Briefly

DENMARK

After slim win, PM to form broader govt

A day after scoring a narrow election victory, Denmark's Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen tendered her resignation on Wednesday to begin the process of forming a new, broader government. The Social Democrats — the largest party in parliament with 50 of 179 seats — now want to govern across the traditional left-right divide. Frederiksen's left-wing bloc, which includes five parties plus three seats from the autonomous territories Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, won a majority of 90 seats, compared to 73 for the right and far-right, and 16 for the center. The outgoing prime minister met Queen Margrethe to hand in her resignation at 11:00 am, which formally set the ball rolling for her to start negotiations with other party leaders on the makeup of the new government.

UNITED KINGDOM

'Permacrisis' chosen as word of the year

Beating off competition from the likes of "Kyiv" and "Partygate", the term "permacrisis" was named on Tuesday as Britain's word of the year in recognition of a dismal 2022. The annual list compiled by Collins Dictionary defined the word as "an extended period of instability and insecurity". Its entry into common usage reflected upheaval caused by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, severe weather, the conflict in Ukraine, political turmoil and a cost-of-living crisis. "Permacrisis sums up quite succinctly just how truly awful 2022 has been for many people," said Collins Learning managing director Alex Beecroft. "Partygate "was one of the many scandals that brought down prime minister Boris Johnson this year. Among other phrases on the list was "warm bank" — a place such as a library or place of worship where cash-strapped Britons struggling to pay soaring energy bills can go to find heating.

GREECE

10 rescued, dozens missing after boat sinks

A man was rescued by a cargo ship after a boat carrying 68 migrants sank near Cape Kafireas, Evia Island, on Tuesday morning. The rescue of the man brings the total number of survivors to 10, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The rescue operation has been underway since early Tuesday in the Aegean Sea. None of the survivors was wearing life jackets, the Coast Guard said. More than 1 million people have illegally entered Greece since 2015.

Agencies - Xinhua