Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

Today from London, I'm your host Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

America's big firms are gurdying for earnings season when they report quarterly profits.

Some tough news is expected.

We look into why any disappointing numbers might be reflecting far more than just the bottom

of the standard business cycle.

And many parents will be aware of baby brain, the idea that parenthood has noticeable cognitive

effects.

It's a real thing, parts of mother's brains do in fact shrink.

Now some new research shows that dads' brains get smaller too.

But first…

In central Beijing today, serious pump and ritual, all of the grandees of the Chinese Communist

Party are gathered for their five yearly conference.

It's the tiniest window into the black box of Chinese politics, what the party is thinking.

On the conference's first day yesterday, President Xi Jinping's two-hour work report

speech showed how he wants to portray his record in office and defend his policies.

But the real drama, if there's any at all, will be later in the week, as Mr. C heads

toward unexpected but norm-busting third-term in office.

So on Sunday, we had the grand opening of the National Party Congress.

These are very important political meetings that happen every five years and they are party

events.

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