected a technical issue less than half an hour into the flight.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Dish in Focus: Xiamen-style popiah at Ming Pavilion
Within the sanctuary of Island Shangri-La, Ming Pavilion delivers a cuisine born from the warmth, freshness and flavour of the Fujian province of China. Having crossed borders and travelled through the kitchens of various Asian countries, Hokkien cooking has evolved to reflect the tastes and environments of these different cultures. Advertisement Now, head chef Jack Lam Yeung is telling the story of this time-honoured cuisine and celebrating Hokkien culinary heritage by drawing out a multitude of flavours with Fujian ingredients. Head chef Jack Lam Yeung at Island Shangri-La's Ming Pavilion. Photo: Handout In dishes like the Xiamen-style popiah, Lam redefines culinary traditions while skillfully balancing textures and flavours. 'The overall texture of the popiah includes soft vegetables and crispy ingredients like seaweed, sugar-fried peanuts, pork floss and pork lard,' Lam explains. 'This provides a varied and satisfying mouthfeel with each bite.' A beloved classic originating from Fujian, popiah is a type of fresh spring roll also known as 'thin pancake' in Teochew (a dialect spoken in the city in neighbouring Guangdong province). Often enjoyed during family gatherings and following Ching Ming Festival, Lam's version is crafted with locally sourced ingredients like Oldham bamboo shoots and carrots, which are marinated for 20 minutes in rich pork and seafood broths, infusing the vegetables with a rich savoury depth. Xiamen-Style popiah at Ming Pavilion. Photo: Handout 'The inspiration for the dish is deeply rooted in tradition. Following the family's gathering to honour their deceased loved ones, the dish symbolises hopes for a prosperous year ahead,' he says. 'Over time, it has evolved to become a staple during various festivals and family gatherings, such as Lunar New Year. Families sit down together, chat, and enjoy their time while wrapping and eating popiah with their preferred ingredients.' Advertisement The Ming Pavilion dish features early harvested seaweed and nori powder from Fujian, adding a rich umami flavour and a salty fragrance that enhances the overall taste. Perfectly boiled tiger shrimp and crispy pork floss contribute to the popiah's texture, while house-made thick and chewy flatbreads cradle the marinated filling, preventing moisture loss.
