World News: India braced for violence ahead of holy site ruling

India braced itself for a spasm of violence today before a potentially explosive court verdict on whether Hindus or Muslims should control a disputed holy site which has seen deadly riots in the past.

Hundreds of thousands of paramilitary soldiers patrolled the streets across northern India. Police have arrested more than 10,000 people to prevent them from inciting violence, while another 100,000 had to sign affidavits saying they would not cause trouble, a top official said.

The 16th-century Babri Mosque in the town of Ayodhya was razed by Hindu hardliners in 1992, setting off violence that killed 2,000 nationwide. The 60-year-old fight over the compound has shaken the core of modern India and led to repeated outbreaks of bloody communal violence. Hindus say the mosque, built in 1528 by the Mughal emperor Babur, was erected at the birthplace of their god, Rama. Hindus want to build a temple to Rama there.

The High Court in Uttar Pradesh state is due to rule on the dispute today, deciding whether the holy site will be given to the Hindu community or returned to Muslims who want to rebuild the mosque.

Europeans march against cuts

Tens of thousands of people from around Europe have marched across Brussels in a protest against spending cuts by some EU governments.

Spain has also held a general strike, with protesters in Barcelona clashing with police and torching a police car.

Military row men freed

China has freed three of four Japanese nationals detained a week ago and accused of intruding into a restricted military area in Hebei.

The fourth man was still being investigated for allegedly filming military sites. They were held amid a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo.

Court told of bomber's plan

The man who planted a car bomb in New York's Times Square boasted that he thought it would kill at least 40 people and he planned to detonate a second bomb two weeks later, US prosecutors said.

They quoted the former financial analyst in a video where he said he had hoped "to join my brothers in jihad" ever since the September 11 2001 attacks.

Pakistani Faisal Shahzad, 30, should get life in prison, prosecutors said.

Tour winner fails drugs test

Cyclist Alberto Contador, winner of the 2010 Tour de France, has tested positive for a banned substance.

Contador's press officer said the Spanish rider was the victim of "food contamination".

Contador has been provisionally suspended.

Officials told to block Nato supply trucks

Pakistan: Government officials said today authorities had ordered them to block oil tankers and trucks carrying Nato supplies at a checkpoint bordering Afghanistan.

It comes after threats by officials to stop providing protection to Nato convoys if the alliance's choppers hit Pakistani targets again.

Venezuela: A fight between prison gangs using automatic weapons and hand grenades has left at least 10 inmates dead.