JAPAN Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, 54, was sworn in as first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne in a traditional, but scaled down, palace ritual. Naruhito’s 18-year-old daughter, Aiko, and the crown prince’s two daughters, Mako and Kako, are not in line. The world’s oldest monarchy does not allow a female emperor.

US A convicted rapist has been arrested in Florida more than 40 years after skipping out on his Connecticut prison sentence and assuming a stolen identity. Douglas Bennett, 76, was arrested at his Clearwater home. Bennett was convicted in 1975 of robbery, kidnapping, sexual contact, rape and deviate sexual intercourse.

MYANMAR Ruling National League for Democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi claimed it has won enough seats in parliament to constitute an absolute majority and retain power, though the election commission has not yet announced results of the November 8 election. NLD’s victory is expected, but its worsening ties with ethnic minority-based parties, its former allies, might cut its totals.