World briefs

JAPAN Toyota Motor Corp. recalls 340,000 gas-electric hybrid Prius cars around the world, 212,000 of them in Japan and 94,000 in North America, for a defect in their parking brakes. Toyota acknowledged receiving reports of crashes, injuries and deaths.

HONG KONG A swearing-in ceremony to kick off the legislative session descends into farce as newly elected pro-democracy lawmakers intentionally mangled their oaths in a show of defiance against Beijing. The new crop of lawmakers, elected last month amid swelling anti-China sentiment, object to the oath’s requirement to pledge allegiance to the “Special Administrative Region” and its Basic Law constitution.

PHILIPPINES The Philippine president says he has instructed his defense chief not to prepare for joint exercises with the U.S. military next year as he moved to realize his threat to remove the highest-profile symbol of his country’s treaty alliance with Washington. More on p11
Thailand’s stock market and currency tumble and the prime minister cancels an overseas trip amid concerns about long-ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s health. His son, the crown prince, returns home from Germany.

AFGHANISTAN  An Afghan official says at least 17 people including a policeman are dead and 62 others are injured in a militant attack on a Shiite shrine in Kabul, following ceremonies to commemorate Ashoura, a major religious observance for Shiites. Meanwhile, the Taliban have held control over most of Helmand province, where the majority of the world’s opium is grown. More on p13

MYANMAR The U.N. special adviser on Myanmar calls on civilians in troubled Rakhine state to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from responding to recent fighting that led to the deaths of security personnel as well as civilians.

AUSTRALIA-SINGAPORE Singapore’s prime minister visits Australia to upgrade a free-trade agreement and finalize a deal that will double the capacity of Singaporean military training facilities in the Australian tropics.

AUSTRIA  Members of the elite Cobra police commando unit have been assigned to protect the left-leaning candidate for Austria’s presidency in response to death threats from right-wing extremists. Upgraded security for Alexander Van der Bellen was reported by Austrian newspapers and confirmed by a government official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to divulge the confidential measures.

ITALY Roberto Cavalli’s new owners are cutting 200 jobs, closing stores and replacing the fashion house’s creative director in a reorganization aimed at making a profit by 2018. Chief Executive Gian Giacomo Ferraris said the reorganization is necessary given the fashion industry is one where “only iconic brands with a coherent business model and an efficient organization can survive.”