IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Festival experiences continuity, changes

For more than 2,500 years, Tomb Sweeping Day, locally known as Qingming Festival, has been an occasion for Chinese to mourn the deceased and worship their ancestors. Today, although there have been changes, the tradition is well preserved.

Young Chinese helping sticky rice balls make a comeback

Weeks before Tomb Sweeping Day, which fell on Tuesday, young people in Shanghai waited in line for hours to enjoy qingtuan, or sweet green rice balls.

Panda killed after release into the wild

A giant panda born in captivity and then released into the wild died after being attacked by an unknown animal, researchers have concluded.

Smog likely to linger until Saturday

Beijing, Tianjin and cities in Hebei and Henan provinces are covered by heavy air pollution that started on Monday and was forecast to last through Saturday, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Monday.

11 arrested in connection with rape of minors

Police in central China's Henan province have arrested 11 people on suspicion of involvement in the raping of minors.

IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Ming ceramics to be highlight of Hong Kong auction

On April 5, several refined examples of imperial porcelain from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) will be auctioned in Hong Kong. They feature a variety of patterns and methods of applying glazes, and indicate the varied tastes of collectors of Chinese art in different continents.

At least 10 killed in subway train blast

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia - At least 10 people were killed and 50 injured when an explosion tore through a train carriage in the Saint Petersburg underground system on Monday, Russian authorities said.

Japan envoy returns despite statue impasse

TOKYO - Japan said on Monday that it is sending back its ambassador to South Korea despite an ongoing impasse over a "comfort woman" statue, stressing that it is not meant to be a compromise.

Arctic Circle warms to Chinese culture with language lessons

HELSINKI, Finland - At the beginning of every Chinese class, Meri Rokkonen and her Finnish classmates would rise to greet the teacher, an oriental courtesy unfamiliar to a Western classroom.

Xi offers help as mudslide toll rises

MOCOA, Colombia - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday sent a message of condolence to his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos over the deadly flooding and landslides that hit the Latin American country on Saturday.