President Xi Jinping solidified his control over China during the 20th Communist Party congress, with Premier Li Keqiang retiring from his senior party position and Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao being escorted off stage in an unexpected incident. The congress endorsed constitutional amendments that further establish Xi's authority, akin to Mao Zedong's, and pave the way for his third term as president. The event also indicated a reshuffling of the Politburo Standing Committee and Central Committee, with the exclusion of potential successors and economic leaders, signifying an era of increased loyalty to Xi and a lack of checks and balances. The congress highlighted Xi's efforts to eradicate corruption and the absence of a designated successor, allowing Xi to potentially lead indefinitely.

Xi Jinping's regulatory crackdown on technology and real estate sectors, including Didi Chuxing, was initially seen as part of his 'common prosperity' campaign. However, economic pressures and high youth unemployment have led to a softening of his stance, allowing Didi to pay fines and resume operations. This move is seen as necessary to stimulate economic growth and job creation, despite the ongoing commitment to the common prosperity agenda.

The European Union and China are set to have a challenging virtual summit due to the EU's unified tough stance on China, influenced by Beijing's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU, having sanctioned Russia and supported Ukraine, will warn China against arming Russia or helping it evade sanctions. EU policy towards China has hardened, especially after China's de facto ban on Lithuanian imports. The EU's unity was also strengthened by China's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is seen as a threat to the EU's core interests. The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment between the EU and China has been halted due to retaliatory sanctions over human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The EU is now more confident in confronting China, questioning whether China would risk its trade with Western countries to support Russia.

The article discusses the severe water shortage crisis affecting offshore British communities due to the ongoing heatwave. The Isles of Scilly, particularly the islands of St Mary’s and Bryher, are facing a critical situation with the council urging water consumption reduction and considering emergency rationing plans. There is a fear that freshwater boreholes might be contaminated by seawater, rendering them unusable for years. The Isle of Man has already implemented a hosepipe ban as reservoir levels have dropped significantly. Similarly, Scotland's Isle of Arran is experiencing water scarcity, prompting Scottish Water to transport water to the island. The situation highlights the impact of extreme weather on water resources and the vulnerability of island communities.

The article discusses how the organization Best for Britain, supported by George Soros and chaired by Lord Malloch Brown, is using Facebook advertising featuring orang-utans to influence public opinion on Brexit. The ads, targeting a young and female audience, suggest that Brexit could lead to trade deals harmful to the environment, reversing EU bans on palm oil and endangering species like bluefin tuna and turtles. The Daily Telegraph's analysis of Facebook data shows that these ads have been viewed millions of times, indicating their potential impact. The government's stance on palm oil and trade deals post-Brexit is also questioned, with Malaysia seeing Brexit as an opportunity for trade free from European protectionism.

The University of Liverpool has been imposing 'academic sanctions' on students who fail to pay rent for university-owned accommodation. These sanctions include denying access to the university library, locking students out of their university accounts, and potentially preventing them from graduating or re-enrolling. This practice goes against the guidance of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which in 2016 informed British universities that they should not apply academic sanctions for non-academic debts. The CMA's stance is that students should not be barred from graduating or re-enrolling due to unpaid accommodation fees or other non-academic services. The article reveals that in 2017, 687 students at Liverpool faced such sanctions, which negatively impacted their academic performance and increased the likelihood of having to resit exams.