News in Brief

China held offi cial mourningceremonies countrywide on April21 for at least 2,046 victims killedin a 7.1-magnitude earthquake thatjolted northwest Chinas QinghaiProvince on April 14.

National flags flew at half-mastacross the country and at Chineseembassies and consulates aroundthe world, and local people paid athree-minute silent tribute startingat about 10 a.m.