Copenhagen - Denmark's new prime minister used his debut speech to parliament on Tuesday to warn that the global economic crisis "overshadows everything.""One task overshadows everything: the crisis," Lokke Rasmussen, 44, said in his speech, adding he "did not know how deep or long" the downturn would last.

Rasmussen, who took over from his namesake (but no relation) Anders Forgh Rasumussen after the latter left to become NATO secretary-general, insisted that Denmark could use its fiscal surplus to cope with the crisis.

Copenhagen - Share prices for Danish audio and multimedia products maker Bang & Olufsen dipped Tuesday after the group announced a lower profit outlook in its nine-month report for 2008/2009. Known for its sleek design of audio and other equipment, the group has been struggling recently but in the third quarter signed deals to deliver sound systems to car makers Audi and Aston Martin.

The share price dropped over 8 per cent but recovered some ground and was down some 1.5 per cent at noon on the Copenhagen bourse.

Copenhagen  - Denmark's new prime minister made his first cabinet appointments Tuesday, designating among others a new finance and labour minister.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen formally took over the reins of Denmark's government this weekend after his predecessor, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, accepted a position as NATO secretary general.

Claus Hjort Frederiksen, until now the labour minister, will take over the finance portfolio. Karin Ellemann was named interior minister, while Karin Stjberg is to take over the labour portfolio.

Copenhagen  - Newly-designated NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen formally handed in his resignation Sunday as prime minister to Danish Queen Margrethe II.

Rasmussen, 56, is to be succeeded by his namesake, 44-year-old Finance Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, as head of the government.

The formal resignation comes a day after the NATO summit in Strasbourg chose Rasmussen as alliance's next secretary general to succeed outgoing NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Rasmussen would take over his NATO post on August 1.

Copenhagen - NATO leaders reached a deal Saturd