■ United States
T-Rex tissue may have DNA
A well-preserved fossil skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen found in Montana in 2003 has unexpectedly yielded soft tissue, leading scientists to speculate they could even find usable DNA. Writing in the journal Science, the head of a team of researchers from North Carolina State University, Mary Schweitzer, said: "It was totally shocking. I didn't believe it until we'd done it 17 times." The team has not ruled out the possibility of obtaining DNA from the specimen, which is 70 million years old, and thus of creating a live modern-day T-Rex to inhabit a real Jurassic Park. On examining a thigh bone, the team found unexpected material in the marrow cavity, which when dissolved in acid, left a flexible, stretchy material threaded with what appeared to be transparent and hollow blood vessels.
■ United Kingdom
Tapestries damaged on QE2
Thousands of pounds-worth of damage has allegedly been caused to tapestries on the Queen Elizabeth 2, when an alcohol-fuelled staff party got out of hand, it emerged Sunday. Several tapestries were damaged and one -- depicting members of the royal family -- is missing, believed to have been thrown overboard from the cruise liner in mid-Atlantic. Three crew members were sacked and arrested by police on suspicion of criminal damage when the QE2 docked at Southampton on Saturday following a three-month world cruise. They were questioned at the city's central police station about damage to three tapestries depicting royal scenes. A portrait of the Queen was also badly damaged during the alleged incident following what was meant to be an end-of-cruise staff party.
■ N Ireland
McCartneys hold pub vigil
Several hundred mourners and protesters on Sunday packed the narrow Belfast alleyway where Robert McCartney was murdered, and held a vigil despite threats to his sisters and rumors of a counter-demonstration by republicans. Paula McCartney said the turnout in torrential rain beside Magennis's bar, where Mr. McCartney was stabbed and beaten by IRA members after an argument, exceeded expectations. "After the difficult week we have had, it has restored my faith in human nature," she said.
■ Israel
Gaza pullout delay urged
The head of the Disengagement Authority has proposed postponing a Gaza pullout from late July to mid-August, citing Jewish religious considerations, his spokesman said yesterday. Israel Radio said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was considering the proposal, fearing that violating Jewish tradition would only boost opposition to the evacuation among settlers, many of whom are religious. Sharon's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
■ United Nations
More girls going to school
More girls in countries around the world are going to school, though the gender gap in many regions remains wide, according to a new report by the UNICEF published yesterday. The latest Progress for Children report says the world has made impressive gains in getting the same number of girls as boys into school. Out of the 180 countries for which information is available, 125 are expected to have gender parity this year. According to UNICEF's estimates, about 96 girls for every 100 boys attend primary school.
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