Photos of moon

    China on Monday unveiled photos taken by its lunar probe of the moon’s Sinus Iridium, the area marked out for the nation’s first landing, highlighting the success of the mission so far.

    The photos of the moon’s surface, made public by Premier Wen Jiabao, were taken at the end of last month by the Chang’e-2 unmanned probe, the National Space Administration said.

    Chang’e-2 was launched on October 1 and went into orbit eight days later.

    Mall fire

    Fire ripped through a shopping mall in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, killing 19 people, Xinhua said, as police detained the general manager of the complex for questioning. Twenty-seven others were injured in the massive blaze in the city of Jilin, which broke out on Friday morning.

    U.S. midterm elections

    Republicans drew on the support of independents and the energy of Tea Party activists to fashion a resounding victory in the House in midterm elections last Tuesday, increasing their strength in the Senate.

    Incomplete returns showed the Republicans picked up at least 60 House seats — the biggest party turnover in more than 70 years.

    Indonesia volcano

    Frightened residents abandoned their homes in a bustling city of 400,000 at the foot of Indonesia’s rumbling volcano on Monday, cramming onto trains, buses and rented vehicles as authorities warned Mount Merapi could erupt again at any time.

    A mass burial late Sunday for many of the 141 people killed in the last two weeks served as a reminder of the mountain’s devastating power that culminated in its deadliest blast in 80 years.