World News: 1000 injured as protesters battle Cairo security forces

Two days of street battles between security forces and protesters in Cairo show just how volatile Egypt remains nearly five months after the popular uprising that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.

More than 1000 people were hurt in the unrest on Tuesday and yesterday, driven by discontent over the slow pace of justice for old regime figures accused of corruption and killing protesters.

The clashes in Tahrir Square - the worst since the 18-day uprising - add a new layer to an already painful and chaotic transition from Mr Mubarak's regime to democratic rule under the supervision of the military.

The violence is likely to set back efforts to empower the discredited police to fully take back the city's crime-ridden streets after they melted away during the uprising.

The ruling military said the clashes were designed to "destabilise the country" and drive a wedge between the opposition and security forces. It called on Egyptians not to join the protests.

Security officials said at least 30 protesters were arrested and were being questioned by military interrogators.

China plan is a Marvel for Lee

MARVEL Comics legend Stan Lee wants to see the likes of Spider-Man and X-Men weaving between skyscrapers in Shanghai. He has announced a joint venture with a Hong Kong investment company that aims to roll out a new superhero franchise targeted at Chinese audiences.

Gaza ship is 'sabotaged'

Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said Israel has sabotaged a second ship.

An activist told Israel's Army Radio that the engine of an Irish ship was damaged.

Earlier this week activists said Israel damaged the propeller of a Swedish ship in the Greek port of Piraeus.

Israel has not commented on the sabotage allegations.

About ten ships are due to set sail this week from Greece. It's unclear if the damaged boats will delay the operation.

Blaze site radiation monitored

The US government sent a plane equipped with radiation monitors over the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory as a 110-square-mile wildfire burned at its doorstep.

Lab authorities described the monitoring as a precaution and said the fire would not scatter radioactive material..

Christ statue is unveiled

Peruvian President Alan Garcia has inaugurated a giant statue of Jesus similar to Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer despite opposition from the mayor of Peru's capital.

The Christ of the Pacific statue is 72ft high and stands atop a 49ft concrete base.Ex-president faces charge of corruption

Taiwan: A prosecutor said former President Lee Teng-hui has been indicted on a charge of embezzlement.

Lee and his top aide, Liu Tai-ying, face charges of embezzling $ 7.79 million from a secret diplomatic fund.

Haiti: Evidence "strongly suggests" a United Nations peacekeeping mission brought a cholera strain to Haiti that has killed thousands of people, a study by a team of epidemiologists and medics says.