China’s drone arms race, Hong Kong’s 5 types of ‘finance bro’, Malaysia Covid inquest: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

From Hong Kong’s five types of ‘finance bro’ to China attempting to ‘lure the US into a budget-trap arms race’, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

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Hong Kong has several different types of “finance bro” - men who work in the banking and finance industries - and each has their own style of outfit. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Published: 12:00pm, 3 Nov 2023Updated: 12:46pm, 3 Nov 2023

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.

1. ‘War of money’: China starts a new drone arms race where cost is key

An artist’s impression of a Chinese supersonic drone powered by low-cost turbofan engine. Photo: Zhu Junqiang, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A new generation of high-speed, long-endurance drones powered by low-cost jet engines has entered military service in China. Part of their job is to lure the US, among other nations, into an arms race where the real trap lies in the budget, according to a lead scientist on the project.

2. Sky-high air fares new normal for Hong Kong and rest of world: top Cathay executive

Hong Kong travellers will have to accept higher air fares for the foreseeable future with ticket prices unlikely to fall to pre-pandemic levels as the industry’s costs have risen exponentially, a top Cathay Pacific Airways executive has said.

3. Chinese scientists create ‘faster, more energy efficient’ AI chip

A schematic diagram of the chip from Tsinghua University. Photo: Handout

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