World: A UN investigation commission says it may be Syrian rebels, not the government, that used nerve agents in the conflict. The commission didn’t rule out the possibility that the government also used nerve gas. But a member of the commission said she was, “a little bit stupefied” when evidence indicated the rebels used chemicals.

> As many as 30,000 protesters marched in Paris yesterday in opposition to the austerity budget of President Francois Hollande. France is on the brink of recession with historically high unemployment of about 10%.  Spending cuts have put a drag on the economy of France and several other European countries cutting deficits. In the US the private sector is recovering but cuts in government spending have slowed job growth.

National: The five women killed Saturday night in a limousine fire were on their way to a bachelorette party at a hotel in the Bay Area. Four women and the driver escaped, but the bride-to-be was among the dead. The cause of the fire has not been revealed.

Bombers: The funeral home holding the body of Tamarlan Tsarnaev can’t find a cemetery that will accept him for burial. The funeral director says he might need government help to get a burial plot.

Lawyers for Robel Phillipos, one of the jailed friends of accused bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, have filed papers saying they will seek the release of their client. Phillipos is accused of lying to the FBI, but his lawyers say he was scared and confused when he was questioned.

Bones: The bones of a Tyrannosaurus bataar illegally dug up and smuggled into the US is being returned to Mongolia. The cousin of T-Rex is eight feet high, 24-feet long and 70 million years old. The smuggler faces up to 17 years in prison.

Bugs: The 17-year cycle of cicadas is about to hatch, swarming the east coast with billions of bugs from Georgia to New York. Cicada nymphs develop underground and emerge in a cacophony of mating sounds. They can reach a density of 1.5 million per acre.

At The Box: “Iron Man 3” had the second biggest opening on record for a movie, raking in $175 million.  After a soft start this year, Hollywood hopes for a big summer with a lineup of sequels and blockbusters only a teenager could love. Iron Man 3 opened overseas 10 days ago, making the worldwide gross $680 million and growing. Chinese viewers will see a specially cut version featuring their own star actress Fan Bingbing. Really, that’s her name.

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