Lawyers for the man accused of killing 12 cinema-goers last July in Aurora, Colorado, say he is prepared to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.

New York City is marking 10 years since its ban on smoking in indoor public places, with officials saying the measure has prevented 10,000 premature deaths.

Hundreds of Mexican vigilantes occupy a town and detain a local police chief, accusing him of helping a criminal gang murder their leader.

Pope Francis will wash prisoners' feet in a youth detention centre on Thursday, part of a papal calendar of events in the run-up to Easter.

Nearly 130 Chicago school teachers and other supporters are reportedly detained as they protest against plans to shut dozens of city schools.

A Canadian jury says a Toronto man who stole a snowplough and killed a policeman with it is not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Chile's former president Michelle Bachelet says she will run for a second mandate in the November elections, becoming the main opposition candidate.

An inquest into the death of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who was found dead at his home in Berkshire last weekend, is due to open later.