Xi sends his regards to sanctioned Hong Kong officials; Fintech regulation and Ant restructuring; Gansu vineyard scandal; Food inflation

Today’s Essential Eight items:

1. Xi sends his regards to sanctioned Hong Kong officials

2. Fintech regulation and Ant restructuring

3. Latest on the outbreak

4. A bad time for food inflation

5. US-China

6. Merkel will be a "friend of China” in retirement

7. Gansu vineyard scandal becoming a political problem

8. Beijing cultural protection regulations

Thanks for reading.