Train wreck in Spain kills 77

A train that was apparently going too fast jumped the tracks in the town of Santiago de Compostela in Spain’s Galicia province last night around 9pm. At least 77 people were killed and 140 injured as 13 of the train’s cars were scattered over a wide area around the tracks, some on top of one another. Witness said that the train was attempting to negotiate a difficult curve too fast when the accident happened. As of this morning, no word on whether any Danes were on board when the accident occurred.

Agricultural exports booming

Exports of food and agricultural products are nearing record numbers. While dairy and pork exports have seen an increase, the growth is primarily being driven by a boom in exports of mink pelts to China. If exports continue at the current rate, they will increase by about ten billion kroner this year to a record 158 billion kroner. It is predicted that the growing Asian middle class’s demand for high-quality and safe food will fuel the sector for years to come.  – Jyllands-Posten

War weary

Efforts by the government to convince the public that 12 years of war in Afghanistan have been worth the cost have apparently fallen on deaf ears. A Megaphone poll found that half of those surveyed believed that the human and financial costs paid for the war effort were wasted. Only 29 percent felt that it had been worth going to war. Over half of those responding believed that participating in the war had actually increased the threat of terrorism in Denmark and said that the country had participated in too many international wars since the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on 11 September 2001. – Politiken

Travellers keeping their feet on the ground

While Danes still fly when they need to get from country to country, one out of three travellers over the past three years has decided against flying when getting around inside of Denmark. Figures from Trafikstyrelsen, the national traffic authority, show that high ticket prices, increased auto sales and the recession have combined to stop people from flying domestically. Major expansions in motorways and pending investments in the rail system have industry analysts suggesting that even fewer people will opt to fly in the future, and that could cause some domestic airports to close. Figures from the first six months of this year show that the number of travellers the five largest Jutland airports has fallen by 11 percent. – Berlingske

Government should stay the course when it comes to reform, says opposition

Recent suggestions by some ministers that the government plans to slow the pace of financial reforms in the coming months has opposition party Venstre encouraging the government to stay on track. Party spokesperson Kristian Jensen said that they will make continuing reform a priority when parliament reconvenes in the fall. "Without reforms, the economy will stagnate, and many will be stuck outside the labour market," said Jensen. Jensen said that everyone currently knows at least one person who is out of work and that cost-cutting in the public sector frees up money that can help get people back to work. – Information