Too big not to pass
The business and growth minister is rolling up his sleeves for a fight over tougher financial requirements for major banks. Henrik Sass Larsen (Socialdemokraterne) has said he was willing to cut off co-operation with the opposition in order to pass the recommendations of a parliamentary committee set up to look into ways to prevent the collapse of banks considered too big to fail. Business-friendly opposition parties Venstre and Konservative, as well as bankers’ associations and Danske Bank, the nation’s largest bank, all oppose the changes. They argue the requirements are tougher than those faced by banks in other EU countries. – Børsen
Bank: less risk has its cost
While much of the financial world is preparing to dig in its heels against proposed tougher financial requirements (see above), Nykredit bank is trying a different tack. Søren Holm, the bank's group managing director, agreed the measures would make his bank “safer and more stable” but also pointed out that the higher reserve requirement would make it more expensive for people to take loans. Henrik Sass Larsen, the business and growth minister, said he expected the requirement would bring both lower borrowing rates and safer banks. – DR Nyheder
READ MORE: Too big to fail: Six most important banks identified
Taxmen ignored warnings
Even as tax officials were receiving official warnings about their inability to conduct accurate property value assessments, Skat, the tax agency, was consistently rejecting appeals by property owners. Skat and the Tax Ministry have been the object of stiff criticism in recent days for incorrectly assessing three out of every four homes between 2003 and 2011. As late as March of this year, Skat stated there was no ground for criticism. The claim was made despite losing 78 percent of the appeals over its assessments. – Jyllands-Posten
READ MORE: Push to reimburse over-taxed homeowners
Crime rates fall from high to not-so-high
Crime statistics for the first half of 2013 reveal a significant decline in violent crimes and theft. One example national police force Rigspolitiet highlighted was the seven percent annual decline in break-ins this year, to 18,729 reported cases. It is the first time since 2008 that the number is below 20,000. Much of the gain is credited to crime-prevention efforts. Anti-crime groups applauded the decline but pointed out that Denmark still has a high theft rate. “There’s still a long way to go,” Linda Nielsen, of the crime prevention panel Kriminalpræventive Råd, said. Violent crime was also down, but the number of people jailed for gang-related activity had spiked. There are currently a record 371 gang members behind bars. Police said the rise was due to increased gang tensions. – Berlingske
READ MORE: Crime rates have decreased
Like guest worker, like son
Turkey’s expanding economy has hundreds of Turkish-Danes heading back to the land of their roots each year in seek of new opportunities. Unlike the wave of guest workers who came from Turkey to Europe after the Second World War, many of those currently moving in the other direction are university graduates. They are fleeing high unemployment rates here at home in order to use their skills in a country that the OECD says is among the countries with the highest growth potential over the next 20 years. – Politiken
READ MORE: Who really IS an immigrant anyway
Muslim Brotherhood imam to lead new mosque
When Denmark’s first purpose-built mosque opens in Copenhagen this autumn, it will be with a spiritual leader who considers himself a part of the Muslim Brotherhood. The brotherhood “is the organisation that taught me Islam,” Jehad Al-Farra, 53, said, describing the group as “moderate". "The brotherhood supports adapting Islam to the country in which Muslims live,” he said. Al-Farra also pointed out that while he has ties to the organisation, which works to create a single global Islamic community and which is criticised for following Sharia laws, the organisation that runs the mosque embraces several Muslim sects. Religion experts called it “positive” that Al-Farra was open about his association with the Muslim Brotherhood and underscored that the group's members represented a broad range of attitudes towards Islam. – Kristelig Dagblad
