IN BRIEF

South Korea

Park to appear in court to avoid arrest

Former president Park Geun-hye on Tuesday decided to appear in a Seoul court to avoid arrest, which is being sought by prosecutors over a corruption scandal embroiling her. The special investigation headquarters of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said on Tuesday that Park will appear in the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday.

Malaysia

PM says 'not ready' to buy Rafale jets

Visiting French President Francois Hollande pitched the sale of French-made fighter jets to Malaysia during his brief stay in the country on Tuesday, but Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said they are "not ready to make a decision". Rafale is seen as a front-runner as Malaysia looks to buy up to 18 jets in a deal potentially worth more than $2 billion, sources have said.

United States

'Fearless Girl' statue to stay until 2018

The popular bronze statue of a young girl staring down a bull on Wall Street will stay in place until March 2018, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. Initially installed on March 7 for one week, the sculpture appeared in media around the world, seen by many as a defiant symbol of women's rights.

Mexico

Two killed by plane while taking selfies

Two young women were hit and killed by a small aircraft as they were taking selfies by the side of a landing strip in northern Mexico, media reported on Monday. The victims of the grisly accident, which took place on Saturday afternoon in the town of Chinipas, Chihuahua, were buried later in the day, local daily El Heraldo de Chihuahua said.