Google's social network Google+ hits 20 million visitors

Google+ has had 20 million unique visitors –- 5 million of them in the U.S. -- since it launched the social networking service three weeks ago, research firm ComScore reports. "It is definitely the fastest ascent to 20 million visitors that I can think of," said Andrew Lipsman, ComScore's vice president of industry analysis. The new data shows that explosive growth even though Google has not officially rolled out the service or marketed it to its more than 1 billion search engine users. It comes just a week after Google Chief Executive Larry Page said that Google+ had more than 10 million users and that they were sharing and receiving...

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China feeling like No. 1 with a bullet train

A high-profile stretch of the high-speed rail system opens, an event meant to showcase national achievement as the Chinese Communist Party marks its 90th birthday. But there's been some controversial baggage to handle along the way.Reporting from Beijing—It's the fastest thing on land with a "Made in China" label — a bullet train that speeds past unfinished suburbs and broken farmhouses at nearly 200 mph between Beijing and Shanghai in a blur of national pride.Opened to the public Thursday, the landmark line connects China's two biggest cities and is meant to showcase the country's innovative muscle and give the Chinese Communist Party a shot...

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China tries to put brakes on overheated economy

A woman walks past signs on a retail street in Beijing. China’s economy expanded at an annualized rate of 9.5% in the second quarter, slightly slower than the first quarter, thanks largely to efforts by authorities to cut bank lending and hike interest rates.Reporting from Beijing— While the Obama administration struggles to jump-start the stalled U.S. recovery, policymakers in Beijing have an opposite but equally formidable task: putting the brakes on China's speeding economy without triggering...

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China's high-speed rail glitches: Racing to make errors?

Problems with China's new high-speed rail line between Beijing and Shanghai have added to suspicions that the government had rushed several big projects in order to have them open in time for the Communist Party's 90th anniversary celebration.A high-speed train arrives at Nanjing South Railway Station during a test run. (ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images / June 23, 2011)By David Pierson, Los Angeles TimesJuly 16, 2011Reporting from Beijing—China's high-speed rail line between Beijing and Shanghai has been beset by glitches in the two weeks since it opened to great fanfare on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party's 90th anniversary celebration.In the...

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North Korea flouts ban on luxury goods, South Korea charges

North Korea spent $10 million on items such as fine whiskey and American cigarettes, imported via China, in the first half of the year, South Korean officials say. The allegations come as North Korea is seeking international aid to feed its people.Cleaners rappel down the front of a shopping mall displaying the logo of Italian fashion label Giorgio Armani in central Beijing. (Reuters)By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles TimesJuly 22, 2011Reporting from Seoul—The news reports detail such conspicuous consumption as imported top-shelf whiskey and designer brands such as Gucci, Armani and Rolex, not to mention Big Macs flown in daily from China.As North...

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In India, 'cheer queens' opt for saris

The cheerleading squad for the Indian cricket team Pune Warriors takes a traditional-culture, fully clothed approach to motivate players and fans. It calls for complex hand waves and traditional dance steps in saris.Cheerleaders perform during the Pune Warriors' match against Kings XI Punjab in Mumbai, India. The Warriors introduced their traditional-culture, fully clothed "cheer queens" this year. (Rajanish Kakade / Associated Press / April 10, 2011)Reporting from New Delhi— Can sari-clad "cheer...

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Fiesta De San Fermin Running Of The Bulls: Day 2

People toss a girl into the air in the early hours of the morning before the San Fermin running-of-the-bulls on July 8, 2011 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)A fighting bull loses its balance during the third day of the San Fermin running-of-the-bulls on July 8, 2011 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)A man tries to avoid a steer that broke away from the pact of fighting bulls during the second day of the San Fermin running-of-the-bulls on July 7, 2011 in Pamplona, Spain. Pamplona's famous Fiesta de San Fermin, which involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona for...

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The South West's First Solar Farm Is Connected

Jason Arnold, project manager from solarcentury walks between lines of solar panels erected at Weighbridge, Wheal Jane, Baldhu on July 7, 2011 near Truro, England. A ceremony was held today to mark the connection of the 1.4kw solar farm, which on a 6.2 acre plot is the first in the South West and biggest in the UK to date, using 5,680 panels. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Imag...

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Republicans talk tough ahead of debt talks

(Reuters) - Republicans took a hard line ahead of White House debt talks on Tuesday, with one party leader saying a "real solution" to the budget deficit is probably not possible with President Barack Obama in office.Ahead of a third straight day of White House debt talks, business leaders called on Obama and congressional leaders to act swiftly to raise the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt ceiling -- which caps how much the United States can borrow -- or risk derailing a sputtering economic recovery and endangering the global financial system.But Republican and Democratic leaders appeared to be at an impasse over a deficit reduction deal that would...

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The Annual Weston-super-Mare Sand Sculpture Competition

A visitor to Weston-super-Mare's Sand Sculpture Festival stops to look at some of the sand art on July 4, 2011 in Weston-Super-Mare, England. Now in its fourth year and with a Amazon Jungle theme for 2011, the seaside resort's event attracts top sand sculptors from across the world and runs throughout the summer months. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Imag...

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Strip Poker Tournament

A contestants takes part in the World Strip Poker Championships on August 19, 2006 in London. 195 contestants took part in the first championship for a prize of GBP10,000. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Imag...

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Fashion Selections From The Monaco Royal Wedding

Karolina Kurkova (R) and guest attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco in the main courtyard at the Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)H.I.R.H. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia and his fiance H.S.H. Princess Sophie Johanna Maria of Isenburg leave the “Hermitage” hotel to attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock in the main courtyard on July 2, 2011 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)Jean Michel Jarre and guest attend the religious ceremony...

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Temple of Preah Vihear

Brief Description Situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia, the Temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to Shiva. The Temple is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800 metre long axis and dates back to the first half of the 11th century AD. Nevertheless, its complex history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage was founded. This site is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location. The site is exceptional for the quality of its...

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UNESCO to send mission to Preah Vihear

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today reiterated her call for calm and restraint around the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008. A border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand caused several deaths and damage to the site in recent days. "I intend to send a mission to the area as soon as possible to assess the state of the temple," she said. "World Heritage sites are the heritage of all humanity and the international community has a special responsibility to safeguard them. This requires a collective effort that must be undertaken in a spirit of consultation and dialogue. Heritage should...

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Director-General expresses alarm over escalation of violence between Thailand and Cambodia

UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova expressed her deep concern at the sudden escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List. Reports indicate that troops on either side have exchanged fire resulting in the loss of life and also some damage to the temple. The Director-General expresses her distress at this sudden turn of events and calls upon both sides to exercise restraint for the sake of the preservation of the Temple of Preah Vihear and open direct channels of communication at the highest levels to defuse the tensi...

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