Reuters: China to hold 20th Communist Party congress from Oct. 16
Read this: China spends more on controlling its 1.4bn people than on defense: Silencing dissent also nips innovation in the bud. Nikkei
+ China's public safety spending was as much as 7% higher than its national defense spending in 2020
Read this: US business confidence in China falls to a low: China’s COVID strategy and sudden lockdowns have supplanted US-China tensions as the top challenge for US companies, a survey found. WSJ
+ This year, 21% of respondents said they were pessimistic or somewhat pessimistic about their five-year business outlook in the world’s second-largest economy, compared with 9% last year
Read this: We need rare earth elements for a greener future, but there's a catch: A group of 17 minerals has the potential to be a major economic driver for Canada. Christy Climenhaga
+ In the push to transition from fossil fuels to greener energy, a key piece of the puzzle is accessing materials to help accelerate the technological shift — namely, rare earth elements.
+ The group of 17 metallic elements has the potential to be a key economic driver for countries mining and processing them. They are crucial for building components for everything from wind turbines and electric-vehicle motors to cell phones and other products.
+ As of last year, it's estimated that Canada has more than 14 million tonnes of rare earth oxides
+ Ottawa earlier this year said it was investing up to $3.8 billion in a critical minerals strategy, which includes looking for, extracting, and processing rare earth elements\
Nearly impossible;e to have a modern economy without mining.
Porsche has reportedly drawn pre-orders for its planned IPO that value the carmaker at up to $85 billion.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em: For the first time in Gallup polling, more Americans (16%) said they smoke marijuana than had smoked a tobacco cigarette (11%) in the past week.
+ Fifteen years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the very first iPhone.
Read this: Why more companies are putting Lego bricks in the office: Executives believe bringing in the colorful brick toys helps with creativity, anxiety, and communication. WSJ
+ Last year, Lego posted more than €7 billion in sales, up from about €2.2 billion in 2010. It is once again the top toy maker in the world.
+ The latest driver of growth for Lego is those adults who were using the product at home are also bringing it into their workplace. Those companies and individuals bringing Lego products into the office say it helps with creativity, anxiety, and communication.
Read this: Explainer: How revolutionary is California’s ban on petrol-powered cars? It could prompt up to a third of American states to embrace electric ones more quickly. Economist
+ California has good reason to want to speed up its transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The state is car-crazy. About 41% of its greenhouse-gas emissions come from transport, compared with 27% nationally.
+ @JohnAnzo: Stat of the Day: At 71%, US Approval of Labor Unions at Highest Point Since 1965 according to @Gallup. That is a +23 approval increase since 2010
Read this: Meghan of Montecito: She’s left the Firm behind. Harry’s found a polo team in Santa Barbara. The kids are doing great. Now she’s ready for her next act. The Cut
+ “Do you want to know a secret?”
Meghan, silenced no more, looks around, making sure nobody (who would be?) is listening in. Then the top-secret drop: “I’m getting back … on Instagram,” she says, her eyes alight and devilish.
Read this: Joey DeFrancesco, reigning king of the jazz organ, dies at 51: A prodigy whose playing had drawn raves since he was a teenager, he helped bring the Hammond B3 back into the jazz lineup. NYT
+ Joey DeFrancesco, who was widely credited with bringing the organ back into vogue in jazz circles in recent decades, died on Thursday. He was 51.
