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3. Piketty keeps up the crusade

Celebrity economist Thomas Piketty is keeping up his one-man crusade to save Greece. Actually, in this case it’s a five-person crusade, as four other economists sign his open letter blaming Angela Merkel for ruining Greece:

“In recent years the series of so-called adjustment programs inflicted on the likes of Greece has served only to make a Great Depression the likes of which have been unseen in Europe since 1929-1933. The medicine prescribed by the German Finance Ministry and Brussels has bled the patient, not cured the disease.”

He does admit the Greeks had a bit to do with the situation, being corrupt and all, but mostly it’s Europe’s fault. “Right now, the Greek government is being asked to put a gun to its head and pull the trigger.”

4. Chinese companies flee market in ‘self-preservation’

Nearly 25% of Chinese stocks have stopped trading because of chaos in the Chinese markets. More than 700 companies have halted trade in their shares out of “self-preservation.” But the government insists it is “taking good care of the stock market.” Oddly, people aren’t willing to bet their money on that being true.

By coincidence, Finance Minister John Oliver is giving a speech today at the Canada-China Finance Summit in Toronto. They might want to pay attention.

5. Don’t bet on it, hair boy.

The PGA has pulled its year-end Grand Slam of Golf from the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles because of his ignorant remarks about Mexicans. That says something: Republicans and golf go hand in hand; when the PGA can’t take any more of Trump, it’s like the NDP losing the unions. Awww, the poor Donald. “I’ve been very loyal to golf,” he told the New York Times Tuesday. “I own 17 clubs. They all do great. We will see whether or not golf is loyal to me.”

6. Nice butts, but Norway cops keep their guns holstered

A report on Norway’s use of guns by police indicates they shot just two shots last year. Neither of which hurt anyone. This is a “slight decrease” from the previous year, but a 100% increase from 2011, the year of the terror attack by Anders Breivik, when cops fired just one shot. (On the other hand, a sexy picture of Norwegian traffic police in their cute little summer shorts went wild on social media)

National Post

KellyMcParland<