S Korea's feminists fight to go braless in push for equality

Kuala Lumpur: South Korean women have called for their freedom to dress as they choose after a newsreader, Yim Hyun-ju, caused an uproar for appearing on air without a bra, the latest bid in a feminism movement that has grown in the male-dominated country. She took to social media to share her experience with a hashtag #nobra. Reuters

World’s oldest man dies at 112 in Japan

Tokyo: A Japanese man, who received his certificate as the world’s oldest man with a raised fist and big smiles earlier this month, has died at 112. Guinness World Records had given the certificate to Chitetsu Watanabe on February 12. The organisation and the funeral home handling his services confirmed on Tuesday he had died on Sunday. No reason was given. He had not been able to eat recently and developed a fever and difficulty breathing a couple of days before his death, Japan’s nationally circulated newspaper Mainichi reported. AP

Saudi Arabia launches women’s football leagues

Riyadh: Saudi sports authorities have launched a women’s football league, the latest unlikely extravaganza in the kingdom as it attempts to shrug off its ultra-conservative image. The first season of the 500,000 riyals (USD 133,000) league for women over 17 will be staged in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, the government-run Saudi Sports for All Federation said on Tuesday. “The launch of the (league) bolsters women’s participation in sports at the community level and will generate increased recognition for women’s sports achievements,” the federation said. AFP

Vietnam dissident Buddhist monk Thich Quang Do dies

Hanoi: Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist monk who became the public face of religious dissent in Vietnam while the Communist government kept him in prison or under house arrest for more than 20 years, has died at age 91. Do, who died Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City, was the highest leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. AP